There is a constant desire to find the companies of tomorrow.
For the past seven years, Fortune has highlighted companies that, despite increasing competition and global volatility, have embarked on a long-term growth path. The List of the future 50 it focuses on those likely to adapt, thrive, and grow—and serves in part as a guide for those seeking partners and role models.
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But for those aspiring to one day lead a company that could be the next big thing, the educational backgrounds of the future 50 CEOs might surprise you.
No, not everyone attended an Ivy League institution or went to business school and get an MBA. The Fortune Future 50 leaders are computer scientistsphysicists and lawyers. They have attended leading state institutes of technology in the US and around the world. Some never graduated from college.
Traditional paths to leadership are evolving, especially in technology industries, says Debanjan Saha, CEO DataRobotan AI applications company that debuted at No. 24 on the Future 50 list.
“Degrees are not always necessary or a requirement to run a company, but a strong technical background is incredibly useful in running a technology-focused organization,” he says.
Saha is one of the unique stories, as he first attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and then earned his Ph.D. informatics from University of Maryland.
“What stands out about doctorates and other advanced degrees is not just the technical expertise they represent, but the curiosity and commitment to learning they signify—qualities that are critical to leadership in today’s rapidly changing environment. Ultimately, management success is shaped less by formal education and more by adaptability, vision and the ability to inspire teams to solve complex problems,” he shares.
Tomer Weingarten, CEO of the company SentinelOne it is on the opposite side of the education spectrum. Weingarten never attended college; in fact, he says he thought it was “a waste of valuable time.”
“It was clear to me that going to college or university just to get a degree and get a job to be financially secure didn’t align with the freedom I wanted to build or the speed at which I wanted to gain knowledge,” he says. Wealth.
Instead, Weingarten bought programming books and he himself researched the most advanced technology, such as algorithms and the cloud
“I continue to believe that integrity, ingenuity, grit, and acting with unwavering purpose and determination in everything you do are the keys to success in business and life,” says Weingarten—who now leads cyber security company ranked 37th on the Future 50 list.
Among Fortune 1000 CEOs, about 40% have MBAs, according to the data data collected by Fortune earlier this year.
