Everyone has dreams of calling the shots. But a company CEO does more than tell everyone else what to do. He or she may be responsible for the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and must not only be concerned with the big picture and the bottom line, but also with every facet of the business. In short, they must have a working knowledge of the functions of the company’s rank and file–the lifeblood of every enterprise.
To underscore this, we’re highlighting a few of our BE 100s CEOs who have paid homage to their workforces by experiencing some of their day-to-day tasks. But the photograph doesn’t tell the whole story. Read on to see just how well these leaders understand their industries and the people who count on them most.