Failed internet millionaires are our future
Like thousands of parents inspired by the story of 17-year-old “software prodigy” Nick D’Aloisio, I’ve just asked my teenage son what he’s doing on his computer that might later be worth $30m.
Mr D’Aloisio’s tale has all the elements to make pushy parents sweat: the boy had the idea for his news reader app Summly, just bought by Yahoo, while revising for his history exam, for goodness’ sake! Read more
Marissa Mayer, Yahoo’s new chief executive, has caused consternation by insisting that employees who have worked from home must in future come to the office. Her critics have pointed out that home workers are as productive, if not more so, as those in cubicles. Read more
Carol Bartz speaks her mind a bit too much
As a journalist, I appreciate people who are straight talkers – and agree with Lucy Kellaway’s praise of Steve Jobs’ pithiness – but Carol Bartz at Yahoo has been taking it too far.
Kara Swisher suggests that the Yahoo board has doubts about Ms Bartz, and may be manoevreing to find a successor. Among other things, it is apparently worried about internal instability and Ms Bartz’s well-known bluntness (including a penchant for swearing in public). Read more
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John Gapper is an associate editor and the chief business commentator of the FT.
He has worked for the FT since 1987, covering labour relations, banking and the media. He is co-author, with Nicholas Denton, of 'All That Glitters', an account of the collapse of Barings in 1995.
Andrew Hill is an associate editor and the management editor of the FT. He is a former City editor, financial editor, comment and analysis editor, New York bureau chief, foreign news editor and correspondent in Brussels and Milan.
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