The Road to Becoming Tech Boss

When executive recruiter Russell Reynolds Associates talks with clients, the companies often say, "I want a digital rock star," said Nada Usina, a managing director at the firm.

To help Russell Reynolds better understand where these rock stars come from and how they're created, the firm recently analyzed 135 chief executives of prominent U.S. technology companies, both public and private, to determine commonalities among those atop the geek world.

Here is what they found.