George David

The 65-year-old has led United Technologies (UTX) as CEO since 1994, earning a reputation as a savvy leader with a penchant for bold investments.

I don't like the word "work" because the connotation is that work is not fun. If work is not fun, don't do it. To me, there's no such thing as work. That's why I do it 24/7. I work because I enjoy it. I don't work for power or money. At this point in my career, I can certainly say that. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation of the work I do.

Maybe my view reflects a fortuitous set of circumstances that led me to a company that blends globalization and technology to extraordinary levels. I'm intellectually curious. To me, that's critical in a leader. It's not just curiosity about products, channels, or markets. It's also the bigger picture—things like world politics and how economies open and close. You just cannot stop acquiring information in a company the scope and size of UTC.

I see an analogy with sailing. There's a physical element in sailing that there is not in business. But I think that a sailboat race is like a year of business in a hour and a half, or a week and a half, depending on the length of the race. It's about preparation, planning, boat design, organization, equipment, and material sciences. You need strategy, teamwork, organization, and an element of luck. You also have to comply with regulations and stay inside the box. And frankly, it's nice to win. I admit to being competitive. A sailing victory is a metric, like the stock price is a metric. It says you're doing a good job.