For his first two years on the job, Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Hackett has been more comfortable talking about design thinking and deep learning than about himself. But Ford's enigmatic leader got personal at a Detroit Economic Club talk last week, answering questions from the audience that almost read like a speed-dating profile. Among the answers? A shocking revelation about his favorite sport.
What's on his bucket list? "I'm Irish-Catholic. I have three older brothers, two sons and four granddaughters. One of our dreams is to go back to Ireland."
Who, other than his family, would he like to have lunch with? "Marin Luther King Jr. Somebody that inspired the world to alter its view of its bias."
One of his favorite songs: "Old Man" by Neil Young
His best sport? "I actually played three sports in high school. Bo [Schembechler, his former University of Michigan football coach] could not believe I could dunk a basketball, but I could. And I was a catcher in baseball. But I got recruited everywhere for football. We didn't have a 3-point shot, but I probably would have been a good 3-point shooter. I loved basketball as an enjoyment, but football was a meal ticket."
Describe Detroit in one word: "Soulful. When you come from outside, and you're listening to Motown, c'mon. It's a signature of who we are."
