Legend has it that Hackborn turned down the top executive position at HP to live quietly in Des Moines, Iowa. Most say they learn as much as they teach. Teligent' s background is the telecom perspective. But sitting in a board meeting at Dell gives enormous insight on the PC business, what's driving technologies in that industry and how the marketplace is impacting that business. Despite the benefits, the multiboard member is a rarity.
People tend to serve on fewer boards in the high-tech industry than they do in other industries.
Some top high-tech companies, such as Compaq, even restrict the number of boards on which their members may sit. Moreover, technology companies lead the trend of having smaller boards. As of 1997, Spencer Stuart's top 100 technology companies averaged four fewer directors than those in the broader SSBI index, which averaged 13 directors. Likewise, fewer people per board means each seat carries more responsibility and thus, more work. So companies prefer that their board members not stretch themselves too thin.