“We’re focusing on staying aggressive in the market-place in every market in the world—and it’s worked pretty well thus far,” he says.

“I think it certainly appears from the outside, and also in conversations with insiders that Rick Wagoner is already making a major difference in the company,” says H. Kent Bowen, Rauner professor of business administration at HBS. “First of all, he’s very smart. Secondly, he’s become CEO at a relatively young age, so in addition to focusing on changes in the near term, he has clearly a long-term view for the company.”

COMMUNITY LEADER

Not only is Wagoner a leading influence in business, but he also actively participates in the Detroit community.

Last year, Wagoner led a committee which convinced the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to hold its Division I men’s basketball Final Four tournament in Detroit in 2009.

According to The Detroit News, the endeavor will helps draw more than 75,000 fans and secure more than $75 million for the Detroit economy.

Bradford Kinsman, athletic director of the University of Detroit Mercy and another member of the committee that pushed for the NCAA tournament, says Wagoner displays unwavering dedication to the community.

“He’s extremely passionate about college basketball,” Kinsman says as he describes Wagoner’s decision to send a representative to Albuquerque, N.M., to try to sway the NCAA. “He served as executive chairman and literally led the corporate initiative. I think the NCAA was extremely impressed by his manner and presentation. He just does a fabulous job.”

Susan Sherer, who also sat on Detroit’s NCAA committee, says Wagoner’s leadership was paramount to securing the Final Four.

“There is no doubt in my mind that his commitment is what made it happen,” she says. “He has a great love for athletics—he was a college basketball player for Duke University—so he understands what athletics brings to the community.”

Wagoner also lists education as one of his top priorities. He serves on the board of trustees at Duke University and spearheads a national program called a World in Motion, which encourages students to pursue careers in science and mathematics.

“It’s a program where engineers who work for a variety of companies work with teachers in teaching students how math and science is used in real world,” he says.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CEO

Wagoner says there’s no such thing as an “average day” in his schedule.

For instance, yesterday, he inspected new products, met with union leaders, watched a high school basketball game and attended a middle school graduation.