Wendell Weeks on Corning’s Innovation, Leadership & Partnership with Apple

On this episode of Fortune’s Leadership Next podcast, cohosts Diane Brady, executive editorial director of the Fortune CEO Initiative and Fortune Live Media, and editorial director Kristin Stoller talk with Wendell Weeks, CEO of Corning.

This article summarizes the insightful conversation on Fortune’s Leadership Next podcast featuring Wendell Weeks, CEO of Corning. The discussion covers Corning's pivotal role as Apple’s glass provider, the company's longevity with nearly 175 years in business, and Weeks’ views on innovation in America. The interview reveals Weeks' leadership philosophy shaped by personal challenges, his experiences collaborating with tech giants like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, and Corning’s strategic investments in technology like fiber optics and solar energy. The article also explores the future of innovation and leadership advice from Weeks.

Key points:

• Wendell Weeks shares how Corning became the supplier of Gorilla Glass for Apple’s iPhone and the company’s deep-rooted innovation.
• Weeks emphasizes passion and trust-based partnerships as central to sustained innovation and business success.
• The CEO recounts a humorous story about meeting Steve Jobs and the challenges of inventing new display technologies.
• Corning balances long-term R&D investments with meeting short-term business demands, focusing on a 150-year plan.
• Weeks highlights the importance of followership and continuous learning in leadership.
• The company is investing in emerging technologies including fiber optics for AI and solar energy production.
• Weeks discusses lessons learned from Jeff Bezos and the value of board service.
• Despite industry challenges, Weeks expresses optimism about innovation and talent availability in the U.S.

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Corning's legacy: a 175-year journey of innovation

Corning Incorporated, a name often unrecognized by the general public, is behind many essential products foundational to modern technology and everyday life. Wendell Weeks, the company’s CEO, shares how Corning has evolved from inventing Thomas Edison’s light bulb to creating Gorilla Glass for Apple devices and advancing fiber optics critical for AI data centers. Throughout its history, Corning has combined passionate expertise with long-term vision to sustain innovation across centuries.

Passion, partnership, and persistence at the core of creation

Weeks emphasizes that "every act of creation is an act of passion," rejecting the idea that innovation can be reduced to mere frameworks or logic. This passionate commitment extends through Corning’s generations of scientists and engineers who focus deeply on glass and photon-based technologies. The company cultivates trust-based relationships with customers and partners, enabling collaborative problem-solving and breakthrough products.

The Steve Jobs story: humor, persistence, and breakthrough

Weeks recounts a memorable anecdote about Steve Jobs initially dismissing Corning's synthetic green laser projector concept as "the dumbest idea." Despite this, Jobs recognized the need for larger displays and initiated direct contact with Weeks, overcoming typical corporate gatekeeping on both sides. This led to Corning's development of Gorilla Glass, which became a key element of Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch displays. The story illustrates Weeks’ perseverance, creative collaboration, and importance of direct leadership engagement.

Balancing long-term research with market realities

Corning’s R&D strategy is distinguished by its century-old research lab and focus not just on research for its own sake, but building practical solutions that address real-world problems. Weeks explains that this builder mentality, coupled with close connection between executives and bench scientists, keeps research relevant and impactful. The company maintains a “150-year plan” mindset to invest in technologies such as fiber optics for AI networking and solar polysilicon production, despite short-term investor pressures.

Leadership shaped by personal history and values

Weeks shares how growing up with alcoholic parents instilled resilience and a drive to surround himself with stable, principled people—values he found at Corning. Drawing inspiration from Viktor Frankl’s philosophy about treating people as they could be, Weeks credits Corning with nurturing his growth. He advocates for the importance of followership, teaching that great leaders first learn to serve and trust their teams, questioning expertise while respecting knowledge.

Lessons from tech luminaries and ongoing innovation

As an Amazon board member, Weeks gained insights from Jeff Bezos, notably the fearless approach to risk and focus on doubling down on what works rather than lamenting failure. This perspective aligns with Weeks’ own experiences with Steve Jobs’ challenge to overcome fear and deliver groundbreaking products. Looking to the future, Weeks highlights how Corning is innovating in AI infrastructure through advanced fiber networks and ramping up solar manufacturing to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign supply chains.

Optimism for innovation and American talent

Contrary to mixed industry signals about innovation prospects, Weeks expresses enthusiasm for the current environment in the U.S., citing transformational technologies like AI as American-born and a source of global leadership. He stresses the abundance of talent and continuous innovation across sectors as reasons to be optimistic about future growth and technological breakthroughs.

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Conclusion: Wendell Weeks offers a compelling perspective on leadership, innovation, and endurance from the helm of one of America’s oldest tech companies. His story blends passion, humility, and strategic foresight, underscoring the value of trust, collaboration, and long-term commitment in building enduring businesses. As Corning expands in cutting-edge fields like AI and renewable energy, Weeks’ leadership exemplifies how historic companies can thrive amid rapid technological change.

Questions and answers

Q: Wendell Weeks interview

A: In interviews, Wendell Weeks, the CEO of Corning Incorporated, often discusses the company's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth. He emphasizes the importance of investing in research and development to maintain Corning's leadership in materials science. Weeks also shares insights on navigating market challenges and driving technological advancements that impact everyday life, such as Gorilla Glass and fiber optics.

Q: Corning Gorilla Glass supplier

A: Corning Gorilla Glass is supplied directly by Corning Incorporated, which manufactures this durable, thin glass used extensively in smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices. As the original inventor, Corning controls the production and licensing of Gorilla Glass technology, partnering with major tech companies globally. The glass is prized for its strength, scratch resistance, and ability to withstand drops, making it a key component in modern consumer electronics.

Q: Corning innovation history

A: Corning Incorporated has a rich history of innovation dating back to its founding in 1851. The company pioneered glass technologies that transformed multiple industries, including the development of optical fiber for telecommunications and the creation of Gorilla Glass for mobile devices. Corning's commitment to research and scientific advancement has led to breakthroughs in materials science, shaping technologies in healthcare, consumer electronics, and environmental sustainability.

Q: Corning fiber optics technology

A: Corning is a global leader in fiber optics technology, having developed the first low-loss optical fiber in the 1970s, which revolutionized telecommunications. Their fiber optic cables enable high-speed data transmission with minimal signal loss over long distances, supporting the backbone of the internet and modern communication networks. Corning continues to innovate in fiber optics to enhance bandwidth, reliability, and deployment efficiency for various applications worldwide.

Q: Leadership lessons from Wendell Weeks

A: Leadership lessons from Wendell Weeks include the importance of resilience, continuous innovation, and long-term vision. Weeks advocates for a strong company culture that embraces change and invests in talent development. He also highlights the value of balancing risk and patience when advancing new technologies, showing how thoughtful leadership can guide organizations through market disruptions while staying true to core values.

Key Entities

Wendell Weeks: Wendell Weeks is the chairman and CEO of Corning Incorporated, a company known for its specialty glass and ceramics. Under his leadership, Corning has expanded its role in supplying advanced materials for Apple products.

Corning: Corning Incorporated is an American technology company specializing in glass, ceramics, and related materials, famously producing Gorilla Glass for smartphones. The company has a significant partnership with Apple, providing durable glass components for various devices.

Apple: Apple Inc. is a global technology company renowned for its consumer electronics like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It closely collaborates with suppliers like Corning to develop high-quality components for its products.

Steve Jobs: Steve Jobs was the co-founder and former CEO of Apple who played a pivotal role in revolutionizing personal technology and design. His vision helped establish Apple's reputation for innovation, influencing partnerships such as that with Corning.

Jeff Bezos: Jeff Bezos is the founder and former CEO of Amazon, a leading global e-commerce and cloud computing company. While not directly related to Corning or Apple, Bezos is a prominent figure in the technology industry.

External articles

• Wendell Weeks at Corning Inc.: Extending a History of Life- ...
• Corning CEO says Jeff Bezos taught him that creating ...
• Wendell P. Weeks | Our Leadership

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YouTube Video

Title: CNBC Exclusive: Verizon & Corning CEOs on 5G Fiber Deal
Channel: Corning Incorporated
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EYDniSTu2c
Published: 8 years ago