Robert Hargrove

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard

In the past, if you asked an executive, teacher, or family member whose opinion you respected for career advice, they would probably say: Definitely get into an Ivy League college, join a Fortune 500 company, and join a posh country club for social networking.

In today’s high tech, global economy, where talent rules, your advisers might tell you something entirely different. Drop out of school, go start your own company, and get yourself on Facebook or Ladders to make the right contacts.

As an example, I came across an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal in which Bobby Kotick, chief executive of Activision Blizzard Inc (video game maker and publisher), shared some personal details about his career. Here are some excerpts from a recent interview:

WSJ: What’s the best career advice you’ve gotten, and why?

Mr. Kotick: I’ve been very, very lucky, because I’ve had so many great mentors. Very early on when I was in my twenties, I met Steve Jobs who convinced me to quit college. He talked to me after I had spent about a year in Michigan studying the history of art. I don’t think he would even remember some of the things that he said. They were so insightful.

One thing he said was, “You’re studying the history of art. You don’t even get to see the paintings. Why would you be doing that? You have a company, you’re making Apple software, and you’re an entrepreneur. Don’t waste your time on college. Go, run your company.” And that was really good advice. I quit college and I started this company, so that was great.

I think Steve Wynn, who was like my mentor and a second father, has been a great inspiration. He’s a great mentor, because he’s a guy who’s had great business success, but also has always been driven by creativity, and inspired creativity. He always said, “If you create great experiences, the business model will follow.”

Read the entire article in the WSJ here.