This thread ... LOL!
It's always tough but if you want to actually make some sort of impression and get to the point where you might get some technical detail out of him (which he probably doesn't deal with too much anyway) then get to him on a philosophical level. If you can say something on the macro level and get him thinking that would open up the opportunity to ask him anything else.
I'd read him first and see what sort of underlying things he's thinking about. Then I'd strike right there to get him to open up. Once you do that the rest of the conversation will just flow.
Of course someone like Steve Ballmer is going to be very business like. I'm not saying he won't open up in someway but he probably won't care much for small talk and will want to just get stuff done and go. Who knows though ... he did seem pretty emotional/passionate on stage that one time ... maybe he's not such a machine like Bill Gates.
Anyway, I wouldn't have any prepared questions. Keep it dynamic just like your code ;)
It's always tough but if you want to actually make some sort of impression and get to the point where you might get some technical detail out of him (which he probably doesn't deal with too much anyway) then get to him on a philosophical level. If you can say something on the macro level and get him thinking that would open up the opportunity to ask him anything else.
I'd read him first and see what sort of underlying things he's thinking about. Then I'd strike right there to get him to open up. Once you do that the rest of the conversation will just flow.
Of course someone like Steve Ballmer is going to be very business like. I'm not saying he won't open up in someway but he probably won't care much for small talk and will want to just get stuff done and go. Who knows though ... he did seem pretty emotional/passionate on stage that one time ... maybe he's not such a machine like Bill Gates.
Anyway, I wouldn't have any prepared questions. Keep it dynamic just like your code ;)