Donald Mcneeley on data centers

About Donald Mcneeley

Dr. Donald McNeeley, chairman of Chicago Tube & Iron at Olympic Steel and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering, has continued to speak publicly about leadership, workforce development, and the industrial economy. In a November 2025 podcast episode, McNeeley discussed failure and leadership, stating that “everybody fails” and advising up-and-comers to “make the small mistakes.” He also commented on artificial intelligence, saying it will “automate the routine” and free up “leadership bandwidth for cultivating future leaders.” McNeeley has emphasized the importance of immigration reform, noting that “we can’t run the economy and continue to grow the United States without immigration — legal, appropriate, righteous immigration.” He has also criticized what he described as “unbelievably lucrative supplemental unemployment benefits” from the COVID era, which he said took talent out of the marketplace. In earlier appearances, McNeeley has argued for hiring based on potential rather than degrees, stating that he hires people for “how fast you’re going to learn” rather than what they already know. He has also discussed the need for the industrial sector to attract younger workers, noting that 50 percent of the industry will be eligible for retirement within five years. McNeeley has expressed concern about the national debt and the political climate, saying that “the Millennials have a legitimate complaint with my generation in that we left you 17 trillion dollars of the debt.” He has also advocated for enforcing existing trade laws regarding steel imports, describing the situation as one where foreign producers are “exporting their unemployment” to the United States.

Profile compiled from Donald Mcneeley's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →