What can you say about Kara Swisher? A superstar technology journalist with a renowned work-ethic that would break lesser mortals, Swisher is co-executive editor of All Things Digital, a leading tech news site and conference organizer that she runs with her colleague Walt Mossberg. Were Swisher simply a top tech reporter at The Wall Street Journal, where she pioneered coverage of the Internet in the 1990s, she would be a one-woman wrecking crew. But over the last several years, Swisher has assembled a cadre of younger gumshoes who have turned AllThingsD.com into tech journalism’s A-Team.
Every year, Sillicon Valley’s top executives dutifully appear at the All Things Digital conference in California for a ritualistic — but good-natured — grilling by Swisher and Mossberg. Swisher’s legendary interviews are too numerous to mention, but a standout moment was bringing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates together on stage in 2007 for a landmark joint session. She also made Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg sweat so hard in 2010 that he felt compelled to do the unthinkable — take off his signature hoodie. Also too numerous to mention: Swisher’s list of notable technology scoops. Swisher is arguably the best-sourced reporter in Silicon Valley — for awhile, it seemed she was embedded in Yahoo!’s boardroom. Perhaps best of all: despite her high-profile stature, Swisher conducts herself with great humor, and she’s always willing to offer advice to younger reporters, many of whom revere her for her distinguished record of achievement. Swisher earned a masters degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 1985.