College trustees are hiring more leaders from outside the academy, and it is the self-made executives who generate the buzz. The reason, experts say, is that presidents with corporate experience know the vagaries of the marketplace, as well as the language of lawmakers, corporate executives, and donors. Too many college chiefs, says one source, have become "totally reliant on the salary and perks," leaving them afraid to butt heads with trustees and legislators. Volatility, however, is part of the job description, and presidents with money or the ability to make it beyond the campus are stronger executives. The writer provides examples from campuses in Colorado, Kentucky and Louisiana, concluding that presidents who are independently wealthy or have had success outside higher education tend to be bolder in their decision making because they can risk controversy.