he transformation from scientist and scientific leader of Aksel Wiin-Nielsen began when he joined the National Center of Atmospheric Research in Boulder Colorado in the early 1960s and then he later joined the University of Michigan as Chair of Department of Meteorology and Oceanography. In 1974, Aksel became the Director of the European Meteorological Computing Center. I would like in my presentation to delve into why he was such an effective scientist and how he became an effective scientific leader. What were the early signs in his early career that made him so successful? Several examples will be presented.