Inside the Strategy Room

191. Best of 2023 - How to make a strong start as a CEO

Jan 3, 2024

Carolyn Dewar, senior partner and founder of CEO Excellence Practice, and Kurt Strovink, senior partner and co-leader of global CEO initiative, discuss advice for new CEOs, including the importance of listening, emotional connection, and setting clear goals. They also address engaging former peers and board alignment.

46:51

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Episode guests

Kurt Strovink

Carolyn Dewar

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Quick takeaways

Approach the listening tour with genuine curiosity to uncover valuable insights from stakeholders during the initial period.

Understand that the CEO role requires a fresh perspective, learning from the experiences of other successful CEOs to manage unexpected responsibilities and new stakeholders effectively.

Deep dives

The Importance of Genuine Listening and Learning

New CEOs should approach their listening tour with genuine curiosity, realizing that stakeholders may share valuable insights during this initial period. By genuinely engaging with stakeholders, CEOs can uncover information that may not be shared in the future. It is crucial to focus on actively listening and learning during this time to understand the unique aspects of the CEO role.

Keys to Effective Leadership and Influence

00:55

Adopting an organizational mindset as a leader

01:26

Key Considerations for CEOs at the 12 Month Mark

01:27

Introduction

2min

Navigating CEO Transition

25min

Nailing First Impressions and Interactions: Emotional Connection, Single Narrative, Candor, and Moments of Truth

5min

Engaging Former Peers and Working with Runner-Up Candidates

4min

Playing Big Ball: Prioritizing as a CEO

6min

Gaining Agreement and Alignment Within a Board

5min

In this episode, we share advice and insights for new CEOs about how they can make a strong start in the role. Sean Brown is joined by Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner in our San Francisco office who is the founder and co-leader of our CEO Excellence Practice. She is also a co-author of last year’s NY Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.

Joining Carolyn is Kurt Strovink, a senior partner in our New York office and co-leader of our global CEO initiative. He serves as a counselor to CEOs across industries and is a co-author, with Carolyn, of the Mckinsey.com article, Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal.

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