Carolyn Dewar, Sr Partner - McKinsey, Bestselling Author - CEO Excellence
Apr 14, 2023
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Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner at McKinsey and bestselling author, dives into her inspiring journey from a suburb outside Toronto to shaping leadership practices at McKinsey. She shares insights on the six mindsets that set top CEOs apart, highlighting the significance of balancing quantitative and qualitative leadership methods. Carolyn also discusses the importance of authenticity, overcoming self-doubt, and recognizing personal strengths, especially among women, to foster meaningful connections in both professional and personal spheres.
Carolyn Dewar's early ambition to attend St. Andrews University highlights the importance of curiosity and determination for personal growth.
Her extensive career at McKinsey demonstrates the value of adaptability in leadership roles across diverse sectors and teams.
The concept of a 'To BE' list reflects how successful leaders prioritize personal attributes over traditional task-focused approaches in decision-making.
Deep dives
Early Ambition and Educational Choices
At a young age, Carolyn Dewar exemplified ambition by actively seeking admission to St. Andrews University at just twelve years old. Her passion for learning and determination stemmed from family vacations that exposed her to the historic town, significantly shaping her educational journey. Dewar studied economics and international relations, fields that would later intertwine in her career at McKinsey, where she has worked for over two decades. This early commitment to education reflects her belief that curiosity and ambition are essential for personal and professional growth.
Career Evolution at McKinsey
Dewar's career at McKinsey has spanned over twenty years, allowing her to reinvent her role multiple times while experiencing various sectors including financial services and cultural transformation. She emphasizes the importance of adaptability within organizations, noting how engaging with diverse teams helped her understand complex industry dynamics. Her leadership role in McKinsey's CEO practice underlines her expertise in working closely with top executives, strategizing organizational changes, and optimizing performance. The ability to shift focus and evolve roles is what has kept her tenure enriching and fulfilling.
Insights from CEO Excellence
Dewar's co-authored book, 'CEO Excellence', investigates the six mindsets that define successful CEOs, drawing insights from extensive research and interviews with industry leaders. The book stresses a shift towards identifying personal attributes over traditional lists of tasks, highlighting that the qualities of a leader significantly impact their approach to decision-making. Findings from interactions with over seventy CEOs illuminate that the role is more nuanced than many anticipate, often involving complexities in managing boards and external stakeholders. This work not only benefits CEOs but also provides valuable lessons for leaders at all levels.
Personal Growth Through Vulnerability
Dewar recounts a pivotal moment early in her career when she learned the power of vulnerability in fostering genuine connections. An unexpected conversation with a client about personal struggles shifted her perspective on professional relationships, teaching her that authenticity can enhance both personal and professional interactions. This experience encouraged her to embrace transparency in her leadership approach, framing it as a strength rather than a weakness. It demonstrated the importance of being relatable in a high-stakes environment and reinforced the idea that true leadership thrives on trust and open communication.
Balancing Professional Ambition with Personal Values
As a mother, Dewar reflects on the challenge of balancing her children’s privileged upbringing with lessons in humility and community responsibility. She is committed to instilling values of resilience and gratitude in her kids, recognizing the essential role that luck plays in success. The upcoming family trip to the UK offers an opportunity to connect her children with their heritage while emphasizing the importance of diverse experiences. These efforts underscore her belief that grounding personal ambitions with a sense of responsibility toward others can create more empathetic future leaders.
