Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan Behind the Scenes of CEO Succession Planning: How Organizations Decide Who Leads Next W/ Debbie Pickle, CHRO of Williams
Jan 5, 2026
Debbie Pickle, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Williams, shares her expertise on CEO succession planning after 40 years of leadership. She dives into creating a comprehensive CEO resource guide and the critical role of strategic assessments. Debbie highlights balancing organizational heritage with necessary change through detailed 30–60–90-day plans. She emphasizes the importance of clear communication during transitions and the CHRO's role as a strategic partner to ensure stability and a seamless leadership shift.
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Build A CEO Resource Guide
- Create a CEO resource guide with 30/60/90 prompts and longer-term questions to focus a new leader.
- Prioritize a few big, visible changes early so the organization sees direction without getting distracted.
Start With A CEO Profile
- Define the CEO profile first so the search matches your future strategic needs, not past habits.
- Use that profile to assess internal and external candidates and justify the board's selection.
Assess And Reassess Candidates
- Use validated assessments (Hogan) and in-person 360s for internal candidates, with follow-up pulses and development plans.
- Reassess progress over 12–18 months to confirm development is sustained before final selection.
