Inside the Strategy Room 270. Mastering the cycles of CEO leadership: Stepping up and sending it forward
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Sep 26, 2025 Carolyn Dewar, Vik Malhotra, and Kurt Strovink, all senior partners at McKinsey and co-authors of the upcoming book 'A CEO for All Seasons,' delve into the complexities of CEO leadership. They discuss why many CEOs feel unprepared for their roles, the importance of self-reflection, and the unique challenges faced at different stages of leadership. The trio also reveal the six core responsibilities of CEOs and the common blind spots that can hinder their effectiveness, offering valuable insights for aspiring and current leaders alike.
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Purpose Sustains CEO Performance
- Top CEOs are sustained by motivations beyond personal ambition and a desire to leave the organization better than they found it.
- Grounding leadership in service to customers and employees prevents treating the role as a CV checkbox.
CEO Role Is Uniquely Demanding
- Many new CEOs feel unprepared and nearly a third leave within three years, showing the role's steep learning curve.
- High-performing CEOs create outsized economic and societal value, making selection and development critical.
Six Mindsets That Define CEOs
- The six CEO responsibilities map to distinct mindsets: be bold, treat soft stuff as hard, solve for team psychology, help directors help the business, start with why, and do what only you can do.
- These mindsets show how top CEOs allocate resources, build culture, and focus their time.
