The road to becoming CEO is a difficult ascent for even the most seasoned leaders. We discuss the four keys to making that journey a success with Carolyn Dewar and Vik Malhotra, two of the authors of the New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence.    Carolyn is a senior partner in our San Francisco office who founded and co-leads our CEO Excellence Practice. She works directly with Fortunate 100 client CEOs to help them maximize their effectiveness in the role. Vik is a senior partner in our New York office, who is one of our firm’s most senior client advisors. Vik has served on our board of directors and as our Managing Partner of the Americas, and he currently focuses on counselling CEOs and boards. Our Voices of CEO Excellence interviews with: James Gorman Stephen Schwarzmann, and Ken Frazier Our previous episodes on CEO excellence: Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal Leadership lessons from the world's best CEOs Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.comSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In a compelling discussion, Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck, known for his equitable leadership, and Hayden Brown, CEO of Upwork, share insights on navigating crises with core principles. They discuss the importance of trusting values amidst social upheavals like the Ukraine war and the pandemic. Brown highlights opportunities for diversity and productivity growth during chaos, while Frazier stresses the role of socially conscious leadership. The conversation emphasizes empathetic, adaptive strategies over traditional top-down approaches, urging leaders to engage with pressing social issues.

Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck, advocates for health equity and social responsibility, while Ken Chenault, ex-CEO of American Express, champions diversity in business. They discuss how campus protests influence corporate leadership, urging CEOs to navigate societal tensions carefully. The duo emphasizes the vital role of DEI initiatives and the necessity of inclusive practices to reflect diverse perspectives. They also highlight the importance of civil discourse on contentious issues, particularly in today's polarized environment, advocating for courageous leadership amidst uncertainty.