Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What separates leaders who aim for CEO from those who reach the role—and thrive in it?
Excelling in the role starts long before someone takes corner office, with these skills, decisions, and habits that help CEOs prepare for the role, navigate their first months, and sustain performance over time.
McKinsey Partners Blair Epstein, Carolyn Dewar, Julia McClatchy, and Vik Malhotra share insights from their work with CEOs around the world. They discuss CEO readiness, executive leadership, organizational culture, the leadership transitions that shape long-term success, and more.
*Chapters:*
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Becoming CEO: Preparing for the Role
02:44 - The early days as CEO
03:58 - Avoiding complacency
04:48 - Keeping the organization energized
05:55 - Knowing when its time to step aside
09:34 - Key leadership lessons
Order "A CEO for All Seasons": mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-for-all-seasons
*About the guests:*
McKinsey Senior Partner Vik Malhotra: mckinsey.com/our-people/vik-malhotra
McKinsey Senior Partner Carolyn Dewar: mckinsey.com/our-people/carolyn-dewar
McKinsey Partner Julia McClatchy: mckinsey.com/locations/mckinsey-client-capabilities-network/our-work/strategic-and-change-communications/the-communications-exchange
McKinsey Partner Blair Epstein: mckinsey.com/our-people/blair-epstein
*Connect with us:*
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
Subscribe on YouTube: mck.co/YouTube
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
Any unanswered questions about this episode? Comment or send them our way at: TheMcKinseyPodcast@mckinsey.com
About the hosts: Lucia Rahilly is McKinsey’s global editorial director and deputy publisher of McKinsey Global Publishing. Roberta Fusaro is McKinsey’s Editorial Director, Convenor Publishing Board.
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw.
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information.
What separates leaders who aim for CEO from those who reach the role—and thrive in it?
Excelling in the role starts long before someone takes corner office, with these skills, decisions, and habits that help CEOs prepare for the role, navigate their first months, and sustain performance over time.
McKinsey Partners Blair Epstein, Carolyn Dewar, Julia McClatchy, and Vik Malhotra share insights from their work with CEOs around the world. They discuss CEO readiness, executive leadership, organizational culture, the leadership transitions that shape long-term success, and more.
*Chapters:*
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Becoming CEO: Preparing for the Role
02:44 - The early days as CEO
03:58 - Avoiding complacency
04:48 - Keeping the organization energized
05:55 - Knowing when its time to step aside
09:34 - Key leadership lessons
Order "A CEO for All Seasons": mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-for-all-seasons
*About the guests:*
McKinsey Senior Partner Vik Malhotra: mckinsey.com/our-people/vik-malhotra
McKinsey Senior Partner Carolyn Dewar: mckinsey.com/our-people/carolyn-dewar
McKinsey Partner Julia McClatchy: mckinsey.com/locations/mckinsey-client-capabilities-network/our-work/strategic-and-change-communications/the-communications-exchange
McKinsey Partner Blair Epstein: mckinsey.com/our-people/blair-epstein
*Connect with us:*
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
Subscribe on YouTube: mck.co/YouTube
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
Any unanswered questions about this episode? Comment or send them our way at: TheMcKinseyPodcast@mckinsey.com
About the hosts: Lucia Rahilly is McKinsey’s global editorial director and deputy publisher of McKinsey Global Publishing. Roberta Fusaro is McKinsey’s Editorial Director, Convenor Publishing Board.
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw.
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information.
