Preparing CEOs for Success: Webinar Provides Insights from CEOs and Directors

HR Policy members, CEOs, and Directors discussed what makes CEOs successful and the implications for executive development and CEO succession, based on MyNextSeason’s new “Preparing CEOs for Success” report.  

The webinar featured Humana CEO Bruce Broussard, MyNextSeason co-founder Dr. Leslie Braksick, and Marty Gervasi, former CHRO at The Hartford and Executive Advisor with MyNextSeason. They discussed changes in how CEOs consider the role and the rise of importance in these key areas.

• Maintain authenticity and integrity as you lead through disruption: As crisis management became the norm over the past several years with increased expectations from stakeholders that employers “do the right thing,” CEOs emphasized the importance of ensuring their actions and words were aligned with company values.
  
  
• Create an executive “A” team: There was a shift from “I” to “we” with a focus on shared accountability to model behavior for the company culture and values.
  
  
• Architect for company culture: Dr. Braksick noted that prior versions of this study did not discuss culture much, if at all, but it was a recurring topic among contemporary interviews. Mr. Broussard spoke about the strong need to build trust and create followership through purposeful leadership.
  
  
• Find and Encourage Truth Tellers. Know “what is real” by having skip-level meetings and hearing from a variety of people in the organization.

Mr. Broussard shared insights based on his tenure as CEO on how technology has changed the way businesses are run and increased the complexity of the enterprise. He cited humility, curiosity and a “rookie mindset” as key competencies needed to grow in the role, and noted that  asking questions is the most important tool for a CEO to have.

The executive coaches discussed how to prepare leaders for a C-suite role and tips for developing tailored development plans that will close gaps, round out skill sets and help successors become comfortable interacting with the board. 

You can view the slides here and the MyNextSeason study here.