September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

September 8, 2016

Landing the First CEO Job

Many up and coming leaders aspire to become a CEO. Landing that first CEO job is tough, and I'm often asked for advice on how to do it. It's a tricky question. In my own work on CEO searches, it's unusual to see companies willing take a risk on someone who's never held the top job. Most boards of directors want a low risk candidate who has already been a CEO. So how does an aspiring CEO get the first shot at the corner office? I've seen it happen in the following ways:

  • They get promoted from within. This is by far the most common path. A CEO resigns or is fired, and the company suddenly faces a vacancy. By promoting an internal candidate, the company saves time and money, but more importantly it gets a known quantity who already knows the business.
  • They get hired by a trusted colleague. Another common path is winning the first CEO job through a trusted colleague. Maybe it's an investor who worked with the candidate at a prior business, or a former boss who's now sitting on the board of the hiring company. Whatever the case, there's a pre-existing relationship, and a lot of trust, that enables the hiring company to make the necessary leap of faith.
  • They make their own job. Entrepreneurially-minded people can appoint themselves CEO by starting their own company. Many well-known entrepreneurs — think of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates — became CEOs of their own companies at times when they would never have been considered for the job anywhere else.
  • They join a fixer-upper. A fourth path is through a troubled company where the board is having difficulty filling the CEO job. After they beat their heads against the wall trying to recruit a seasoned executive, they decide to give a first timer a shot. This can be a no-lose deal for the first time CEO. Turning around a bad situation will make her a hero, but failing won’t be a black mark on her record because the company was in deep trouble before she arrived.
What can you do to maximize your chances of becoming a CEO? I suggest a few simple steps:
  • Do great work. Without it, nothing else matters.
  • Tell people — both within your employer and outside — where you'd like to take your career. If they don't know about your aspirations, they may never think of you when opportunities arise.
  • Develop a mentor — or several mentors — who can give you candid advice. The learning curve is too steep to do it all yourself, so you must learn from the experience of people who came before you.
  • Finally, project confidence. If you don't believe you can handle the top job, no one else will, either.
Good luck!

Words
of Praise

Mike Travis has completed many C-Level/Board searches for ZOLL Medical.  He has really taken the time to learn our company’s strategy and culture, which is crucial to ensuring a good fit.

— Jonathan Rennert, CEO, ZOLL Medical Corporation