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How long does it take to become a CEO?

What does it take to become a CEO?

  • What are the key skills, behaviours, experiences and career patterns that are necessary to become a CEO in a large company? Do people plan to become the CEO or does it just happen to them? Who are the top 'young' CEO's who we should be watching?

  • Answer:

    I was in middle management for a very large IT-based company for 24 years. Promotions up to, and including, the level of Director are reasonable goals for an individual who has proven over and over that they have ability to "master" each succeeding level of managment. This is, of course based on near perfect performance reviews, experience, and tenure with the company. Becoming a VP.......and on up to the level of CEO includes (or should include) all of the above with at least several more attributes. However, in my experience, politics, play an equally important part in attaining the highest levels of management. CEOs, in addition to usually having a sterling resume', often sit on the boards of other large companies, have a politcal background, and went to the "right school," belong to the "right " Country Club......ad nauseum. Our former CEO, Michael Blumenthal, ex-Secretary of the Treasury and Harvard Professor of Economics virtually ruined two very viable large corporations through a "botched" merger, and a distinct lack of vision.

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SKILLS: Ability to cut thru to the meat of the matter & understand its significance to the company * Ability to choose good people * Ability to manage diverse functions & delegate effectively * Ability to express yourself articulately * A thorough understanding of the Company (& how its components interelate), the Industry, & the competitive situation. BEHAVIORS : Works hard & works smart * In early & leaves late * Interacts well with people at all levels * Knows that the buck stops here * Makes timely decisions & takes responsibility. CAREER PATTERNS & EXPERIENCES: Vary widely- no one kind of background . They come from inside or outside the company- May have diverse experience or sometimes have been rather specialized. But, they all have the drive & desire & the love of achievement. * Read Business Week, Forbes & The Wall Street Journal for the CEOs to Watch.

john m

Hutzpah. Stamina. You probably won't be a good CEO unless the business side of your business fascinates you. That is, if you're an inventor, the things you invent are probably what drive you ... so you'll be a lousy CEO if you try to go into business to sell them. CEOs are born in two ways: They take business track through school, become VPs, executive VPs, CFOs and eventually CEOs, or they start out with a few pennies and time to kill.

Elana

Great question there is no single answer - many CEO's of large corporations got their first senior post by working their way up in one organization.. then changes co's climb the last stage. Find a sector that you are passionate about. you really need to love what you are doing get rounded experience and qualifications in business, people, finance, operations etc... Read the biographies of great CEO's - but you will need to cut your own path. Attend many lectures and seminars and become a learning machine - but master one skill before moving on.. if you only get superficial - you will get found out. Make friends on the way up, promote people around you that complement you - recognise that you cannot be good at everything - so find people that are. Grow people. If you stop their progress, be it sideways or faster than you - you will ultimately stop yourself.. Look at the best - don't copy... but learn and adapt - above all be yourself... Good luck on your journey Mike http://www.rapidbi.com/coaching/

Mike M

The main one is someone who is prepared to make the right decisions the matter how hard it is. You don't have to be right all the time, but you've got to make a decision and you've got be right most of the time.

Barbara Doll to you

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