Companies have only one truly peerless role—that of the CEO. As much as 45 percent of a company’s performance can be attributed to the chief executive’s influence. Today, the role demands increasing ethical accountability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. The decisions a CEO is responsible for have grown twice as predictive of a company’s overall performance over the last 50 years.
The role is a lonely one. CEOs must balance all the usual work-life challenges while answering to a broader range of stakeholders and leading their organizations through external headwinds and change over which they may have little control. The McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence seeks to provide leaders with meaningful support and guidance to help them perform at their highest level, maximize their potential, and successfully navigate a complex and constantly evolving world.