Being a CEO: Strategies for Decision-Making and Success Redefined

Ever wondered what it's like to be a CEO? It's likely you have, as so many CEOs have a consulting background. We asked Joe Falter (former CEO and founder of Jumia and founder of Zapp, ex-McKinsey) and Giampiero Marinò (CEO at Treatwell, ex-BCG) at our recent event with our hiring partners, Trainline. 

Spoiler alert: it's not always glamorous. When it comes to senior leadership, simplicity takes centre stage, success in the CEO role can be measured by the success and autonomy of your leadership team.

Our data suggests more than half of ex-consultants have ambitions towards the C-Suite. Alongside this article, we have a host of great interviews with industry leaders.

Navigating the CEO Landscape

The Ultimate Decision-Maker:

At its core, being a CEO is about making decisions, often tough decisions. Simply put, it’s about effective capital deployment to further the business. Procrastination or avoidance only exacerbates challenges. Embracing this head-on is the essence of the job.

Resilience is imperative:

The position demands resilience. CEOs are faced with constant challenges, setbacks, and uncertainties. The ability to bounce back and navigate through turbulence is crucial for the role.

Juggling Stakeholders:

Balancing acts are part of the CEO's daily routine. Juggling investors, non-executives, and the senior team requires finesse.

Isolation and Networks:

Loneliness can seep into the CEO role, but building a network of confidantes in similar roles provides a crucial support system. Sharing insights and experiences becomes incredibly valuable in the face of isolation.

Success Redefined:

Success isn't about personal glory. It's when you feel redundant because your team is thriving independently. True success is when operational value becomes secondary to the team's autonomy.

Pearls of Wisdom

Competitor Awareness without Obsession:

Keeping an eye on competitors is crucial, but obsession narrows thinking. CEOs should seek to redefine categories rather than simply play in them. Innovation often lies beyond the boundaries set by competitors.

Over-Communication as Strategy:

Communication is the CEO's most potent tool. Over-communicating, especially about company culture and strategy, ensures everyone is on the same page. It's a relentless effort to align visions and foster unity.

Feedback-seeking Culture:

Creating a culture where feedback, both praise and constructive suggestions, flows freely is an art. CEOs must actively seek feedback, as people won't naturally provide it. It's a vital loop for personal and organizational growth.

Conclusion

As Giampiero said, “The CEO role isn't for everybody but if you’re naturally resilient and can juggle many balls, it can be an extremely rewarding place to find yourself.” Beyond the spotlight, CEOs craft success not for themselves, but for the independence of their teams and the continued improvement of their businesses.

About the event

Our largest community event to date, it was so brilliant to see so many Movemeon members in attendance. A big thank you to our hiring partners, Trainline, who hosted the event where these great insights were shared. As well as to our guest speakers: Joe, Giampiero, Sakshi and Matthias.

If you’d like more information about how Movemeon partners with organisations looking to grow their teams, get in touch by filling out the form below!

Interested in more content about the CEO role:

• How to become a CEO (Video)
• How many CEOS have a consulting background?
• From Strategy to CEO: The best advice