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McKinsey Center
for CEO Excellence
Helps CEOs and aspiring CEOs perform at their best,
maximize their potential, and successfully navigate
an increasingly complex world.
McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence
Help CEOs perform at their best, maximize their potential, and successfully navigate an increasingly complex world
Bob Sternfels
Global Managing Partner
McKinsey & Company
The leadership opportunity before you today is arguably the most profound of our time
We are amid a confluence of external forces that are reshaping industries and economies worldwide: an increasingly intricate geopolitical landscape, shifting trade dynamics influencing global supply chains, the growing urgency of the climate crisis, a generative AI driven technology revolution accelerating innovation at an unprecedented pace, and customers who expect a seamless, digital world. These forces demand a new kind of leadership—one that is resilient, forward-thinking, and capable of balancing adaptation with conviction.
We are amid a confluence of external forces that are reshaping industries and economies worldwide: an increasingly intricate geopolitical landscape, shifting trade dynamics influencing global supply chains, the growing urgency of the climate crisis, a generative AI driven technology revolution accelerating innovation at an unprecedented pace, and customers who expect a seamless, digital world. These forces demand a new kind of leadership—one that is resilient, forward-thinking, and capable of balancing adaptation with conviction.
It takes courage to lead in these times. What I hear from my conversations with many CEOs around the world is a desire to live up to this leadership opportunity, to lean into the complexities in front of us, and emerge with organizations that are resilient and drive sustainable, inclusive growth.
Realizing this ambition requires balancing multiple priorities without compromising on any of them - leaders must think longer term, recognizing that lasting impact comes from decisions that balance immediate needs with future aspirations. This requires personal energy to sustain focus and inspire others, as well as the ability to balance adaptation to changing circumstances with conviction in core values and long-term goals.
This balancing act is no small feat, but it is needed more now than ever! It demands resilience to weather uncertainty, conviction to stay true to core values, and the agility to adapt to changing circumstances. The future belongs to those who can integrate these dimensions and lead with both speed and purpose.
While this ambition is bold, you are not alone. McKinsey’s Center for CEO Excellence was created to help CEOs learn from their peers as well as from seasoned CEO counsellors (many of whom I consider friends, mentors, and advisors) about how CEOs can lead and succeed in these tumultuous times. This program designed especially for C-suite leaders offering personalized insights, distinctive learning experiences, and high stakes support to help you perform at the highest level and deliver on the aspirations you have to transform both yourself and your organization.
I hope you take the time to explore this unique opportunity, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.
Sincerely,
Bob Sternfels
Global Managing Partner
McKinsey & Company
Bob Sternfels
Global Managing Partner
McKinsey & Company
The leadership opportunity
before you today is arguably the most profound of our time
Realizing the ambition for sustainable, inclusive growth means rejecting the notion that we must trade one aspect for any of the others. Growth is the oxygen that breathes life into a flourishing society – it increases well-being for everyone and generates capital for green innovation. However, that growth must not come at the expense of addressing the climate crisis. This is a responsibility taken seriously by every leader
Realizing the ambition for sustainable, inclusive growth means rejecting the notion that we must trade one aspect for any of the others. Growth is the oxygen that breathes life into a flourishing society – it increases well-being for everyone and generates capital for green innovation. However, that growth must not come at the expense of addressing the climate crisis. This is a responsibility taken seriously by every leader
I speak to as they look across their entire value chain to accelerate their energy transition. And we must do a better job of narrowing the inequalities among genders, ages, ethnicities, family backgrounds, and skills.
These dimensions may sometimes pull organizations in different directions; however, they can also strengthen and reinforce one another. I believe the future belongs to leaders who can do all of it together—and do it with speed and resilience. While this ambition looms large, fortunately, you are not alone.
McKinsey’s Center for CEO Excellence was designed to help CEOs learn from their peers as well as from seasoned CEO counsellors many of whom I consider friends, mentors, and advisors about how CEOs can lead and succeed in these tumultuous times.
This program designed especially for CEOs In-Role offers personalized insights, distinctive learning experiences, and high stakes support to help you perform at the highest level and deliver on the ambitions you have for your organization.
I hope you take the time to explore this unique opportunity and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.
Bob Sternfels
Global Managing Partner
McKinsey & Company
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However, CEO Excellence is the way forward…
However, CEO Excellence is the way forward…
The MCCE draws on 95 years of experience in bespoke CEO counselling and research
25
years of data on CEO Excellence
3,500
companies studied across 70+ countries
7,800
CEOs counselled across 24 industries
1,000+
sources of external research
Crafting, how CEOs outperform on six key responsibilities
Crafting, how CEOs outperform on six key responsibilities
MCCE offers distinctive learning experiences through
Peer network and community
Deep, confidential and off-the-record peer relationships, exclusive access to the world’s biggest CEO events, and lifetime access to the Center’s alumni community
World-class faculty
Learn from the world’s best, including distinguished thought leaders, industry pioneers, and accomplished former CEOs
Signature learning journeys
Bespoke and experiential learning journeys to support the unique needs of a CEO’s life stage and leadership archetypes
Personalized mini-boards
A “council of advisors” that serve as a personal sounding board for your ideas and to develop tailored recommendations that suit your unique needs and leadership style
Curated leading-edge insights
Personalized insights, newsletters and connections to relevant experts to create tactical and tangible learning opportunities for you on the most pertinent CEO Excellence topics
Tailored programs, right for you...
MCCE offers two flagship programs
CEO Program
Aspire Program
Overview of the program
The CEO Program is a unique nine-month program, custom-tailored to help you elevate your performance and impact to unprecedented heights. It brings together an exclusive cohort of leaders, meticulously selected from diverse industries and regions. A council of advisors is carefully curated to serve you as your personalized mini board who will support you throughout your learning journey. This intimate gathering offers an unparalleled opportunity for you to engage with like-minded peers, fostering a privileged and enriching environment for collective growth.
150+ CEOs have embarked on this journey so far, why should you?
100%
said they would recommend the program to others
100%
felt that the content was relevant to themselves
Key benefits for you
Gain a profound understanding of the CEO role and craft a strategic roadmap tailored to their unique leadership journey
Build on powerful insights imparted by thought leaders from McKinsey and industry leaders across the globe
Strengthen emotional intelligence, resilience, and leadership presence to help you lead through change
Learn to navigate an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment
Harness the collective wisdom and shared experiences of your cohort to enhance decision-making capabilities and broaden
Overview of the program
- The Aspire Program is a unique six-month program, custom-tailored to help you discover and unveil the skills necessary for the next leadership position, which consistently demands exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
- It brings together an exclusive cohort of leaders, meticulously selected from diverse industries and regions.
- A council of advisors is carefully curated to serve you as your personalized coaches who will support you throughout your learning journey.
- This intimate gathering offers an unparalleled opportunity for you to engage with like-minded peers, fostering a privileged and enriching environment for collective growth.
25+ aspiring CEOs have embarked on this journey so far, why should you?
100%
said they would recommend the program to others
100%
felt that the content was relevant to themselves
Key benefits for you
Gain a profound understanding of Understand yourself and the role
- Explore key mindsets for CEO excellence
- Gain deep insights into Top Executive role selection criteria
Level-set readiness for the next role
- Develop a comprehensive view of your current readiness through assessment
- Discover priority criteria to empower your path to success
Develop your readiness plan
- Unveil your potential leadership blind spots
- Identify individual strengths to leverage and prioritize gaps to address
- Formulate a tangible action plan to address your gaps and propel your transformation journey
Execute your readiness plan
- Execute your plan and evaluate progress regularly with your mentor
- Leverage mentor and faculty inputs to refine your plan
Navigate the selection process
- Define your proposition and proposed vision for your organization
- Equip yourself to tackle all Board interview questions
“This has been a journey of self fulfilment, because all the questions I came in with, were answered by my peer CEOs & CEO mentors effectively. It was exactly what I was seeking.”
– CEO of one of India's fastest growing infrastructure companies
“The feedback I received from my peer board was direct, specific, and immediately actionable, and I'll put those into place right away!”
– CEO of one of Australia's largest energy companies
“It was a humbling experience with the amazing peers, and world-class CEO faculty to guide us in our thinking - learning about their war stories was incredible.”
– CEO of one of Singapore's leading consumer goods companies
(0-5 years into the role)
Resources and Insights
Prioritizing culture, purpose and people
‘Never waste a crisis’: Nikhil Eapen on leading transformative change
Nikhil Eapen, the CEO of StarHub, recently sat down with Senior Partner Denis Bugrov to discuss his sector-redefining ambitions for Singaporean telecom firm StarHub for a special interview in McKinsey’s Leading Asia series. Nikhil shares how his time in Singapore’s Naval Diving Unit prepared him for corporate leadership in challenging times.
Leading from the top
From the co-founders of MCCE
February 28, 2025 | Article
Everyday habits: How CEOs navigate their six core responsibilities (February 2025) From over 100+ CEOs globally, we curated a “best of” list of everyday routines and micro-habits along the six dimensions of CEO Excellence. We hope this provides insights into the “how” – how CEOs juggle professional responsibilities, fulfill personal priorities, and maintain optimal personal effectiveness
The loneliest job?
How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability
August 7, 2024 | Article
Article discusses the common trade-offs and regrets that CEOs face. The key trade-offs incl. balancing innovation vs stability, committing to long-term goals despite short-term “noise”, managing between missionary and mercenary, and on a deeper level, searching for their own “North Star” vs achieving corp. bottom line
CEO Excellence:
How do leaders assess their
own performance
February 13, 2024 | Article
From our program of 100+ CEOs, we learnt about their aspirations, mindsets, and micro-habits across the 6 dimensions of CEO Excellence. Preliminary thought-provoking patterns from a regional, gender, and tenure view. Also shows significant progress across all dimensions across learning journey
Your personal effectiveness corner
Here are some book and podcast recommendations from our mentors and coaches
Dana Maor, senior partner and global co-lead of the People & Organizational Performance Practice; Hans-Werner Kaas, senior partner emeritus and co-dean of the Bower Forum; Kurt Strovink, senior partner and leader of CEO service line; Ramesh Srinivasan, senior partner and co-dean of the Bower Forum
Meaning and success with Fabrice Desmarescaux
Perhaps you are looking for some inspiration for 2025? You might enjoy listening to the latest episode of the How To Live podcast. In this edition, Sharad Lai and Fabrice Desmarescaux discuss finding meaning and success at various stages of life, why most big decisions are two-way doors, and the sweet spot between ambition and self-awareness.
