The past few weeks, CEOs have been at the center of the news. Steve Jobs's passing, the announcement that Yahoo's board fired its CEO, and recently IBM has named Virginia Rometty as its new CEO.
Leadership was one of a series of natural follow-up questions to October's discussion that focused on Kraft's struggle to achieve growth and lift its overall valuation. The current business climate, like the weather globally, has been extreme, and conditions are likely to continue to be highly volatile. What attributes or competencies are relevant in leading organizations in this unpredictable, hostile environment? Please join us as we explore some current thinking and research on November 18th (third Friday) as we consider
The three articles we've identified take very different perspectives and offer us a chance to consider and then construct a list of competencies critical for CEOs.
The first story from Fast Company summarizes some key findings from a unique study by IBM using one-on-one CEO interviews, with over 1,500 corporate heads and public sector leaders across 60 nations and 33 industries.
The second, is a more classic look by Booz Allen informed by results from their annual study , since 2000 of CEO succession among the world's top 2,500.
Finally, we have included an article that appeared in the military review, and holds reflections on classical perceptions of leadership the army has begun to re-examine based on lessons learned from business.
In addition to the pre-reading assignment, we have also tagged on an optional read about Yahoo and the consequences of being without strong leadership.
Bring your questions and thoughts along on Friday November 18th!
Pre-Reading Assignment:
1. The Most Important Leadership Quality for CEOs? Creativity
BY Austin Carr Tue May 18, 2010
http://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/creativity-the-most-important-leadership-quality-for-ceos-study
2. CEO Succession 2010: The Four Types of CEOs
Strategy and business Summer 2011 / Issue 63
http://www.strategy-business.com/article/11207
3. Deconstructing Army Leadership, by Colonel Christopher R. Paparone, Military Review
January-February 2004 http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/milreview/paparone.htm
Optional Reading:
4. As it loses executives, Yahoo seeks a deal
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/as-yahoo-bleeds-purple-a-push-for-a-deal/?scp=2&sq=yahoo&st=cse
If you have other articles of related interest, please send them to Rachel Kaberon(arkayuno@gmail.com), who will post them to our LinkedIn group prior to this month's meeting. For a summary of past months' discussions, visit our blog athttp://strategyinsight.wordpress.com.
We welcome suggestions for topics. If anyone has a topic idea or would like to facilitate one of our discussions, please e-mail Rachel Kaberon at arkayuno@gmail.com. We value diverse perspectives and encourage volunteers to lead conversations or participate in article selection.
**Notes on Process:: The Strategic Management Practices Issues Group offers a more interactive alternative to Chicago Booth's alumni round tables. Participants, limited to 20, gather to discuss a series of articles around a strategy topic chosen for that month. The facilitated discussion offers an interaction with peers in a lively discussion with balanced participation. The group is a great way to challenge your own ideas, gain new perspectives, and get to know fellow Booth alums better. No matter what aspect of strategy your work entails, this forum provides an enjoyable way to sharpen your business acumen. Meetings are held on the third Friday of each month, except December, from 7:30 until 8:45 AM. For a summary of past months' discussions, visit our blog at http://strategyinsight.wordpress.com.
There is no fee for attending, but registration is required (http://www.chicagoboothalumniclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=87&club_id=507662&item_id=157884 ) and closes at 11:59 PM two days prior to the event. Registrations made after this cutoff may not be honored. Attendance is limited in order to keep the discussion manageable. If you register and your schedule changes, please let us know immediately so we can offer your seat to someone else.
Discussions are held in the Burnham Rooms at US Trust in Chicago, our host for these monthly gatherings. There is no fee for attending, but registration closes at 6:00 PM two days prior to the event. Registrations made after this cutoff may not be honored. If you register and your schedule changes, please let us know immediately so we can offer your seat to someone else.
We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting, where you can update your MBA, interact with fellow Booth alumni, expand your professional network ... and still make it to the office by 9:00 AM!
Program
7:30 AM-8:45 AM: Coffee and Light Fare is provided by our host, Marcus Velasco