The CEO is the face of the company. It is a role that carries the expectations and hopes of shareholders, employees, and the board. A sought-after position of power, becoming a CEO is a life-long dream for many. Yet, very few fully understand the multi-faceted requirements this role demands. It is one that requires constant change and innovation every day .
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi puts it succinctly, “Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization. I’ve never forgotten that.”
CEOs are expected to look after the short-term and long-term goals for a company. And leadership is as much an art as it is a science.
Have you ever dreamt of becoming a CEO? What would you do if I told you that becoming CEO is as easy as listening to Ted talks?
Here are the top five Ted Talks that will help you in your journey:
From scientists to immigrants, we have curated an eclectic mix of leaders who have set out to change the world the best way they can.
After Watching This Your Brain Will Not Be The Same – Lara Boyd
Although many dream of reaching the echelons of power, very few think they are capable of achieving it. If becoming a leader has been your dream, watching Dr Lara Boyd’s Ted Talk would be a good start. A neuroscientist and physical therapist at the University of British Columbia, Dr Boyd convinces you that anything is possible if you just put in the effort.
Her Ted Talk on the neuroplasticity of the brain – the ability of the brain to change and adapt based on intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli – reveals how the brain changes to support learning. In her words: “The primary driver of change in your brain is your behavior. There is no neuroplasticity drug you can take.”
This recording makes it to our list of Ted Talks for CEOs, as no matter what our circumstances, every once in a while we need to be reminded that we are capable of achieving anything we set our mind to.
Great leaders Do What Drug Leaders Do – Michael Brody-Waite
A former drug addict, Michael Brody-Waite understands what it means to crave your next fix. He also knows how to fight it, straighten out your life, and run a corporation where authenticity is the key to success. In his Ted Talk given nearly four years ago, the entrepreneur draws parallels between recovering from addiction and leading a team.
The three principles that saved his life — practice rigorous authenticity, surrender the outcome, and do uncomfortable work — can save yours too. In his early job, he was promoted eight times in eight years. Later, he founded and led InQuicker, a healthcare SaaS company, as CEO until 2015, when it was sold to a publicly traded firm. He then served as the CEO of Nashville Entrepreneur Center, which helps connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need to create, launch, and grow a business.
Brody-Waite also dissuades us from putting CEOs on a pedestal and asserts that the three principles will help change our lives and our jobs. According to him, authentic leadership exists at the intersection of authenticity and compassion.
Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe – Simon Sinek
Popular author and self-declared “unshakable optimist” Simon Sinek works with some of the greatest leaders and organizations on the planet. In his Ted Talk, Sinek sheds light on how good leaders create physically and psychologically safe spaces for their teams.
Through the story of an American captain and his empathetic response in a time of crisis, Sinek tells us why good leaders must cultivate trust amongst their teams. With trust comes security and cooperation, and people will eventually let their guard down to push the boundaries of what is possible. This is the formula to success.
Trust starts with investing the time to get to know the people you work with and leading them to greater things. He stresses on the fact that leadership is a choice people must make every day.
Great leaders provide a safe environment for their teams and help them grow. Filled with real-life stories of extraordinary leaders who rose to the occasion in times of adversity, Sinek solidifies what any individual must do to be an outstanding leader. And if you are in the running for CEO, this talk is a summary of everything you must aim for.
Great Leadership is a Network, Not a Hierarchy – Gitte Frederiksen
Management books tell us that the CEO is the highest ranking employee in an organization. A CEO is expected to put out fires and motivate employees to achieve organizational goals. Most of us believe that the power to accomplish this comes from the designation that the individual carries.
Frederiksen tells us that in the modern world, complex problems are coming at us faster than most data system can predict. In such situations, having a few people with titles will not give us quicker solutions. To combat this, we must expand our circles and gather minds with different capabilities and interests. As digitization and AI become part of everyday work, leadership is an expendable concept.
Today, leadership is more about communication than a designation. The young management consultant argues that building influence brings in more dynamic to any role you embody. While becoming a CEO awards you a label, true leadership is about sharing ideas and thoughts and not sticking to the title in the hierarchical sense.
The Anti-CEO Playbook – Hamdi Ulukaya
In a world that runs on profit forecasts and Wall Street estimates, Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya shares his vision on the anti-CEO playbook and why it works. Our list of Ted Talks for CEOs would be incomplete without this gem, where Ulukaya disses everything corporate America tells a CEO to do. He clarifies what it means to be a bad boss.
From stumbling upon a closed factory to developing communities and a workforce that is 30% immigrants and refugees, Ulukaya highlights what it means to be a true leader. He shares his way of doing business and why a company should be built on the principle that a CEO reports to the consumer.
The Turkish billionaire talks about giving company shares to 2,000 employees and making them responsible for the business. As he shares the framework of his anti-CEO playbook, Ulukaya gives you the confidence to become a leader who is a master disruptor and innovator. He says, “An anti-CEO playbook is about gratitude” as he details the steps he took to make Chobani the best selling yogurt in the US.
To sum up, just becoming a CEO does not mean you have landed. You must commit to continual learning and make courageous choices everyday.
