2. QUICK STATS:
Average age when
appointed CEO
45Earned an MBA
41%
Extended family
included a CEO
28%
Earned a JD
3%
Average college GPA
3.51
CEOs come from diverse backgrounds and possess
varying character traits, but is it realistic to think
that anyone can become a CEO? Or, is it more likely
that particular social or educational influences
render certain individuals better suited to assume
this role? In an effort to understand where CEOs
come from and how they reach the top of their
organizations, we surveyed 161 current and former
chief executives and found that there exist clear
family, educational and personality-based factors
that substantially influence one’s likelihood of
becoming a CEO.
Background & Education
Skyler Hicks: shicks@glginstitute.com | Vasudev Bailey: vbailey@glginstitute.com p.1
» Whereas 41% of male CEOs are the oldest sibling, only
17% of top female executives could say the same.
» Family connections may matter more than you think –
almost a third of our respondents listed a CEO in
their family.
» You don’t have to be at the top of your college class
to excel in business. 80% of CEOs earned GPAs lower
than 3.8 on a 4.0 scale.
» While 95% of CEOs considered graduate school a
worthwhile investment, surprisingly few of these CEOs
earned JDs as compared to MBAs.
WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND?
Public
University
Private
University
36.4%
59.4%
63.6%
40.6%
GROWING UP, WHICH CHILD WERE YOU:
Only Child
Youngest
Middle
Oldest
8.3%
0%
25.9%
41.7%
24.5%
41.7%
16.6%
41.3%
3. 27%
21%
10%
9%
6%
6%
5%
5%
3%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
0%
0%
ENTP
ENTJ
INTJ
INTP
ENFP
ESTJ
ESTP
ISTP
INFP
ENFJ
ESFP
ISTJ
ISFP
ISFJ
ESFJ
INFJ
The Personality of a CEO
MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY TYPES:
DAVE PEACOCK
Former President & CEO, Anheuser-Busch
Inventive, Enterprising, Bored by
Routine, Enjoy New Challenges
VICKY GREGG
Former CEO,
BlueCross BlueShield, Tennessee
Logical, Independent, Strategic,
Inclined to Plan and Set Goals
MARVIN ROMANOW
Former CEO, Nexen
Theoretical, Analytical, Imaginative,
Excel at Solving Complex Problems
FRED KLEISNER
Former CEO, Morgans Hotel Group Co.
Spontaneous, Creative, Enthusiastic,
Seek and Provide Support to Others
DAVID BRENNAN
Former CEO, AstraZeneca
Energetic, Pragmatic, Adaptive,
Prefer Action over Inaction, Enjoy
Problem Solving
ULI BECKER
Former CEO, Reebok
Idealistic, Creative,
Friendly, Loyal
Skyler Hicks: shicks@glginstitute.com | Vasudev Bailey: vbailey@glginstitute.com p.2
Results Oriented, Practical,
Decisive, Will Take the Lead
in Organizing Projects
My path to the top took many twists and turns,
but I tried to never forget where I came from.
I used a very authentic type of management style
and stayed focused on the business while using
my heart to motivate people.
-Jan Fields, Former CEO, McDonald’s USA (ESTJ)
Be open to every possibility and opportunity, [and]
maximize your contribution in every assignment
and position you’re given.
-Jeff Kindler, Former CEO, Pfizer (ENTJ)
4. NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES WORKED IN
BEFORE BECOMING A CEO:
NUMBER OF COMPANIES WORKED FOR
BEFORE BECOMING A CEO:
Career Overview
FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE:
» Not all CEOs start their careers on the
fast track. In fact, many CEOs begin their
careers in non-business roles.
» Although women are almost twice as likely
as men to work for 4+ companies before
becoming CEOs, both male and female
executives became CEOs at about the same
age (45).
» Only 39% of male CEOs worked in 3+
industries, compared to 67% of female CEOs.
Paralegal
Waitress
TouristConsultant
Scientist
Research Chemist
Railroad Manager
Railroad Fireman
PsychiatricAssistant
Product Development
Pharmacist
Naval Officer
GraphicArtist
FastFoodManager
InvestmentBanker
LeaseAccountManager
Life Insurance Consultant
EventCoordinator
Employment Manager
ElectricalEngineer
Deli Meat Cutter
ComputerSalesman
Computer Programmer
ClaimsManager
Buying Manager
Auditor
Attorney
Assistant to the President
Retail Store Clerk
Retail Assistant Manager
Consultant
Car Salesman
BrandManager
Bank Teller
Army Officer
Airline Pilot
Chemist
Teacher
Sales Representative
Financial Analyst
Engineer
Accountant
One
Two
Three
Four+
28%
8%
25%
58%
9%
18%
21%
33%
Male CEOs who
worked for 4+ companies
92%
54%
Female CEOs who
worked for 4+ companies
Skyler Hicks: shicks@glginstitute.com | Vasudev Bailey: vbailey@glginstitute.com p.3
Work harder than everyone else,
take jobs and roles nobody else
wants, and [be willing] to take risks.
-Craig Herkert, Former CEO, SUPERVALU;
Former CEO, Walmart Americas (ENTP)
5. AVERAGE HOURS WORKED PER WEEK
BEFORE BECOMING CEO:
Moving On Up
In the Office
In the Car
In the Shower
On Vacation
At the Gym
23.0%
17.7%
13.3%
19.5%
26.5%
<40 40-59 60-79 80-99 100+
1.3%
0.6%
47.1%
38.9%
12.1%
WHERE DO YOU COME UP WITH
YOUR BEST IDEAS?
QUICK STATS:
Say a mentor was
instrumental to their success
Years of managerial experience
prior to becoming a CEO
16Average hours/week devoted to
continuous improvement &
learning before becoming a CEO
7
» If you can’t secure one-on-one meetings,
attending professional conferences ranked as the
next best way to network effectively. Don’t expect
to meet future CEOs at the next cocktail party
you’re attending.
» Becoming a CEO doesn’t require 100-hour weeks
at the office. Almost half of our respondents
worked between 40-59 hours per week. Only 13%
worked more than 80 hours per week.
» Almost three quarters of CEOs’ best ideas come
to them outside the office — it begs the question
of whether office spaces inhibit creative thinking.
Cocktail party
gathering
Symposium or
conference
Phone call or
email exchange
MOST EFFECTIVE NETWORKING:
58%
73%
One-on-one
meeting
82%
39%
63%
Skyler Hicks: shicks@glginstitute.com | Vasudev Bailey: vbailey@glginstitute.com p.4
6. 81%
The Makeup of a Future CEO
PREFERENCES:
Employing a
Hands-Off Approach
Micromanaging
Others
Creative
Thinking
Logical
Reasoning
Following
Your Heart
Following
Your Head
Spending Time on
Long Term Goals
Spending Time on
Short Term Goals
TOP 5 BOOKS THAT TAUGHT THE
MOST ABOUT LEADERSHIP:
Lean In
Good to Great
by Jim Collins
by Stephen R. Covey
by Sheryl Sandberg
by Jim Collins & Jerry I. Porras
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Built to Last
3
1
2
4
The Bible5
QUICK STATS:
Work outside their current
industry contributed to
their present success
Relocated at
least four times
for work 52%Hired externally
as CEO
(vs. in-house) 54%
AREAS OF FUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Strategy: 49%
Business Development: 55%
Marketing: 54%
Operations: 48%
3
1
2
4
Sales: 45%5
Finance: 22%
R&D : 25%
Medical: 10%
7
6
8
Legal: 4%9
10%
27%
73%
53%
73%
27%
47%
90%
Skyler Hicks: shicks@glginstitute.com | Vasudev Bailey: vbailey@glginstitute.com
» As a majority of CEOs are hired externally as
opposed to in-house, the opportunity to step up your
career to the next level is just as likely outside your
current company.
» While female CEOs (75%) are disproportionately more
likely to identify with creative thinking over logical
reasoning as compared to the average (47%), they are
just as likely as men to favor the logical reasoning that
comes with following one’s head over one’s heart.
» On average, CEOs develop functional experience in at
least 3 different areas on their path to the top. Exposure
to a variety of business areas, especially marketing and
business development roles, serves as a catalyst for
professional advancement. Very few CEOs have
previous experience in R&D, Finance, or Law.
p.5
