“The real task of leaders is to cultivate shared purpose among the individuals who create value and discover meaning together. Kaas, Maor, Srinivasan, and Strovink return us to this fundamental, enduring truth: extraordinary leadership always is human-centric.”
—Rawi Abdelal, Herbert F. Johnson Professor of International Management, Harvard Business School
“[This book] surfaces lessons we all must learn…, especially as tech and gen AI change the ways in which we work and live… Experiences of powerful leaders who have led their organizations through similar transformations highlight the importance of humility, confidence, and leading through influence.”
—Fawad Ahmed, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, State Farm
“The journey of leadership as a CEO unfolds in many different ways. No matter where the journey leads, this book serves as a hands-on ‘navigation system’ from experienced leaders who successfully traveled it.”
—Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool and chairman of United Way Worldwide
“Through compelling stories and insightful strategies, this book illuminates the path to bold and courageous leadership, while embracing failure as a catalyst for growth. A must read for anyone aspiring to lead with authenticity and make a lasting impact.”
—Barbara Martin Coppola, CEO of Decathlon Group
“Today’s most successful leaders listen… learn from others, exhibit humility… and bring courage and conviction to their decisions…McKinsey’s deep understanding of the skills and techniques that are most successful make it a must-read for anyone who aspires to connect in a meaningful way.”
—Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director, Carnegie Hall
“It contains the bold adventures of 24+ leaders... Being a CEO is living in the realm of paradox and not getting lost: questioning yet pointing the way, honing performance and making bold hard-to-reverse bets, letting go of what worked in the past as the environment transforms...”
—Stefan Heck, CEO, Nauto
“Leading teams—in insurance, sports, and every industry in between—centers on your ability to collaboratively lead humans, including yourself. The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out captures the complexity of that challenge and offers practical solutions tried and tested by 24 exemplary CEOs.”
—Dan Hilferty, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Spectacor
“As a second-year CEO, the key messages…resonate. The pace of the CEO role is like merging onto a fast-moving freeway, needing to constantly adjust, react, and keep up with the flow of traffic... McKinsey’s new book re-centered me on key learnings: being my authentic self; continuous self-learning and development; and focusing on my team as humans.”
—Heather Lavallee, CEO, Voya
“In our increasingly global and interconnected world, we leaders must recognize and admit what we don’t know… We have to possess enough humility and self-awareness to acknowledge our limitations and biases, then proactively look…to identify and cultivate the best future leaders… The Journey of Leadership is an invaluable resource for leaders at any stage...”
—Tjada McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps
“[This book] brings a range of valuable perspectives and lessons that can help guide new and emerging leaders looking to navigate this new volatile, fragmented, and tech-driven macro environment effectively… The guidance in this book will inspire them to create their own new and pioneering journeys.”
—Nader Mousavizadeh, CEO, Macro Advisory Partners
“[This book] captures the essence of how to be and how to do. Leading from the inside out is the key enabler for our ‘Working Together’ Leadership and Management System…which creates value for all stakeholders and the greater good. Thank you for these insights!”
—Alan Mulally, former CEO of the Ford Motor Company and Boeing Commercial Airplanes
“Authenticity, empathy, courage, and resilience are critical cornerstones of leadership in today’s world. The Journey of Leadership illuminates these values and more through compelling stories from extraordinary leaders. It’s a practical guide for those who aim to be stewards of their organizations and create enduring impact.”
—Kausik Rajgopal, EVP, Strategy, Corporate Development & Partnerships, PayPal
“Those who are humble enough to listen, while still being courageous enough to take decisive actions, are the leaders who take organizations to the next level. That’s what I’ve admired…and what I hear the 24 CEOs in [the book] describing in their powerful personal narratives. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from them.”
—Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation
“Excellent leadership requires a clear attitude, self-awareness, and a desire to never stop learning in order to shape both the present and the future with all their complexities. The Journey of Leadership is a pragmatic guide to managing such paradoxes.”
—Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management, BMW AG
“The authors’ wisdom that leadership requires mastery of deeply human aspects, such as purpose, balance, culture, and values is timely and salient in an ever more demanding world of gen AI and stakeholder complexity.”
—Scott C. Beardsley, Dean, UVA Darden; Charles C. Abbott Professor of Business Administration
“The Journey of Leadership pulls back the curtain and digs deeper, beyond business strategy, to identify what it really takes to succeed as a CEO in today’s world… The authors have extracted key insights that can serve as guides for people-centered leadership.”
—Natarajan Chandrasekaran, executive chairman of Tata Sons
“[This book] is full of real-world wisdom grounded in the deeply personal experiences and struggles of hundreds of CEOs…with the core insight that exceptional leaders must learn to lead themselves first in order to lead their teams and organizations with excellence…”
—Jeff Hurd, COO of Equitable
“...One of my most cherished values of New York Life is “confidence and humility.” We are leveraging many of the lessons in [the book] to ensure that, as leaders, we look within ourselves, empower our people, and continue on our never-ending journey of continuous improvement...”
—Alain Karaoglan, EVP and head of Strategic Businesses, New York Life
“AIA’s purpose is to help millions of people live ‘Healthier, longer, better lives.’ Many of the concepts in The Journey of Leadership, such as empowering people and fostering continuous learning, are ones we embrace at AIA… The book is a valuable resource.”
—Yuan Siong Lee, Chief Executive and President of AIA Group
“The McKinsey team has captured the essence of what it takes to be a leader in the fast-paced corporate world today. The modern CEO needs to be continuously evolving and adapting to be successful, just like their company.”
—Adam Miller, Managing Partner, AllerFund
Dana Maor
Dana Maor is the global cohead and European leader of McKinsey’s People & Organizational Performance Practice and serves as a member of the McKinsey Knowledge Council. She is a senior partner at McKinsey, working with leaders globally to transform their organization and themselves. She has been co-dean of multiple McKinsey leadership programs.
Hans-Werner Kaas
Hans-Werner Kaas is the co-dean of the CEO leadership program “The Bower Forum,” a former member of its Global Client Council, and is a senior partner emeritus at McKinsey. In 1991, he joined McKinsey’s Frankfurt office, moved to the Cleveland office in 1997 and co-founded the Detroit office in 1998. He works with and counsels CEOs and leaders across multiple industry sectors globally.
Kurt Strovink
Kurt Strovink leads McKinsey’s CEO special initiative globally. He works at the intersection of strategy, personal leadership, mission building, and enterprise transformation. A Senior Partner in our New York Office, he has expertise in CEO transitions and the role of the CEO as catalyst. Kurt is a member of McKinsey’s Board of Directors, has led its global insurance practice and its New York office as managing partner.
Ramesh Srinivasan
Ramesh Srinivasan is the co-dean of the CEO leadership program “The Bower Forum” and a senior partner at McKinsey, which he joined in 1994. Ramesh began his career at McKinsey in Mumbai and moved to New York in 2005. Beyond his client work serving healthcare and social sector institutions, Ramesh leads McKinsey’s social responsibility efforts in North America.
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