So You Want to Be the CEO is a unique guidebook about becoming CEO. It gives timeless wisdom and practical advice about what the aspiring CEO needs to do; what to focus on and how to become the self-governed leader that the modern world demands.
CEO traits, tips and techniques are only part of the picture. The contemporary leadership landscape demands self-aware leaders. The book explores how sustained leadership is built by self-awareness of the leaders own dynamics, and how these dynamics play out in the workplace. This book by Barbara Wilby draws on more than twenty years of practical experience of thought partnering, coaching and advising aspiring and new-to-role CEOs – what works, what doesn’t and why in the CEO role. So You Want to Be the CEO draws together the complete picture that the CEO candidate needs to plan their path to becoming a CEO – Leading Self, Leading the Team and Leading the Enterprise. The book shows how to mix realism with stretch goals, giving insights and advice that would otherwise take much longer to acquire. A wealth of information is offered, in one accessible, time-saving format. The journey to CEO is clearly outlined in a unique model with five stages. This enables prospective CEOs to tailor their preparation according to their experience, abilities and time available before their possible appointment. The five stages are Foundations, Strengthening Skills and Performance, Presentation and Practice, Interviews and Transition. The book includes the 110 questions asked of CEOs globally in interviews.
Aspiring CEOs who beat the odds cultivate self-awareness and work to unlock their full potential to achieve and succeed in the position. This book shows the way to do this by going beyond tips, traits and techniques to developing the awareness that is behind traits, behaviours and actions. The book guides the CEO to be through thinking about the business context, strategic essentials for the organisation; where it sits in the industry, current and future disruptions, and opportunities. It offers insight into how to lead with grounded inspiration by building a vision and story as to where the enterprise will go with their leadership. These elements pave the way to delivering in the CEO role. Barbara Wilby’s work has been used for over two decades by well-known organisations in banking, investment banking, insurance, manufacturing, infrastructure, Government authorities, consulting firms, resources, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals, internationally.
Barbara Wilby is a renowned leadership transition specialist, celebrated for her deep insights and pragmatic approach. With an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a distinguished executive career driving marketing turnarounds, Barbara founded Corporate Wisdom to provide cutting-edge solutions for executives, teams, and organizations navigating leadership complexity. Her work helps clients unlock their full potential by addressing the core of each challenge. Barbara has extensive experience working with McKinsey, where she was part of a senior team that led culture transformation initiatives for top 100 companies. As a lead coach and facilitator, she partnered with executives to drive lasting change. For over two decades, Corporate Wisdom has collaborated with emerging CEOs, their teams, and organizations to create transformative leadership development programs for senior executive cohorts at leading ASX and FTSE 100 companies. Barbara and her team have worked with clients across diverse industries—including financial services, FMCG, infrastructure, government, global consulting, aviation, resources, and healthcare—helping them thrive in an increasingly complex world. Barbara's forthcoming book So You Want to Be the CEO, brings together over two decades of practical leadership wisdom in a unique methodology to assist aspiring CEOs take the quantum leap into the CEO role.
* No other book combines the inner and the outer world of the CEO, and the five stages of CEO development - this book shows how to achieve true leadership while achieving great results.
* No other book offers the complete package of leading self, leading the team, leading the enterprise, with insights, questions and strategies in each of these areas.
* It is an accessible book that can be dipped in and out of by a prospective or new to role CEO. It shows how to flourish in a world that challenges leaders by giving the keys to self-awareness, adaptability and resilience.
* It is designed to offer valuable information, regardless of the size and industry that the reader will lead as CEO.
* Main elements to create awareness and demand for the book include:
Publicity:
* Speaking/appearing at targeted events and conferences
* Creating mini-events with handpicked executives and alumni clients
* Doing a a social media campaign via Linked In, including advertising
* Some paid publicity via mainstream media and specialist business magazines, radio and TV
* Direct mail to a select recipient list, including influencers in the aspiring CEO space.
