What makes a good CEO?

chicagobooth.edu/review | Are great CEOs born or made? Can you learn the skills to become a corporate leader, or does it take inherent talent? Have we got CEO hiring practices right, and how should we change them if we want to make the C-suite more diverse? Chicago Booth's Steven Kaplan and three top executive recruiters break down the research on what actually distinguishes CEOs from other C-suite candidates. 0:00 Intro 1:41 Research on nearly 3,000 C-level candidates 2:09 The four factors that set CEOs apart: talent, execution, charisma, strategic ability 3:19 Is there a single "CEO type"? 12:34 Are great CEOs born or made? 19:03 How companies can improve CEO hiring and diversity FAQ: Q: What traits distinguish CEOs from other executives? A: Research on nearly 3,000 C-level candidates found CEOs score higher on four factors: talent, execution orientation, charisma, and creative strategic ability. Q: Is there one "CEO type"? A: Not exactly — "talent" as a factor captures being a strong all-arounder across these traits rather than one fixed personality type.