Taught by seasoned corporate executives and the bestselling author of CEO Ready (Harvard Business Review Press) C-Suite Ready is a three-day, high-impact experience built around how CEO and C-suite decisions actually get made. You’ll learn the practical science of getting promoted; you’ll meet and deeply understand the Seven Judges who shape selection outcomes, and see how boards evaluate “ready-now” leaders—often long before a formal search begins.

You’ll strengthen executive presence and credibility through a Boardroom Audition, sharpen your leadership narrative with the Five Hard Questions framework, and complete a Strategic Vision Studio where you pressure-test a board-facing “activist memo.” You’ll also learn from industry CEOs who have taken the leap that you’re taking to become a corporate STAR—Strategic Transition & Readiness executives who were selected for the CEO and C-Suite roles. You’ll meet the CEOs in face-to-face fireside chats and hosted dinners—and you’ll leave with a one-page first-90-days credibility sprint plan you can execute immediately, plus optional post-program connection through the Chief Executive Alliance community and quarterly Leadership Plan Reviews.

What You Will Learn

You will gain the skills to earn readiness for the C-suite—first by getting qualified, then by getting selected by the board—including how to:

Build a career readiness plan that gets traction for your next promotion in the C-Suite.

Learn from corporate executives who climbed to the biggest roles of their careers—and create a practical roadmap that strengthens capability and makes you more “obvious” to the stakeholders who decide outcomes.

Map and win the Seven Judges who select you.

Identify who accelerates—or derails—your candidacy and design “trust moments” with each.

Pass the board’s “obvious choice” test.

Elevate your boardroom audition skills while avoiding interview traps by demonstrating executive judgment, alignment, and followership-building capability.

Master the Five Hard Questions that make a great executive CEO Ready.

Turn your answers into concise proof of enterprise scope, trustworthiness, coachability, and succession-builder leadership.

Stop losing executive attention and start earning boardroom airtime.

Learn what causes CEOs to tune out, and how to deliver crisp, outcome-driven messages that earn trust, shape decisions, and move the room.

Build a Most Admired Team.
Learn why most teams fail at collaboration—and how to win against long odds from the world’s top collaboration scientist.

Show up ready for executive assessments and intensified scrutiny.
Prepare for evaluation methods and expectations that become more rigorous at the CEO/candidate level—and convert feedback into a stronger candidacy narrative.

Deliver your first-90-day credibility sprint. 
Produce and rehearse a board-facing plan that signals strategic clarity, composure, and decisive leadership from day one.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for senior leaders who are serious about a creating a plan to move into a CEO or C-suite role—and want a candid, high-practicality accelerator focused on selection realities and early-tenure performance. Participant profiles may include:

• Executives at any level who aspire to command senior-leader attention. Leaders who want their messages to land with CEOs and boards—to build a rationale to promote you.
• EVP/SVP/GM/BU leaders preparing for CEO or C-suite candidacy within 6–24 months
• Internal successors who need to become the “obvious choice” to boards.
• High-performing leaders who want to present the CEO and board the strongest version of what they can bring to the next role—avoid getting passed over—and get a clear diagnosis of what may be missing in trust, scope, or stakeholder alignment
• Newly appointed C-suite leaders who want a sharper 90-day plan and board-ready narrative
• Leaders entering high-scrutiny environments (activists, media pressure, major transformation) who need steadiness, clarity, and a pressure-tested message

Continuing Education Credits

1.4 CEUs

Learning Hours

14 hour(s)

NOTE:
This program has limited seats so please register early. If the program session becomes full, you will be notified if you must be placed on the wait list.