It’s not easy being a CEO. In fact, it’s the most challenging role in business. The scope, gravity, responsibility, accountability, and exposure of the position are unparalleled.&nbsp; Despite its complexity, it's also often hailed as the most rewarding and life-affirming move of an executive’s career. It’s a time when you can truly execute your vision and put to use everything you’ve learned up until now. But, to set yourself up for success, how do you approach your first few days and months in the role?&nbsp;What are the common surprises new CEOs experience? Why is it so important to get your CEO transition right, and what are the risks if you don’t?&nbsp; In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we put these questions and more to Ty Wiggins, leadership advisor and author of <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/microsite/the-new-ceo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our latest book, The New CEO: How to Start Well and Perform Quickly (Minus the Common Mistakes),</a> and two other RRA leadership advisors, <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/laura-sanderson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laura Sanderson</a> and <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/justus-obrien" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Justus O’ Brien</a>, who partnered with Ty on the book. Here, our guests share lessons that will help any executive get off to a strong start as a new leader.Tune in to discover why it’s so important to act fast when assessing and building your team, how you can avoid loneliness taking root as a new CEO, and why aiming for perfection isn’t sustainable.

How to nail your first year as CEO

When it comes to disruption, transformation, and change, perhaps no industry has experienced this more over the past decade than the financial services industry. From online and mobile banking, to FinTechs, to data analytics and AI, to changing regulations, leaders of banking and financial service institutions have had to navigate through a tremendous amount of change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On this episode of Redefiners, President and CEO of Wells Fargo, Charlie Scharf, sits down with Clarke and Hoda to peel back the covers on how he’s managed through so much change over his more than 25-year career in financial services. Charlie talks about his leadership journey, from his early years working with banking legends Jamie Dimon, Sandy Weill, and Bob Lipp, to his first actions to restore trust and confidence as a new CEO at Wells Fargo during a tumultuous time for the company. He’ll share his insights on how he manages culture to balance the risk of change while protecting what’s working in the business, how he views FinTech companies, gaining new perspectives from board roles, and how technology and AI have transformed the financial services industry and where it’s going next.&nbsp;&nbsp;We'll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/tuck-rickards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tuck Rickards</a>, a Managing Director in our San Francisco office, who will outline <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/articles/six-ways-to-address-the-ai-leadership-deficit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the barriers leaders face when implementing AI</a>—and how to bridge them.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/leadership-lounge-why-even-top-leaders-need-a-mentor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leadership Lounge – Why even top leaders need a mentor</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/unpacking-leadership-lessons" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Unpacking Leadership Lessons with Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/front-row-seat-to-the-digital-revolution-with-microsoft-vice-chair-and-president-brad-smith-part-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Front Row Seat to the Digital Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 1</a> and <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/front-row-seat-to-the-digital-revolution-with-microsoft-vice-chair-and-president-brad-smith-part-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Part 2</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/private-investment-guru-david-rubenstein-goes-public" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Private Investment Guru David Rubenstein Goes Public on How to Be a Successful Leader &amp; Investor</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

The Necessity of Change with President and CEO of Wells Fargo Charlie Scharf

When Tony Capuano took over as President and CEO at Marriott, the company was wrestling with the most significant challenge it’s ever faced as travel essentially shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further complicating matters, Marriott’s beloved, iconic CEO, Arne Sorenson, had recently passed away and many in the company were dealing with the loss of their visionary leader, mentor, and friend.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On this episode of Redefiners, Tony talks with Clarke and Hoda about leadership lessons he’s gleaned from almost 30 years at Marriott, including his top advice for leaders transitioning into the CEO role. He’ll also dig into Marriott’s Bonvoy customer loyalty program, sustainability at scale in the hospitality industry, and how technology and AI can help deliver high touch personal service.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We'll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/ty-wiggins" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ty Wiggins</a>, an Executive Director in our London office and author of RRA’s latest book, <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/microsite/the-new-ceo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New CEO: Lessons from CEOs on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly (Minus the Common Mistakes)</a>. Ty discusses why transitioning into the CEO role is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—moves of an executive’s career, and how new leaders can get off to a strong start.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/leadership-lounge-how-to-nail-your-first-year-as-ceo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leadership Lounge – How to nail your first year as CEO</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/the-business-of-football-with-los-angeles-rams-coo-kevin-demoff" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Business of Football with Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/planting-long-term-investment-seeds-with-markel-group-ceo-tom-gayner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Planting Long-Term Investment Seeds with Markel Group CEO Tom Gayner</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/reimagining-patient-care-a-conversation-with-healthcare-innovator-ashley-mcevoy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reimagining Patient Care: A Conversation with Healthcare Innovator Ashley McEvoy</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/sunscreen-and-success-supergoops-winning-formula-with-ceo-amanda-baldwin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunscreen and Success: Supergoop!'s Winning Formula with CEO Amanda Baldwin</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

Unpacking Leadership Lessons with Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano

Why are there so few women in the CEO seat?&nbsp; We know that diverse C-Suites are more resilient, innovative, and drive better financial performance. But<a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/reports-surveys/global-ceo-turnover-index" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> in 2023, women accounted for only 12% of CEO appointments globally</a>. Based on the current rate of progress, public companies are 81 years from gender parity in CEO appointments.&nbsp; Change needs to happen—and fast. So, how do you best develop high-potential women leaders? What does an optimal CEO succession plan within an organization need to look like to support the movement of women into the top seat? And, what can you do to retain women CEOs?&nbsp; In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted leadership advisors—<a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/margot-mcshane" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Margot McShane</a>, <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/hetty-pye" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hetty Pye</a>, and <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/shannon-knott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shannon Knott</a>—who share their perspectives on how to help close the gender gap. We also discuss <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/capabilities/leadership-performance/rra-artemis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RRA Artemis</a>, our brand-new CEO accelerator program aimed at expediting more women to the top of organizations. &nbsp; Tune in to discover the importance of switching your succession planning from an opt-out to an opt-in approach, why assessing for potential rather than experience is critical when identifying future CEOs, and why organizations need to rethink the traditional route to the top seat.&nbsp;

Why are there so few women in the CEO seat?

Unprecedented may be an overused word these days, but it certainly applies to the record number of national elections happening around the world in 2024. With more than 70 national elections and almost half the world’s population voting on their country’s leader, the results of this year’s elections could impact countries, business leaders, and perhaps the world for years to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;In today’s Redefiners episode, José Manuel Barroso – chair of Goldman Sachs’ International Advisors, former President of the European Commission, and former Prime Minister of Portugal – sits down with Simon and Hoda to try to make sense of these global elections and much more. José Manuel talks about his journey from academia to politics, and the multitude of insights he’s gained during his various leadership roles over the years. He digs into what’s at stake with the elections and the growing risk of misinformation/disinformation in the democratic process. And he shares his perspectives on globalization, the critical role of democracy around the world, the green energy transition, and the future of the European Union.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/center-for-leadership-insight" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tom Handcock</a>, the global lead of our Center for Leadership Insight team, based in London. Tom will highlight key findings from our latest Global Leadership Monitor—which tracks the top external business threats facing organizations and leaders’ preparedness to face them.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/action-creates-hope-a-conversation-with-irc-president-and-ceo-david-miliband" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Action Creates Hope: A Conversation with IRC President and CEO David Miliband</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/thriving-through-adversity-re-release" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thriving Through Adversity: How WTO’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Solving Global Problems</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/front-row-seat-to-the-digital-revolution-with-microsoft-vice-chair-and-president-brad-smith-part-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Front Row Seat to the Digital Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 1</a> and <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/front-row-seat-to-the-digital-revolution-with-microsoft-vice-chair-and-president-brad-smith-part-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Part 2</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

Elections, Geopolitics, and Global Business: A Conversation with Former President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso

On today’s Redefiners episode, Simon and Hoda sit down with David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). David oversees the agency’s humanitarian relief operations in more than 50 war-affected countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs in 28 United States cities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;David shares the journey of how the IRC was founded by Albert Einstein and has since grown to help 33 million people in countries affected by crisis in 2023 alone. He talks about how the IRC prioritizes its limited resources to help those in need and how he manages through the complexities of not only providing aid to clients living in war-torn areas, but also of working with a host of partners often with competing agendas. He also digs into the importance of trust and what leaders can do to build or rebuild trust with their organizations, partners, and clients/customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/dee-symons" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dee Symons</a>, a Managing Director in our London office, who will highlight why trust is such a critical component of an effective team, and how leaders can best foster a culture of trust.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/leadership-lounge-advice-on-when-and-how-to-weigh-in-on-social-issues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leadership Lounge | Advice on when—and how—to weigh in on social issues</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/doing-well-by-doing-good-feike-sijbesma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Doing Well by Doing Good: Feike Sijbesma, CEO Emeritus of Royal DSM, on the Power of Bold Change</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/thriving-through-adversity-re-release" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thriving Through Adversity: How WTO’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Solving Global Problems</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

Action Creates Hope: A Conversation with IRC President and CEO David Miliband

On today’s Redefiners episode, we talk with Natalie Robyn, the first ever CEO of the International Automobile Federation (or the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile or our French listeners). The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport, including Formula One, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and some of the world’s most exciting motorsports races on and off the track. Natalie shares her leadership story, shifting from auto production at Volvo, Nissan, and DaimlerChrysler, to auto racing. She talks about how she and the FIA team manage the challenges and complexity involved in managing 24 races in 21 countries on five continents, working with a variety of stakeholders, local politics and regulations to make it all happen successfully and safely.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Natalie talks about how the FIA parses through the more than three terabytes of data per Formula One car per race weekend to share data between competitions, which helps foster innovation and safety. All that data also helps inform sustainability as well, as Natalie outlines how the FIA plans to achieve their commitment to net zero emissions by 2030.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/dee-fitzgerald" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dee Fitzgerald</a>, a Managing Director in our Sydney office, who highlights how important it is for CEOs to have the right top team around them, and the five actions CEOs can take to maximize C-suite performance.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/the-business-of-football-with-los-angeles-rams-coo-kevin-demoff" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Business of Football with Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/outwork-the-competition-jordan-brands-winning-strategy-with-president-sarah-mensah" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Outwork the Competition: Jordan Brand’s Winning Strategy with President Sarah Mensah</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/transforming-the-energy-sector-with-baker-hughes-ceo-lorenzo-simonelli" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Transforming the Energy Sector with Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

Global business moves fast. But Formula One racing moves faster.

Redefiners

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Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey.&nbsp; &nbsp; Our Hosts:Clarke Murphy&nbsp; Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.​ While at Russell Reynolds Associate​s, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in​​ the private equity industry including searches ​for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus. Hoda TahounAs a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure &amp; Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity. Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.

How to nail your first year as CEO

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