CEOs are burning out in record numbers as the demands of the job intensify. Five actions can help them take better care of themselves—and their companies.
Our Approach to CEO Development
Individual CEO Programs
Our confidential, individualized CEO program strongly links the business, organizational, and leadership agendas of the CEO. It consists of six to eight facilitated sessions designed to define a successful CEO tenure and constructively challenge the leader. Every program is highly bespoke, with typical sessions comprising the crafting of an engaging CEO narrative, forging a trusting relationship with the board, shaping a high-performing executive team, developing strong stakeholder relations, and managing CEO time and energy. The program is delivered as individual two-hour sessions over the course of several months or in several offsites.
Experienced facilitators help challenge CEOs’ ideas, contribute their own sector or company expertise, share data, and synthesize perspectives to help CEOs clarify their thinking and prioritize their actions. Retired CEOs and topic experts are also woven into programming on request, ensuring constructive dialogues.
Our Clients’ Success in CEO Advisory
The sessions brought me clarity on how reflection time helps create moments of deep observation, making risks and future scenarios more noticeable. This time has also allowed me to increase the creativity and energy so essential for organizational momentum.” — Banking CEO, CEO Advisory alum
You have captured my priorities and goals extremely effectively, and the materials are top-notch during the sessions. I am energized to work on the next steps!” — Consumer Products CEO, CEO Advisory alum
The CEO Advisory program has far exceeded my expectations. It has provided me with an incredibly valuable toolbox to use. The topics discussed are very concrete and actionable—all in all, the combined materials are like a ‘Bible on how to operate as a CEO.” — Industrial Goods CEO, CEO Advisory alum
Productive Peer CEO Communities
The CEO role is often lonely—but it doesn’t have to be. Every leader deserves a place to think out loud with others who understand the weight of the role. BCG builds learning communities that bring together CEO peer groups of similar tenures in curated, confidential forums designed for deep learning, reflection, and growth. The emphasis is on creating likeminded groups of CEOs across different industries to test ideas, exchange hard-won lessons, and learn from peers, retired CEOs, and active chairpersons with experience navigating similar challenges.
Each forum tackles cross-industry issues on CEOs’ agendas—from geopolitics and macro risks to leadership challenges, emerging technologies, and value creation—that are brought to life by leading thinkers, seasoned operators, and domain experts.
What Leaders Are Saying About CEO Communities
These CEO sessions are some of the very best I’ve ever attended. There is always an insight I’d bring back to my teams and apply to our plans. I didn’t know precisely what to expect, but I had high expectations—this exceeded even those.” — Energy CEO, CEO Advisory community member
One of the things that I like about the way this is set up: I am able to explore ideas that were not totally formed. It’s a safe space to explore ideas and bounce things around with a couple of people that I can go to.” — Financial CEO, CEO Advisory community member
The program is an incredibly valuable use of my time and has accelerated the lens I have on what I’m trying to do as CEO. What really sets you apart and what I appreciated most was how pragmatic and practical the advice is beyond the frameworks I was expecting. This work sets you apart as a thought partner.” — Hospitality CEO, CEO Advisory community member
Unique Research on CEO Development and Success
In addition to bespoke programming, we conduct original research on the most urgent issues CEOs face—insights that underpin both our individual and peer programming. Drawing on real-world experience and deep expertise, we create practical, relevant content that helps leaders set priorities, manage time and energy, and navigate how to systematize accountability and be most effective in their role.
These resources help CEOs cut through the complexity of the role through reflective dialogue, CEO community discussions and learning, and relevant research—bringing depth, perspective, and confidence to the role of CEO.
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BCG’s Weekly Briefs
BCG’s most senior executives provide a clear read on the world's toughest challenges—with insights that fuel meaningful CEO development.
The CEO Advisory Leadership Team
CEO Advisory is sponsored by our CEO Christoph Schweizer and Global Chair Rich Lesser, and led by some of the most experienced leaders in the firm. The CEO Advisory program leadership team includes the following:
Featured Faculty and Facilitators: Retired CEOs, Board Directors, and Experts
Our cadre comprises the most senior BCG partners as well as mentorship from retired CEOs and presidents. Here are some of the experts in our chief executive network:
- Rich Lesser, Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group, Chief Advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, Board Director at the Centre for Public Impact, and Member of the US President’s Export Council
- Iain Conn, Former CEO of Centrica and of BP Downstream, former Director at BT plc and Rolls Royce, and Senior Advisor at Blackstone
- Jack Stahl, Former CEO at Revlon, former President & COO of Coca-Cola Company, and Board Director at COTY Inc and Delhaize Group
- Tiger Tyagarajan, Former CEO of Genpact and current Board Director at Genpact, Jabil, and Kantar
- Bruce Cleaver, Former Chief Executive of De Beers group, Non-Executive Chair of Gemfields Group, and Board Member of Anovion Limited
- Carolyn Everson, Board Director at The Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola, and Under Armour, former President of Instacart, and former VP at Facebook (Meta and Microsoft)
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