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From the former dean of Harvard Business School comes a deeply researched and practical exploration of the CEO role—and what it truly takes to succeed in it.
Millions of ambitious professionals aspire to become CEO, drawn not only by the prestige of the title but by the opportunity to shape organizations, industries, and even society itself. Yet despite the fascination surrounding the role, few people fully understand what CEOs do all day or why some thrive while others falter.
Drawing on decades of research, teaching, and firsthand work with hundreds of CEOs through Harvard Business School's New CEO Workshops, Nitin Nohria pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to lead at the highest level. He reveals the often unseen work of setting direction, allocating resources, shaping culture, managing stakeholders, and maintaining the delicate balance between continuity and change.
Combining rigorous insight with vivid examples and practical wisdom, The CEO offers a rare inside look at how exceptional leaders think, decide, communicate, and lead under pressure. Along the way, Nohria distills the enduring principles and habits that distinguish the best CEOs—not as larger-than-life heroes, but as individuals who learn to navigate complexity, responsibility, and relentless scrutiny.
Insightful, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience, The CEO is both a guide for aspiring leaders and a thoughtful reflection on one of the most consequential roles in modern society.
Advance Praise for The CEO:
"Full of practical advice and real stories from CEOs who've been through it all, The CEO has everything you need if you want to lead, improve, and keep your company moving forward. Leadership is about learning, questioning, and never getting complacent; this book delivers on all three." — Jamie Dimon, CEO, JPMorgan Chase
"Every organization needs a clear sense of purpose and why it exists—the CEO's job is to build the culture that turns that mission into reality. Nitin Nohria takes us on that journey, and along the way shares how to keep innovating, adapting, and leading with clarity and conviction." — Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft
"Over his long tenure at Harvard Business School, Nitin Nohria has helped shape a generation of business leaders with insight, clarity, and humanity. The CEO brings his lessons and spirit to a wider audience, through a rigorous, curious, and relatable account of the realities of being CEO." — Michelle Gass, CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.
"This book gets to the heart of what CEO jobs really demand: the judgment to know when to exert control, and the discipline to create the conditions for others to succeed. Nitin Nohria explains how legitimacy, not power, defines effective leadership at the top." — Bob Iger, former CEO, The Walt Disney Company
"In The CEO, Nitin Nohria distills years of observation, experience, and hard-won lessons into a sharp, accessible, and candid perspective on leadership. His insights on judgment, purpose, and restraint land on the page the same way they did in the classroom: brilliantly." — Reshma Kewalramani, President and CEO, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
"Nitin Nohria has shaped my approach to leadership for over thirty-five years. In The CEO, he brilliantly captures the essence of the role at each stage of the arc of one's tenure in the job. Aspiring leaders and long-serving CEOs alike will find lessons they can use throughout this inspiring read." — Larry Culp, CEO, GE Aerospace
Nitin Nohria is the George F. Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration and Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard Business School. A faculty member since 1988, he served as the school's tenth dean, from 2010 to 2020. He is also the executive chairman of Thrive Capital and a board member of Exor N.V., Mass General Brigham, Alsym Energy, and Rakuten Medical.