05-07-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

6 tips for CEOs leading change

As a five-time CEO, here’s what I’ve learned works for navigating change.

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The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

In the not-so-distant past, the biggest question I’d get as a CEO was cut and dry: “What’s our plan?”  Today, leaders across industries face a different, core question: “Are we built for change?” 

Unprecedented disruption is upon us, and just about every organization needs to transform quickly, in a big way.

Having led five organizations, I have always architected and executed change as a core part of my remit. After decades of this work, I can confidently say that the formulas and frameworks that have worked for decades are no longer what we need. Because these unprecedented times call for something new, here are my top six tips for leading through change today.

1. Don’t equate deciding with doing. It’s one thing to sit around a boardroom table and align on a new strategy........

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