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How to become a CEO

CEO

Career progression and salary expectations for a CEO

A Head of Department oversees a specific area of the business, such as sales, marketing, or operations, responsible for achieving departmental goals, managing teams, and implementing strategies.
A Managing Director (MD) oversees multiple departments or areas of the business, working closely with the CEO and other executives to develop and execute strategic initiatives.
The CEO is the highest-ranking executive, responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the company, making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. Salary can vary between £250,000 - £1,000,000+ per year, depending on the size, industry, and performance of the company.

The role of a CEO

Are you looking to add managing, delegating and decision making into your daily routine? OK Chief, it’s time to become a CEO…

A CEO, or Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the smooth running and all-round success of a company. They control and oversee all departments within their organisation, which vary from business to business.

It’s up to them to take charge of the ‘bigger picture’, and ensure that targets are being met and each individual area of the business is operating effectively. Without a good CEO at the helm, the company involved will always end up suffering.

Duties will vary dependent on size and culture of the company, but may typically include:

  • Meeting with the board of directors and senior management
  • Determining a direction for the company
  • Making decisions on important factors in business such as policy, strategy, and budgeting
  • Maintaining company culture and drive amongst colleagues
  • Providing a great sense of leadership
  • Driving the profitability of a business
Being a CEO can be incredibly full-on. As a result, the ability to deal with, and thrive upon, the stressful nature of the role is absolutely essential.

The success or failure of the company will rely greatly on you and your decisions, so you need to be able to handle criticism and a high level of responsibility in a calm and professional manner.

The position also requires excellent leadership skills, not to mention a great sense of ambition and drive to achieve a joint goal, always putting the success of the company first when considering any decision.

A great CEO should also be:

  • Objective
  • Very well organised and able to multitask
  • Knowledgeable of business management
  • Able to make efficient, informed decisions
  • An excellent communicator
  • Able to plan own workload and delegate effectively
"Having spent a large portion of my life in management roles, it’s always been clear that I enjoy leading people and boosting incentives. I get a great sense of achievement from making a company tick, and being able to influence others to aspire to a joint goal – building a successful business. Now I’ve started my own business, and the role comes with a lot of stress (sometimes working 7 days a week), but for me, it’s exhilarating, and to know that I’m helping to run an up-and-coming start-up with a happy and efficient team of people makes it all worthwhile. I even get to wear a hoody to work…"

Get qualified as a CEO

While there is no set educational path, many successful CEOs have a degree in business administration, economics, finance, or a related field. Some CEOs may also hold advanced degrees such as an MBA or other postgraduate qualifications, which can provide a deeper understanding of business principles and strategic management.

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