For the Story Exchange.
Photo: Entrepreneurship involves a steep learning curve, says Alexandra Suchman, founder of Barometer XP, which specializes in workplace culture. Curiosity is a key quality for a CEO. (Credit: Melissa Demple Photography)
What makes a great leader? We asked four CEOs this very same question. Here’s what they said.
The start of a calendar year always seems to invite an air of reflection. Perhaps you’re thinking back to whatever big events may have transpired for you in 2022, reminiscing about a holiday well spent, or maybe you’re making a mental list of all the things you don’t want to repeat in the new year.
Taking stock of time passed inevitably leads to thoughts about the future. For entrepreneurs and CEOs, January is a particularly ripe time to get ideas in order for 2023 – whether those are financial targets, plans for a new project, or thoughts on better managing your team.
In that vein, we decided to ask a mix of entrepreneurs from our 1000+ Stories project about leadership qualities they think business owners should strive for in the new year.
Their thoughtful responses reflect the integrity with which we’ve seen so many female business owners lead recently. There’s also clearly a value for honesty at play in the zeitgeist, along with a need for mission-driven businesses and CEOs to embody the principles they purport to represent.
As 2023 stretches in front of us, here are some qualities to consider bringing with you.
