What traits do the best CEOs have?

Fortune

In honor of the launch of the 28th Fortune Most Powerful Women list, we asked New Yorkers what traits they believe the best CEOs have. Here’s what they said.⁠

Transcript

00:00What qualities do you think makes a successful CEO? Blind dedication to the

00:04job, just working hard I guess, that's what you need to distinguish yourself. I

00:08think that a successful leader should be able to make swift decisions that are

00:15displaced from emotion. I guess maybe thinking outside of the box, maybe using

00:20the tools that they have and just going for it. Just having a firm hand and

00:25knowing when to move, that makes a good CEO. Decisiveness, pretty much decisiveness.

00:29Tone starts at the top, so being able to understand and identify that like the

00:34core principles of the business and make sure that ethics, transparency, all that

00:39stuff as well, and make sure that trickles down to lower employees throughout the

00:43whole organization. He or she has to be very persuasive, have probably a clear

00:49mind. The time of a CEO is so valuable that you have to prioritize a lot. They

00:54should have ambition. We have to have a vision and if they see success, their work

00:58will show it. I think a successful leader should be able to manage a group of

01:02people with like humanity and empathy. I think that's really important. I would say

01:07a people's person. Leadership skills for sure, someone that knows how to

01:10communicate, know how to hear someone out. I believe that every CEO could be

01:14successful if they're just dedicated to the business they're running and have

01:17compassionate about their employees.

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