6 days ago
9 strategies for hiring a CEO you can trust with your vision
Hiring the right CEO means finding someone who's not just capable but deeply aligned with what your company stands for. You're handing over the reins to someone who needs to lead, and lead like you would—with full conviction in the company's mission and the clarity to drive it forward. It's a high-stakes decision that can either strengthen or unravel your foundation.
To help you make the right call, nine Fast Company Executive Board members share how they've identified and retained CEOs who are mission-driven, reliable, and ready to take the reins. Below, they offer practical ways for finding a leader who can build on your vision while giving you the freedom to focus on what's next.
1. DEFINE WHAT THE ROLE TRULY REQUIRES.
Question your approach. Map the role to the candidate, not the other way around. Understand what the role specifically requires for success in terms of skills, acumen, behaviors, critical thinking, and decision-making. Understand what the role really needs before determining if you have the right person for it. – Jay Steven Levin, WinThinking
2. OFFER GROWTH POTENTIAL AND ROOM FOR INNOVATION.
I have two strategies to attract and retain a trustworthy CEO. First, show the candidate a clear and well-defined career advancement path. Second, provide an environment that allows full autonomy for technical innovation, which is especially important to the CEO of a technology company. – Chongwei Chen, DataNumen Inc.
3. FIND A PARTNER WHO CAN CARRY THE BATON.
Hire a CEO like you'd choose a relay race partner. You need someone who can run their leg with clarity, speed, and trust, not someone who just mirrors your stride. Share your toughest lessons alongside your vision. The right CEO carries the baton with conviction, even when the course changes. – Albert Lie, Forward Labs
4. CHOOSE A CEO WHO SHARES YOUR VISION AND CULTURE.
Ensure a clear understanding of your company's vision, mission, and long-term goals. The CEO should align with these objectives. Ensure the candidate fits within your company's culture and leadership style. The CEO must be genuinely passionate about driving the organization's mission forward and building on your company's success. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal Credit Union
5. PRIORITIZE ALIGNMENT FROM THE START.
Attracting the right CEO starts with clarity. Define the mission, values, and expectations up front. Look for alignment in vision, not just on a resume. Retain them by offering autonomy, support, and shared purpose. Trust grows when there's transparency, mutual respect, and a culture of accountability from day one. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
6. LOOK TO EMERGING LEADERS WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION.
Nurture potential, budding, and current leaders of your organization. Leadership development programs will set you up for success, ensuring that a CEO candidate shares the company's strategic vision, mission, and level of commitment. Internal candidates will best match the founder's vision and culture. If looking externally, advisers who understand your mission will help find the best hire. – Mark Valentino, Citizens
7. WAIT UNTIL YOUR MISSION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
As a CEO recently hired into a legacy, founder-led company, be crystal clear on your mission before hiring—if it's still fuzzy, wait. Prioritize alignment over credentials; if they don't deeply believe in the mission, keep looking. To retain them, give them space to lead, shape the how, and support them with trust and clarity. – Sarah Buckler, Tangible
8. BUILD TRUST THROUGH VALUES AND OPEN DIALOGUE.
It begins with a candidate who fits the company's mission and has a matching set of values. Mutual trust is developed through the facilitation of open dialogue, clearly established expectations, and a dedication to commitment over impact. – Asad Khan, LambdaTest Inc.
