At The Money: What the Best CEOs Do
At The Money: Nitin Nohria on What CEOs Actually Do (October 7, 2026) Full transcript below. ~~~ About this week’s guest: Nitin Nohria is former Dean of the Harvard Business School, where he is still a professor. He is the author of The CEO: The Role, the Reality, the Responsibility For more… Read More The post At The Money: What the Best CEOs Do appeared first on The Big Picture .
The CEO's Role: An Interview with Nitin Nohria (October 7, 2026)
<TRANSCRIPT>
Nitin Nohria, former Dean of Harvard Business School and executive chairman of Thrive Capital, joins host Barry Ritholtz to discuss what CEOs actually do, the challenges they face, and the impact they have on their companies' performance.
Nohria emphasizes that while capital allocation is a crucial aspect of a CEO's job, it is just one piece of the puzzle. CEOs are responsible for overseeing all decisions made within the organization, creating an environment where those decisions align with the company's priorities and goals. This includes resource allocation, strategy development, shaping company culture, and setting execution standards.
Nohria also highlights the challenges that CEOs face when transitioning into their roles. Despite having extensive leadership experience, CEOs often find the job to be a steep learning curve. They must navigate complex board relationships, manage amplified scrutiny, and handle a deluge of requests from various constituencies. These demands can be overwhelming, leading to a steep learning curve for even the most seasoned leaders.
The interview delves into data that suggests individual CEOs account for about 15% of their company's performance. Nohria explains that this figure comes from analyzing 20 years of data on company performance, using measures such as total returns to shareholders and return on assets. He notes that this impact applies to CEOs of companies in various industries, including those led by notable figures like Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon, and Steve Jobs.
Key Takeaways:
1. CEOs are responsible for all decisions made within their organizations, creating an environment where those decisions align with the company's goals.
2. The role of a CEO is a steep learning curve, even for CEOs with extensive leadership experience.
3. Individual CEOs impact their companies' performance by about 15%, regardless of industry or level of experience.
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