CEO & Board Services

Who will lead our organizations in the future?

Escalating turnover in the C-suite is making leadership continuity a priority. Reputable studies show the CEO turnover rate hovering around 18% and increasing—with implications that other C-suite executives will follow.¹ As such, it’s more important than ever to have a sound succession strategy.

Unfortunately, most organizations are not ready. Two-thirds of U.S. public and private companies report that they have no formal CEO succession plan in place, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Corporate Directors. And only one-third of the executives who have such a program in place are satisfied with the outcome.2

As the ultimate stewards of their organizations, best-in-class boards and CEOs know they must perpetuate a culture of leadership excellence and prepare their successors to assume broader leadership accountability.

CEO Services: Forging Leadership Continuity

MDA Leadership helps organizations accelerate succession success and minimize the disruption and risk associated with CEO transition.

CEO Blueprinting™

The CEO Blueprinting™ process guides organizations through the critical task of articulating the leadership they need from the next CEO within the context of their strategies and plans for growth. The insights contained in the Blueprint™ go beyond core capabilities for performance, addressing leadership style, motivation, and culture fit. Boards find great value in having early alignment around CEO role expectations for the future (the what) before any candidates are discussed (the who).

CEO Succession and Selection
Based on the CEO Blueprint™ or other board criteria, we evaluate internal candidates to provide a definitive and well-grounded assessment of CEO viability. Our evaluation sheds light on others’ willingness to follow and also addresses the key experiences and development needed to prepare for transition and accelerate learning. If needed, we use an equivalent assessment to evaluate external candidates and provide comparisons on fit and viability.
CEO Transitions
CEOs are often left on their own to navigate their new relationships, roles, and agendas. Whether the executive is a first-time CEO, newly promoted within the same organization, or an external CEO brought on board to drive significant change, success is not a given. CEO transition coaching provides a framework for quickly aligning board, CEO, and senior team expectations. We also work with retiring CEOs, helping them to determine how to let go and set new pathways for their futures.

1 Alan Murray and David Meyer, Fortune, “CEO turnover has picked up again,” June 2021, (https://fortune.com/2021/06/22/ceo-turnover-has-picked-up-again-ceo-daily/)
2 McKinsey & Company, The Board Perspective: A collection of McKinsey insights focusing on boards of directors, August 2016
3Ron Carucci, Harvard Business Review, “Executives Fail to Execute Strategy Because They’re Too Internally Focused,” November 2017, (https://hbr.org/2017/11/executives-fail-to-execute-strategy-because-theyre-too-internally-focused)
4Gretchen Gavett, Harvard Business Review, “What CEOs Really Want From Coaching,” August 2013, (https://hbr.org/2013/08/research-ceos-andthe-coaching)

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C-suite Selection and Succession: Delivering Leadership Excellence for the Future

MDA Leadership helps CEOs articulate executive leadership needs, identify top talent, and accelerate C-suite transitions.

Senior Executive Blueprinting™

Succession planning begins at the top. CEOs, in partnership with human resources and their boards, must think carefully about the talent they need for the future in key leadership roles. Similar to CEO Blueprinting™, MDA Leadership helps our clients articulate the executive leadership they will need to successfully navigate emerging business challenges and drive evolving strategies.

C-suite Selection and Succession
Not all C-suite hires and promotions achieve success. We help CEOs select the right executives by bringing an informed, experienced, and objective voice to the table. Based on a CEO’s criteria and an organization’s norms, we assess and analyze executive candidates to provide definitive and well-grounded promotion and hiring recommendations.
C-suite Transitions
About 60% of executives say they were not prepared for the strategic challenges they faced in their new senior leadership roles.3 MDA Leadership accelerates effective transition into the C-suite. Through a unique discovery process, we help executives gain deep insight into what it will take to be successful given stakeholder expectations, team dynamics, and the nuances of C-suite leadership. Our seasoned coaches guide leaders in designing and executing highly relevant and engaging onboarding plans.

1 Alan Murray and David Meyer, Fortune, “CEO turnover has picked up again,” June 2021, (https://fortune.com/2021/06/22/ceo-turnover-has-picked-up-again-ceo-daily/)
2 McKinsey & Company, The Board Perspective: A collection of McKinsey insights focusing on boards of directors, August 2016
3Ron Carucci, Harvard Business Review, “Executives Fail to Execute Strategy Because They’re Too Internally Focused,” November 2017, (https://hbr.org/2017/11/executives-fail-to-execute-strategy-because-theyre-too-internally-focused)
4Gretchen Gavett, Harvard Business Review, “What CEOs Really Want From Coaching,” August 2013, (https://hbr.org/2013/08/research-ceos-andthe-coaching)

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Board Services: Enhancing Board Effectiveness

MDA Leadership helps boards strengthen their governance roles and internal dynamics.

Board Evaluations

Most boards are required to evaluate their own performance on an annual basis—an exercise that can range from “checking the box” to an experience that truly engages board members in the right conversations. Our services include full board evaluations, individual director reviews, peer feedback, chair role transitions, and action planning.

Board and CEO Consultation
Creating strong board and CEO collaboration requires mutual trust and respect. Forging and maintaining productive relationships cannot be left to chance. MDA Leadership provides trusted advisor consultation for CEOs and their boards to foster alignment in critical areas such as decision-making, role clarity, governance, and communication.
CEO Coaching and Trusted Advisor Consultation

Two-thirds of CEOs don’t receive any outside advice on their leadership skills, and yet almost all would be receptive to suggestions from a coach.4 Since a one-size-fits-all playbook for CEOs doesn’t exist, MDA Leadership provides CEO coaching. Whether business performance is hitting the mark or not, even seasoned CEOs benefit from the safe place and counsel we provide to help them evolve their leadership.

1 Alan Murray and David Meyer, Fortune, “CEO turnover has picked up again,” June 2021, (https://fortune.com/2021/06/22/ceo-turnover-has-picked-up-again-ceo-daily/)
2 McKinsey & Company, The Board Perspective: A collection of McKinsey insights focusing on boards of directors, August 2016
3Ron Carucci, Harvard Business Review, “Executives Fail to Execute Strategy Because They’re Too Internally Focused,” November 2017, (https://hbr.org/2017/11/executives-fail-to-execute-strategy-because-theyre-too-internally-focused)
4Gretchen Gavett, Harvard Business Review, “What CEOs Really Want From Coaching,” August 2013, (https://hbr.org/2013/08/research-ceos-andthe-coaching)

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At MDA Leadership, we know there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for every organization. We take the time to get to know your business and your leadership needs and recommend a range of options that are the best fit for your growth goals. Let's see how MDA Leadership can optimize your Talent Strategy for the Long Run®.

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