What Are Good Questions to Ask a CEO
Strategic questions to ask a CEO about leadership, vision, company culture, and business strategy to gain insights and build meaningful professional relationships.
1What is your vision for the company's future and how do you plan to achieve it?
Click to see why this works
What is your vision for the company's future and how do you plan to achieve it?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their vision helps you align with company goals and understand the strategic direction they're taking the organization.
2What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about current challenges helps you understand the context and how you might contribute to solutions.
3How do you define success for the company and how do you measure it?
Click to see why this works
How do you define success for the company and how do you measure it?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their definition of success helps you align your efforts with company objectives and know what metrics matter most.
4What is your leadership philosophy and how do you develop your team?
Click to see why this works
What is your leadership philosophy and how do you develop your team?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their leadership approach helps you understand the company culture and how they value and develop people.
5What are the key values that drive decision-making at the company?
Click to see why this works
What are the key values that drive decision-making at the company?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding company values helps you align your actions with what the organization stands for and what guides their choices.
6How do you stay competitive in the market and what differentiates you?
Click to see why this works
How do you stay competitive in the market and what differentiates you?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their competitive strategy helps you understand the company's position and what makes them unique in the market.
7What role does innovation play in your business strategy?
Click to see why this works
What role does innovation play in your business strategy?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to innovation helps you know how the company values creativity and forward-thinking.
8How do you handle failure and what have you learned from setbacks?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle failure and what have you learned from setbacks?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their approach to failure helps you understand their resilience and what they value in learning from mistakes.
9What is your approach to building and maintaining company culture?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to building and maintaining company culture?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their culture-building approach helps you know what kind of environment they're creating and how you might fit in.
10How do you balance short-term results with long-term growth?
Click to see why this works
How do you balance short-term results with long-term growth?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their approach to balancing priorities helps you understand how they make decisions and what they value most.
11What are your thoughts on the future of your industry?
Click to see why this works
What are your thoughts on the future of your industry?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their industry perspective helps you learn about trends and opportunities they see in the market.
12How do you approach risk-taking and decision-making?
Click to see why this works
How do you approach risk-taking and decision-making?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their decision-making process helps you understand how they evaluate opportunities and make choices.
13What is your approach to customer relationships and satisfaction?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to customer relationships and satisfaction?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their customer focus helps you know how they value relationships and what drives their business success.
14How do you handle change and what is your approach to transformation?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle change and what is your approach to transformation?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their change management approach helps you understand how they navigate uncertainty and drive organizational change.
15What are your thoughts on sustainability and social responsibility?
Click to see why this works
What are your thoughts on sustainability and social responsibility?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their approach to sustainability helps you know how they balance profit with purpose and social impact.
16How do you approach talent acquisition and retention?
Click to see why this works
How do you approach talent acquisition and retention?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their talent strategy helps you understand how they value people and what they look for in team members.
17What is your approach to technology and digital transformation?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to technology and digital transformation?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their technology strategy helps you know how they're adapting to digital changes and what role technology plays in their business.
18How do you handle stakeholder relationships and communication?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle stakeholder relationships and communication?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning about their stakeholder approach helps you understand how they manage relationships with investors, customers, and employees.
19What advice would you give to someone starting their career?
Click to see why this works
What advice would you give to someone starting their career?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Learning their career advice helps you understand their values and what they think is important for professional success.
20What are you most proud of in your career and what drives you?
Click to see why this works
What are you most proud of in your career and what drives you?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Understanding their proudest achievements and motivations helps you learn about their values and what they find most meaningful.
Best Practices for Asking CEOs Questions
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Be Respectful of Their Time
CEOs are busy people. Be concise, focused, and respectful of their time constraints.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Show that you've done your homework and are asking questions that demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.
Listen Actively
Pay attention to their answers and ask follow-up questions that show you're engaged and learning.
Be Professional
Maintain a professional demeanor and approach the conversation with respect and courtesy.
Question Sequences
The Strategic Vision Sequence
The Leadership Philosophy Sequence
The Business Strategy Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask Obvious Questions
Avoid questions that can be easily answered by looking at the company website or recent news. Show that you've done your research.
Don't Be Too Personal
Keep questions professional and focused on business topics. Avoid overly personal questions about their private life.
Don't Interrupt or Dominate
Let them speak and don't interrupt. Ask follow-up questions but don't dominate the conversation.
Don't Ask About Sensitive Topics
Avoid questions about confidential information, legal issues, or other sensitive topics that they can't or shouldn't discuss.