Carolyn is the founder and global co-leader of McKinsey & Company’s CEO Practice, where she partners with CEOs, founders, boards, and senior executives to help them maximize their effectiveness and lead their organizations through critical moments, including hypergrowth, transformation, crises, and mergers. Drawing on her extensive research and experience, Carolyn works with leaders across all stages of the CEO journey to drive large-scale organizational change, set bold strategies, and shape company culture to align leadership teams, manage external stakeholders, and optimize executive time and operating models. She helps CEOs develop the mindsets and frameworks needed to succeed in their role, ensuring they deliver lasting impact and sustainable growth.
A recognized thought leader, Carolyn is the co-author of CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest (a New York Times bestseller) and A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership. She publishes the monthly Strategic CEO newsletter and has contributed over 30 articles to Harvard Business Review, The Conference Board, and McKinsey Quarterly. Carolyn is also a member of the McKinsey Global Institute Council, which advises on MGI’s research on global economic, business, and technology trends.
With over 25 years of experience advising clients across industries, including financial services, technology, and consumer sectors, Carolyn is also a sought-after keynote speaker and panelist at global conferences. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics and lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.
Podcast
“The CEO’s essential checklist: Questions every chief executive should be able to answer,” McKinsey & Company, August 2023
“How to make a strong start as a CEO,” McKinsey & Company, August 2023
“Leadership lessons from the world’s best CEOs,” McKinsey & Company, February 2022
“Business priorities in the postpandemic era,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021
“In conversation: The CEO moment,” McKinsey & Company, October 2020
“What sets the world’s best CEOs apart,” McKinsey & Company, May 2020
“How new CEOs can manage for the future,” McKinsey & Company, March 2020
Published work
“Serving a greater purpose: CEO Excellence revisited,” McKinsey & Company, March 2024
“The CEOs secret to successful leadership: CEO Excellence revisited,” McKinsey & Company, March 2024
“How to prepare for the CEO role,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024
“How to transition out of the CEO role,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024
“Sending it forward: Successfully transitioning out of the CEO role,” McKinsey Quarterly, July 2023
“Staying ahead: How the best CEOs continually improve performance,” McKinsey Quarterly, May 2023
“Four steps to success for new CEOs,” McKinsey & Company, April 2023
“Leading with authenticity: A conversation with Bill George,” McKinsey & Company, April 2023
“Stepping up: Becoming a high-potential CEO candidate,” McKinsey Quarterly, March 2023
“Actions the best CEOs are taking in 2023,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023
“Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal,” McKinsey Quarterly, November 2022
“Author Talks: What separates the best CEOs from the rest?,” McKinsey & Company, December 2021
“The CEO moment: Leadership for a new era,” McKinsey Quarterly, July 2020
“What sets the world’s best CEOs apart,” McKinsey & Company, May 2020
“The mindsets and practices of excellent CEOs,” McKinsey & Company, October 2019
“Continuous improvement: the realities of making the shift,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, June 2019
“How continuous improvement can build a competitive edge,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, May 2019
“Closing the gender gap: A missed opportunity for new CEOs,” McKinsey Quarterly, October 2018
“New leaders: Tap your team ASAP,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, October 2018
“Agility: mindset makeovers are critical,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, April 2018
“6 elements to create a high-performing culture,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, April 2018
“Culture: 4 keys to why it matters,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, March 2018
“It really isn’t about 100 days,” blog entry, McKinsey & Company, November 2017
“The POTUS as CEO-TUS,” First Year Project, Miller Center at the University of Virginia, July 2016
“What CEOs can teach the next US president,” McKinsey & Company, July 2016
“Ascending to the C-suite,” McKinsey & Company, April 2015
“Three Steps to a High-Performance Culture,” The Conference Board, January 2012
“Four Motivation Mistakes Most Leaders Make,” Harvard Business Review, October 2011
“The irrational side of change management,” McKinsey Quarterly, McKinsey & Company, April 2009
The Performance Culture Imperative: A Hard-Nosed Approach to The Soft Stuff, McKinsey & Company, 2007
Past experience
MaRS Discovery District
Director, business development and strategy
Education
University of St Andrews
MA, economics and international relations
