Former Harvard Dean: CEO Role Remains Remarkably Unchanged

Nitin Nohria, the former dean of Harvard Business School and current executive chairman of Thrive Capital, has spent three decades studying the role of the chief executive. According to Nohria, while the surrounding business environment—including technology, social norms, and regulations—is constantly evolving, the fundamental responsibilities of a CEO have remained remarkably stable.

Nohria explains that the core tasks of a CEO continue to be crafting a company's vision, assembling a strong senior team, and aligning the organization to enable effective decision-making by others. He has taught the New CEO Workshop at HBS since 1997, a program designed to guide new chief executives through their roles.

Common surprises for newly appointed CEOs include the intense public scrutiny, the realization that they cannot make every decision themselves, and the increasing fragmentation of their already demanding schedules. Nohria emphasizes that CEOs cannot simply outwork the job; their focus must be on shaping the environment for others to succeed.

While minor shifts have occurred in how CEOs allocate their time, such as the rise of virtual meetings post-pandemic and increased engagement with regulators, research indicates that time spent with customers and frontline employees remains limited. Nohria advises CEOs to proactively schedule these interactions to ensure they are prioritized amidst numerous demands.