By: Trends DeskNew Delhi | November 19, 2025 10:56 AM IST 3 min readMcKinsey’s findings noted that the highest-performing 20 per cent of CEOs generate 30 times more economic profit than the next 60 per cent combined (Representative image/Unspalsh)In an era of corporate hustle, where the entrepreneur landscape has become twice as complicated and exhausting over the past few years, McKinsey & Company’s CEO Practice set out to understand what separates the best from the rest. Analysing interviews with 200 global CEOs for its book A CEO for All Seasons, the firm found two qualities that consistently define standout leaders: an exceptional learning mindset and an insatiable curiosity.Senior partners Kurt Strovink and Carolyn Dewar, who led the research, told Fortune that these traits emerged repeatedly. Dewar noted that the learning mentality appeared “in almost every interview,” emphasising that elite CEOs readily acknowledge what they don’t know. “It wasn’t that they were superhuman. It’s that they learned faster, they were more adaptable, and they had structures, methods to neutralise their excesses and capitalise on their edge,” Strovink added.McKinsey’s findings further noted that the highest-performing 20 per cent of CEOs generate 30 times more economic profit than the next 60 per cent combined. And yet, the job remains intensely challenging as 68 percent of CEOs said they felt “ill-prepared” when they first assumed the role, and nearly one-third don’t make it past three years. Within the S&P 500, poorly managed CEO transitions result in an estimated $1 trillion in value every year.The research also highlights the need for cultures built on openness and transparency. JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon captured this principle with his well-known instruction. “Don’t bring your best self, bring your worst self, put the problems on the table.” Dewar stressed that the point isn’t to excuse bad conduct but to encourage honesty. “Being willing to share when things aren’t going well, so we can fix it,” he said.Also Read | Narayana Murthy advocates 72-hour work week, praises China’s 9-9-6 rule: ‘Get a life and then worry about work-life balance’According to Strovink, this willingness to face difficult truths is vital for “edge thinking” and developing genuine confidence. The best leaders, he said, make room for hard conversations without turning them into “scarring, brutalising experiences.”“If you’re led by an enlightened leader who’s doing it well, it’s a glorious thing—maybe more important than ever,” he added.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:CEOsocial media virals