September 23, 2025
There’s a paradox at the top. Becoming CEO is often the pinnacle of a career. A role many aspire to. Yet for those who step into it, one of the first feelings is not celebration, but isolation.
A CEO sits at the intersection of the board, shareholders, employees and customers. Every decision is scrutinised, every word weighed. And while you have a leadership team around you there are moments when you can’t fully share your doubts or even your excitement. You might also be compared to your predecessor, who could be your parent. Especially if that parent successfully built the enterprise you are now expected to lead.
I’ve seen this with new CEOs stepping into family businesses or with entrepreneurs moving into structured corporate roles Even with seasoned executives taking on new mandates. The higher you go, the fewer peers you have to talk to openly.
It can be lonely, but it needn’t be.
That’s where mentorship makes a real difference. Not in the form of textbook advice, but as a sounding board grounded in lived experience. A mentor can help you:
Navigate governance and the unique dynamics of the boardroom.
Balance confidence with vulnerability when leading your team.
See the cultural signals that numbers alone don’t reveal.
Sometimes, mentorship isn’t about giving answers. It’s about creating the space where leaders can think aloud, test assumptions, and regain clarity.
Anyone going through this?