Being a high-performer CEO isn’t enough. True leadership involves empathy

Being a high-performer CEO isn’t enough. True leadership involves empathy
FastCompany; by John Connors; 4/10/25
This moment calls for executives who can balance strong analytical skills with emotional intelligence. The CEO’s role is evolving. Private equity is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping the expectations, performance, and tenure of CEOs. The financial environment is also changing, with influence increasingly moving from public markets to private capital... In this landscape, CEOs are increasingly being measured by their ability to generate financial returns. But true leadership requires hitting more than financial targets. The most effective leaders understand that long-term success depends on balancing financial acumen with empathetic leadership. Those who fail to adapt risk becoming transactional managers rather than transformational leaders. Understanding this shift and defining one’s leadership approach is more critical now than ever.