Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick

Face the Music: Anthony Scaramucci

Anthony Scaramucci’s career has included high-profile successes and setbacks.  In this episode of “Executive Decisions,” the SkyBridge Capital founder reflects on leavin

Run Toward the Hard Problems: Commerzbank CEO Bettina Orlopp

Bettina Orlopp took over as CEO of Commerzbank as the German lender was pushing ahead with a multiyear turnaround — and as UniCredit was building a stake that raised the

Go Where You’ll Learn More: Thomson Reuters CEO Steve Hasker

Steve Hasker never followed a formal career plan. Instead, the Thomson Reuters CEO says his biggest decisions were guided by one question: Would he learn more by saying y

Success Isn’t the Finish Line: DSM-Firmenich CEO Dimitri de Vreeze

After more than three decades at science-based firm DSM, Dimitri de Vreeze faced what he calls the hardest decision of his career: selling the materials business where he

Say Yes Before You're Ready: Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin

Mike Gitlin never set out with a master plan to become CEO. Instead, his career has been shaped by a series of decisions to embrace opportunities that pushed him outside

Choose Impact Over Ambition: Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget

After 25 years at Dow, Ester Baiget left a business she loved to take on the top job at Novozymes — now Novonesis. It was not a move driven by ego, or a lifelong plan to

Leave Without a Plan: BNY CEO Robin Vince

After 26 years at Goldman Sachs, Robin Vince made a decision few senior Wall Street executives would make: he walked away without another job lined up. At 48, he chose to

Be Willing to Stand Alone: Euronext CEO Stéphane Boujnah

Stéphane Boujnah, the CEO of Euronext, reflects on a pivotal decision to block a major merger, the origins of his conviction and the emotional weight of leading against t

Don’t Stop Trying Things: Reed CEO James Reed

James Reed reflects on the decision that defined his career — taking the risk of joining the family business. The Reed CEO discusses failure, purpose and why standing sti

Stop Trying to Fit In: Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein

At the start of his career, Lloyd Blankfein made a decision that would define the way he led — stop trying to fit in.  In this episode of Executive Decisions, the former

If It’s Not Right, Leave: Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc

At one of the highest points in her career, Amanda Blanc made a decision most executives would avoid — she walked away.  In this episode of Executive Decisions, the Aviv

Own the Role You Have: Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan

Vas Narasimhan never planned on becoming a CEO. In fact, he says the idea only hit him six months before he got the Novartis job. He credits his rise to a lesson from hi

Decide, Then Deliver: Schneider Electric CEO Olivier Blum

Thrust into the top job sooner than expected, Schneider Electric CEO Olivier Blum explains why leadership isn’t about making perfect calls — it’s about committing once yo

Use the Five‑Year Test: Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson

Shaped by family legacy, grit and a deep sense of responsibility, Jenny Johnson reflects on the pivotal decisions that took her from “the founder’s granddaughter” to the

Lead Through Discomfort: Philips CEO Roy Jakobs

Roy Jakobs reflects on the early experiences that shaped his leadership—from post‑war lessons in forgiveness to the resilience built through childhood asthma. In “Executi

Protect the User: Pinterest CEO Bill Ready

Pinterest CEO Bill Ready reflects on the pivotal decisions behind his rise from small-town-Kentucky to Silicon Valley—and the bold move that reshaped the platform for a n

Think for Yourself: Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli

In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Victor Riparbelli, co‑founder and CEO of Synthesia, to unpack the unconventional thinking that took

Learn the Lesson: Canary Wharf Chairman Nigel Wilson

In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Sir Nigel Wilson, chairman of Canary Wharf Group, to explore the curiosity-driven career that took h

Learn to Decide: Heidelberg Materials CEO Dominik von Achten

In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Dominik von Achten, CEO of Heidelberg Materials.  One of Dominik’s earliest decisions was to leave 

Know When to Leave: Syensqo CEO Ilham Kadri

In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo.  Raised in a humble home in Casablanca without running water or electr