How to Speak to a CEO

Co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: September 29, 2021 References

Whether you're a new employee, an intern, a salesperson, or a customer, talking to a CEO can be a nerve-wracking proposition—but it doesn't have to be! All you need to do is know what you want to say and have the confidence to say it. Sounds simple, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Luckily, we here at wikiHow have gathered answers to some of your most pressing questions about how to speak to a CEO, including how to get their attention and how to make a great impression.

Question 1 of 10:

What's the best way to approach a CEO?

Introduce yourself and add something about your work. Executives are people too! They just happen to be busy people whose attention is typically pulled in a lot of different directions at once. Be brief and get to your point quickly.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- For example, you might say "Hi, I don't believe we've met before. I'm Suzy from accounting. The new financial reports you implemented greatly improved our efficiency, so I wanted to thank you for that."

Question 2 of 10:

When is the best time to reach a CEO?

Before or after normal business hours is typically the best time to engage. During business hours, executives are typically being pulled in a number of different directions. In the early morning or early evening, when there are fewer people around, you have a better chance of getting the CEO's ear.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- It helps to have a general understanding of the CEO's typical working pattern as well. For example, if you know they're not a morning person, the early evening might be the best time to try to reach out to them.
- Try to find a time that is most suitable for the person.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
  Life & Career Coach
  Expert Interview. 24 September 2021.} Talk to their executive assistant. They can give you a better idea of the CEO's schedule, when they're most likely to be available, and when they'll be the most approachable.
- Pay attention to company protocol as well. If the company is extremely hierarchical, it might not be acceptable for you to just stroll up to the CEO's office. However, smaller start-ups might have a more relaxed atmosphere.

Question 3 of 10:

How can you engage a CEO in casual conversation?

Open with a go-to conversation starter related to work. If you have ideas prepped beforehand, you won't be caught off-guard if you find yourself, say, sharing an elevator with a CEO. Keep yourself up-to-date on corporate events and activities so you have something to talk about. Here are some options:^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Ask about a recent business trip you know the CEO participated in
- Compliment the CEO on a recent address they gave or initiative they proposed
- Ask for recommendations if you're taking a client to lunch or dinner
- Mention an upcoming event or conference

Question 4 of 10:

What if you only have a couple of minutes to talk?

Get to your point immediately and offer a chance to follow up. Keep in mind that CEOs are busy people who are typically juggling several things at once. Be brief and quick.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
Life & Career Coach
Expert Interview. 24 September 2021.} No need to provide background information or explain why you're talking to them—just tell them your thought or idea.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- For example, you might say, "I've calculated we could save the company over $100,000 a month in production costs simply by eliminating TPS reports. I'll send you an email with the details."

Question 5 of 10:

How do you make a formal presentation to a CEO?

Create a short presentation with minimal filler. When you have the floor, get to your point immediately—start with the bottom line, then fill in the details. Even if you have 15-20 minutes, try to keep your prepared talk to around 5 minutes. That allows plenty of time to discuss the ideas you've presented.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Take a tip from Jeff Bezos, who famously banned PowerPoint slides in executive meetings, and don't waste your time trying to put together a polished visual presentation. You likely won't have time to get through it and it's not the most efficient use of anyone's time.
- A formal presentation takes a lot of preparation. Make sure you've mastered all the data and details that go into your idea so you can present it with confidence and answer any questions that might come up.
- Expect to be interrupted—this is why you want to get to your bottom line quickly. CEOs and other executives have a lot of demands on their time, so you want to make every second count.

Question 6 of 10:

How can you stand out to a CEO in a meeting?

Bring up concerns and questions immediately. Speaking up at a meeting with executives present can be intimidating, but it's usually the best time to get the CEO's attention. Be assertive when you have something important to add—the CEO will appreciate it.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Do your research going into any meeting with executives and prepare a bullet-point list of points you want to make or questions you want to raise.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
  Life & Career Coach
  Expert Interview. 24 September 2021.} If things on your list are covered in the meeting, go ahead and mark them off. But if something comes up, don't be afraid to mention it.
- Be respectful of your company's hierarchy when you do this—you don't want to be accused of stepping on anyone's toes. For example, if your direct supervisor is also going to be at the meeting, you might want to discuss your points with them first.

Question 7 of 10:

How do you talk to a CEO in an interview?

Prepare well for the interview so you are informed and engaged. The CEO will be able to tell right away if your answers seem rehearsed and memorized. Do your research on the job and the company, memorize keywords, and speak off-the-cuff with confidence. Stay on topic and keep your statements direct and to-the-point.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Use the opportunity to ask the CEO questions you wouldn't ask anyone else. They'll appreciate the work you put into preparing to interview specifically with them. For example, you might ask them about a recent initiative they've proposed and how that might change the expectations for the position you're interviewing for.
- When preparing for the interview, come up with a short example or story to back up each line on your résumé. That way, if they ask you about your experience, you can go beyond simply parroting information they likely already know about you.

Question 8 of 10:

How should you answer a CEO's questions?

Speak directly and provide data to back up your statements. If the CEO asks you a question, good job! That means they're interested in what you have to say and want to know more about it. Just stick to the facts and be specific.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- For example, suppose you mentioned that the new departmental reports have increased the accounting team's efficiency. The CEO asks how much of an effect they've had. You might say, "Since the reports were introduced, we've cut our processing time by 40%, saving the company around $100,000 a month."
- If you don't know the answer to the CEO's question off the top of your head, don't bluff! You wouldn't want the CEO to act on inaccurate information. In that situation, you might say, "I would need to go back and look at the data to provide you specific numbers. I'll send you an email this afternoon."
- Try to convey your answer without using a lot of business jargon. An executive is more likely to listen to you and believe that you know what you're talking about if you can speak clearly and plainly.

Question 9 of 10:

What can you do to make a good impression?

Convey to executives that you respect the value of their time. If you're confident and assertive, you'll get the CEO's attention. Then, get to your message quickly. Focus on how whatever you have to offer will benefit the company.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Take the initiative to reach out when you have an idea, rather than waiting for it to filter up the hierarchy. This shows that you care about the company and making it better.
- It's also important to be prepared. Before you present an idea to an executive, make sure you've considered all the angles and have an answer for any question you anticipate they might ask. A CEO will notice if you seem like you've done your homework.

Question 10 of 10:

Where can you find a CEO's contact information?

Use the corporate hierarchy to find direct contact information. Look at other email addresses within the corporation to figure out how the corporate email addresses are set up. From there, you typically just need the CEO's name to figure out what their corporate email is. Likewise, you can get their direct phone line if you know their extension.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- For example, if corporate emails are structured as firstname.lastname@corporation.com, and you know the CEO's name is Bilbo Baggins, is corporate email is likely bilbo.baggins@corporation.com. If your email gets returned as undeliverable, you might try other iterations of the same name, such as "bbaggins," "bilbob," or even just "bb."
- Keep in mind that when you reach out to a CEO directly, you'll usually be going through their executive assistant—although this depends on the structure of the corporation and how formal its hierarchy is.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I set up a meeting with a CEO?

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM
Life & Career Coach
Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University.

Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM

Life & Career Coach

Expert Answer

Request a time that works for them! Suggest times that you're available and give them multiple options to choose from.

Warnings

Don't take a CEO's behavior personally. If they seem dismissive or inattentive, they probably have something that's a higher priority than you.^{[15]
X
Research source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0