5 Good Questions to Ask Your CEO

Asking your CEO good questions can help you gain valuable insight into the company’s values, culture, and strategic initiatives. It can also allow you to learn more about them as a person and receive practical business knowledge. This can help you get a more well-rounded perspective on the values prioritized by the company leadership, and shape your own decision-making strategies and long-term career goals within the organization.

Depending on your position within the organizational structure, you may not often get the opportunity to speak to the company’s CEO. Some companies organize town hall meetings, office hours, or issue-specific roundtable discussions to boost employee engagement, where employees can bring their questions to company leadership. Or you may get a chance to speak to the CEO and executive team during your job interview or as part of a promotion panel. Whether you’re a prospective employee or an old hand, being prepared with thoughtful questions helps you articulate your questions and concerns and learn more about your CEO's personal and professional approach.

Depending on the forum, you can ask your chief executive officer questions about company culture and goals, about their approach to topics such as problem-solving and leadership, or even about their interests and hobbies.

1. 1. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges the company is facing right now? A great follow-up question would be: How do you plan to overcome these challenges? The CEO’s answer to this question will reveal insights into their problem-solving abilities and what they value most within the organization.
2. 2. What traits do you look for when assembling a leadership team? By asking about the strengths of upper management, you can learn which areas you need to improve to have success within the organization.
3. 3. What are your personal goals? This personal question will provide valuable insight into what your CEO cares about most. Learning more about your CEO’s motivators can be a helpful indication.
4. 4. Do you have a hobby outside of work that helps you be a better leader? This question expresses genuine interest in your CEO’s personal life while remaining professional.
5. 5. What level of growth do you hope to see in the next five years? Expressing interest in the company’s success can signal to the CEO that you care about its future and hope to contribute to its success. This is a great question to ask during the hiring process. It helps you learn crucial information about the company's direction and shows your prospective employer that you’re invested in its success.

Get the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Howard Schultz, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Sara Blakely, Daniel Pink, Bob Iger, Anna Wintour, and more.