Interview
Questions
CEO and C-Suite Interview Questions
Executive interview questions for CEO, COO, and C-level positions 2026. Covers vision, strategy, board relations, crisis leadership, and organizational transformation.
What would you do in your first 100 days as CEO? Walk me through your priorities and approach.
What is your vision for this organization in the next five years? How would you build a strategic plan to get there?
How do you build an effective relationship with a board of directors? How do you handle disagreements with board members?
How do you build and develop a high-performing executive team? What do you look for in your direct reports?
Describe the most difficult strategic decision you have made as a leader. What was the outcome and what would you do differently?
How do you shape and maintain organizational culture at scale? Describe your philosophy for culture and values.
Tell me about a time you led an organization through a crisis. How did you communicate with stakeholders and what was the outcome?
What is your approach to capital allocation and investment decisions? How do you balance growth with profitability?
How do you communicate with diverse stakeholders including investors, employees, customers, and the public? What is your approach to transparency?
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing this industry in the next five years? How would you position the company to thrive?
Describe a major organizational transformation or turnaround you have led. What was your approach and what results did you achieve?
Tell me about a significant leadership failure. What happened, what did you learn, and how has it shaped your approach?