CEO 101

Welcome to Cassiobury’s CEO 101 programme, designed to cover all the bases for a successful new CEO. Aimed primarily at first time CEOs, the content will also appeal to aspiring CEOs looking to broaden their skill set ahead of any promotion.

Step up without
stepping away

Designed with the new CEO or busy C suite executive in mind - it delivers bite sized daily emails over six weeks - while also delivering on demand access to the whole course allowing you to set your own pace. There is no need to book time out of the office when you can least afford to do so.

Wide ranging curriculum brought to life with personal experience and insights

The curriculum covers both hard and soft skills over a six week programme. Each lesson contains personal insights from Cassiobury’s CEO, Rhiannon McKinnon - upgrading the academic and technical to real life stories.

Complementary one on one coaching

The digital programme can be combined with one on one coaching with Rhiannon, who can help you respond to the unique challenges, demands and opportunities of your role, accelerating your impact and delivering for your stakeholders.

Find out more now at the new dedicated website: www.ceo101.nz

What you’ll get

30 lessons that cover all bases that a new CEO needs to know

Curated articles and videos to expand and deepen knowledge

Daily bite sized emails designed for busy executives

Set you own pace with unlimited access on demand

One on one coaching add on to tackle your unique challenges and opportunities

Choose 6 months to start with a bang or 12 months to cover the first annual cycle

Meet your coach

Kia ora! I’m Rhiannon

Until 2023, I was the CEO of Kiwi Wealth - a KiwiSaver fund manager which looked after over a quarter of a million Kiwis’ retirement savings. At the helm, I built a diverse and high performing senior team, clarified the vision and strategy, divested our corporate start up for $40m, delivered make or break technology projects, experienced operating systems highs and lows, and led the business through the sale process culminating in a $310m exit for its shareholders.

Every CEO was once a first time CEO and no doubt it’s a huge step up. I can support, coach and mentor aspiring and first time CEOs, leveraging the digital programme but attuning to you and your company’s unique situation.

I vividly remember my first few weeks and months as CEO - the many challenges I faced and the need for strong support around me to succeed. By listening hard to your needs and situation, deciphering insights and offering some of my own experience, I would be delighted to make that challenge less gruelling for you, helping you to succeed and accelerate your impact as CEO.

For more about me, please see ‘About us’

What’s inside

  • Ensure you have the right mindset and support team around you to set you up for success. Learn how to manage your energy, not just your time, as you take on the biggest role in the organisation.

  • Running a company is a team sport and you’re the captain. Learn not just to lead, but to lead through leaders, be conscious of the shadow you cast, and choose a team that accentuates your impact rather than distracts you from your goals.

  • Learn how to use strategic foresight to plan ahead and then create a vision around which you align your people. Closely tied to strategy is the identification of risk, when to mitigate it, when to harness and ultimately, how to allocate your finite resources for future success.

  • One of your key roles as CEO is to manage the information flow between the organisation and the Board. Learn how to deepen your crucial relationship with the Chair, leverage the skills of all the Board, and effectively delegate throughout the organisation.

  • Gone are the days when your shareholder was your one and only stakeholder. The stakeholder map is more complex with government, customers, community, your people and the planet all major considerations for today's organisations. Learn how to identify and manage your unique stakeholder map and maintain any necessary social licence to operate successfully and sustainably.

  • As the CEO, you have a defined role at the apex of your organisation which also means letting your talented C suite manage their areas of expertise: Finance, Customer, Technology, Legal, Operations. You do not need to be an expert in all these fields but you do need to ask the right questions and hold the C suite to account. Learn how to tackle each domain here.