Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick
‘Executive Decisions’ is a CNBC podcast offering a rare window into the minds of top decision-makers. Hosted by seasoned financial journalist Steve Sedgwick, each episode explores the pivotal choices that shape the careers and legacies of influential business leaders and policymakers. Through candid conversations about risk, doubt and conviction, the series reminds us that even the most powerful face uncertainty and trade-offs. The first season of 'Executive Decisions’ will launch on November 11th.
Episodes
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 still is the worst decision of all.
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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 Goldman Sachs CEO reflects on growing up in public housing in Brooklyn, arriving at Harvard as an outsider and learning that authenticity was more powerful than performance. He explains how that mindset shaped his rise through one of the most...
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 Aviva CEO reflects on leaving a senior role with no safety net, the judgment required to know when something isn’t right and how that instinct shaped the decisions she’s made since.
From leading Aviva throug...
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 his parents: throw yourself fully into whatever you’re doing, because you never know what comes next.
Narasimhan talks through the surprising roles that opened new doors, the crises that forced him to “stay in the ring” and why focusing on the jo...
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 you choose, following through with discipline and learning fast under pressure. He shares how he sorts reversible vs. irreversible decisions, builds teams that execute without micromanagement and how he stays steady when the stakes climb.
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 CEO of Franklin Templeton.
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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 “Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick,” the Philips CEO explains why compassion must sit alongside hard, practical choices—and how those uncomfortable decisions prepared him to lead the company through its latest evolution.
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 new generation.
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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 him from a restless, "rebellious" childhood in Denmark to leading one of Europe’s most valuable generative‑AI companies.
He describes the pivotal moments that guided his trajectory—from a transformative semester at Stanford University t...
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 him from a council estate in northeast England to the top of U.K. business.
Wilson shares how intellectual curiosity—nurtured by family and teachers—shaped his path from a scholarship at MIT to roles at McKinsey, Dixons and ult...
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 the “dry” world of legal practice for the fast-paced environment of Boston Consulting Group. Today, he steers one of the world’s largest building materials companies through a bold sustainability pivot,
Dominik re...
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 electricity, Ilham shares how her grandmother’s belief in education as a “third exit” out of poverty shaped her life.
From public schools in Morocco to earning a Ph.D. in macromolecular physical chemistry, her journey is a testament to curiosity and coura...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Andy Briggs, CEO of Phoenix Group, for a candid conversation about leadership and purpose.
Andy reflects on a career spanning nearly four decades in financial services, shaped by the values of hard work and authenticity instilled by his family. He shares how early decisions — from pursuing actuarial training to embracing diverse roles...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, for a compelling conversation about the life and leadership lessons sport can teach us.
Raised by elite athlete parents, Hugh’s career journey has been deeply rooted in sport. From transforming his family’s specialist sport shop into a nationwide retail chain to leading one of the world’s most iconic endurance ...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation and sustainability.
Estelle shares her remarkable career journey, shaped by the influence of her trailblazing mother and grandmother. Originally drawn to astrophysics, she ultimately chose ecological transformation, driven by curio...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Andrea Rossi, CEO of global investment manager M&G.
Andrea shares how his multicultural upbringing—growing up in France with a Swedish mother and Italian father—shaped his adaptability and resilience as a leader.
He reflects on his academic journey from France to Rome and INSEAD, calling his MBA a truly formative experience.
Rossi reve...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Tim Adams, President and CEO of the Institute of International Finance and one of the most influential voices warning about the global debt crisis.
Adams shares his remarkable journey from a small Kentucky town to the forefront of international finance. A childhood spent in the local library sparked his curiosity and ambition: “Once you open y...
In the debut episode of Executive Decisions, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick sits down with Ms. Jo Malone CBE, the visionary perfumer behind one of Britain’s most beloved lifestyle brands.
Jo shares the pivotal decisions that shaped her life—from a challenging childhood on a London council estate, where she helped raise her sister and managed the family’s finances, to launching her first business and selling it to Estée Lauder.
S...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange and a trailblazer in British finance.
Raised in a family of pioneering lawyers and judges—including her mother, Baroness Hale—Julia chose a different path, studying sociology at Cambridge and launching a career in the City. She shares how her upbringing shaped her values, and how watching her mother break ...
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, about the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership.
From an early love of languages and math to a formative stint in a psychiatric hospital during Germany’s public service program, Christian shares how empathy and curiosity became cornerstones of his approach to business. He reflects on bold career moves—includi...
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