Before Quote by Ben Horowitz
“If somebody's going on your board, and you're going to be C.E.O., it will help if that person knows how to be C.E.O., who has done it before.”
About This Quote
Effective leadership succession benefits when the incoming CEO has prior experience or mentorship from someone who has successfully held the role.
In simple terms: Experience helps new CEOs.
Key Takeaway
Seek mentorship before leading.
Themes
leadership
succession
experience
Mood
strategic
pragmatic
Type
advisory
insight
When to use this quote
- executive hiring
- board decisions
- career planning
Key Concepts
CEO mentorship
organizational learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a new CEO balance learning from mentors with innovation?
- What risks arise from over‑reliance on precedent?
A Different Perspective
Relying on past experience may limit fresh perspectives.
![“What I did in the book [Today Matters] is I tried to help a person make their day - every day - their masterpiece.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ab/john-c-maxwell-113_book_what-i-did-in-the-book-today-matters-is_572130.jpg)
