top of page

The Imperfect Leader Challenge –

A team of experts to help you mentally prepare for the challenges of leadership in your organization — created by former award-winning educators at Harvard Business School. 

There is no such thing as a perfect leader. 

 

The question is — are you brave enough to admit you are not perfect — at least not yet?

Sure, you are a hard charger — tough as nails — who consistently delivers results and economic value, regardless of the uncertainty and chaos swirling around. 

 

But, you will inevitably encounter discomfort as you push the natural limits of your leadership capabilities within your organization. This is a very good thing. No pain, no gain.

But prepare ahead of time — and immerse yourself in our program to help you identify blind spots and build new capabilities before your next big project or promotion — all under the guidance of our team of executive coaches, professional assessors, and former educators from top business schools — including Harvard, Columbia and INSEAD. 

IPD-1-804x570.jpg

Why Embrace an Imperfect Leader Mindset?

Because that’s what top companies crave: 

“If some of the worlds best CEOs have discovered the importance of the human side of leadership and have taken the time to go deep within themselves to build that capability, then surely this approach will be valuable to many others in all types of organizations.” McKinsey, 2024

“When CEOs can admit their flaws and mistakes, they create a sense of trust and authenticity with all stakeholders." Russell Reynolds, 2024​

"Imperfect leaders are more innovative and open to new ideas than leaders who focus on maintaining a perfect image."  Spencer Stuart, 2024

“Adding vulnerability to personal growth journeys heightens leadership potential.”  McKinsey, 2024

“Millennials, in particular, want their leaders to share their human side, including their vulnerabilities. What they are seeking, in short, is authenticity.“ Russell Reynolds, 2024

The Benefits — Why Join the Imperfect Leader Challenge? 

The Imperfect Leader Challenge is designed to elevate your leadership capabilities — and help you prepare for increasing responsibility, as you:

  • Receive advice and guidance from our team of experts on your leadership capabilities, soft skills, style, core values, beliefs, habits, and most importantly – your blind spots.

  • Develop a more realistic understanding of how other people see you, versus how you view yourself as a leader.​ There is always a gap.

  • Unearth the deep-seated psychological barriers to reaching your full potential — which may very well be the exact same habits and beliefs that helped you succeed in the first place. 

  • Create a development plan to bridge your leadership capability gaps before your boss gives you even more demanding projects.

  • See your own challenges through the perspective of others, and build a broader, more effective tool-kit for dealing with increasing leadership responsibility. 

  • Identify how your deep-seated assumptions impact your business judgment and ability to forge authentic relationships. ​​​​​​​​​

  • Ask questions to our remarkable lineup of guest speakers— executive educators from top business schools around the world. 

​​

ECFOp4-700x385.jpg

Who Should Participate in the Challenge?

  • Emerging leaders in private equity or venture capital backed organizations – where predictable results are expected regardless of increasing pressure and extreme uncertainty.

  • Professionals in law, investment banking, consulting, real estate, and healthcare — who crave hands-on support from a team of experts versus ad-hoc advice friends, colleagues, or online classes.

  • High-potential leaders who recognize the importance of the quote — “What got you here, won’t get you there.”

  • Individuals willing to take on the risks of openly giving and receiving honest feedback. This is not a 'check-the-box' program for detached observation.

Screen Shot 2024-12-31 at 2.22.07 PM.png

Meet the Team Leaders

This program was developed and is taught by Jeffrey Cohn and Dr. Carrie Muchow, and are joined by thought leaders, executive coaches, and academic gurus. 

Screen Shot 2025-01-03 at 9.54.27 AM.png

Jeffrey Cohn

Jeffrey was a former fellow at the CEO Leadership Institute, and case facilitator at the Harvard Business School, where he helped write the very first case study on Apple. He was also an assessment expert and leadership advisor at Spencer Stuart and Heidrick & Struggles. Recent articles: "How Yale Law School is becoming the next Harvard Business School," and "Why CEOs Should Model Vulnerability."

Screen Shot 2024-12-31 at 10.08.59 AM.png

Dr. Carrie Muchow

Dr. Carrie Muchow is a sought after executive coach, cognitive behavioral therapist, and professional assessor. Dr. Muchow received her Ph.D. with Honors in psychology, with an emphasis in neuroscience, from Columbia University. She specializes in helping high-potential leaders manage stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in their careers. She has helped global talent consultancies create proprietary assessment tools. 

Take the Challenge

Our team has created a series of challenges to mentally prepare you for increasing leadership responsibility within your organization — we are with you during every step of the journey. 

  • Challenge 1: Discover how others really see you as a leader. Like it or not, there is a gap between how others see you as a leader, and how you truly want to be seen. We challenge you to quantify this gap, and to understand the root cause of the disconnect between your perception and reality.

  • Challenge 2: Name your imperfections. Even if you excel in your current position (as you surely do), eventually your boss or your board will assign bigger, more important projects. Some will inevitably trigger fear, anxiety, and expose capability gaps. We challenge you to identify and actually give a name to your imperfections. You can’t fix your flaws until you first give them a name.​​

  • Challenge 3: Practice giving and receiving honest feedback.  This leadership skill is essential — and much more difficult than it seems — but it literally defines your ability to create authentic relationships. Most emerging leaders sugarcoat feedback, get too emotional, or avoid the process altogether. We challenge you to practice giving – and receiving – honest feedback under the constructive eye of our team of executive coaches. 

  • Challenge 4: Engage in deep reflection. Emerging leaders live in a work-world obsessed with setting goals, forming to-do lists, and creating short-term tangible targets that are easy to measure.  But without systematic time for deep reflection, you will begin to drift. Others will shape your future and control your destiny. We challenge you to reflect on your career trajectory, mental models, and leadership aspirations.

  • Challenge 5: Start practicing new behaviors.  Our coaches and educators want you to think about the present and the future. How can you enhance your leadership style in a way that helps your organization achieve key goals now, and over the next 12-24 months? We challenge you to begin practicing new behaviors. No one can change overnight. It takes practice, reflection, and feedback.

Screen Shot 2024-12-31 at 2.22.07 PM.png
Screen Shot 2024-12-31 at 2.31.18 PM.png

We Are With You Every Step of the Way 

  • Professional Assessment. During each challenge, receive confidential feedback from our team of experts on your leadership style, blind spots, and psychological triggers.

  • Individual Coaching. Deep-dive sessions with your individual coach to discuss personal challenges – like imposter syndrome, hard-to-change behaviors, or deep-seated fears – that are common among high-potential leaders as they assume greater responsibility.

  • Group Discussions. Share personal stories and unprocessed feelings in cathartic, professionally moderated group discussions.  

  • Real-Time Feedback. Practice giving and receiving direct feedback in group settings. Sharing feedback is hard – asking for honest feedback, about your leadership style and core values, is even more difficult. Our coaches and group facilitators help you do both.

  • Original Case Studies. Our team of former Harvard Business School case writers prepares real life vignettes focused on key leadership challenges in your organization. These case studies will help you think carefully about what leadership skills and key behaviors will be needed to continue growing as a leader. 

  • Individual Development Plan. Create a personalized leadership development plan, under the supervision of our team of expert coaches.

  • Guest Speakers. Be the first to ask questions to invited guests — recent experts on our private podcast include:​​

    • Psychological safety pioneer, Amy Edmondson;

    • #1 Thought Leader, Roger Martin;

    • Harvard Dean, Rakesh Khurana;

    • Leadership guru, Linda Hill;

    • Columbia Psychology Emeritus, Dr. Robert Carter; and,

    • Founders and leaders of the most innovative companies on the planet, including: Pixar, Sequoia, Cirque du Soleil, IDEO, Mayo, and Cleveland Clinic.​​

Why Did We Create this Program?

Top performers are understandably proud of their reputation as hard chargers.

Beneath the surface though, they experience the same uncomfortable emotions and feelings as the rest of us — fear, anxiety, conflicting values, and stress, to name just a few — yet they must continue to perform at a high level even as they take on more leadership responsibility.

If personal feelings are neglected, discomfort will morph into a toxic culture, dysfunction, and attrition.

More Questions - FAQ?

Get in touch with our project directors today.

© 2024-2025 by CEO FELLOWS LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

bottom of page