About

Most executives have extensive experience in traditional aspects of business management, but frequently have less experience in dealing with the relentless array of societal and personal expectations.

The public glare of highly visible, ethical and personal leadership failures, has thrust executives into an increasingly cynical, unforgiving climate with little margin for error. Today's CEO is not only expected to define and carry out strategies to achieve excellent financial results, but also to be an exemplary citizen and a role model.

In record numbers, senior leaders are opting out feeling the pressure of great expectations leaving their businesses, communities, and society with a significant leadership deficit.

PathNorth was founded in response to this demanding environment and offers unique gatherings to help leaders identify practical approaches and fresh perspectives that better equip them to navigate these challenging times.

Here is one example that explains well why we do what we do...

Why John Chambers Paid It Forward to Donahoe

As a new CEO (of eBay), John Donahoe says the best advice he received was from Cisco’s John Chambers, whom he had never before met.

“Being the CEO is a lonely job. And the longer you’re in it and the more successful you are, the lonelier it is. You will find fewer and fewer people you can talk to,” he remembers Chambers telling him. “The reason I will give you an hour is because the guys at HP, when I was a novice CEO, gave me more time than they should have on the condition I return the favor to younger CEOs. You are now one of those, and I will spend the time with you conditional upon your doing the same.”

“Here’s how it will work. I have no agenda. The time is all yours. You talk about whatever you want. It will never leave this room. You will probably talk for some period of time about what your problems are. And then, I will probably throw out 10 ideas. You will find that five of the ideas you’ve already thought of. Three of the ideas are really stupid and don’t apply. One idea is moderately useful. One idea is decently useful. If I knew which one was going to be decently useful upfront, I would tell you. But I don’t, so you get 10. You now have 57 minutes."