The Ascent
CFO · Chief Financial Officer
CFO → CEO Readiness Audit
“54% of Fortune 500 CEOs came from a finance or operations background — yet only 12% of sitting CFOs feel 'CEO-ready'.”
— Executive leadership pathways research, 2024
The CFO-to-CEO path is one of the most natural — but most CFOs underestimate the gaps in stakeholder management, culture leadership, and external visibility. This 3-minute audit reveals your readiness.
Average path: 3–7 years from CFO to CEO · High likelihood — finance is the #1 feeder function
Takes 3 minutes · 10 dimensions · Personalised gap analysis