In this episode I’m joined by Alice Gregson, CEO of Forum Strategy, to dig into the shifting landscape of MAT leadership. We unpack what the latest ‘Being the CEO’ report reveals about the role right now, the pressures and priorities CEOs are naming, how leaders can stay grounded in an increasingly complex system and why succession planning needs to become a far more intentional part of trust strategy.

▶️ This episode at a glance:

[1:41] – Alice introduces Forum Strategy and sets out who they are and the work they do

[6:06] – How the Being the CEO report began, why it exists and the difference it aims to make

[8:37] – Alice shares the key themes and patterns emerging across five years of the report

[15:10] – A look at what the data tells us about growth from a CEO’s point of view

[21:05] – We explore the rise of the COO role and why strong operational foundations matter

[25:22] – The ongoing tension between strategy and operations and what the CEO role should truly hold

[27:13] – Changing attitudes towards whether MAT CEOs need a teaching background

[32:18] – What the report reveals about where CEOs turn for support

[40:04] – How Boards can strengthen CEO leadership and why diversity at Board level is crucial

[43:30] – Alice walks us through Forum’s Being the CEO programme and what it offers leaders

[46:42] – Audience Q&A from the original live webinar recording

📚 Related content:

Forum Strategy: https://forumstrategy.org/beingtheceo-report-2024/

Contact Alice via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-gregson-32336139/

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Want to be a guest? Click here! https://ljbusinessofeducation.co.uk/podcast-guest-application/

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This podcast is hosted by me, Laura Williams, and sponsored by the amazing team at Schools Advisory Service who are the UK’s largest provider of staff absence insurance and comprehensive whole school wellbeing services.

⭐️ Laura's website: https://www.ljbusinessofeducation.co.uk

⭐️ Schools Advisory Service website: https://schooladvice.co.uk/