‘Executive Decisions’ is a CNBC original podcast offering a rare window into the minds of top decision-makers. Hosted by Steve Sedgwick, each episode explores the pivotal choices that shape the careers and legacies of business leaders and policymakers. Watch the promo previewing the first season above, featuring guests like entrepreneur Ms. Jo Malone CBE, Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch, London Stock Exchange CEO Julia Hoggett and more. The first three episodes drop on Tuesday, November 11.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, about the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership.

From an early love of languages and math to a formative stint in a psychiatric hospital during Germany’s public service program, Christian shares how empathy and curiosity became cornerstones of his approach to business. He reflects on bold career moves—including relocating his family to the U.S.—and the freedom to take risks that prepared him for the top job.

Christian opens up about the toughest chapter of his career: Siemens Energy’s 2023 existential crisis, triggered by massive losses and plunging share prices. He reveals the sleepless nights, the lessons learned and why resilience and adaptability matter more than ever.

Finally, Christian talks candidly about his struggle with work-life balance and his passion for driving the energy transition.

Listen now for insights on leadership under pressure, personal growth and the future of energy.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange and a trailblazer in British finance.

Raised in a family of pioneering lawyers and judges—including her mother, Baroness Hale—Julia chose a different path, studying sociology at Cambridge and launching a career in the City. She shares how her upbringing shaped her values, and how watching her mother break barriers inspired her to challenge the status quo.

Julia reflects on her decision to come out as gay early in her career, a move that was both courageous and transformative. She discusses the impact of inclusive leadership, the importance of empathy in the workplace, and why making tough—and sometimes unpopular—decisions is part of the job.

From playing golf to find balance, to steering one of the world’s most influential financial institutions, Julia offers powerful insights on authenticity, resilience, and the future of capital markets.

Listen now to hear Julia Hoggett’s remarkable journey and her vision for the London Stock Exchange.

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In the debut episode of Executive Decisions, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick sits down with Ms. Jo Malone CBE, the visionary perfumer behind one of Britain’s most beloved lifestyle brands.

Jo shares the pivotal decisions that shaped her life—from a challenging childhood on a London council estate, where she helped raise her sister and managed the family’s finances, to launching her first business and selling it to Estée Lauder.

She opens up about being labeled “lazy and stupid” at school, surviving breast cancer and navigating the emotional complexities of building a second brand under a non-compete clause.

Now leading ventures like Jo Loves and Jo Vodka, Jo reflects on the power of resilience, the importance of purpose-driven decisions and the unwavering support of her husband and business partner, Gary.

This is a story of grit, grace and the belief that your best chapters are always ahead.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Tim Adams, President and CEO of the Institute of International Finance and one of the most influential voices warning about the global debt crisis. 

Adams shares his remarkable journey from a small Kentucky town to the forefront of international finance. A childhood spent in the local library sparked his curiosity and ambition: “Once you open your mind, it never goes back,” he says. 

Tim reflects on pivotal career choices, including turning down a job at Enron that “seemed too good to be true,” joining George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and later serving at the U.S. Treasury, where he helped rebuild financial systems in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11. 

He also discusses the origins of the IIF, founded during the Latin American debt crisis and shares insights on the challenges facing today’s global economy. 

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Andrea Rossi, CEO of global investment manager M&G. 

Andrea shares how his multicultural upbringing—growing up in France with a Swedish mother and Italian father—shaped his adaptability and resilience as a leader. 

He reflects on his academic journey from France to Rome and INSEAD, calling his MBA a truly formative experience. 

Rossi reveals why joining GE was one of his best career decisions and how it sparked his passion for Six Sigma, a methodology he still champions today. 

After two decades at AXA, his entrepreneurial drive led him to launch his own firm, only to face the challenges of COVID-19. He candidly discusses the lessons learned and why timing matters. 

Now at the helm of M&G, Andrea outlines the company’s strategic priorities, his confidence in Europe’s growth potential and the importance of maintaining work-life balance in high-pressure roles. 

Tune in for insights on leadership, resilience and navigating change from one of Europe’s top executives. 

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation and sustainability.

Estelle shares her remarkable career journey, shaped by the influence of her trailblazing mother and grandmother. Originally drawn to astrophysics, she ultimately chose ecological transformation, driven by curiosity and a passion for creating meaningful impact.

Throughout the discussion, Estelle underscores the value of trusting your instincts and taking decisive action, illustrating these principles with pivotal moments from her own career. She opens up about the challenges of balancing professional ambitions with personal life, and how initiatives like “Veolia Cares” reflect her commitment to progressive workplace policies.

The conversation also explores the urgent need for bold environmental solutions amid political complexities, and Estelle offers her perspective on the growing role of AI in shaping executive decisions.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, for a compelling conversation about the life and leadership lessons sport can teach us.

Raised by elite athlete parents, Hugh’s career journey has been deeply rooted in sport. From transforming his family’s specialist sport shop into a nationwide retail chain to leading one of the world’s most iconic endurance events, his story is one of bold decisions and enduring values.

Hugh reflects on the toughest choices of his career, including letting go of a close colleague, and shares why leaning into hard decisions ultimately makes them easier. He emphasizes the importance of growth mindset, surrounding yourself with the right people and staying focused on where you want to go.

The discussion also explores the transformative power of sport in improving physical and mental health, the role of values in building world-class organizations and the impact of initiatives like the London Marathon Foundation in creating opportunities for underserved communities.

Finally, Hugh shares his vision for the future—and why fun, purpose and brilliant people remain at the heart of his plans.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Andy Briggs, CEO of Phoenix Group, for a candid conversation about leadership and purpose. 

Andy reflects on a career spanning nearly four decades in financial services, shaped by the values of hard work and authenticity instilled by his family. He shares how early decisions — from pursuing actuarial training to embracing diverse roles in sales and marketing — gave him the breadth of experience to lead the U.K.’s largest long-term savings and retirement business. 

The discussion explores the toughest calls he’s faced as a consolidator, including the human impact of mergers and site closures, and why those moments remain the hardest part of his job. Andy also opens up about setbacks, such as missing out on the top role at Aviva, and how those experiences reinforced his commitment to purpose-driven leadership. 

Throughout the episode, Andy emphasizes the importance of building inclusive teams, balancing professional ambition with family life and staying authentic as a leader. 

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo. 

Raised in a humble home in Casablanca without running water or electricity, Ilham shares how her grandmother’s belief in education as a “third exit” out of poverty shaped her life.

From public schools in Morocco to earning a Ph.D. in macromolecular physical chemistry, her journey is a testament to curiosity and courage. 

Ilham reflects on pivotal career decisions—from leaving academia for industry to working for global giants like Shell, Dow, and Solvay. 

She opens up about the toughest choices, including balancing motherhood with leadership and spearheading the historic split of a 160-year-old company. 

The discussion also explores why embracing discomfort fuels transformation and why leaders must know when to step aside. 

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Dominik von Achten, CEO of Heidelberg Materials. 

One of Dominik’s earliest decisions was to leave the “dry” world of legal practice for the fast-paced environment of Boston Consulting Group. Today, he steers one of the world’s largest building materials companies through a bold sustainability pivot, 

Dominik reflects on the toughest choices of his career, including introducing decarbonization targets into executive compensation. He explains why exposing yourself to crossroads moments builds confidence in decision-making and why listening to younger voices is critical in an era of AI and rapid change. 

Finally, Dominik reveals what motivates him today—and why shaping an industry for future generations remains his ultimate goal. 

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Sir Nigel Wilson, chairman of Canary Wharf Group, to explore the curiosity-driven career that took him from a council estate in northeast England to the top of U.K. business. 

Wilson shares how intellectual curiosity—nurtured by family and teachers—shaped his path from a scholarship at MIT to roles at McKinsey, Dixons and ultimately CEO of Legal & General. 

He reflects on leadership lessons, including his grandmother’s advice to lead with kindness and optimism and why encouragement beats shouting in management. 

The conversation spans his current work at Canary Wharf and Cambridge Innovation Capital, his passion for growth and innovation and even his personal goals in athletics and family life.

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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick sits down with Victor Riparbelli, co‑founder and CEO of Synthesia, to unpack the unconventional thinking that took him from a restless, "rebellious" childhood in Denmark to leading one of Europe’s most valuable generative‑AI companies. 

He describes the pivotal moments that guided his trajectory—from a transformative semester at Stanford University to his discovery of the groundbreaking “Face‑to‑Face” research paper, which sparked the idea behind Synthesia. 

Riparbelli also opens up about the company’s rocky beginnings, including more than 100 investor rejections before a cold email to American billionaire Mark Cuban led to a game‑changing $1 million investment. 

The conversation explores the leadership lessons he’s learned scaling Synthesia to a multibillion‑dollar valuation, the importance of staying skeptical in fast‑moving industries and the high‑stakes decisions ahead as the company pushes into its next chapter. 

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Pinterest CEO Bill Ready reflects on the pivotal decisions behind his rise from small-town-Kentucky to Silicon Valley—and the bold move that reshaped the platform for a new generation. 

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Roy Jakobs reflects on the early experiences that shaped his leadership—from post‑war lessons in forgiveness to the resilience built through childhood asthma. In “Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick,” the Philips CEO explains why compassion must sit alongside hard, practical choices—and how those uncomfortable decisions prepared him to lead the company through its latest evolution. 

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Shaped by family legacy, grit and a deep sense of responsibility, Jenny Johnson reflects on the pivotal decisions that took her from “the founder’s granddaughter” to the CEO of Franklin Templeton.

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Thrust into the top job sooner than expected, Schneider Electric CEO Olivier Blum explains why leadership isn’t about making perfect calls — it’s about committing once you choose, following through with discipline and learning fast under pressure. He shares how he sorts reversible vs. irreversible decisions, builds teams that execute without micromanagement and how he stays steady when the stakes climb.

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Vas Narasimhan never planned on becoming a CEO. In fact, he says the idea only hit him six months before he got the Novartis job.

He credits his rise to a lesson from his parents: throw yourself fully into whatever you’re doing, because you never know what comes next.

Narasimhan talks through the surprising roles that opened new doors, the crises that forced him to “stay in the ring” and why focusing on the job you have—not the next one—can accelerate your career.

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At one of the highest points in her career, Amanda Blanc made a decision most executives would avoid — she walked away. 

In this episode of Executive Decisions, the Aviva CEO reflects on leaving a senior role with no safety net, the judgment required to know when something isn’t right and how that instinct shaped the decisions she’s made since. 

From leading Aviva through a major turnaround to publicly calling out sexism at the top of the industry, Blanc explains how decisive action — not consensus — defines leadership under pressure. 

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At the start of his career, Lloyd Blankfein made a decision that would define the way he led — stop trying to fit in. 

In this episode of Executive Decisions, the former Goldman Sachs CEO reflects on growing up in public housing in Brooklyn, arriving at Harvard as an outsider and learning that authenticity was more powerful than performance. He explains how that mindset shaped his rise through one of the most competitive firms on Wall Street.  

From handling criticism and changing his management style to leading Goldman Sachs through crisis, Blankfein explains why the most effective leaders know who they are — and when they need to change.

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Stéphane Boujnah, the CEO of Euronext, reflects on a pivotal decision to block a major merger, the origins of his conviction and the emotional weight of leading against the consensus. 

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James Reed reflects on the decision that defined his career — taking the risk of joining the family business. The Reed CEO discusses failure, purpose and why standing still is the worst decision of all. 

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After 26 years at Goldman Sachs, Robin Vince made a decision few senior Wall Street executives would make: he walked away without another job lined up. At 48, he chose to take what he called a “gap year,” turning down an immediate approach from BNY so he could step back and think carefully about what he wanted from the next phase of his life and career. 

In this episode of Executive Decisions, the BNY CEO explains why stepping away became essential, and how that pause helped him decide he was not finished building. He reflects on the pressure, uncertainty and self-doubt that shaped his career, from arriving in France as a child unable to speak the language to navigating the intensity of Goldman Sachs in the 1990s. 

Vince also looks back on the global financial crisis, including the weekend of Lehman Brothers’ collapse, and the lessons he took from moments of extreme pressure. He then discusses the transformation of BNY under his leadership, why consistency matters in building institutions and how he balances running one of America’s oldest banks with family life and personal wellbeing. 

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