Becoming a CEO has always been a career high point or corporate peak, much about power, decision-making, business strategies, and leadership. However, contrary to most perceptions that it takes years and advanced studies, this journey really can begin quite much earlier, right after 10th grade.
In today’s dynamic and opportunity-rich world, students who are full of grit, focus, strategy, and purpose can gradually take the first step toward becoming a CEO at a relatively young age. If you have recently completed your 10th grade and are curious to know how to become a ceo after 10th with no experience in 2025, what to study to become a ceo, etc., this blog presents a roadmap consisting of ten actionable steps to follow.
Step 1: Early Education Focus
The first thing to decide will be: which stream is best for ceo after 10th. Your stream selection after the 11th and 12th classes will lay the groundwork for what you do in the future.
Commerce is the most straightforward route to future CEOs, with subjects like Business Studies, Accountancy, and Economics. But even Science and Arts are perfectly good if chosen according to your interests. After all, CEOs come from all possible educational backgrounds. Cook (Apple) studied Industrial Engineering, and Howard Schultz studied Communications (Starbucks).
Recommendation: Opt for subjects that test your analytical and leadership talents. Work hard to build a strong academic foundation that you can later build on with business or management studies.
Step 2: Choose Higher Education Wisely
After your 12th, pursue a Bachelor’s degree in anything relevant from among the following:
- BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
- B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce)
- BA in Economics or Business
- Engineering or Law (if aligned with your future goals)
With an MBA (Master of Business Administration), you will fast-track your dreams of becoming a CEO, giving you the skills required in strategy, finance, and management. Among the cohort of global CEOs holding an MBA are Satya Nadella (Microsoft) and Sundar Pichai (Google).
Step 3: Develop Leadership Skills Early
With leadership at the core of being a CEO, start young by leading a school group, a student council, or event planning. These are the things that prepare one with such qualities as:
- Decision-making
- Conflict management
- Team motivation
These will also include debate programs, youth leadership programs, and volunteering to boost confidence in public speaking and communication.
Also read – How to Develop Leadership Skills
Step 4: Gain Practical Work Experience
Do not wait until graduation to get into the business world. Opt for internships and part-time jobs in:
- Startups
- Retail or sales
- Social media and marketing
- Finance and accounting firms
This experience teaches you how every business works and gives investors or employers a look at your seriousness about your career path.
Step 5: Build a Strong Network
Most times, that is where your network gets you jobs that your resume wouldn’t. Start attending:
- Business workshops
- Startup events
- Webinars or master classes by leaders in the business world
Connect with mentors, alumni, professors, and industry professionals on Grassroot social media. Good networking has a way of exposing you to real-world business practices and opportunities.
Step 6: Build Core CEO Skills
Prime yourself for the CEO role by building hard and soft skills.
Strategic thinking: Long-term planning and decision making
Financial acumen: Balance sheets, budgeting
Communication: Writing, public speaking, and negotiations
Emotional Intelligence: Managing a team under an umbrella of empathy
Problem Solving: Solutions in tough situations.
Read books like The Lean Startup by Eric Ries or Zero to One by Peter Thiel. Take online courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy.
Also read – What Skills Should a CEO Have
Step 7: Work Your Way to the Top
Think small, dream great. Get an entry job or internship, and always keep your eyes open :
- Take the lead for a team
- Participate in a cross-functional project
- Solve business challenges so others notice
Most times, becoming a successful CEO is a result of first learning how a business operates from all levels of personnel, from the front line to the senior leadership level.
Step 8: Consider Starting a Company
Not every CEO has climbed the corporate ladder; quite a few of them constructed it. Starting a new company is probably the fastest route to becoming a CEO:
- Spot one of the market needs
- Create something to solve it
- Sell it
- Learn the pitch, funding, and scaling model
Every business skill is best learned by becoming a founder-CEO. Ritesh Agarwal (OYO) is one such example who began at age 17 and became a CEO by early twenties.
Step 9: Be Patient and Committed
Success requires its own time. Accept that there will be setbacks. Stay strong, consistent, and unperturbed. There is a lesson well worth learning in every failure.
Adapt a growth mindset; never stop learning, metamorphosing, and being flexible in your approaches. There are no overnight CEOs; a CEO is manufactured through hard work and perseverance.
Step 10: Be The CEO
By this time, one should have:
- Educational Qualifications
- Work Experience
- Networking Potential
- Leadership Competency
- Strategic Vision
One can now choose to be the CEO of an existing organization or establish a new entity. As a CEO, one is responsible for:
- Setting the Goals and Vision of the Company
- Directing Operations and Teams
- Ensuring Financial Performance
- Being the Face of the Brand
Final Thoughts
This blog answers – How to be a leader early, as it is curated from Lifelong Learning for CEOs. Becoming a CEO after 10th grade is a risky and ambitious target, but it is 100% doable. Step by step, with a good road plan, commitment, and continuous learning, you can pave your own path.
If you are serious about pursuing this route, you must know how to choose the right business coach who can guide you along the way. One such personality is Ameet Parekh, popularly acclaimed as India’s Best Business Coach. His guidance, courses, and mentorship have helped numerous young entrepreneurs and professionals unleash their leadership potential.
Ready to plan for your future? Start planning today, and maybe you will be the next name on the list of young CEOs shaking the world.
