What’s Keeping CEOs Up at Night?
What’s Keeping CEOs Up at Night?  
Podcast: The So What from BCG
Published On: Wed Apr 22 2026
Description: BCG CEO Insomnia Index–Understanding CEO Pressure: More than 70% of CEOs are under chronic stress—but the real sources might surprise you.Drawing on BCG’s CEO Insomnia Index, Judith Wallenstein and Christine Barton unpack what’s driving the pressure, why it’s coming from closer than expected, and how it’s starting to impact decision-making at the top. While performance, growth, and cost pressures remain constant, the real weight is coming from much closer to home: boards, leadership teams, and employees.You’ll learn:The surprising stakeholders creating the most pressureHow stress narrows creativity, judgment, and strategic thinkingWhy the CEO role is becoming more isolatingWhat leaders can do to manage energy, time, and expectations more effectivelyLearn More:Christine Barton: https://on.bcg.com/4twIHs8Judith Wallenstein: https://on.bcg.com/4vCcMrrThe BCG CEO Insomnia Index: https://on.bcg.com/492jygqWhat Boards Expect of CEO Candidates: https://on.bcg.com/48hfzwdThe CEO’s Guide to Bolder Bets and Fewer Regrets: https://youtu.be/bbhZl3WRYdo?si=OQ1g_pgHtNXpPUUkBCG’s Latest Insights for CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/3QQrlaSWho Wants to Be a CEO: https://lnk.to/so-what-Barton-CEOs09Chapters(0:00) Why CEO Stress Is Spiking(0:56) What Stress Does to Performance(1:41) What Factors Are Driving Stress(4:05) Why Companies Are Impacted Differently(4:44) Develop Your C-Suite for Higher Performance(5:49) Why Being CEO Feels Lonely(9:31) The Problem with Feedback at the Top(12:22) Rising Expectations from Employees(14:27) The CFO Dynamic Explained(17:37) How CEOs Navigate the Board(18:47) How Should CEOs Spend Their TimeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp