Seven Blindspots - by Nathan Jenner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Why do proven leaders fail when they reach the top? Not for lack of intelligence, effort, or track record--but for blindspots the usual evaluations never catch.

In Seven Blindspots, Nathan Jenner draws on more than two decades as an enterprise operator, CEO assessor, and executive coach to identify seven recurring gaps that quietly derail leaders at the C-suite and CEO level. These gaps rarely surface in traditional interviews, resume reviews, or standard psychometrics. They emerge when leaders must set strategy, align teams, and guide an organization through uncertainty.

Combining firsthand operating experience with organizational psychology, Jenner shows how these patterns form, why past strengths become transition risks, and how to detect them before a succession decision is made. The result is a practical diagnostic framework for boards, CEOs, and talent leaders--built for the roles where the consequences matter most.

Review Quotes

"Nathan brings rigor and insight to evaluating candidates that few boards reach on their own, seeing what others miss and anticipating consequences. Seven Blindspots puts that same discipline on the page. This is essential guidance for boards, CEOs and CHROs making succession decisions."
-- Michelle Bottomley
Board Director & CEO

"Leadership is a journey of continuous learning, and the willingness to see ourselves clearly is one of its greatest strengths. Seven Blindspots challenges leaders to grow beyond what made them successful and offers practical insights for becoming even more effective. It's an important read for CEOs, boards, and everyone committed to developing exceptional leaders."
-- Gail Boudreaux
President & CEO, Elevance Health

"One of the Board's critical responsibilities is to ensure successful CEO succession planning. Jenner's research has identified the critical factors that lead to success and details how blind spots can be identified and mistakes avoided before it's too late."
-- David Benson
Former President & Interim CEO, Fannie Mae; Independent Board Director

"Standard succession planning rotates executives through functions and assignments. That's valuable. Seven Blindspots fills what's missing. It's the overlay that sits on top of it--systematically identifying and developing the blindspots often missed as leaders elevate to run the enterprise."
-- Steve Hasker
President & CEO, Thomson Reuters

"Seven Blindspots identifies patterns I sensed across my career but had never seen captured with such precision. It is clear-eyed about what truly separates leaders at the top and profoundly practical about how to close the gaps that too often remain invisible until the cost becomes unmistakable."
-- Eric Veiel
President & Chief Investment Officer, T. Rowe Price

"I've watched talented executives rise on operational skill and then stall in their careers. Why? Because the job at the top is about strategy, politics, EQ, and leading people through change--not just managing operations. This book names that gap honestly, and it's built by someone who's been on the field, not just studying it."
-- Bryan P. Powell
CEO, Westwood Professional Services

"After five decades in leadership positions, I came to believe nothing beats an engaged, energized, and aligned organization and that leaders who cannot build one eventually plateau no matter how strong their operating record. Seven Blindspots is a fresh and original perspective rather than a rehash of the leadership canon--it isolates the specific capabilities that separate executives who scale from those who stall, and importantly, treats those capabilities as developable. This is a must read for any board or CEO responsible for the next generation of leadership."
-- Robert J. Maricich
Founder & Executive Chairman, ANDMORE

"The more senior the role, the harder it becomes to get honest feedback, to be challenged, or to be told what you most need to hear. Seven Blindspots names the recurring themes that hold even the most senior leaders back. Refreshing and novel next to the usual articles and advice. Practical and real."
-- Liz Cole
Former CHRO, Marsh; Former CHRO, Cambia Health Solutions

"Even the most experienced executives have blind spots, and without rigorous assessment and candid feedback, those gaps can quietly erode value. Seven Blindspots helps boards and investors identify those risks early and, just as importantly, understand how to support a leader rather than simply place a bet on one."
-- Monique Honaman
Managing Director, Private Equity Portfolio Talent

"Seven Blindspots closes the gap between research and practice. Jenner translates rigorous organizational psychology into a practical framework that helps boards and CEOs make better decisions about the executives they select and develop for high-stakes business transitions."
-- Debra A. Noumair
Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University; Founder & Faculty Director, Executive Master's Program in Change Leadership

"Nathan sees what actually derails executives at the top--the patterns most miss. Seven Blindspots names them and, just as importantly, shows how to develop past them."
-- Amy Mulderry
Former President, CarelonRx

About the Author

NATHAN JENNER is an expert in executive assessment and leadership development who has assessed and developed thousands of senior leaders over a twenty-five-year career. He works with boards, CEOs, and investors to evaluate candidates, guide CEO succession, and develop C-suite talent.

His approach pairs senior operating experience at firms including Bloomberg and JPMorgan with an organizational psychology lens. He is the founder and principal of ExecutiveCode, where he advises organizations on CEO succession, executive selection and development, and high-performance teams.