The 8 Best Business Magazines in 2023

The business world is tough and competitive, and everyone knows that to succeed in it, you have to have a wide array of skills. You have to be personable with clients and coworkers, knowledgeable enough to do the work required of you, tech-adept to grow and evolve over the course of your career, and have the ability to persevere enough to put in long hours in less than ideal conditions.

A little-remembered fact, though, that will get you through thick and thin is this: the smartest business minds are great at math and management, but they are also serious readers. The top CEOs are known to read hundreds of volumes a year from fiction and non-fiction alike.

The best business minds also know that staying on top of the news is critical, and they know that weekly and monthly magazines often provide the best outlet for doing so. While the Internet is here to stay, so are the glossy magazines we know and love. Read on to see the best business magazines to pick up today.

Best for Professionals: Harvard Business Review

If you want to read Harvard Business Review articles, you are going to have to subscribe. Their paywall is notoriously tough, and their materials are used in classrooms around the world. But if you do pony up for a subscription, this bi-monthly publication includes info on top research, news, and developments in many different fields of business. After the 2009 hire of Adi Ignatius, the now editor-in-chief, HBR started to become a cutting-edge publication that covered business news as it was happening rather than just the academic research that had been its mainstay since 1922. As one of the top business schools in the world, Harvard produces in-depth material that is essential reading for business students, professors, and professionals at all levels of their careers. It is geared toward managers more than towards early career professionals, but there is something inside for everyone with an interest in serious business reading. Frequently covered topics include management and leadership, marketing and organization, long-term strategy, and personal negotiation skills.

Best for Personal Finance: Money

If you are looking for a general guide to investing, saving, and budgeting, this is the magazine for you. Whether your five years away for retirement or 50, this magazine regularly features advice on how to choose an investment strategy that will help meet your goals and features real families who have done so, like a family who paid off $100,000 in debt while also raising young children. You might know them best for their annual list of “America's Best Places to Live,” which highlights different cities in America with an eye towards affordability, as well as several other “Best Of” lists, like the best places to travel in America or go to college.

Best for Business News: Bloomberg Businessweek

This weekly magazine is produced by the same company professional finance guys, and gals love for their indispensable Bloomberg Terminal. Though the company has struggled through the last recession, its first edition was printed weeks before the stock market crash in 1929, and they’ve been providing essential business news to industry professionals ever since. While the topics inside are geared towards a reader with highly specialized knowledge, there is something inside for casual readers as well as career professionals. If you’re looking to join the ranks of the latter, Businessweek produces a respectable list of the best MBA programs annually, so you can take your pick and read it, too. In addition to news on markets and technology, the magazine also features beloved opinion columnists who offer fresh takes on a variety of topics, as well as a wide array of online podcasts for subscribers to enjoy. 

Best for Lists: Forbes

Forbes has never met a list it does not love. Their annual Forbes Billionaires List is always a topic of hot conversations and the product of years and years of hardcore investigative journalism, their World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List celebrates the strength of feminism, their investment guides help countless individuals manage their money, and the smattering of other lists both inform and delight. But apart from these lovely lists, the magazine is also a serious bi-weekly offering of articles on everything from lifestyle to leadership, markets to menus, innovation to industry shakeups. Recent articles include Bezos Unbound: Exclusive Interview With The Amazon Founder On What He Plans To Conquer Next and a variety of other offerings that only an industry leader could provide.

Best for Business Technology: Wired

This monthly magazine focuses on how technology is changing the world around us – our personal lives, the society at large, the business world and even our politics. If you love staying up to date on the latest tech developments, you will love this colorful and always informative publication. While it is sure to delight tech nerds who thrive without sunlight and are bathed continuously in code, it also has popular appeal for the everyday reader who likes to stay connected. Recent hit articles include reviews of the best headphones for long runs and gym workouts as well as a look back at 25 years of a Wired geek culture column which was aptly called, “The Angry Nerds Won, And Now We’re All Sunk.”

Best for Startups: Inc.

This magazine is the place for small business owners and startup folks to revel in the awesome world of entrepreneurial business. It was founded by an MIT trained engineer and has since become an industry leader in all things small business and startup tech, including producing an annual list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. The magazine provides in-depth special reports on topics like the best places to work and the country’s most productive entrepreneurs, as well as daily news on money, tech, and management. If you are looking to learn from the best startups, this is the best place to start.

Best for Investors: Fortune

If you read one annual investment list, it should be the Fortune Investor’s Guide. While sometimes folks get caught up on the flashiest new stocks or bogged down by the trusty playing it safe investment methods, Fortune strikes the balance of providing the most in-depth and useful investment information while delivering it in a format that is accessible to folks who aren't financing professionals. Fortune also offers thoughtful articles on business news as well as profiles of industry leaders who are shaping the business world around us. They investigate tough questions, like whether older workers are really as tech-averse as they’re made out to be, and the real reasons people quit their jobs. 

Best Economics Reporting: The Economist

Call it stodgy if you must, but The Economist is undoubtedly no-nonsense. The weekly magazine is dense and packed with short and long takes on the business news of the week, as well as business, takes on the news of the week. Unlike many other publications on this list, The Economist offers a truly global look at the world – they are headquartered outside of the United States and have offices around the global landscape. In addition to finance topics and business news, The Economist also analyzes science and technology through a global lens. If you want a lengthy magazine to read on the weekend or on your daily commute, this could be the one. Many will also enjoy the sometimes sassy tone that the British editors take in their view of the world.

How to Become a CEO: Crafting Your Path to the Top Executive Position

9 September 2022 | 11 Min Read

In the words of William Shakespeare, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” This holds true for Chief Executive Officers (CEO) too. Let’s take three of the world’s most popular CEOs – Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, and Richard Branson. Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook (now META) in 2004 in his dorm room before dropping out of Harvard. Satya Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 as an engineer and slowly rose through the ranks to become the company’s CEO. Branson, on the other hand, doesn’t have any college degrees. Today, he owns and controls over 400 companies under the Virgin Group. This justifies why one of the most-searched queries on the internet continues to be, “How to become a CEO?”. While there is no straight path, we can help you carve your own path to becoming a CEO. Read to know more. 

What is a CEO?

A CEO is the highest-ranking executive in a company. CEOs report to the board of directors. Their core responsibilities include maximizing the value of the business, overseeing the strategic direction, engaging with media, and implementing changes for better performance. They must have the best understanding of the company’s employees and capabilities. In most cases, the CEO is elected by the board and its shareholders. They report to the chair and the board, who shareholders appoint. For all practical purposes, the CEO is the captain of the ship and is responsible for steering the company through choppy waters and fair weather. His/her vision becomes the path forward for the company.

What Does a CEO Do?

The role of a CEO in the new normal is continuously changing. Since March 2020, CEOs have been coping with the unprecedented demands of the market. They were forced to make some hard decisions for the company’s welfare. This included employee layoffs, resetting and pivoting the company’s strategic path, sharing vaccine updates, and much more. The CEO is also the face of the company. They are expected to share important updates with the media via their public relations team.

So, apart from managing the company’s strategic processes, operations, media presence, and working closely with the board of directors, CEOs also need to provide encouragement and constant reassurance to their employees to maintain stability. 

How Much Does a CEO Earn Annually?

In most cases, the salary contains a fixed component, and a variable component based on the company’s profits. CEOs also have equity in the company. Also, the salary depends on multiple factors like age, location, industry, experience, stock options (if any), and company. However, here is what CEO salaries around the world look like according to Salary.com and Payscale: 

• United States: $161,058 annually on average, and $25,000 profit sharing per year 
• India: ₹2,989,350 annually, with a bonus component ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹3,000,000.
• Brazil: The average salary of a CEO is between R$425,068 and R$1,177,661
• Europe: Up to €1,400,000 with a base salary of €681,000 and a bonus of €719,000 gross per year
• China: Average annual salary of ¥1,442,608 and excluding a ¥15,000 bonus
• online leadership courses

What Skills are Most Important for a CEO?

Before becoming a CEO, one must explore various leadership styles to emerge as a more strategic leader equipped to build and inspire high-impact teams and drive transformation. Due to their highly public position, CEOs need to be very careful about their appearance, tone, and body language too. They need to win the confidence of employees, board members, and the media. CEOs can have an impact on stock value, business reputation, employee morale, company culture, and strategic operations. In most companies, the CEO is at the tip of the hierarchical pyramid. They carry an enormous responsibility and must maintain decorum at all times. 

How to Become a CEO?

1. Get the Education You Need

Unless you are a founder, getting to the top is a rarity without a relevant degree and Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Over half the Fortune 100 CEOs have a degree in engineering, accounting, or economics. While brands do not matter as much at the undergraduate level, when it comes to an MBA brands make all the difference. 40% of the Fortune 100 CEOs went to elite universities. The network formed at such top-brass educational institutions is unmatched and so is the ‘brand’ value it adds to your profile as a professional. Emeritus has partnered with some of the top-rated universities in the world to offer executive-level programs, including:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Program at UC Berkeley Executive Education

2. Gain Necessary Experience

Having significant work experience before and after the MBA has proven beneficial for most CEOs. Picking the right companies is highly essential not only to gain skills but also to build a good network of peers. Most top-ranking hiring happens with a recommendation; you will very rarely see companies advertise for C-suite positions. Hence, a network of peers and colleagues is an asset you need to develop if you want to become a CEO.

3. Acquire Leadership Skills

Leaders are not created overnight. Years of experience and honing help individuals build better leadership skills. According to Forbes, empathy is the most important skill leaders must possess. The other leadership skills that are commonly spotted would be communication, problem-solving, composure, the ability to think outside the box, and networking. 

Here are the most important skills an aspiring leader should acquire if they wish to become a CEO:

• Empathy
• Growth mindset
• Transparency
• Openness to changes
• Approachability 
• Crisp communication
• Executive presence
• Decisiveness
• Ethics and fairness
• Innovation

4. Develop Executive Presence

Not every manager is a leader. A leader is someone who exudes poise, and confidence, and commands respect. Establishing an executive presence in the modern workplace is an art that has been mastered by very few. CEOs are the face of the company and must possess executive presence. 

5. Expand Your Influence

Building meaningful relationships and connections is step one when it comes to expanding your influence. CEOs and C-suite leaders network with other business leaders and industry experts to exchange ideas and get advice, like mistakes to avoid or how to resolve a common labor concern. Reinventing the wheel is unnecessarily expensive and time-consuming. 

6. Self-Reflect and Improve Character

Self-reflection is a powerful tool used by leaders to infuse humility into their lives. Often they are on their own at the top of the employee pyramid. Self-reflecting helps them analyze their behavior and actions and helps spot strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. 

7. Begin to Create Your Vision

A company’s vision can be different from your individual vision. Who are you as a leader? What do you wish to achieve? Begin crafting your vision, every CEO has a strong, achievable vision. Over time your vision comes together with your company’s vision only to become stronger and more impactful. 

8. Master People and Team Management Skills

A CEO cannot be effective without his team. He needs their trust and support at all times. Mastering people and team management skills will help at every stage and build more trust in your teams.

9. Meet Other Leaders

Meeting and interacting with great leaders is a wonderful way to pick up new skills, both hard and soft. Learn from their mistakes. Listen carefully to their anecdotes. Add them on LinkedIn and build a meaningful network. All this will come in handy in the future.

What Makes a CEO Successful?

If I asked you to imagine a successful CEO, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Harvard Business Review’s CEO Genome Project embarked on a mission to identify the specific attributes that differentiate high-performing CEOs. Here are the four non-stereotypical attributes they found:

They’re decisive. Successful CEOs don’t always wait for the perfect information. They make decisions before it is too late. They believe that a wrong decision is often better than no decision.

Their main goal is to create impact. They understand stakeholders’ priorities and align them around goals to create value. 

For them, mistakes are wonderful opportunities to learn. Successful CEOs proactively adapt. They look at the big picture and move on quickly. 

They always follow through on commitments – big and small. They deliver results in a reliable fashion, and this is what sets them apart. 

Find out how you rank on these four essential behaviors. Click here to try.

Why is it Difficult to Create a Career Path for a CEO?

types of leadership

Good CEOs are capable of transforming the landscape. But, creating a career path to become a CEO is not easy. It varies based on companies, industries, markets, and people. 

The journey to becoming a CEO can happen anywhere between five to 20 years depending on the kind of company one wishes to lead. If you are an entrepreneur who got recently funded, then you are a lot closer to becoming your own company’s CEO. On the other hand, becoming the CEO of a well-established company takes time. The board of directors will evaluate your experience, educational background, skills, achievements, reputation, fit, and ability to make a difference. 

According to Harvard Business Review, potential CEOs and C-suite leaders fall into one of three categories below based on their natural abilities:

1. Fixer

As the name suggests, people with this capability look for solutions. They see gaps in systems, processes, structures, vision, and every other aspect of the business. This ability comes naturally to them, sometimes even before they have the authority to make such decisions. 

2. Relationship Maven

All these patterns start emerging very early in one’s career. Being a relationship maven means individuals with this skill have a natural curiosity about the people around them. Over the years, their network grows. Such leaders leverage relationships to sign new deals and collaborate better to result in higher yields. 

3. Passion Player

Those who belong to this category believe in the power of creating impact. The only thing that matters to them is accomplishing something significant. They hire, mentor, and motivate employees to work toward this cause. They are determined individuals with tremendous knowledge and expertise to support their passion.

Resources for Aspiring CEOs

• CEO Magazine: Delve deeper into both the professional and personal lives of business leaders via this highly circulated magazine
• LinkedIn & Twitter: Follow the five top CEOs for inspiration and trends – Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Ratan Tata, Cheryl Bachelder
• Harvard Business Review: Some of the world’s best articles, ideas, advice, and op-ed pieces are available for aspirants from all industries
• Strategy+Business Magazine: A magazine that illuminates the complex choices that leaders face and the impact of their decisions.
• Forbes: The publication (especially the editorial team) works with the best columnists and contributors to provide high-quality content across a wide range of business topics

At Emeritus we understand that in an increasingly volatile environment where businesses are continually changing, the CEO’s role is also evolving. We are working closely with the world’s top universities to create programs that will equip aspiring business leaders with the skills and knowledge required to successfully navigate this era of uncertainty.