If you're a CEO in a private equity-backed company, the clock is ticking and expectations are sky-high. Your mission is clear: create extraordinary value, move fast, and deliver results that justify the investment. But how do the top-performing CEOs deliver outstanding returns while others fall short? The 5x CEO is your answer. Based on a two-year research study of over 50 private equity-backed CEOs who achieved exceptional outcomes, averaging a 6.2x Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC), this book pulls back the curtain on what actually drives success. Co-authors Samantha Allison and Taavo Godtfredsen, experienced coaches and strategic advisors, go beyond theory to give you the playbook elite leaders use to win. At the heart of this book is the 5x Model, a practical framework that reveals what highly successful private equity CEOs do to accelerate execution and maximize value creation. Built around five critical disciplines—Strategic Clarity, Scalable Talent, Relentless Focus, Disciplined Execution, and Energized Culture—the model defines the essential responsibilities CEOs and their leadership teams must master to outperform in today’s high-pressure, high-stakes environment. Packed with insights from both CEOs and private equity sponsors, The 5x CEO gives you a proven blueprint for creating value faster, avoiding costly mistakes, and building a legacy of repeatable success. "After decades in private equity, I've worked with almost 100 CEOs and have seen firsthand what separates average ones from those who deliver transformative results. The 5x CEO cap- tures the mindset and strategies of leaders who consistently outperform. It's a must-read for CEOs and investors alike." —ADAM BLUMENTHAL, Founder, Co-Managing Partner and Chairman of Blue Wolf Capital Partners "After 15 years as a CEO, I can say with certainty: leading a PE-backed company is one of the toughest—and most rewarding—roles there is. The 5x CEO distills what the best actually do: how they lead, how they think, and how they win. This isn't theory—it's a playbook of hard- earned insights from CEOs who've delivered exceptional results. Their 5x Model will become the standard for PE CEO excellence moving forward. I can't recommend it highly enough." —KEVIN PERHAMUS, Chief Executive Officer, Arxis "As I read The 5x CEO, I couldn't help but think about how much my learning curve as a CEO of PE-backed company would have been accelerated, how much faster we could have gotten to our successful exits, and how much smoother and less stressful the journey would have been if I had this book to guide me from the beginning. Now, as an independent Board Member with responsibilities for coaching and mentoring CEOs for five PE-backed portfolio compa- nies across three different PE sponsors, I will make this required reading for every new CEO I work with—and highly recommend it as a refresher course for all the CEOs I work with. The insights, examples, and actionable recommendations are sure to make all of them better and more successful CEOs, and have the added benefit of reducing friction with sponsors and Boards alike." —DAVE GOLDBERG, Private Equity Portfolio Company Independent Board Member & Former CEO "The 5x CEO stands out for its practical, research-backed insights drawn directly from experi- enced executives. It captures the unique cultural dynamics of private equity, where the com- pressed timeline demands rigorous creativity and clarity about which initiatives to pursue and which to leave behind. Most importantly, it reinforces the need to keep the commercial purpose of the business at the center of every decision." —CHAN GALBATO, Former CEO, Cerberus Operating & Advisory Company "Having coached many top executives, I know how rare it is to find a framework that's both actionable and grounded in real-world success. The 5x CEO delivers exactly that—a clear, re- search-backed guide to leading with focus, accountability, and purpose in the demanding world of private equity. Every private equity-backed CEO should read it—and every investor should want their CEOs to live it." —DR. MARSHALL GOLDSMITH, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There "The five essential responsibilities outlined in The 5x CEO reflect a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in a private equity environment. The framework is clear and rooted in what actually drives value. I plan to recommend The 5x CEO to all my CEOs." —CHRIS COLLINS, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Kelso "The 5x CEO is the definitive guide for any CEO leading in a private equity environment. Creat- ed by two of the top CEO coaches and advisors in the industry, this book distills hard-earned insights from leaders who have actually delivered results. It shows how aligning around a clear mission, elevating the customer experience, and building a strong culture can drive not just stronger te