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The cover of Next Gen CEO

Next Gen CEO

Mike Soutar, 2026

Leadership rules are changing fast. Sixty short, practical lessons on leading yourself, your team, your company and your market in an uncertain world.

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17 parts, about 23 minutes to read.

Why read it

  • Argues that leaders now face three permanent storms, AI, shifting alliances and new ways of working, and must turn them into transformation
  • Offers usable tools: reversible versus one way decisions, a change equation, regret proof choices and deliberate room for dissent
  • A founder candidly shares his own costly mistakes, from a refused video deal to a failed launch, alongside research

Who it is for

  • New managers stepping into their first leadership role
  • Executives steering teams through AI disruption
  • Founders who want candid lessons from a media entrepreneur

What the summary covers

  1. Why leadership knowledge is about to expire3 min
  2. Three characteristics you can train1 min
  3. Self belief and a launch day secret2 min
  4. Optimism born of preparation1 min
  5. Brutal feedback as rocket fuel2 min
  6. Fearless voices1 min
  7. Noble purpose2 min
  8. Lose more arguments than you win1 min
  9. Two way and one way gates1 min
  10. One meeting at a time1 min
  11. Leading when AI races ahead1 min
  12. Nokia and looking around corners1 min
  13. The Courage Gap2 min
  14. The Change Equation1 min
  15. Learn to unlearn1 min
  16. Control on a nuclear submarine1 min
  17. Ten questions to keep asking1 min

Recommended by

  • Alan SugarBusinessman and host of The Apprentice
    The real deal

About the author

  • Mike SoutarScottish entrepreneur and former magazine editor, including FHM
    • Born in Dundee, he edited Jackie, Smash Hits, FHM and Maxim before joining IPC Magazines, where he launched Nuts, Pick Me Up, TV easy and Look
    • Became editor of Smash Hits aged 23
    • Set up Shortlist Media Limited, and has interviewed candidates on the British The Apprentice since its 2011 series
    • In April 2025 sat on the boards of Scottish Rugby Union, V&A Dundee and the UK government's Board of Trade

Read it alongside

  • Goes deeperThinking, Fast and Slow

    Mike Soutar argues that optimism is confidence born of preparation, and that overly optimistic entrepreneurs who ignored risk earned around 30 per cent less. Daniel Kahneman adds that optimism encourages neglect of competition, base rates and costs, and that a premortem can partly counter group enthusiasm.

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