How to Conduct Engaging Interviews with Your CEO

How to Master CEO Video Interviews for Impactful Leadership Insights

It’s possible to create a variety of video interviews, among them, CEO interviews, collaborator interviews. If you want to make marketing videos, using your CEO’s audience can be a powerful move. As part of a marketing and advertising team, we know how prevalent messages are when they come directly from popular CEOs. Visionary leaders can leave a lasting impact on a large audience by generating discussion of the latest ideas and technologies and providing an outlook for their brand. But have you ever wondered how these interviews manage to turn viewers into potential customers? 

The answer is pretty simple:  Interviews like these provide a more intimate connection between a company's head, its consumers, partners, and workforce. This guide will walk you through the steps to ensure your interview is both informative and compelling.

Preparing for the CEO Video Interview

Research the CEO and the Company

Before you even think about your questions, it is crucial to do your homework. Learn about the CEO's background, career trajectory, and significant accomplishments. Familiarize yourself with the company's history, mission, values, and recent performance. This research will enable you to ask informed questions and demonstrate respect for the CEO's time.

Define the Purpose and Audience

Clearly define the purpose of the interview. Are you writing an article for a business magazine, creating content for the company’s internal newsletter, or producing a podcast for industry professionals? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your questions to their interests and level of knowledge. 

Prepare Your Questions for the CEO interview

Prepare a list of open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses. Avoid yes-or-no questions and focus on topics that allow the CEO to share their insights and experiences. Group your questions into themes such as leadership, company strategy, industry trends, and personal experiences.

Conducting the CEO Interview

Equipment

Camera and microphone

Invest in a high-quality camera and microphone to ensure clear video and audio. If you are using a smartphone, ensure it has a good camera and consider using an external microphone for better sound quality.

Lighting

Good lighting is crucial for video interviews. Natural light is best, but if that’s not available, use softbox lights or ring lights to illuminate the CEO’s face evenly without harsh shadows.

Background

Choose a professional and clutter-free background. It should be relevant and not distracting. A company logo or a neat office setting can work well.

Technical Check

Conduct a technical rehearsal to test the equipment, sound levels, and lighting. Check the framing to ensure the CEO is well-positioned in the shot. Address any technical issues beforehand to avoid interruptions during the actual interview.

Set a Comfortable Environment

Choose a quiet, comfortable setting for the interview where the CEO can speak freely without distractions. If the video interview is conducted remotely, ensure both parties have a reliable internet connection and a suitable background.

Follow the Flow

While it’s essential to have a list of questions, be flexible. Let the conversation flow naturally and be prepared to ask follow-up questions based on the CEO’s responses. This can lead to unexpected but valuable insights.

Asking Effective Questions during the CEO Interview

Focus on Leadership and Vision

CEOs often have a unique perspective on leadership and company vision. Ask questions that explore their leadership philosophy, how they inspire and motivate their team, and their vision for the future of the company. For example:

• "Can you describe your leadership style and how it has evolved over your career?"
• "What are the key elements of your vision for the company over the next five years?"

Explore Strategic Decisions

Dive into the strategic decisions that have shaped the company. This can provide readers with a deeper understanding of the company’s direction and the CEO’s decision-making process. Consider questions like:

• "What has been the most challenging decision you’ve had to make as CEO, and what did you learn from it?"
• "How do you approach risk management and innovation within the company?"

Personal Insights

Humanize the CEO by asking about their personal experiences and reflections. This can make the interview more relatable and engaging. For example:

• "What motivates you to come to work every day?"
• "Can you share a story about a mentor or an experience that significantly impacted your career?"

Concluding the Interview

Summarize Key Points

Towards the end of the interview, summarize the key points discussed to ensure you have understood them correctly. This also gives the CEO a chance to clarify or expand on any important topics.

Provide an Opportunity for Final Thoughts

Give the CEO an opportunity to add any final thoughts or discuss anything that was not covered. This can lead to valuable insights that you might not have anticipated.

• "Is there anything else you would like to share that we haven’t covered?"
• "What advice would you give to aspiring leaders in your industry?"

Post-Interview Process

Editing the Video

Highlight key points

Edit the video to highlight the most compelling parts of the interview. Ensure the final cut is concise and engaging, focusing on the CEO’s key messages and insights. Pitchy is a great tool to edit videos in a matter of minutes. Easy to use and user-friendly, Pitchy makes the perfect platform for anyone in a company wanting to interview their CEO.

Add graphics and subtitles

Enhance the video with graphics, captions, and subtitles. This not only makes the content more accessible but also emphasizes important points and makes the video more engaging. Pitchy allows you to add subtitles and graphics on your videos. Choose among our various models of templates!

Sharing the Video

Platforms

Choose the appropriate platforms to share your video, such as the company’s website, social media channels, and video hosting sites like YouTube. Tailor the video format and length to suit each platform’s audience and engagement style. Pitchy easily helps you make videos for your company’s social media to give it more of a platform. LinkedIn is a great place to publish your CEO video interview. Encourage employees, stakeholders, and followers to share the video to maximize its reach.

Follow Up

Send a thank-you note to the CEO, expressing your appreciation for their time and insights. If applicable, share a draft of the interview for their review to ensure accuracy and address any concerns they might have.

Conducting an engaging interview with a CEO requires thorough preparation, effective questioning, and a flexible, respectful approach. By focusing on leadership, strategic decisions, and personal insights, you can uncover valuable information that resonates with your audience and provides a compelling narrative. Follow these guidelines, and you'll be well on your way to conducting interviews that are both informative and engaging. Incorporating executive interviews into your brand's marketing strategy can add an additional voice of expertise and influence. These videos, featuring your brand's leader, can be a valuable tool to guide your customers on their journey, increase brand awareness, and differentiate your brand from others in the same industry. CEOs have the opportunity to share your brand's vision, strengthen recruitment strategies, showcase your latest services and products, and project a sense of leadership for the entire company.

Want to create a catchy CEO video interview? Don’t look any further!

With its user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable templates, Pitchy allows you to easily incorporate professional graphics, subtitles, and visual effects that enrich the video content. Our advanced editing tools ensure a polished final product. By leveraging Pitchy's capabilities, you can create engaging, high-quality CEO interviews that effectively communicate key messages and captivate your audience. If you are interested in our platform, feel free to ask for a demo!