Nancy MacKay urges CEOs to lead themselves first in new Forbes Books release

Nancy MacKay’s new book argues that CEOs perform best when they master self-leadership before trying to inspire teams. The Forbes Books release frames leadership as a discipline built on purpose, confidence and well-being, with lessons drawn from MacKay’s work with more than 5,000 leaders.

Why it matters: - MacKay’s core argument is that effective leadership starts with self-leadership, not just managing other people. - The book targets CEOs and executives facing pressure, isolation and the challenge of sustaining performance without sacrificing well-being. - The release positions inspired leadership as a practical lever for stronger organizations, deeper relationships and broader impact.

What happened: - Nancy MacKay, CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, released her new book, “It’s Lonely at the Top: CEO Strategies for Inspiring Yourself and Your Team.” - Forbes Books published the title, which is available at retailers in Canada and the U.S. - The book argues that CEOs who excel share one trait: they inspire themselves first before attempting to inspire others.

The details: - The book lays out habits and strategies leaders can use to motivate others to perform at their best. - Individual chapters focus on relationship mastery, innovation mastery and responsibility mastery. - MacKay says leadership can feel lonely because top leaders carry responsibility, performance pressure and competing demands on personal well-being. - MacKay says that loneliness is not inevitable and that leaders can build a different model through deliberate practice. - Since founding MacKay CEO Forums two decades ago, MacKay has worked with more than 5,000 CEOs, executives and business owners across Canada and around the world. - MacKay says that leaders who master inspired leadership help their organizations thrive and their relationships deepen. - MacKay says true success in inspired leadership begins with self-love, purpose, confidence and well-being. - The book also presents itself as a community for CEOs committed to populating the world with inspiring leaders. - Readers are invited to build a personal road map to inspired leadership using insights from CEOs who have already walked that path.

Between the lines: - The book reflects a broader shift in leadership thinking toward personal resilience and emotional sustainability, not just output and authority. - MacKay’s framing suggests that leadership development is increasingly being sold as both a performance strategy and a personal wellness practice. - The emphasis on community signals that the book is meant to function as a network-building tool as much as a stand-alone guide.

What's next: - MacKay is likely to use the book to extend her coaching message to a wider audience of CEOs and business owners. - Forbes Books will continue promoting the title through its business-book platform and retail channels. - The book’s impact will depend on whether leaders adopt its self-leadership model in day-to-day management decisions.

The bottom line: - MacKay’s message is simple: leaders cannot sustainably inspire others until they learn how to inspire themselves first.