CEO-Mandate-Intake-Workbook
The CEO Mandate Intake Workbook is a concise, five‑question diagnostic tool created by Bill Canady of The 80/20 Institute for CEOs, group presidents, and private‑equity‑backed leaders. Its purpose is to align the board, leadership team, and the financial “number” (e.g., MOIC, exit‑EBITDA target) before the sponsor’s patience runs out. Users answer each question in a structured, data‑driven format—providing only numbers, names, and dates—then scan or photograph the completed pages and email them to bill@the8020institute.com with the subject “Mandate Intake.” Bill personally reviews each intake and returns a one‑page brief within 24 hours, recommending one of the Institute’s programs (The CEO Mandate, The Forge 50, Private 1:1) or indicating that the mandate is not yet ready. The workbook includes clear instructions, prompts for deeper reflection on each question, and a final note that the act of answering is the work itself. It is also applicable to public‑company group leaders, with guidance on interpreting “board” and “the number.”
Topics
Purpose & Target Audience of the Intake Workbook
Defines the workbook’s goal to align board, team, and financial targets for CEOs, group presidents, and PE‑backed leaders, and explains its role in the broader 80/20 Institute program pipeline.
Step‑by‑Step Usage & Submission Process
Outlines the five‑step workflow: answer questions, scan/photograph, email with specific subject line, personal review by Bill, and receipt of a one‑page brief with program recommendation.
Q1 – Sponsor‑Underwritten Financial Target
Collects the concrete exit‑or‑operating‑plan number (MOIC, EBITDA, margin, growth) along with its date, source, and board visibility.
Q2 – EBITDA Bridge by Lever
Requests a detailed, lever‑by‑lever (price, mix, share, M&A, cost) breakdown of the EBITDA bridge for the remaining hold period, including ownership and variance analysis.
Q3 – Team Composition & Fit for Exit
Lists direct reports, indicates whether each was hired or inherited, and assesses each person’s suitability (“yes” or “question mark”) for the exit.
Q4 – Organizational Decision Bottleneck
Identifies the single role or decision point where choices are getting stuck, describing the decision type, impact, and cost of the delay.
Q5 – Desired Six‑Week Mandate Outcome
Specifies the concrete board‑ready deliverable (Mandate Document) and the behavioral or result change it must enable to make the six‑week effort worthwhile.