Many private equity funds, search funds and family offices are betting on emerging CEOs—leaders who are often younger, are outsiders to the industry and are new to their teams—as the centerpiece of their value-creation plans. This model can inject fresh perspective and close alignment with investor strategy, but it also carries more risk than appointing a veteran executive or promoting from within.

I’m a private-equity operator and CEO of a portfolio company within a firm known for pioneering an investment model that champions emerging leaders. In my own journey stepping into the CEO seat of a decades-old business, I’ve learned that the first 100 days rarely look like the spreadsheet you walk in with. If you're an emerging CEO or expecting to become one, here's a look at what you can expect, as well as best practices that can help you start off on the right foot. READ MORE