Article at a glance:

CEOs as public leaders: A McKinsey Survey

• US executives say they should play a much greater role in shaping the debate about sociopolitical issues and in leading efforts to effect change.
• The minority who do play such a leadership role are likely to be board members or CEOs, often at privately held companies with annual revenues below $1 billion.
• Most of them are motivated primarily by personal reasons and usually act as private citizens.
• They say a comprehensive understanding of public issues and a strong network of peers with a similar interest make it easier for them to play a leadership role, while time constraints keep them from playing an even larger role.