What I learned by watching a CEO for a day

This spring, second year Commerce student Anokye Kofi Boateng spent the day with Sean Cohan, CEO of Bell Media, as part of the Odgers Canada CEOx1Day North America program. 

Boateng met with Cohan and other senior Bell Media leaders to experience what a day is like at Canada’s leading media and entertainment company. Learn more about his personal reflections on this experience:

I’ve always been curious about how leaders at major firms think, communicate and navigate high-stakes decision-making. When I first saw the CEOx1Day by Odgers application on LinkedIn, I decided to pursue it because being around ambitious, like-minded students was motivating. But what intrigued me most was the opportunity to learn how decisions are made in major firms by spending a day with a CEO and their team.  

Funnily enough, Sean Cohan wasn’t originally on the list of participating CEOs when I first applied to the program this past September. Once I saw that he had joined, I instantly knew that he would be my top choice. What stood out most was the diversity of his experiences. His time in consulting, banking and media made his career path especially compelling to me, since it blends multiple industries that I have an interest in. I was also curious about how he utilizes the skills he has gained over his career in his current role as CEO.  

The morning I arrived at Bell Media, I was struck by how welcoming and engaging the environment was. Sean was approachable, thoughtful and intentional with how he interacted with people. Even though he was operating in a fast-paced role, coordinating many moving parts, he made a real effort to brief me on context during conversations and ensure I understood both the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind decisions. That stood out to me immediately.  

The day itself was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to sit in on meetings with Sean and several Bell executives, tour studios and go behind the scenes during the taping of a daytime TV show. I was also able to chat with executives across different business functions within Bell Media; these conversations helped me better understand how the firm operates, continuously sparking my curiosity. From product and data to marketing, partnerships and communications, every conversation revealed how much coordination and strategic thinking go into running a platform that reaches nearly every Canadian monthly.  

My experience at Bell really demonstrated how much leadership at a high level revolves around empowering others, aligning teams and ensuring execution across multiple moving parts, just like a football head coach. Sean and I had a conversation about leadership, and it stuck with me when he said, “The other executives don’t work for me, I work for them.” He explained that when his team needs something executed or facilitated, it’s his job to help make it happen.

The impact of CEOx1Day extended well beyond that single day. During the semi-finalist stage, we participated in speed interviews at Odgers’ office in Toronto, which allowed me to practice the conciseness and impact of my interview answers. Those reps mattered during future recruiting processes and interviews. I found myself drawing on lessons from the experience, and I genuinely believe it differentiated me from other talents because it gave me unique exposure to executive leadership and decision-making environments.  

Looking back at it now, I still find it incredible that opportunities like this exist. Spending a day learning directly from people operating at that level gave me not only valuable insight but also confidence. Confidence that a hunger to learn, preparation and a willingness to step into unfamiliar rooms can uncover opportunities you once thought were unattainable.  

I hope others feel inspired to pursue experiences that challenge and keep them curious. CEOx1Day genuinely changed the way I see leadership, business and my own future.