Made. Not born: What does it take to be the CEO of Deloitte Australia?

Deloitte CEO Joanne Gorton shares her insights into what makes an extraordinary leader and why her company is committed to training up the next generation.

Joanne Gorton never set out to be a CEO.

In fact, when she was offered the role of Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Australia, she was initially reluctant to accept.

Only after talking to her family did, she finally said yes.

So how did she end up leading one of the largest companies in Australia?

“Throughout life I had a perspective of making sure that I took the opportunities as they presented themselves and that I was comfortable to step outside of my comfort zone,” Ms Gorton said.

Now she’s helping foster the next generation of leaders by partnering with Melbourne Business School on the new Aspiring CEO program.

“Our ambition at Deloitte is that every single one of our 12,000 people around the country is considered to be an extraordinary leader making change happen, and that's our ambition for corporate Australia,” Ms Gorton said.

Here are her top leadership lessons since taking on the top role in 2025.

A sidestep can be a step up

A few years ago, Ms Gorton went against the advice of people around her when she was promoted from partner to the role of Audit and Assurance People Leader at Deloitte.

“I was given advice by people who said, ‘don't take a people role, because that can make it really hard to transition into other roles later in your career’,” Ms Gorton said.

“But I love working with people and am very passionate about the growth and development of others. So, I took that role and learned a lot about leadership and leading people.”

Her decision proved wise, as the role served as a stepping stone into an Audit & Assurance Managing Partner position in 2020 where she led a business of over 2000 people with $500 million in revenue.

“I think that's a great example that sometimes taking a risk doesn't actually stop you but can actually accelerate your journey.”

Surround yourself with people who challenge you

Stepping into the role of CEO, Ms Gorton said a lot of people thought you had to have all the answers.

“I'm here to tell you that you do not have all the answers. Having all the answers and doing it alone is certainly not part of being a CEO,” she said.

As a leader she said it was crucial to build a strong team around you.

“A team that challenges you, that shares their views and opinions and brings diverse perspectives to the table,” Ms Gorton said.

Through collaborating with others and having those discussions with people is how she arrives at the best decisions.

Connect with people you lead

Being an authentic, genuine leader gets talked about a lot, but Ms Gorton said the importance of it was often underestimated.

“People want to be connected with their CEO. They want to know you as a person and who you are, so it is important for them to have that connection,” Ms Gorton said.

She said it was also important to understand yourself, your own strengths and how you connect with others to create an environment where people can thrive.

“That deep level of self-awareness for how you connect and how you can inspire others is an important aspect of being a CEO.” 

Adaptability and agility are key traits

CEOs need a whole wide variety of skills, but two Ms Gorton said were increasingly important were adaptability and agility.

“The world that we are living in is changing, and it's changing at a rapid pace,” she said.

“We look at AI and technology and how fast it is developing, and it doesn't matter what business someone is in, what industry you are in, every single organisation is being impacted by this level of change.”

Being a leader who can adapt to change, who can help drive change at pace through an organisation to thrive in an ever-changing world was increasingly important.

Be brave and be bold

Ms Gorton’s path to CEO has not been linear.

But she’s hoping Deloitte’s partnership with Melbourne Business School will make it easier for others stepping into the role for the first time.

“This program is unique because there is not a lot which is tailored specifically for a CEO, and the role of a CEO is a complex and challenging one,” she said.

“The Aspiring CEO program brings together academic rigour with real-life practical challenges.”

Her advice for aspiring CEOs is to focus on the here and now and not be too fixed on a certain path because you might miss opportunities that come along.

“Seize the moment that is in front of you right now. Every little decision and choice that you make has consequences,” Ms Gorton said.

She said by being bold and taking opportunities as they come you could set yourself on a path for greatness.

“You will not always know what all those opportunities are but if you step outside of your comfort zone and be brave, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.” 

The Aspiring CEO program is a leadership course designed for executives preparing to step into their first CEO role, developed by Melbourne Business School and Deloitte. Participants learn strategic frameworks, practical examples, simulations, and coaching to excel in the CEO role. Find out more here.