Ken Banta Explores the Questions Leaders Ask When No One Is Watching

Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, has released a new Substack article titled “The Questions Leaders Ask Behind Closed Doors,” published November 6, 2025.

Based on a confidential, Chatham House Rule dinner with senior executives, the article captures the candid questions leaders rarely voice in public but grapple with every day. Topics range from work–life integration and executive presence to the expanding political dimension of the General Counsel role, the evolving value equation with outside counsel, and the practical realities of AI oversight.

Rather than offering prescriptive answers, Banta highlights how the quality of leadership is often revealed through the questions leaders ask of one another, especially in trusted settings. The piece underscores a central theme: in an era of volatility and complexity, leadership is defined less by certainty and more by judgment, trust, and the courage to confront hard issues openly.

The article offers a rare, human look at how experienced leaders think, reflect, and learn together behind closed doors.

To read the full article on Substack, click here.

About The Vanguard Network

The Vanguard Network is a leadership community and advisory platform that helps senior executives sharpen foresight, strengthen performance, and achieve impact. Through forums, exchanges, and programs, Vanguard convenes leaders across industries to share challenges and solutions in a confidential, collaborative setting.