# Why Pricing Might Be the Best Path to CEO You've Never Considered with Ryan Walter

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/impact-pricing-802445/why-pricing-might-be-the-best-path-to-ceo-you-ve-never-considered-with-ryan-walter
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/impact-pricing-802445/why-pricing-might-be-the-best-path-to-ceo-you-ve-never-considered-with-ryan-walter.md
Podcast: [Impact Pricing](https://stenobird.com/podcast/impact-pricing-802445)
Published: 2026-06-15T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://impactpricing.libsyn.com/why-pricing-might-be-the-best-path-to-ceo-youve-never-considered-with-ryan-walter
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/impactpricing/IP_Interview_with_Ryan_Walter.mp3?dest-id=997127
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/impact-pricing-802445/episodes/why-pricing-might-be-the-best-path-to-ceo-you-ve-never-considered-with-ryan-walter
Duration seconds: 1525

## Resource

What if the pricing function isn't just a specialty discipline—but one of the best training grounds for future CEOs? Ryan Walter , Partner at Jennings Executive Search and author of The Pricing Talent Playbook, joins Mark to explore the evolution of pricing careers, what separates great pricing leaders from average ones, and why pricing may soon become a recognized pathway to the CEO role. Ryan draws on his experience recruiting pricing talent and leading pricing teams across retail, manufacturing, data products, and industrial businesses. If you're building a pricing career, hiring pricing talent, or wondering how AI is reshaping the profession, this episode offers a glimpse into where pricing is headed next. Why you have to check out today's podcast: Discover why pricing may become a legitimate path to the CEO role. Learn why pricing transformations often fail despite strong strategy. Understand how AI is changing pricing talent expectations and why curiosity may now be more important than technical expertise alone. "My prediction is that the pricing function is going to end up being a path to CEO." — Ryan Walter Topics Covered: 01:00 – From Professional Musician to Pricing Leader. Learn why the skills required in professional music translated surprisingly well into pricing leadership. 03:05 – The Rare Combination Every Great Pricing Professional Needs. Why pricing success requires both IQ and EQ—the ability to work with complex data while influencing executives, sales teams, and non-technical stakeholders. Ryan explains why finding both traits in one person is surprisingly rare. 05:05 – The EQ Problem Pricing Professionals Must Solve. Mark and Ryan discuss why being right isn't enough. Learn how great pricing leaders simplify complexity, build trust, and communicate…

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