What to wear to talk to a CEO?!

Aug 6, 2014

Lorna G.

Hello everybody,

I hope everybody is well.
I am DREADING one of my university subjects. We were assigned to present a presentation to the CEO of an Australian airport, about new innovative ways to increase retail revenue.
To be honest, I'm feeling very nervous to impress, as there's a possibility of gaining a grad internship. I really want to make a great impression from the presentation, to my outift. Hence, my little question, what should I wear?

What kind of semi formal outfits would you recommend?
Would you think a suit, top and a high waisted shirt is to fancy?

or should I be wearing a suit, top and just some pants?

As it's winter, I'm going to have to wear a jacket.

Thanks in advance ladies and gents!

Aug 6, 2014

Breeze T.

I'd go with a high waisted pencil skirt, a colorful tucked in top and a modern fitted blazer. I sooo understand nervousness...Good luck!

Aug 6, 2014

Lauren C.

I agree with breeze! good luck :)

Aug 6, 2014

Lorna G.

Thank you very much for all your wonderful contributions.

Aug 6, 2014

Mallory L.

Most definitely a suit. The school I went to had CEO day every year at our School of Business. I always wore a dark colored suit with a collared, button down shirt. And heels no higher than 3 inches. You want to be taken seriously so it's important to dress as such.

Aug 7, 2014

Lorna G.

@Mallory, Thank you so much for your advice. I know what you mean by taken seriously. I'm study electrical engineering, and most work places take women with a feminine side, as a joke.

I was considering going black.. Black suit, White shirt up to the neck, and suit pants, and some flats. No make up and hair up in a bun. Do think that would look good for this?

Aug 7, 2014

Lorna G.

Hello Rachel,
no need to apologise, I am happy somebody can relate.
I hope you're having a wonderful day. Safety engineering, you definitely know how it feels. In Australia majority of employees in high management jobs, wear no make up. make up is not really seen as a necessity, so I'll go bare. I think I'll stick to wearing suit pants instead of a suit dress, because of that femininity problem in the engineering work place.
Also I don't have that store here in Australia. I might just go to Target. they generally have a good work attire.

Thank you so much I hope you have a wonderful day

Aug 7, 2014

Abigail R.

I don't understamd @Rachelc. I have gone infront of a ceo before for buiseness and I was very successful in my sundress so thank you

Aug 8, 2014

Mallory L.

@Abigail I don't think she was trying to offend you. What you wear in front of a CEO is relative to the field that CEO is in. For example, the CEOs I've had the please of meeting are all Wall Street CEOs or they're very successful entrepreneurs. These industries are extremely conservative when it comes to attire so I'd wear no less than a dark business suit as that is considered business professional attire. Being that Lorna's field is engineering, I'd assume the same to be true for her as well. The options you gave were super cute and appropriate for what Lorna initially asked which was for "semi formal outfits". All were suggesting is that semi formal (which is what she was initially thinking) may not be the best route for meeting this kind of CEO. Business professional attire is much more apropos. You gave awesome suggestions nonetheless and the fact that you took the time to search for all those options for her is what makes BL awesome 😊

Aug 8, 2014

Mallory L.

@Lorna sorry for the late response! A bun and very little/no makeup is fine. I wore a little makeup for our CEO days (foundation/concealer to hide my acne and dark circles, mascara, nude lip) but you certainly don't have to.