New Delhi — When offered a high-stakes leadership position, many professionals respond with hesitation, wondering if they’re truly ready. But according to Julie Sweet, the CEO of Accenture, one simple phrase can derail your career progression before it begins: “Are you sure?”
Speaking on Fortune’s Titans and Disruptors of Industry podcast, Sweet recounted a pivotal moment in her professional journey. In 2014, while serving as Accenture’s General Counsel, she had just finished a routine meeting with then-CEO Pierre Nanterme when he casually remarked, “I think you could run this place someday.”
The comment came just weeks before Sweet would be diagnosed with breast cancer—a personal battle that would soon coincide with a dramatic professional turning point.
Despite lacking a traditional business background—she was trained as a lawyer and hadn’t spent her entire career at Accenture—Sweet didn’t flinch. Rather than second-guessing the CEO’s instincts or asking if he was sure, she responded with composure and openness: “Yes, I’d be interested. What did you have in mind?”
That moment marked the start of a trajectory that would lead her to head Accenture’s North American business in 2015, and ultimately to the role of CEO in 2019. Today, she leads a company with over 770,000 employees worldwide.
Challenging Conventional Leadership Norms
Sweet’s rise to the top wasn’t conventional. She wasn’t groomed through decades in corporate strategy roles, nor did she follow a path carved by predecessors. In fact, every CEO before her at Accenture had been male. But Sweet’s approach—rooted in confidence, intellectual humility, and adaptability—has become a case study in modern leadership.
A key piece of advice she carries came from Dina Dublon, former CFO of JPMorgan Chase. Dublon advised never to question someone’s confidence in you when offered a “stretch” opportunity. Often, the people doing the offering are just as unsure as the recipient, and looking for affirmation in return.
Sweet took that advice to heart, opting for decisiveness rather than doubt. Her mindset challenges the long-held narrative that leaders must climb rigid hierarchies or accumulate decades of narrow experience to ascend to the top. Instead, she champions readiness through adaptability and learning, not tenure.
Building a Culture of Everyday Confidence
Leadership, in Sweet’s view, isn’t reserved for the boardroom. She expects every member of her workforce—from entry-level to executive—to demonstrate confidence, along with humility and a commitment to excellence. It’s not about posturing, but about cultivating a mindset where challenges are welcomed and assumptions are questioned.
“We are constantly challenging each other and our assumptions,” she said during the interview. “When you build a team that thinks the status quo is challenging assumptions and embracing change, you’re constantly evolving. You don’t need to stop and have a big strategy… because you’re always working on the strategy.”
This culture of continuous evolution is embedded across Accenture, reflecting a company that thrives not on static roadmaps but on strategic agility.
Confidence Without Ego
Though confidence is a recurring theme in Sweet’s leadership philosophy, it doesn’t come at the expense of intellectual humility. She’s quick to acknowledge that asking for help is one of her greatest strengths—even as a CEO.
“People often confuse confidence with needing to have all the answers,” she said. “But I see asking for help as a superpower. It’s how you unlock learning, build trust, and move faster.”
Sweet’s view aligns with a broader shift in corporate leadership—moving away from authoritarian models toward collaborative, transparent management styles. In her eyes, vulnerability, when paired with competence, can be a powerful driver of innovation and trust.
Embracing Deep Learning at the Top
Another cornerstone of Sweet’s success is her commitment to lifelong learning, especially at the highest levels of leadership.
“I think the idea of being a deep learner at the top is really critical,” she said. “And that is not usual in a lot of companies.”
Sweet’s embrace of learning began during her early days at Accenture’s legal department. Coming from a legal background and lacking in tech fluency, she quickly realised that to contribute meaningfully, she needed to understand the business in depth. That meant not only studying the technical aspects of Accenture’s operations but also immersing herself in client strategies, market dynamics, and internal processes.
The result? A leader who could bridge the gap between legal expertise and business strategy, something few of her contemporaries could do.
This hands-on, immersive approach didn’t just bolster her credibility—it set her apart from her peers and helped solidify her future leadership potential.
Transparency and Trust Go Hand in Hand
Sweet often highlights the link between transparency and trust, noting that the more candid and informed you are with your team and superiors, the more value you can offer.
“Transparency builds trust. Because the more value you can contribute to your company, the more likely you’re going to get that next best job,” she explained.
In an environment where employees often feel the need to appear perfect or overly polished, Sweet’s approach offers a refreshing alternative: Lead with competence, remain open to growth, and don’t pretend to know what you don’t.
This model has served her well in an industry undergoing rapid transformation. Accenture, a global professional services company known for its work in consulting, strategy, and digital transformation, thrives on innovation and client trust—both of which are reinforced by the kind of leadership Sweet embodies.
A New Template for Leadership
Julie Sweet’s story offers a counter-narrative to the traditional tropes of corporate success. Rather than climbing a pre-defined ladder or relying on conventional credentials, she crafted a leadership path based on learning, transparency, and quiet confidence.
More importantly, she has used her platform to redefine what leadership looks like inside one of the world’s largest companies. Her advice isn’t just for future CEOs—it’s for anyone navigating a career-defining opportunity.
When someone believes in your potential enough to offer you a bigger role, the worst thing you can do is doubt their judgment out loud. Sweet’s career is proof that confidence—tempered by humility and reinforced by continuous learning—can be the most powerful accelerator of all.
She didn’t just accept the job. She earned it every step of the way.
