Philips CEO Roy Jakobs on why discomfort prepared him for leadership

Roy Jakobs reflects on the early experiences that shaped his leadership—from post‑war lessons in forgiveness to the resilience built through childhood asthma. In “Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick,” the Philips CEO explains why compassion must sit alongside hard, practical choices—and how those moments of discomfort prepared him to lead the company through its latest evolution.