Stepping from COO to CEO requires a shift from operational excellence to enterprise leadership. The Board already knows you can run the business – what they need to see is that you can shape its future. Focus on communicating your strategic vision, understanding of external market forces, and ability to influence culture and direction beyond operations. Demonstrate how you translate insight into long-term value and bring out the best in others to deliver it. It’s not about proving capability – it’s about demonstrating readiness to lead differently.