The end of the year is approaching, offices are thinning out, and auto-replies are being set as companies wind down for the holiday season. It’s a time when business leaders reflect on their 2025 performance, while also voicing their 2026 ambitions into existence. The same goes for their personal lives—and CEOs have already drummed up their New Year’s resolutions.
Chief executives leading the likes of American genealogy giant Ancestry.com, $2.4 billion wellness platform Wellhub, ticketing business Eventbrite, and facial chain Glowbar are all weighing in on their goals. Each has their own distinct target—whether that‘s finally getting seven hours of shut-eye, or racing mountain bikes across South Africa for eight days. One is intent on getting a leg up in the AI race, while another wants to revive a family tradition from her childhood.
Beyond the boardroom, CEOs are setting goalposts for their own growth. Here’s what they’re hoping to achieve in 2026:
8-day mountain biking race
“I’m an obsessive planner in that I set specific new goals for friends/family, my profession (CEO of Virta), personal health, and adventures I want to do. Next year, I’m doing an eight-day mountain biking stage race in South Africa with a partner.
“For personal health, I might also add a short meditation retreat; meditation is something I’ve found very helpful since 2013.”
—Sami Inkinen, cofounder and CEO of Virta Health
Walking 20,000 steps every day
“On a personal level, I’m an avid walker. I love walking and try to walk as much as I can. So for me, one New Year’s resolution I am really trying to stay strong on is walking at least 20,000 steps per day. Some days that is more accomplishable than others, but that is something as we head into the new year that I will be trying to conquer every day.
“To get those 20,000 steps a day, I try to walk everywhere I can. And luckily for me, New York and Philadelphia are two great walking cities where I spend a majority of my time. And it also helps when I’m visiting a city where we have multiple Insomnia Cookies bakeries, so all that walking will be part of my strategy to get to 20,000 steps per day.
“And on a business level, continuing to expand our Insomnia Cookies unparalleled reach across the globe to deliver our warm, delicious cookies to more Insomniacs.”
—Seth Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Insomnia Cookies
Live presently and embrace the little moments
“My resolution is to live presently and embrace both the big and small IRL moments that build life’s memories—whether that’s creating new experiences through travel, spending time with loved ones, or exploring my own interests in culture and entertainment.”
—Julia Hartz, cofounder and CEO of Eventbrite
Vision board over New Year’s resolutions
“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, because historically I haven’t kept them, and it makes me feel discouraged. Instead, I create an updated virtual vision board for how I want the year to feel. I think, a lot of times, we create resolutions that are specific to an action that it’s easy to lose track [of]. When you focus on how you want to feel for the year, it’s easier to see what fits into that, and what doesn’t.”
—Rachel Liverman, founder and CEO of Glowbar
Preserve family memories to last for generations
“My dad passed away in late August after living an amazing 87 years. That’s gotten me focused on being more intentional about time with my family and staying rooted in the things that matter most.
“One of my resolutions is to go through all of his old slides and videos, scan and preserve them, and add them to our family tree so we can share those memories together. My only regret is not doing it sooner; we should all take the time to capture these stories while our parents and grandparents are still here to help us understand the moments behind the photos. It’s a meaningful way to stay connected and ensure those memories live on for future generations.”
—Howard Hochhauser, president and CEO of Ancestry.com
Stay ahead on AI
“Professionally, I want to stay ahead of the curve in AI and identity. The industry is moving so fast that staying updated is almost a sport. You cannot just follow trends. You have to understand which ones will define the next decade and which ones are just noise.
“I also want AI to flourish on a fairer and safer ground, so society can benefit from its breakthroughs without sacrificing trust or accountability. Personally, my resolution is to grow as a father and partner while raising two children. Balancing family and work is not something you master once. It is a daily commitment. I want my children to grow up in a world that is fair and democratic, and that starts with how I show up at home.”
—Ricardo Amper, founder and CEO of Incode
7+ hours of sleep and 4 trips without kids
“Like most people, my resolutions are all about well-being. And yes, I’m very much being a CEO about it, treating [wellness] like business objectives with clear targets and tracking. Sleep is honestly where I’ve been struggling most, so that’s my main focus: seven-plus hours with good recovery scores at least five nights a week, tracked through one of Wellhub’s partner apps.
“I’m also keeping up with 240 minutes of cardio and strength training weekly, which breaks down to one hour, four days a week that I can squeeze in between meetings and family time. And personally, I want to take four trips with my wife without the kids. Even short ones count. That quality time together is everything.”
—Cesar Carvalho, cofounder and CEO of Wellhub
Reviving a childhood tradition and staying grounded
“My resolution is to reconnect with things that ground me. For example, I moved to L.A. for easy access to nature, yet I don’t always take advantage of it, even though I know I feel 100 times better when I disconnect outside; so in 2026 I want to commit to a weekly hike or beach walk. I know prioritizing that time will be a gift to my mental and physical health.
“I’m also bringing back a childhood tradition: Friday night family dinners at home. Growing up, it was a ritual we all looked forward to, and I want to create that same end of week celebration with my family.”
—Loren Brill Castle, founder and CEO of Sweet Loren’s
