Ever watched a show or movie where someone’s like “I’m the CEO,” and everyone suddenly acts like they’re royalty? Yeah, those three-letter job titles sound super serious and confusing — but they’re actually just short ways of saying who does what in a company. Let’s break it down, teen-style.

First up, the CEO — that stands for Chief Executive Officer. This person is basically the boss of the entire company. They make the biggest decisions, like what direction the company should go in, what new things to try, and how to deal with major problems. If the company were a school, the CEO would be like the principal… but even more powerful.

Next is the CFO, aka the Chief Financial Officer. They’re the money mastermind. The CFO keeps track of how much money is coming in and going out, what to spend it on, and how to keep the company financially healthy. Think of them as the company’s accountant, budget planner, and money protector all rolled into one.

Then there’s the COO, or Chief Operating Officer. They’re in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly on a daily basis. While the CEO is dreaming big, the COO is making sure all the little stuff is actually getting done. If the company was a team, the COO would be the one making sure practices happen, gear is ready, and plays are executed perfectly.

You might also see CMO — Chief Marketing Officer. That’s the person behind ads, social media, branding, and all the ways a company tries to get people’s attention. They figure out how to make people want the product. So yeah, if you ever bought something because it looked cool on TikTok or YouTube, a CMO probably had something to do with that.

Another common title is CTO, which stands for Chief Technology Officer. This person is the tech genius. They lead the team that builds or manages the company’s technology, whether that’s an app, a website, or some kind of software. Basically, they make sure the company isn’t stuck in 2009 tech-wise.

There are other titles too, like CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer — the one who handles hiring and employee stuff), or CIO (Chief Information Officer — kind of like the tech planner for the future). Each “Chief” is in charge of their own department, and together, they help the CEO run the company.

So yeah, all those titles may sound super grown-up and serious, but once you know what they mean, it’s not that wild. They’re just labels to show who’s responsible for what. And hey, maybe one day you’ll be the CEO of your own business — and then it’ll be your turn to have the cool title on your office door.