[i_dont_know_]

I don't know if this is a myth that ought to be perpetuated.

The skilled CEOs I know are all exceptionally well-attuned to the problem space that their product solves, and their own company's place in that space (usually including internal company dynamics). Yes, from an employee's perspective, the CEO is pretty magical -- they usually have a better 'big-picture' view of the task you are trying to accomplish than you do, and they can give you the right context, validation, resources etc. to totally turn your work life around.

However, this is usually limited to the problem-space and the company itself. If you're in the same problem-space or dealing with similar company problems then a conversation can be quite valuable. But it doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for so much as inspiration.

You might get that from talking to a CEO. They can tell you the situation and circumstances that set them on their particular path, and maybe you can extrapolate nuggets of wisdom out of that. But they won't be able to figure out the path that's right for you. They're not oracles or mystics, just people with the right intersection of skills deeply specialized in the right cross-section of the market.