CEO Survival Guide: Lara Croft's Tips for Navigating Corporate Jungles!

Corporate Tombs and Hidden Treasures

Right so Nissan's got a new head honcho Ivan Espinosa. Seems like the poor bloke's inherited a bit of a mess. EV sales slumping China breathing down their necks and tariffs looming like booby traps in an ancient temple. He's advising new CEOs to stay optimistic which I suppose is a good start. But optimism alone won't get you past a T Rex darling. You need strategy agility and maybe a grappling hook... or a very persuasive PowerPoint presentation. 'Adversity is part of the adventure,' as I always say but sometimes the adventure involves quarterly earnings reports. Ugh.

Paralysis? I Think Not!

Espinosa warns against 'paralysis.' Good advice. I once spent three days stuck in a Peruvian cave because I was 'assessing the situation.' Turns out the situation involved a giant spider and a very inconveniently placed pit of snakes. 'We all make mistakes,' as my dear old dad used to say but some mistakes are more… venomous than others. He's absolutely right indecision is a killer in tomb raiding and boardrooms!

Adapt or Perish (the Corporate Edition)

Stubborn CEOs are apparently out of fashion. About time! A rigid mind is as useful as a chocolate teapot when facing a Sphinx's riddle. Espinosa says you need to be open and flexible. Absolutely. In my line of work that means being able to switch from rappelling down a cliff face to charming a local tribal chief in the space of five minutes. 'Everything lost is meant to be found,' and sometimes what you find is a whole new business model.

Collaboration: Because No One Raids a Tomb Alone

Collaboration? Well I usually prefer to work solo. Less chance of someone accidentally triggering a pressure plate and turning us both into dusty skeletons. But Espinosa has a point. Geopolitics supply chains… sometimes you need a good team. Just make sure they're not after the same artifact you are. That always ends badly. 'The greatest mysteries are yet to be solved,' and sometimes that mystery is 'how do we boost Q3 sales?'

A New Breed of Explorer: CEOs in the Spotlight

So we've got a bunch of new CEOs at big companies. Boeing Starbucks Nike. Stepping into the arena during a time of unprecedented chaos. Sounds like my kind of party! Global uncertainty geopolitical tensions AI… it's a treasure hunter's dream... or a CEO's nightmare. Tomato tomatoe. But I'm sure they will prevail 'I make my own luck'!

Speed and Decisiveness: The Croft Croft Way

Espinosa talks about needing to move quickly make decisions on the spot even without all the information. Preach! I once had to decide between jumping across a chasm or facing a pack of ravenous wolves. Went with the chasm. Turns out there was a conveniently placed vine on the other side. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. Or as Espinosa says 'It's better to move and then correct course than just sitting and waiting.' He gets it! Now if you'll excuse me I have a board meeting to attend. I’m confident I will “rise again”!