Flashback to April 2020. One month into the pandemic, the world stood still. As CEO of BPC, my days were a blur of Zoom calls and frantic news updates. Remote work became the norm, and businesses collectively held their breath, seeking direction amid the chaos. Innovation was no longer optional. It was survival. My leadership mantra: Guide with clarity, project calm and seek opportunity within the crisis.
Rewind to 2008. The collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a global financial crisis, plunging the world into recession. Joining a financial institution in the middle of widespread layoffs, the landscape was one of fear and instability. Leading a shaken team required not only navigating professional turmoil but also providing reassurance in the face of the team members' immense personal anxieties – a stark reminder of the human cost of economic upheaval.
One more rewind: The early 2000s. The dot-com bust gripped Wall Street with a different fear: the unraveling of the "new economy." Leading an investment department meant facing panicked clients watching portfolios shrink. The elation of the boom vanished, replaced by uncertainty. As a young leader, it was a profound lesson in the emotional toll of a market collapse and the need for empathetic guidance to both clients and team members.
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