The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which recently closed, showed us that leadership transcends the boundaries of sport. We saw stories of effort, sacrifice and, above all, leadership in its purest form. In every medal won, in every record broken, we can find lessons applicable to the corporate world, especially as we face a second semester full of challenges.
What do an Olympic athlete and a CEO have in common? Both must overcome obstacles, make tough decisions and navigate high-pressure environments alone. The corporate world, unlike an athletics track, does not offer a clear finish line. It is more like a marathon, where endurance, adaptability and long-term vision are essential.
Just as an athlete prepares for years for a few minutes of glory, leaders must invest time and effort in their personal and professional development. The digital age revolutionized the way we do business, and leaders must be willing to learn new skills and adapt to emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics are transforming entire industries, and those who fail to adapt will be left behind. Leadership is no longer just a matter of experience, but of flexibility and openness to change.
American Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, taught us the importance of recognizing the time to step aside for mental health when, at Tokyo 2020, she decided to temporarily retire from competition. The decision to return defied expectations and normalized the conversation around emotional wellness. In the business world, the pressure to achieve results can lead to burnout. Not for nothing for 55% of CEOs say they have faced mental health problems in the last year.
Another point is that no athlete reaches the podium alone. Behind every medal, there is a team of coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists and other professionals working together to achieve a common goal. Similarly, business leaders need to surround themselves with talented and committed teams. Collaboration, trust and open communication are key to building high-performance teams.
The Olympics also left us with stories of struggle and controversy, such as the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Questioned and put under intense scrutiny, Khelif faced a controversy that tested her character and determination. Her case reminds us of the importance of having the right information before making judgments and decisions. In the corporate world, we often make decisions with incomplete or biased information, which can lead to mistakes that affect not only the company, but also the people involved.
Paris 2024 also showed the power of humility. Rebeca Andrade, the Brazilian gymnast who won gold, was honored by U.S. gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles, who, with a bow, acknowledged the effort of others, even in a competitive environment.
However, we also saw the opposite in the case of U.S. athlete Shelby McEwen, who refused to share the gold with New Zealand's Hamish Kerr in a vaulting event. Finally, in a new test, he was beaten by Kerr. This act speaks to how unbridled ambition can lead us to lose more than we gain.
In an increasingly volatile and complex business world, leadership requires more than ever intuition, empathy and the ability to guide teams toward authentic transformation. Just as in the Olympic Games, where athletes challenge their limits, leaders must be willing to reinvent themselves and create new forms of value.
By Jorge Gatto, Partner & Global COO of OLIVIA