The 4 core principles of crisis management, w/Ellen Kullman (DuPont, Carbon)

Bold Decisions

Ellen Kullman emphasizes the importance of bold decision-making in leadership, especially during crises. She tasked her senior leaders with reducing 50% of their leadership, a move that forced them to think creatively and strategically about restructuring. Although the actual reduction was 12%, this bold target helped streamline operations and set a new trajectory for growth 1. Ellen believes that leaders must not merely react to circumstances but actively shape their company's future 2.

People really believed the world was going to go back exactly like it was before, and it didn't. So how do we create our own trajectory?

--- Ellen Kullman

This approach was mirrored by Brian Chesky of Airbnb, who quickly adapted to the pandemic's challenges by implementing bold strategies to navigate the crisis 1.

   

Developing Resilience

Developing resilience is crucial for companies facing crises, as demonstrated by Ellen Kullman's leadership at Carbon. She focused on leveraging 3D printing technology to address supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, showcasing how crises can be opportunities to fulfill a company's mission in new ways 3. Ellen stresses that a strong sense of mission is vital for resilience, as it provides a foundation to build upon during challenging times 4.

People talk about this current generation being very mission centric. I don't know. I found that throughout my career, people wanted to know that what their company did made a difference.

--- Ellen Kullman

Stacy Brown-Philpot of TaskRabbit also exemplified this by creating a volunteer program to help those in need, reinforcing the company's mission to make everyday life easier 4.