Can speed and volatility be catalysts for change rather than negative influences?
I think that’s the only positive way to look at it. You can either choose to be a victim of the environment or you can take advantage of changes in the environment. Volatility can mean opportunity, and speed of change—if your company is faster than others—can be a competitive advantage. Speed and volatility are realities. The first thing a leader has to be able to do is face reality. In the past, speed and volatility have probably had a negative impact on our business, but we have learned. We have parts of the business that excel in these environments. Increasingly, we see speed and volatility more as opportunities than as detriments to our business. Is working globally part of the new norm? Absolutely. You have to be comfortable doing business in the United States or China or India or Brazil. There is no substitute for seeing what’s actually going on in China, India, or Brazil. To do that, it’s best to work in one or two other parts of the world at some point in your career. Of course
