In the fall of 2024, two major American companies, Nike and Starbucks, faced significant challenges and made contrasting leadership decisions. Nike chose to look inward by rehiring Elliott Hill, a veteran with over thirty years of experience at the company, to guide them through their difficulties. In contrast, Starbucks opted for an external perspective by appointing Brian Niccol, who previously led Chipotle but had no experience in the coffee industry. These decisions highlight different strategies in crisis management: one relying on familiar leadership and the other seeking fresh insights from outside the organization. The outcomes of these choices could influence how companies approach leadership during challenging times.
QUESTION: How might the decision to choose an internal versus an external leader impact a company’s ability to innovate and adapt to new challenges?
When your company needs a new leader, ‘Insider or Outsider?’ is the wrong question
