With the season finale of “Scandal” upon us, cubicle-dwellers across the country are probably restless at work today, eagerly awaiting tonight’s episode and daydreaming about working for the fictional Olivia Pope & Associates.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to work for the crisis management firm. Life or death situations aren’t a part of my ideal work environment, but Olivia Pope does have some qualities I try to emulate in my work.
That got me thinking, which fictional television characters would I want at the helm of a business? My dream CEO would be someone smart, creative, driven and team-oriented. My business would need a CEO who is willing to take risks and do whatever it takes to succeed.
Since this is a dream scenario, I decided to take the best qualities from some of television’s strongest characters to create my CEO: Olivia Pope from “Scandal,” Don Draper from “Mad Men” and Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation.”
Here are the qualities I would take from each character to make the ultimate CEO:
Olivia Pope
Problem-solving skills. Watch any episode of “Scandal” and you are likely to see Olivia Pope solve a seemingly unsolvable crisis. A CEO is going to face a lot of obstacles on the path to success. Making bad decisions can have a major impact on a business. I want a CEO who can find solutions.
Calm under pressure. Luckily, my hypothetical business is not as dangerous as the workplace in “Scandal,” but I still want a CEO who can handle high pressure situations. Even in the most terrifying circumstances, Pope manages to keep working and not let people see her sweat.
Memorable look. Often a CEO is the face of a company, so a signature look doesn’t hurt. Steve Jobs had the black mock turtleneck, Richard Branson prefers open collars to neckties and Mark Zuckerberg proudly rocks a t-shirt and hoodie. Olivia Pope’s wardrobe is classy and memorable without being too showy, perfect for a CEO. She also gets bonus points for keeping her crisp, white clothes so clean under such messy circumstances. My dream CEO is not sloppy!
Don Draper
Creativity. Don Draper, the main character of “Mad Men,” has a masterful sense of creativity. Working in advertising during a highly competitive time, Draper’s ideas capture the imagination of his clients and make his firm a lot of money. CEOs need to be able to make their business distinctive while satisfying the needs of stakeholders, so a creative mind is a must.
Charisma. Creativity will only take you so far. After having a great idea, you need to be able to sell it. Having charisma helps Draper to convince clients and coworkers that his ideas will work. The ability to persuade others will help my dream CEO get investors, publicity and top talent for the company.
Leslie Knope
Work ethic. You can’t be the CEO of my dreams if you don’t know how to hustle. Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation” works harder than anyone and does it with enthusiasm. Employees often emulate the work habits and attitudes of their leaders, so Knope’s hard work and positivity would set a great example.
Ability to bring out the best in others. Having the best CEO in the business won’t mean much if the rest of team is weak. I want a CEO that inspires others to be at their best. Knope works with a cast of characters ranging from lazy to careless to outright incompetent, yet she manages to get them to perform well and reach their goals.
Never-ending desire to succeed. A company is unlikely to succeed if the CEO isn’t incredibly driven. Knope has never given up on her goals, despite many setbacks and obstacles in her way. My ideal CEO will channel Knope’s relentless determination for success.
Yes, put them all together and PopeDraperKnope would be my dream CEO. What about you?
Use the hashtag #DreamCEO to share which characters you would combine to make the best CEO and share it on social media.
Erin Palmer is a writer and editor who wishes that PopeDraperKnope was a real CEO. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including The Chicago Tribune and The Huffington Post.
