Our resident corporate Agony Uncle, CEO Ken Cheng, tackles business challenges – so you don’t have to
Dear Ken Cheng,
What did you think of The Odyssey? Did it give you any inspiration for business?
– Warren, Caerphilly
Ken Cheng:
If Odysseus were alive today, he’d be an awful CEO.
Greek Kings were the C-suite executives of the ancient world, and Odysseus would’ve been laughed out of the corporate sphere.
A lot of people watch films to escape. I watch them and I can’t help but put on my management consultant goggles and identify operational efficiencies.
For one, I would have never let myself be captured by a stupid Cyclops. A schoolboy error, one that could have been avoided with a simple question:
“Are you sick of Cyclops-unfriendly UIs?”
You see, every single enemy can be bartered with through the mere mention of a better user interface.
All Odysseus needed was to seek the services of a consultant and he would’ve been back home in 48 hours.
Take Circe. When half of Odysseus’s men were turned into pigs, that was a hiring issue, something that could be stamped out by analysing recruitment data and psychometric analysis.
I would add a more regimented interview stage, including the question “WOULD YOU EAT A FOUL WITCH’S CHEESE AND WINE WITHOUT QUESTION?”
Yes, the film would’ve been a lot quicker, but it would have showcased the importance of strong consultancy practices.
Consultants make everything better.
To have your business issues addressed or to book Ken Cheng for your event: [email protected]
