Could Alexander the Great Survive as a Modern CEO?
Alexander the Great conquered nations, but could he conquer a corporate boardroom? This humorous breakdown of his traits ranks his CEO potential from communication to crisis management.
Have you ever wondered if history's greatest conqueror could handle the chaos of a Monday morning board meeting? Probably not, but here we are! Alexander the Great is renowned for uniting empires, but would he thrive under the pressure of quarterly sales reports?
Let’s break down his skills, rank his CEO potential, and imagine if he could trade swords for spreadsheets and battlefield glory for a heated boardroom debate.
1. Experience: Is the World’s Greatest Conqueror Overqualified?
Alexander wasn’t just a conqueror—he was the conqueror. By the age of 30, he had built an empire that stretched from Greece to India. If conquering the known world counts as transferable skills, he’s massively overqualified for the corporate world.
“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” (A motivational quote, but imagine it in your company’s next PowerPoint deck.)
Ranking: 10/10. No probation period is required—he’s already running the show.
2. Communication: Great Orator or Office Nightmare?
Alexander inspired armies with fiery speeches, but would he handle the delicate art of a weekly Zoom update? Probably not. His battlefield cries of "Charge!" don’t exactly translate well to modern corporate jargon.
Ranking: 7/10. Brilliant in-person motivator, but his “all caps” email game might need some work.
3. Team Building: Can He Unite a Cubicle Farm?
Alexander united diverse cultures across his empire, convincing people from all walks of life to fight under his banner. Leading a team-building exercise or herding office personalities would likely be a breeze for him. However, his methods might lean toward slightly aggressive.
Ranking: 9/10. He’d be the life of the office—just don’t ask him to organize the office BBQ.
4. Company Vision: Does He Think Big Enough?
Alexander famously wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. Now that’s ambition! He’d likely turn a humble family business into a global conglomerate. While his vision is impressive, his intensity might overwhelm a more traditional board of directors.
Ranking: 10/10. Forget quarterly goals—this guy is all about dominating the competition.
5. Leadership Skills: Would He Inspire or Intimidate?
Alexander wasn’t afraid to lead by example, often riding straight into battle alongside his troops. In a corporate setting, this might mean rolling up his sleeves during a crisis. However, his “all or nothing” approach might intimidate more cautious employees.
Ranking: 8/10. Bold and fearless, but maybe a little too “in-your-face” for a casual office environment.
6. Empathy: Does He Care About His Team?
Let’s be honest—empathy wasn’t Alexander’s strong suit. Sure, he adopted certain aspects of the cultures he conquered, but he wasn’t exactly handing out Employee of the Month awards. His sulking fits—like the time he locked himself in his tent for days when his troops refused to keep marching—don’t scream “emotionally intelligent.”
Ranking: 5/10. Great at uniting people, but not the guy to handle team conflicts with grace.
7. Crisis Management: Can He Handle Corporate Emergencies?
If there’s one thing Alexander thrived on, it was a crisis. Mutinies, logistical nightmares, you name it—he found a way to power through. His solutions were a bit…drastic, though. In the corporate world, his “fire and fury” approach might lead to mass layoffs instead of team synergy.
Ranking: 9/10. He gets results but tends to go for the nuclear option.
8. Risk-Taking: Does He Know When to Fold?
Alexander was a gambler, no question about it. Crossing deserts, facing impossible odds—he always bet big, and it often paid off. But in the corporate world, reckless gambles could mean tanking the company, and HR would probably have a few things to say about his high-stakes attitude.
Ranking: 7/10. Bold and brilliant, but someone needs to tell him that “moderation” isn’t a dirty word.
9. Trust: Can He Win Over His Team?
Alexander’s troops adored him, following him to the ends of the earth. However, his inner circle was a different story—betrayal and backstabbing were common themes. In an office setting, that kind of loyalty disparity might spark some serious HR headaches.
Ranking: 6/10. Inspires trust in the trenches, but office politics might not be his forte.
10. Longevity: Is He Built for the Long Haul?
Let’s cut to the chase: Alexander burned bright but fast. By 32, his reign (and his life) was over. His relentless drive might make him a short-term superstar, but when it comes to long-term sustainability, he’d likely fizzle out—or move on to his next conquest.
Ranking: 5/10. Great for a quick turnaround, but not your guy for a 10-year growth plan.
Overall Ranking 7.6/10
Alexander the Great ranks quite high with some of his traits like company vision, experience and ability to build a team, but this would only be short term and although he would likely succeed, this might come at a price if there is a high count of employee casualties in the aftermath.
