A Letter to the Peacekeepers Who Lead Through Fire
How to lead as a peacekeeper in wartime?
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As a first-time CEO, leading Olympia through these uncertain times feels like navigating a rapidly shifting terrain — much like the volatile landscape of the AI industry. It's like we're constantly in the middle of a fin de siècle moment — that tipping point where everything seems on the brink of collapse and reformation as we juggle innovation with existential uncertainty.
The AI industry is fast-paced and unpredictable, bringing something new to anticipate, manage, and address each day. I must constantly choose between leaning into aggression while going for growth at all costs or leading with empathy and clarity while anchoring in a calm, grounded vision that sustains us through the chaos.
This tension between aggressive growth and soft power is where Ben Horowitz's famous distinction between Wartime and Peacetime CEOs comes into play. Horowitz's model has dominated leadership conversations in the startup world. The Wartime CEO is all about decisiveness, speed, and survival — no time for niceties, no room for error. It's about making hard calls under pressure, optimizing for immediate impact, and playing the game intensely.
Leadership isn’t about wielding power; it’s about wielding grace.
On the flip side, the Peacetime CEO thrives when things are calm. The company is scaling, profits are steady, and the focus is on growth, stability, and building long-term relationships. There's room for patience, creativity, and investing in a lasting culture.
But what happens when the world isn't quite at war but is far from peaceful? When you're leading a company in a volatile, rapidly shifting market like AI? What happens when you're a Peacetime CEO in a Wartime world?
You become a Peacekeeper CEO.
Who is a Peacekeeper CEO?
A Peacekeeper CEO leads through fire by maintaining clarity and calm amidst chaos. Instead of seeing every crisis as a battlefield to conquer, a Peacekeeper sees it as a series of challenges to navigate with compassion, resilience, and tactical thinking. The Peacekeeper adapts to the environment, uses their resources wisely, and makes hard decisions without losing sight of the long-term vision.
When things get chaotic, a Peacekeeper doesn't flinch. They see it as an opportunity to protect their team, preserve culture, and guide the ship through stormy waters. They understand that true leadership is not about avoiding conflict but knowing how to handle it gracefully.
Wartime CEO vs. Peacekeeper CEO: A Comparison
How to Lead Through Fire as a Peacekeeper
1. Maintain Emotional Clarity
In times of crisis, the most powerful thing you can offer your team is emotional stability. When the ground shifts beneath you, you must stand firm in your values and keep a clear head. Take the time to ground yourself before making big decisions. You're not just a company leader; you're the emotional anchor for your team.
2. Create a Safe Space for Innovation
During uncertainty, the temptation is to tighten control and micromanage. Instead, empower your team to come up with solutions. Create an environment where they feel safe to experiment and fail — this is where innovation thrives, even in chaos. Focus on building psychological safety.
3. Play the Long Game
While you might be in crisis mode, don't lose sight of your long-term vision. Yes, adapting to the moment is important, but you need to keep one eye on the horizon. The Peacetime CEO's vision is about creating sustainable growth — it's a marathon, not a sprint.
4. Communicate with Transparency
In uncertain times, honest communication is paramount. Be open about the challenges, the stakes, and the decisions you're making. Your team needs to trust you to lead them through fire. Let them in on the vision and explain the ‘why’ behind your decisions. This builds loyalty and clarity.
5. Lead with Compassion
In volatile moments, empathy can often be sidelined for the sake of efficiency. But compassion is most important in these moments. Show your team you're not just a leader who pushes forward—you're a leader who listens, supports, and understands the emotional impact of these challenging times.
From Scaling in Wartime to Leading in Crisis
In Episode 7 of The First-Time CEO podcast, I talked with Oleg Tarasiuk, Co-Founder and CEO of CodeGeeks, who scaled a company during the war in Ukraine. Talk about leading through fire!
What makes Oleg's story truly remarkable? He navigated the growth of his company—from 5 employees to 50—all while facing the unprecedented challenges of war in Ukraine.
In our conversation, Oleg opens up about:
💡 The leap from employee to founder and what it takes to make that shift
📈 How he scaled a thriving tech company despite the chaos of war
🛡️ Resilience and leadership strategies for keeping a team strong through uncertainty
🔑 Understanding customers and building the right solutions
💼 The biggest challenges first-time CEOs face when growing a company
This episode is full of inspiring insights and practical advice for anyone building or scaling a business, especially in tough times. 🔥
🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to build and scale a tech company, even when the odds are against you. Links below!
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