I'm here in New Zealand on a movie set with my sister. She's orchestrating over 300 highly talented people, coordinating massive logistics, managing a large budget, all in an exceptional location with sometimes high-risk, extreme terrain.
Being on this set keeps reminding me of the coordination, risk, and mobilization that CEOs and leadership teams are navigating back home. The efforts required on a movie set are remarkably similar to running a company — leaders and teams working to operationalize a mission, empower productivity, and manage resources toward a shared goal.
Witnessing the scale here in New Zealand alongside the scale our clients face in the US, I keep noticing the same patterns. More specifically, I'm seeing the keys to success that my sister is implementing on set — the same ones I bring into companies — that can make or break the outcome.
What I'm Learning on Set
Investing in human relationships pays off
Genuine care for people goes a long way. Watching my sister's willingness to discover and deliver what each functional area leader needs — in terms of support, attention, and presence — pays off in the quality of work, the commitment level to the project, and the endurance to dig deep in the final stretch. The connections she's built are instrumental during decision-making, crisis management, and navigating unexpected hurdles.
Culture of care is essential to execution
The fabric of care — the underpinning of your culture — is felt by your teams. Top leaders set the tone for the energy present on set or inside a company, whether online, on location, or in office. The mindset, attitude, and behavior leaders bring signals whether there is safety, collaboration, and support — or fear, blame, and scarcity.
Leadership hierarchy still matters
On a movie set, as in a company, there's a clear hierarchy defined by titles, roles, and levels of responsibility. What I'm witnessing here — and in companies — is that hierarchy is necessary. We need leaders who can make decisions, communicate priorities, provide context during change, hold the vision, and reaffirm the goal.
I had a conversation with the Head of Safety on set about this, and we both agreed: hierarchy is essential to success. The important distinction is how top leaders express their power and influence. You can lead with punitive, blaming tactics — or with compassion, empathy, and empowerment. Either way, it creates culture. It determines how people perform, how they deliver their best work, and the lasting impressions we leave together.
Communication must flow openly
Information cannot be held at the top. Everyone needs to know the latest decisions, plan changes, and responses to shifting conditions — circulated to the right people, in a timely and accessible way. We have every tool available to make this happen. When people are kept out of the flow of information, they feel undervalued and withdraw their investment in what matters. If your team isn't getting what they need to do their jobs, fix it quickly.
Gratitude is the fuel for productivity
Appreciating others is like a lightning bolt of energy that multiplies everyone's output. People want to be seen, heard, and valued — and when leaders of influence express genuine appreciation, it carries weight. It can sustain someone through a difficult final push, or provide the fuel to go the extra mile. Recognizing team wins, acknowledging hard work, and calling out achievements doesn't require money or extra time. It requires awareness and attention — and the return on investment is significant.
From the Movie Set to the Boardroom
What works on a New Zealand movie set works in any organization: care, culture, communication, and gratitude are not soft ideals — they are operational levers. At Cofinity, we partner with leaders to integrate these principles into the structure of how work actually gets done, unlocking alignment and performance that sticks.
If you're ready to bring these leadership lessons into your organization, schedule a call and let's talk about what's possible.
