Critical Moments When the World Stopped: Chris Grosso on Leading an IRL Business Through Covid
Chris Grosso, CEO of Intersection, shares what it was like to run an out-of-home advertising company when the world suddenly went indoors. In February 2020, his team was riding record growth. By March, revenues had fallen 75% overnight. Chris opens up about wartime leadership, negotiating with cities and transit authorities, keeping essential workers safe, and the lessons he’ll carry forever about communication, contingency planning, and decisive action.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: AOL days and the power of the homepage
07:45 – Record-setting 2019 and early 2020 momentum
14:20 – The first signs of trouble: Wuhan, Italy, and Seattle
23:50 – Wartime leadership: employees, investors, transit authorities, advertisers
36:10 – Mistakes, layoffs, and the pain of multiple cuts
49:40 – Finding the light: vaccines, buses, and the road back