How Leaders Lead with David Novak #266: Richard Fain, Former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group – Push past comfortable
9 snips
Nov 20, 2025 
Former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Richard Fain, revolutionized the cruise industry with innovative megaships and a vibrant company culture. He discusses how bold language like 'UFB' inspired teams to push boundaries, and he shares the fascinating story behind cutting ships in half to enhance capacity. Fain emphasizes that authentic, small gestures often create the most memorable experiences. He also explores the impact of AI on personalization and reiterates the importance of continuous improvement and mentoring future leaders.
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First Cruise Changed Everything
- Richard Fain's first cruise transformed his view of cruising and convinced him of the industry's potential.
- He was blown away by the crew's passion and innovation, which became a defining moment in his career.
Name Your Standard Boldly
- Use vivid, memorable language to set cultural standards and drive behavior.
- Richard used "UFB" to empower teams to ask whether ideas were truly unbelievable.
We Cut A Ship In Half
- Royal Caribbean physically cut a ship in half and inserted a new midsection to increase capacity from 720 to 1,040.
- The engineering was complex but delivered strong economies of scale and more guest activities.
