#197: Alan Shaw, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern – Show up with humility
Jul 25, 2024
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Alan Shaw, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern railway, discusses the importance of humility in leadership. Topics include crisis management, embracing failure, safety culture in the rail industry, and personal stories revealing the impact of humility on effective leadership.
Leadership involves supporting others to discover answers rather than having all the solutions.
Embracing challenges outside one's comfort zone enhances enterprise perspective and leadership capabilities.
Deep dives
Alan Shaw's Leadership Philosophy: Leading with Humility
Alan Shaw, the president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership. Despite his extensive experience at the railroad company, Shaw believes in supporting others to discover answers rather than having all the solutions. This approach has guided him through launching a bold new strategy and managing crises effectively, showcasing the power of humility in action.
Alan Shaw's Diverse Career Journey and Leadership Growth
Alan Shaw's career progression at Norfolk Southern illustrates the significance of embracing challenges outside one's comfort zone. Starting from a finance background, Shaw ventured into marketing, coal operations, and intermodal operations, each transition requiring a new skill set. By continuously evolving and building diverse networks within the company, Shaw enhanced his enterprise perspective and leadership capabilities.
Alan Shaw's Crisis Leadership and Accountability
Alan Shaw's response to the East Palestine chemical spill crisis demonstrates his proactive approach to accountability and transparency. By prioritizing the long-term view and community well-being, Shaw engaged with affected residents, ensured safety measures, and committed to ongoing support. His hands-on involvement and commitment to fulfilling promises exemplify effective crisis management.
Alan Shaw's Strategic Vision for Norfolk Southern's Transformation
Alan Shaw's strategic vision for Norfolk Southern focuses on transitioning the railroad company into a customer-centric and service-driven organization. By aligning with macro-trends like e-commerce and sustainability, Shaw aims to enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and overall growth. Through innovative steps, such as hiring safety consultants and leveraging outside expertise, Shaw drives sustainable change and innovation at Norfolk Southern.
Want to build a more collaborative and driven culture? It starts with humility.
To see what that humble mentality looks like in action, listen to this conversation with Alan Shaw, the CEO of Norfolk Southern railway.
For him, leadership is about supporting other people as they discover the answers. And as you’ll hear today, that emphasis on humility is helping him launch a bold new strategy and navigate a really tough crisis.