Adaptability behind the scenes
How an Unexpected Assignment Taught Me the Real Essence of Executive Leadership
"Find and purchase multiple zonkeys" was not a sentence I expected to hear in an oil and gas executive meeting.
Earlier in my career supporting leadership in the oil and gas sector, I received one of the most unexpected assignments of my professional life.
At the time, I quickly learned that these animals were often kept on private ranches as exotic pasture animals and, in some cases, as herd protectors due to their territorial instincts. They were rare, difficult to source, highly unpredictable, and certainly not something you could find through a standard procurement process.
What seemed like an unusual request at the time ultimately reinforced one of the most important lessons of high-level executive support: the role is rarely about the task itself.
It is about the ability to navigate ambiguity, solve problems quickly, operate with discretion, and execute in environments where no standard playbook exists.
Over the years, I have coordinated everything from global executive travel and crisis response to board operations, cybersecurity initiatives, confidential negotiations, private aviation logistics, and yes, even sourcing zonkeys for private ranches.
The reality of supporting senior leadership is that the work behind the scenes is often far more unconventional than most people realize.
The capabilities developed through experiences like these extend far beyond the assignment itself:
- Adaptability in unpredictable environments
- Resourcefulness when no clear process exists
- Composure under pressure
- The ability to think critically and solve problems in real time
- Consistent execution with precision, regardless of how unconventional the request may be
Sometimes the most unconventional assignments become the strongest examples of operational excellence.
The task may be unusual. The leadership lessons are not.
