Thursday, February 28, 2013

Captain Kathryn Janeway: Corporate Magnate?

In the fifth post of a series on how the Star Trek captains would measure up as leaders of the corporate world, we are examining the leadership style of Captain Kathryn Janeway. Under the direction of Janeway, the crew of the starship, Voyager, explored the uncharted Delta Quadrant as they struggled to make it back to their home in the Alpha Quadrant.

Just as Picard is viewed as the patriarch of the Enterprise, Janeway certainly comes across as the matriarch of Voyager. Her leadership style is very reminiscent of what we think of as a good mother.  She is warm and caring and places a lot of trust in her crew. Nevertheless, like any good mother, she has her fingers on the pulse of the ship and always knows what is going on in the lives of each of her crew members. Janeway is friendly and open, but never chummy.  Try to step over that line and she will quickly remind you that she is first, and foremost, the captain.

It is true that, occasionally, Janeway lets her emotions influence her decisions, but that same tendency makes her more compassionate and supportive toward the weaknesses of her crew.  Undoubtedly it is her big heart that inspires such total loyalty as we saw in the episode, "The 37's." Only a captain like Janeway could have helped a Borg re-discover her own humanity.

However, how would Janeway's style of leadership translate in the corporate world?  Is she too "warm and fuzzy" to face down the competition?  It wouldn't seem likely, given her track record.  Despite a skeleton crew and minimal resources, Janeway manages to defeat such powerful opponents as the Borg and Species 8472.  I don't doubt that she would get the upper hand in any attempt at a hostile takeover.

She also seems uniquely adept at reaching her goals.  In Star Trek: Voyager, Janeway's primary goal was to get the ship and crew back to the Alpha Quadrant; a trip that should have taken 75 years. Through a combination of tenacity and networking (yes, those relationships that she developed along the way really paid off), she manages to get the ship home in just seven. I'm sure that same determination and indomitable spirit would be evident in her corporate dealings.

Working for Janeway would be no picnic.  Like all Federation captains, she has a very high standard for her crew and expects 100 % from them every day.  However, she would be a fair and caring boss who would be willing to help you out in a personal crisis instead of handing out a pink slip.  Her goals for you and the company would be clearly outlined and she would work alongside her employees to accomplish them.

However, there might be some conflicts under her leadership. Present-day America has not yet reached the idyllic level of equality found in the Federation. Not everyone might feel comfortable working under a woman- and especially a strong-willed woman like Janeway.  This could very well cause problems within the ranks that weren't there on Voyager. Working for Kathryn Janeway in a primarily male-dominated industry might have more challenges than might be expected.

Next week, we'll look at the fifth, and final, Star Trek series: Enterprise, and take a look at how its captain, Jeffrey Archer, would perform in the corporate world.

2 comments:

  1. I love Janeway, although it took me a while to accept that she wasn't a clone of Katherine Hepburn. Very disturbing at first sight.

    And I think she'd do just fine in the corporate world.

    I remember her telling another leader who was having a laugh, that "We've got bigger guns." Or words to that effect.

    Some great information here; thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're right, the resemblance to Katherine Hepburn is striking. She also has the bearing and class of Hepburn. However, there is a seed of ruthlessness in her that gives her the courage to pull out those "bigger guns" if the occasion calls for it. I'd follow her any day!

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