Years ago, while pursuing my MBA in the U.S., I was introduced to what sounded like a strange story:
American Airlines saved $40,000 a year by removing one olive from the salads in first class.
At first, it felt like one of those “corporate urban legends” – but it wasn’t. It was a reminder that small, data-backed decisions can lead to major results.
I didn’t fully grasp its relevance back then. Today, leading 7awi Media Group, I do.
In media, our “olives” aren’t garnishes—they’re articles no one reads, videos that don’t get watched, social posts that miss their mark, and processes that slow us down without adding value.
At 7awi, we’ve built something simple yet powerful:
Dashboards. Weekly. Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews. Oh yes, and I have my 1:1 with every employee on a quarterly basis.
Every Wednesday, my leadership team and I sit together—not to brainstorm, but to listen. We listen to what the data tells us.
Every other day, our Standup meeting happens in the corridors of our offices and each person gets to contribute about what’s on their calendar, clients, meetings, help needed and the opportunities. We always learn few new things.
Every month, we do our “All-Hands” virtual call. I give a run down of the business and always end it with a short video about our business.
And of course, every quarter (on a Sunday), we have our QBRs. This is a marathon from as early as 7:30 am (Amman and Cairo) and last till 5 pm. Every head of department will present their challenges and plans for the upcoming quarter. We always get caught in the small details, but hey, this is our business. Just like any company we, every once in a while, need to be reminded of things that we did not achieve.
What’s working? What’s failing? Where are we wasting time? What’s the small thing, that if we removed it, would save resources or unlock growth?
Our dashboards aren’t a report. They’re a conversation. And they drive action.
Over time, I’ve learned this: Leadership isn’t always about making big, dramatic changes. It’s about noticing the small details. The hidden inefficiencies. The overlooked opportunities. And acting, consistently.
That’s what we do at 7awi.
Every week, we find our olive. And we remove it.
Your data is speaking. Are you listening?
PS: I love olives!
#Leadership #Media #DataDriven #7awi #MBA #LessonsFromTheOlive
