Tsunamis, UFC, and Billion-Dollar Balance Sheets: How a Solo Female CEO Navigates Chaos Like a Champion

 

There was a tsunami watch this morning. And oddly, it had very little to do with water.

When you’re a woman commanding the helm of a billion-dollar multinational enterprise, you wake up to global tremors—some economic, some geopolitical, and others entirely unpredictable. I’ve learned that leadership at this level doesn’t come with calm seas; it comes with an expectation that you’ll surf the waves—or drown under them. And if you’re 42, single, and in full control of your own life and empire like me, you learn to enjoy the ride.

Tis morning’s alerts—yes, I track trending topics like a hawk—told me everything I needed to know about how culture is shifting, and how brands (including mine) must pivot with precision. Let’s break it down, because in this noise is a signal every C-suite executive should hear.

The Tsunami Watch is More Than a Warning—It’s a Metaphor

In business, a tsunami isn’t always natural. It’s the viral backlash when a deodorant is recalled unexpectedly (yes, that’s trending at 1,000% right now). It’s the sudden rise of niche nostalgia—the kind only The Last of Us can resurrect with 700% search spikes—causing dormant IP to become billion-dollar assets overnight.

For me, the tsunami is the unpredictability of 300,000+ employees across 87 countries, each moving through the world like pawns and queens on an invisible chessboard of consumer sentiment. You don’t “control” a conglomerate. You partner with chaos.

Fighting Like UFC Champions—From the Boardroom to the Octagon

This week, UFC 319 and Pacquiao vs. Barrios dominated the conversation. Why? Because people are drawn to high-stakes confrontation. In my world, negotiation rooms can be their own kind of ring. I’ve brokered deals in Shanghai where silence was a weapon, and in Berlin where eye contact lasted just a shade too long to be professional.

Leadrship in 2025 is about knowing when to strike—and when to let the other guy burn out first. Ask Dustin Poirier. Or better yet, look at his net worth trending 500% today. We’re not watching fights anymore. We’re studying them.

Charli XCX and Roblox Gardens: Why Culture is the Ultimate KPI

What does Charli XCX have in common with tranquil Roblox garden plants? Everything. One is redefining sound; the other is redefining how Gen Alpha relates to nature—digitally. If you're not integrating both vibes into your marketing strategy, you're aging out of relevance faster than Josh Lucas’s IMDb page loads.

One of our subsidiaries is currently experimenting with ambient AI-generated “bops” that respond to plant growth in kids’ rooms. Yes, seriously. That’s where attention is going—and where money will follow. Anyone still marketing in PowerPoint instead of TikTok trends is already obsolete.

The Heart of Summer Is Not in Ice Cream Deals (But I Bought One Anyway)

You’d think National Ice Cream Day would be a frivolous marketing event. But I’ve seen acquisition data that shows 37% of our female demographic spent more on frozen desserts this weekend than they did on skincare.

So, what did I do? I greenlit a $6M joint venture with a Latin American frozen novelty brand—while personally eating a lavender-chai vegan cone at our HQ’s rooftop garden. It's indulgence with intent. It’s knowing that every “deal” starts with understanding joy.

Loneliness at the Top, or Power in the Pause?

When you’re 42, female, and unpartnered, the world has questions. Some subtle, some not. But let me be clear: I’m not waiting for a “sleeping prince” (also trending, for some reason). I built the castle. I fund the kingdom. I choose solitude not as a default, but as a strategic position of clarity.

Sometimes I do wonder if my next partner might emerge from a VIP UFC suite or a surprise seating at Inter Miami vs. NY Red Bulls. But until then, I’ll settle for watching Marcus Smart finesse his next play and call it market research.

While millions chase the Powerball and dream of what they’d do with wealth, I live that reality daily. The trick isn’t having money—it’s mastering intent. Every dollar I earn is a story: of risk, return, and resilience. That’s the real win.

o the other women out there navigating empires, boardrooms, or simply their own chaotic to-do list: treat every tsunami warning as a reminder that you were built for big tides.

Whether it's a deodorant recall, a UFC upset, or Roblox’s latest hit—every trend is just another signal. You don’t need to be scared of the wave. You are the wave.

Connect with me @mandeewoodard across platforms