C-Suite

At her birth, her father yelled out that she would be a great leader. So, he named her Olori. She graduated egregia cum laude from Delaware Institute of Technology (DIT). Now, she sat on boards of hospitals, banks, and organizations that espoused the wonders of capitalism. She stood as the CEO of the fifth largest oil company in the world, Ready Rock, Inc. When approached to approve of a new advertisement, Olori leapt at the chance to see this thing in reality.

The idea behind the commercial was to show most of the petroleum based products that become marvels of the modern world. Olori found this to be brilliant. The truth... the stark idealism behind it... simple and clean, the thought percolated in Olori’s mind.

“We’re not going to be able to run these ads,” chief operating officer Heather Blight said. “It’s just too controversial. We should stick to what everyone else is doing. They’re all about showing how ‘green’ they are and how many factories they’re opening every few years and creating jobs. We have to keep our ads on a level that will be palatable to our customers,” Heather said.

“And what is wrong with telling it like it is? Where is it written that you should obscure the actuality of your own business? I assumed the role as chief executive officer of this company to prevent another meltdown like we had when Wendell Wad was at the helm. Now, I’ll meet with the advertising agency myself if I have to do that.”

So, Olori journeyed to the advertising agency Euphoric Liberties in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. Along with her, the chief information officer Charli Coughlin and the chief financial officer Meryl Verton ventured to settle the matter.

“We’ve got a script, actors, and a visual department,” the director Oscar Phoenix said to Olori. “But the whole operation is being impeded by the fact that some parts of your company remain skittish about presenting the company in this light.”

“I see,” said Olori. “We have to send a clear and unwavering message to the people whom this company employs and the ones who make up your advertising agency to know that they’re safe with doing something unsafe. For the past few decades, oil companies, ourselves included, only showcased the environmentalist viewpoint. We wanted to show that our company stood out amongst the rest as a bastion of preserving the Earth. Why can’t we preserve profits, too? The Earth is going to take care of itself. Besides, there are trips to the Moon and Mars, now. Ready Rock is prepared to take that chance.”

“Yes, of course,” Phoenix said. He turned to the actors of the commercial. One just had a suit on that the computer graphics indicated was made from polyester. Another shot showed two athletes dribbling a basketball. But the final shot was of a woman at the gas pump. She had just one line: “Ready Rock... we sell oil.”

Olori was pleased at the commercial but she still had to overcome one other hurdle. She went to Heather to witness her opinion of the advertisement. Heather balked.

“C’mon Heather, this is great,” Olori said. “This is going to boost our image as truth-sayers. So many petroleum companies are shrouded in secrecy but when they make an advertisement, it’s like they want to be everybody’s friend. This campaign will allow us more visibility and showcase the reality of our business. Don’t you agree with that?”

Heather hesitated. She looked down in then at Olori's face. “I think it’s going to be a great look for RR, Inc. I appreciate you showing me just how important this ad is going to be for you and the company.”

“Think nothing of it,” Olori said with a smile.