During the last decade, we studied CEOs of companies that thrive within some of the most challenging business environments on the planet. Though very different in many respects, these CEOs share leadership behaviors and attitudes that strongly parallel those of top athletes. We further theorize that these athletic traits make CEOs uniquely suited to tackle contexts where little can be taken for granted.

Four of them, in particular, achieved extraordinary results against the backdrop of a prolonged economic recession and international economic sanctions. Herman Gref has transformed Sberbank from a sleeping behemoth into a dynamic digital company that provides services ranging from traditional banking to telecommunications to more than 100 million customers, and delivers superior shareholder returns.

Under Vitaly Saveliev’s leadership, Aeroflot has become the most valuable airline brand in the world, quadrupled its passenger count, and became the most efficient airline in Europe.

Alexander Dykov, CEO of Gazprom Neft since 2007, has turned a loose amalgamation of upstream and downstream assets into the most dynamic energy company in Russia, doubling its reserves, production, and refining volumes.

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