Behind the Scenes of the Professional Managers | Decoding the Phenomenal TV Series 'Succession'

"Succession" emerges as a phenomenon in American TV, following in the footsteps of "Game of Thrones." This gripping series weaves a ruthless world of workplace dynamics, power struggles, and wealth. By portraying vivid characters like the CEO, CFO, legal head, and communications director, we gain insights into the lives of top-tier professional managers.

Narrating a tale akin to King Lear, mirroring the rise and fall of media empires like the Murdochs and the Redstones, "Succession" revolves around Logan, the protagonist, whose narrative aligns perfectly with the perennial capitalist myth. Rising from humble beginnings, he founded the media empire Waystar Royco, ascending to high society. In his ailing old age, his four children initiate a new power struggle to inherit his legacy.

The formidable patriarch, scheming children, ambitious executives—these interest groups wade into treacherous waters of power conflicts, vying for the CEO position of this media empire. Behind lies, conflicts, betrayals, and destruction, we enter the realm of professional managers beyond blood ties, observing how they secure their places in the inheritance battle.

Why Tom as CEO?

"He is simple."

Tom Wambsgans | CEO (After Waystar Royco Acquisition)

In the conclusion of "Succession," Tom emerges as the most controversial character as an onlooker and disruptor in the inheritance battle of the media empire. Is he a puppet, a compliant figure, or the perfect professional manager?

As a seasoned professional manager not from the startup generation, Tom's survival strategy involves unwavering subservience and execution. His ascent to the pinnacle of professional management is due to his knack for astutely following the most powerful. Marrying Logan's daughter, Shiv, granted Tom entry into the inheritance battle.

As the tides change, with the imminent acquisition of Waystar Royco by tech visionary Lukas Matsson and increasing anxiety and division within the family, Tom privately meets Lukas. During a dinner, Lukas asks him to sell himself, and amid respectful but tense words, Tom seizes an opportunity:

As a manager, I'm simple.
I squeeze the costs and juice the revenue, follow the boss.
I digest strategy and implement.
I'm cutting heads and harvesting eyeballs.
It’s pretty simple, I give the customer what he wants.
I don't think it's my place to offer dietary advice, if they want red meat and boiling tar…buon appetito.

I'm a grinder, I grind 'cause I worry, I worry all night about everything…my division and my physical body.
I have an excess of vigilance.
I have a very high tolerance for pain and psysical discomfort.

——Tom Wambsgans

Responding to Tom's self-promotion, Lukas lays his cards on the table:

I'm looking for a front man.
I need a pain sponge when I'm under the hood doing what I Iove.

——Lukas Matsson

When entrepreneurs or investors aim to become kingmakers in the game of power, they often need not an all-powerful heir or king but a pawn crucial to the game. Despite being seen as a "puppet CEO," Tom possesses a superpower—apparent insight into what his customers need, achieving a class transition. From wearing a down vest at a Bill Gates event, mocked by his brother-in-law, "Nice vest... what's it stuffed with, your hopes and dreams?" to becoming a CEO in a pragmatic sense, Tom undergoes a significant transformation.

Why Irreplaceable Gerri?

"She's not afraid of dark."

Gerri Kellman | Chief Legal Officer/Former Interim CEO

If Tom ascended to the realm of professional managers, Gerri truly represents the pinnacle. The first man who wanted to fire her suffered a heart attack on a plane; the second, who intended to fire her, sold the company and generously compensated her, and she continued to be rehired by the new owner.

Unlike Tom, Gerri's status and confidence stem from herself in a world filled with intrigue and power play. As a confidante and advisor to several key figures, providing valuable insights, she shines when the company faces a crisis. Seconds before the FBI arrives with a search warrant, chaos ensues among the executives. Still, Gerri calmly communicates assertively with Logan, shifting his stance from "opposition" to "cooperation" with the government.

Logan, they are coming up.
And if you don't open the door, they will kick it in.
And if you don't open the filing cabinet, they will pull out and a crowbar.
This is a show of resolve.
And there are cameras outside, and they do not need to see the FBI meeting any resistance.

——Gerri Kellman

In critical moments, Gerri's calm self-possession, staunch defense of company interests, and unwavering stance on moral issues showcase the irreplaceable value of a top-notch professional manager. Absolute professional competence, strong analytical and judgment skills, intense professional ethics, and excellent communication skills make Gerri a trusted advisor in the workplace. What truly makes her rock-solid in the power struggle is loyalty, being a consistent "problem solver" from beginning to end.

Karolina Novotney | Communications Director

Similar to Gerri, there's Karolina, the Communications Director. Her shining moment comes when Logan suffers a heart attack on a plane, and amid external chaos, she handles PR work calmly and professionally.

In the emotional conflicts and team-building smoke of "Succession," Gerri and Karolina, these two female characters, embody the epitome of professional managers—wise, diligent, and reliable.

The Fate of Old Servants: The Rules of Power Animals

Frank Vernon | Vice Chairman of the Board/Former COO

Frank, Logan's companion for over thirty years, the godfather to Logan's son Kendall (a favorable competitor in the inheritance battle), had a seat on the board and voting rights. Yet, he lost Logan's trust with one sentence for siding with the wrong team. At a crucial moment during the acquisition of another family business, Logan, with a watch engraved with a special message, won back Frank's favor and returned to the scene.

Karl Muller | Chief Financial Officer

Similar to Frank, another old servant is CFO Karl. Unlike Frank, he becomes an internal "immovable object" due to his smooth and experienced style. However, they are both dubbed "power animals"—as long as power exists, they won't altogether leave because they've been ousted.

When Logan passes away and the media empire is sold to a tech tycoon, they happily leave the company with substantial funds.

Reportedly, about 35% of companies in the Fortune Global 500 are family businesses, including Walton, Koch, Mars, Cargill-MacMillan, and Lauder, controlling around 65% of the US GDP. Among these family businesses, there are undercurrents of change.

The rise and fall of families also narrate the migration history of professional managers. Behind the tumultuous history lies the wisdom crystallized from experience. In the future, we will unveil more representative stories of professional managers.