Lessons from the Wild Dogs of Africa

Observations from Managing Partner Jen Prosek in the Leading in Volatile Times Newsletter.

My daughter and I recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime safari vacation. There were countless moments I'll never forget, but one of the most memorable was watching a pack of African wild dogs.

We had been following them for some time when they suddenly came alive. Within seconds, the pack exploded into action. There was no confusion, no hesitation, and no obvious leader barking orders. Each dog seemed to instinctively understand its role. Every movement was coordinated, fluid, and purposeful in pursuit of their prey.

It looked less like a collection of individual animals and more like a single organism.

Our guide then shared something that surprised me.

Despite their reputation as Africa's most formidable predators, lions succeed in only a small fraction of their hunts. Leopards, remarkable solitary hunters, are more successful. But African wild dogs outperform them both, with hunting success rates that often exceed 80 percent. At first, that seemed counterintuitive.

Lions are stronger. Leopards are among the most agile predators in the world. Yet the wild dogs are the most consistently successful. The difference isn't strength.

The wild dogs succeed because they are relentlessly aligned around a common objective. Every member of the pack contributes. They adapt continuously as the chase unfolds. They communicate through movement rather than ego. No one appears interested in individual recognition. The success belongs to the pack.

As an entrepreneur, my "business mind" is always on, so while watching them, I couldn't help thinking about the parallels to building an organization. I also thought back to an article I read many years ago by Malcolm Gladwell called "The Talent Myth."

In it, he says that too many organizations obsess over hiring individual stars when the most successful organizations are the ones where "the system is the star."

We celebrate the rainmaker, the visionary founder, the brilliant investor, or the exceptional salesperson. Talent certainly matters. But talent alone rarely builds enduring organizations.

The companies that outperform over long periods resemble those wild dogs far more often than they resemble lions or leopards.

They share a clear mission. People understand their roles. Information moves quickly. Individuals trust one another enough to adapt in real time. The credit is more for the team than for any one person.

What struck me most was that these three predators reminded me of the different stages of building a business.

Every company begins as a leopard. In the early days, the founder does almost everything. They generate ideas, win clients, solve problems and carry the organization through sheer determination. That kind of individual performance is often essential at the beginning.

But sustainable companies cannot remain leopards forever. As they grow, they must become packs. And the founder, although perhaps the best hunter, has to learn to pass that talent along or find others who can do it just as well or better.

Before leaving for Africa, I updated my statement of wishes - something every entrepreneur should do periodically, even as they hope it will never be needed. I believe it's important for my family and my partners to know what I wanted if something unexpected ever happens. The exercise forced me to reflect on what we've built.

Years ago, if something happened to me, I suspect the business would have struggled to survive. Today, I no longer believe that's true. Somewhere along the journey, we stopped being a company built around one person. We became a team. We became a pack. I may still lead it, but I no longer define it.

And oddly enough, watching those wild dogs race across the Botswana bush reminded me that this may be one of the most important transitions any entrepreneur ever makes. Every company begins with a leopard. The great ones eventually learn to hunt like wild dogs.

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