Being the CEO of a major company can put you on a pedestal where the rank and file feel uncomfortable giving you feedback and ideas that would move the company forward faster. Plus, there is the relentless pressure of hitting quarterly performance targets. It can leave you feeling isolated. The CEOs of Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) have taken a novel approach to this problem: they've become workout buddies.
Fortune reports that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol and his counterpart at Chipotle, Scott Boatwright, have been meeting at 5 a.m. for workout sessions at their local gym. These workout sessions also lead to a lot of strategizing about improving their respective businesses. On the surface, it may seem like an unlikely friendship. Although Starbucks and Chipotle sell different products, they compete for the same consumer dollars.
