Athena

A struggling manufacturing company with no future is now worth $200B because of one system. Meet Danaher Corporation—the company that went from a collection of underperforming businesses to one of the most successful enterprises in history. The story begins in the mid-1980s, when Danaher was just a random assortment of mediocre industrial companies with no real strategy or competitive edge. Then came Steven and Mitchell Rales, two brothers who saw an opportunity where others saw failure. Inspired by Japanese manufacturing principles, they introduced something that would change everything: The Danaher Business System (DBS) This wasn’t just a management framework, it was a cultural transformation. Instead of relying on executives to dictate decisions, they gave power to employees at every level to: Find inefficiencies and fix them on the spot Challenge outdated processes without waiting for permission Apply Kaizen (continuous improvement) to every part of the business And the results were nothing short of insane. 35,000% stock growth – A $1,000 investment back then is now worth over $350,000. $23.9B in revenue (2023) – With industry-leading margins. Spun off billion-dollar companies like Fortive and Veralto, each thriving on its own. Danaher didn’t chase trends. They mastered execution. Most companies dream of building an empire. Danaher did it by ensuring every single day was better than the last. That’s how you go from a struggling industrial firm to a $200B powerhouse. #leadership #business #growth #delegation

Athena is redefining how ambition is supported—shaping the future of work on a global scale. From continuous expansion to fully funded Oxford-partnered MBAs, our commitment to empowering those who wish to achieve more in their careers is thriving in the Philippines, Kenya, and now, Guatemala. Swipe through to see media highlights or go to https://lnkd.in/giNZPYyh to learn more.

Things you didn’t know you could delegate #3: Maintaining Inbox Zero For a CEO, founder, or top executive, an overflowing inbox isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a productivity drain. The constant flood of updates, newsletters, and follow-ups doesn’t just steal time, it dilutes focus from high-impact work. That’s why we built this playbook at Athena to keep your inbox under control, without you ever having to think about it. Here’s how to never touch your inbox again and still stay on top of everything: 1. Delegate (2 minutes) – Send a quick voice note to your EA. Done. • They audit your inbox, who’s important, what’s junk, and what needs action. • They set up filters, labels, and rules so clutter never reaches you. 2. Feedback (5 minutes) – One quick review to lock in the system. • Your EA fine-tunes the setup to make sure nothing important gets lost. • Key senders get whitelisted, and everything else is auto-sorted. 3. Maintain (Ongoing efficiency) → Your EA handles everything. • Auto-sorts emails before you see them. • Sends a daily summary of only what matters. • Unsubscribes from distractions. As a result, your inbox becomes a decision hub, not a distraction. No more wasted time scrolling, sorting, or getting lost in email chaos (Now, your inbox works for you, not the other way around) #hiring #delegation #founder

Why require onsite training if work is remote? Simple—because it works. Really well. ✅ Stronger Foundations – Onsite training means focused learning, real-time support, and access to top-tier facilities to sharpen your skills faster and better. ✅ A Hub When You Need It – Even after training, our space is yours—a place to collaborate, connect, and grow. ✅ Future-Proof – Work from home with the confidence that you’ve been trained for excellence, with a professional and reliable space always within reach. Our site Quezon City is just the beginning. Ready to accelerate your career? Join us: https://lnkd.in/gHTiw-rX

Things you didn’t know you could delegate #2: The shopping. For a CEO, founder, or top executive, time isn’t just money, it’s leverage. Yet, too many high-performers still get pulled into endless scrolling, checkout hassles, and return headaches. These micro-distractions compound, taking time and mental space away from what actually moves the needle. At Athena, we built a playbook that lets executives buy what they need, without ever getting caught in the process. How it works: • Delegate (2 minutes) → Send a link or a voice note. That’s it. Set a pre-approved budget so purchases happen without unnecessary back-and-forth. • Buy (seamless execution) → The EA handles the purchase, follows up if needed, and ensures everything lands where it should. • Feedback (5 minutes) → Once the order arrives, confirm receipt or flag any issues. One quick note, and the EA takes it from there. • Return (zero hassle) → If an item needs to be returned, the EA coordinates the entire process (pickup, logistics, refunds) all without executive involvement. This matters A LOT for executives as it: • Keeps focus on high-impact decisions, not purchase logistics • Frees up bandwidth for strategic thinking and execution • Eliminates mental load from small but recurring tasks Efficiency isn’t just about working faster. It’s about removing what slows you down. #Delegation #Productivity #Athena

Things you didn’t know you could delegate #1: Tracking your Angel Investments Angel investing is high-risk, high-reward but here’s the real problem: Most investors spend more time tracking their money than actually growing it. That’s why we built one of the craziest playbooks at Athena, a system that takes your entire angel investment tracking off your plate. Here’s how it works (and how much time it saves you): 1. Delegate (2 minutes) → Your EA gets access to AngelList and pulls every investment into a real-time tracker. (Instant 20% time savings) 2. Feedback (30 minutes) → You review it once, tweak the format, and set preferences. The goal isn’t just visibility but also accuracy. (40% time savings) 3. Organize (Ongoing) → Your EA updates new rounds, valuations, and key data, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. (60% time savings) 4. Manage (Long-term leverage) → Over time, they can even process transactions, so you’re not just tracking investments, but actively managing them with minimal effort. (80% time savings) This matters a lot because time saved is compounding capital. Because in investing, as in business, your job isn’t to track money, it’s to grow it. #delegation #business #growth #investing

If you can delegate just 10% of your work, that’s 10% of your time back. And most people think that delegation is about going all-in or nothing at all. But great delegation isn’t about offloading entire projects. It’s a spectrum. Here’s a 5-level framework that helps you delegate smarter, free up time, and stop micromanaging: 1. Do as I Say – Crystal-clear instructions, no room for interpretation. Think simple, repetitive tasks. Example: "Post this image on LinkedIn with this caption." Perfect for freeing up your brainpower for bigger things. 2. Look Into It –You need information, but don't have time to hunt it down. Someone else does the research and gives you the Cliff's Notes. Example: "Find out the best CRM tools and give me a quick summary of their pros and cons." 3. Give Me Options, and I’ll Decide – They narrow down the options, you make the final decision. This saves you time without sacrificing control. Example: "Find three pet insurance plans, compare coverage, and I'll pick one." 4. Decide and check back with me – They make the call, but you get the final stamp of approval. Great for balancing autonomy and quality. Example: "Pick the best email marketing tool and check with me before we roll it out." 5. Just get It done – Full trust. You're hands-off, they own the outcome. This is where the magic happens! Example: "Renew my business license – I don't even want to see the paperwork." Now, here’s the challenge: Think of ten things you’re doing that you either don’t enjoy or shouldn’t even be doing. Assign each one to a level in this framework, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can offload— nd how much time you’ll get back. #business #leadership #startup

“We invest in our people. From world-class training to an Oxford MBA program, we’re building the future of work." Robert Hayes, our CEO, sat down with ANC’s Business Outlook to talk about Athena and its employees—how we empower our people to unlock their full potential, and build extraordinary careers. Much more than just EAs, our Executive Partners (XPs) are strategic thinkers, problem-solvers, and the trusted confidants to the world's top CEOs and founders—empowering and growing with them to achieve more than they ever imagined. Athena is where the future of work is unfolding—through world-class training, life-changing opportunities, and breakthroughs you once thought impossible. Join us at https://lnkd.in/gVWC8DpA today.