𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗢𝗗) 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀

In 2023, I was cast as an extra in a movie called Wise Guys, recently released as Alto Nights, starring Robert De Niro.

A bucket list item realized. I don't talk about it much, since my friend Brian says I have a face for radio.

Having Sicilian roots, I thought about OD lessons learned from gangster movies

1. 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 – But Must Be Earned, Not Demanded

The Godfather (1972)

OD Insight: In OD, just like in the Mafia, loyalty can't be forced. Vito Corleone inspired devotion through respect, not fear.

Lesson: Strong organizational culture fosters loyalty when leaders protect, serve, and empower their people, not when they micromanage.

2. 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 – Unless the Family's Dysfunctional

Goodfellas (1990)

OD Insight: Toxic team loyalty can backfire when it leads to bad behavior or silence. Henry Hill “turned” against the mob because the system was broken.

Lesson: Healthy dissent is vital. OD professionals must encourage psychological safety, where voicing truth to power doesn’t get you whacked.

3. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 – But Flexibility Wins

The Sopranos (TV, but still counts)

OD Insight: Tony Soprano ran a complex operation with clear roles: capos, soldiers, earners. But he adapted constantly to survive in a changing world.

Lesson: Hierarchies are fine, but adaptive leadership and agile OD structures are essential in volatile environments.

4. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹

American Gangster (2007)

OD Insight: Frank Lucas disrupted the market by cutting out the middleman and creating a more efficient distribution model. Illegal? Yes, but innovative.

Lesson: Organizations stuck in legacy systems will be overtaken. OD is about rethinking systems for relevance and resilience.

5. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 – Handle It Before It Blows

Scarface (1983)

OD Insight: Tony Montana’s downfall? Unchecked ego and unresolved internal conflict.

Lesson: OD pros must surface and resolve underlying tensions before they explode. Use team assessments, conflict mediation, and feedback loops.

6. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆

Donnie Brasco (1997)

OD Insight: An undercover cop infiltrates the mob because blind trust left a back door open.

Lesson: Trust is critical, but strong systems of accountability must support it. OD builds those systems through clarity, transparency, and metrics.

7. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗶) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁

The Godfather Part II (1974)

OD Insight: Michael Corleone had a brilliant strategy, but his cold culture eroded the family.

Lesson: OD is culture work. Strategy dies if culture isn't aligned. Invest in values, rituals, storytelling, and norms.

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