On June 16th, members and friends of the French-Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce gathered at the elegant MABRE Residence Hotel in Vilnius for an insightful morning seminar titled Flexible vs. Rigid Organizations – The “Tin Man vs. Octopus” Model. Led by executive coach and corporate transformation expert Galina Kojanova, a CCFL member, came to visit Lithuania exclusively for the event.

The session addressed a critical challenge in today’s rapidly changing business landscape: how to stay agile without losing strategic footing. Drawing on over two decades of management experience within a CAC 40 multinational alongside her qualifications as a Master Coach and Lean Management Black Belt, Galina brought a unique blend of operational rigour and human-centric design to an engaged audience of business leaders.

The seminar challenged traditional views on corporate structure by contrasting two distinct organizational archetypes. Participants first explored the limits of the Tin Man Organization, characterized by hyper-structured, rigid efficiency that, while highly optimized for predictability, risks cracking when forced to bend under unexpected market pressures. This was contrasted with the Octopus Organization, which utilizes decentralized, empowered interfaces to create genuine speed and resilience. The core of the discussion centered on finding the golden mean: shifting teams toward adaptability and faster decision-making while maintaining strict strategic alignment.

Beyond the actionable tools and strategic frameworks shared by Galina, the event provided a fantastic networking opportunity for the CCFL community to exchange perspectives on organizational resilience over coffee. We extend our warmest thanks to Galina Kojanova for her brilliant storytelling and expertise, to the MABRE Residence Hotel for the wonderful hospitality, and to all our participants for their active insights and energy.