Nissan CEO Relieves Stress by Playing Tennis and Drums on Weekends

(SeaPRwire) –   Leading a multi-billion dollar company inevitably brings stress, prompting chief executives to adopt personal habits and structured routines to maintain focus and prevent exhaustion. Nissan’s CEO, Ivan Espinosa, unwinds from his role at the Japanese automotive powerhouse, valued at $8.5 billion, by playing music with his band and spending weekends on the tennis court.

“My approach to stress management is to simply remain true to who I am,” Espinosa remarked in a recent The Wall Street Journal interview. “That means playing tennis on weekends, or golf if that’s not possible. I’m also a musician.”

Espinosa, who is Mexican, began his career at Nissan in 2003 as a product specialist in the Mexico planning division. He advanced through various roles, holding senior positions in Thailand and Europe, before relocating to the company’s global headquarters in Japan in 2016. He occupied numerous leadership positions prior to being appointed CEO in April of last year.

With a fast-paced career involving moves across different companies and escalating duties, stress is a natural challenge. For Espinosa, maintaining a connection to his personal passions through music and physical activity helps manage stress levels.

“I enjoy playing the drums and have a band. We meet up periodically to play,” the Nissan chief added. “It helps me stay authentic and grounded.”

How leaders manage stress: meditation and runs on the beach

Top executives are developing their own personal strategies to cope with the demands of their high-pressure roles in the corporate landscape.

Michael Tennant, founder and CEO of the purpose-driven venture studio Curiosity Lab, has established an effective method to fight stress. His process begins upon waking: he refreshes himself, meditates, writes in a journal, and focuses on the day’s most important objective. He schedules creative and motivating work first, before transitioning to more demanding leadership duties.

“My morning ritual is the cornerstone of how I handle stress,” Tennant stated in 2023. “It allows me to evaluate my circumstances, define my daily goals, and immediately work towards accomplishing them.”

Adam Ross, former CEO and co-founder of the skincare company Heyday, deals with stress similarly to Espinosa, using the “cathartic” power of exercise. This is a common tactic among executives; Alejandro Reynal, CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, emphasizes fitness while steering the luxury hotel chain. He begins each day with an early workout and counters fatigue by carving out moments of tranquility before work.

“A consistent routine keeps me centered: I wake up early, exercise or run by the beach, have breakfast with my family, and enjoy some quiet reflection before the day starts,” Reynal explained to Harvard Business Review last year. “Stress often diminishes when you refocus on your purpose—remembering that our work is fundamentally about people, not just performance pressure.”

In contrast, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos employs a distinct strategy for stress. The billionaire entrepreneur tackles stress by directly facing the source of his worry, be it sending an email or making a call to resolve an issue.

“Stress mainly arises from inaction on matters within your influence,” Bezos said in a 2001 talk with the Academy of Achievement. “I’ve found that once I pinpoint the concern and initiate a response—whether it’s a phone call, an email, or another step to tackle the problem—even if it isn’t immediately resolved, just taking action significantly lessens the associated stress.”