The case for CEOs who can laugh at themselves

A conversation with Flex CEO Revathi Advaithi at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit took an unexpected turn when a previously injured lip began bleeding.

An interview interrupted

The incident began minutes into a stage discussion about data centers and geopolitics. Tissues quickly became saturated, while Advaithi paused several times to check whether the interviewer was all right.

Colleague Ellie Austin and audience members helped by bringing fresh tissues and lip balm. The scene recalled a Saturday Night Live sketch in which Julia Child, played by Dan Aykroyd, cuts herself while preparing a chicken.

Keeping the moment under control

Rather than stop the discussion, the interviewer used humor to acknowledge the situation, calling it a “Halloween special” and thanking Fidelity for distributing branded lip balm to participants. The moment was summed up with the phrase, “If you can’t hide it, ride it.”

The exchange offered a small but memorable example of how an unscripted disruption can become part of a live business conversation. Advaithi continued answering questions while showing concern, and the discussion carried on despite the interruption.

Why the moment stood out

High-profile business events are carefully staged, but live interviews can still produce unpredictable moments. In this case, calm assistance and self-aware humor kept an awkward incident from overwhelming the conversation.

The discussion remained focused on Advaithi’s responses about data centers and geopolitics, while the unusual interruption became the defining detail of the exchange.