" Yahoo is a battleship. If you’ve ever seen a battleship, they’re gigantic, and Yahoo is gigantic in the terms of consumer Internet companies. To turn a battleship takes a long time, but once you turn that battle ship the right way, it’s a battleship, and it can really inflict some damage on an enemy or competition. "
- Ross Levinsohn

In its literal sense, this quote compares Yahoo to a battleship, emphasizing the company's massive size within the consumer internet industry. Just like a battleship requires significant time and effort to change direction due to its enormous mass, turning such a large entity like Yahoo would also be challenging but once it does, it can wield considerable power.

Beyond the surface level, the quote delves into the dynamics of large organizations and their capacity for impact when they make strategic shifts. It suggests that while agility is often an asset in competitive environments, sheer size and resources can provide a unique form of leverage when these large entities do manage to pivot effectively. The metaphor of the battleship implies resilience and power, highlighting how Yahoo's substantial presence and capabilities could be formidable once it aligns with its strategic objectives.

Ross Levinsohn is the author of this quote, known for his extensive experience in the media industry and his role as a former executive at both Yahoo and The Huffington Post. His insights are often reflective of his broad perspective on corporate strategy and digital transformation within large organizations.