Crisis Ahead

Which organizations and individuals do you think are doing the best or worst jobs in responding to a crisis? Constance Dierickx is a crisis management and leadership consultant. In this episode, she shares her opinions on who should be in a Crisis Management Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame—and why. Quotes "Great leaders remain vigilant against insider threats for enhanced safety."- Constance Dieric...

Do you know how different leadership styles can affect the way your organization will manage a crisis? Ryan McCormick is a crisis communications expert and co-founder of Goldman McCormick PR. In this episode of “Crisis Ahead,” he shares his observations on how the leadership styles of government and corporate executives have impacted their responses to crisis situations. Quotes "Being overly rigid...

Organizations that fail to document and study how they addressed a crisis can run the risk of repeating the mistakes they made in managing the situation. Communication consultant Kim Crowder shares her advice and recommendations on when and how companies and government agencies should document a crisis and who should be involved in this important process. Quotes "Once the crisis subsides, unleash...

What can you learn from how the fictional family on a popular TV show responded to a business crisis? Christine Haas is CEO of Haas Media and a former award-winning journalist. In this episode, she discusses what government executives and business leaders can learn from how members of the Roy family on HBO’s “Succession” responded to crisis situations. Quotes "Media training is crucial. People oft...

Karen Naumann is a veteran public relations strategist. In this episode of “Crisis Ahead,” she shares her recommendations for the steps managers of federal agencies and corporate executives should take to ensure they are ready to respond to a variety of crisis situations. Quotes "Scan diverse sources, beyond your industry, to anticipate future landscapes encompassing political, economic, social, t...

How and when businesses respond to the need to recall dangerous products can prevent or cause a crisis. Chris Harvey is a senior vice president for client services at Sedgwick and a product safety expert who has managed over 1,500 product recall campaigns for different brands. In this episode, he talks about how well federal agencies are doing overseeing the recall of products, the best practices...

What are the best and worst ways for government leaders and corporate executives to be seen and heard when a crisis strikes their organizations? Kirk Hazlett, an adjunct professor of communication at the University of Tampa, shares his observations on how well or poorly officials have conducted themselves during crisis situations. Quotes “Let's avoid actions that alienate others. The past is histo...

Do you know how vulnerable your organization is to a crisis? In this episode, Jackie Kolek, the chief innovation officer at Peppercomm, explains why it is essential to measure and monitor an organization’s exposure to a crisis, and the worst-case scenarios if they don’t pay attention to their vulnerability. Quotes "Leaders, both in the private and public sectors, must redefine their perception of...

Can people trust that your organization will do the right thing in a crisis? Dave Samson is global vice chairman of corporate affairs at Edelman. In this episode, he discusses why trust is important when dealing with a crisis, what government agencies and companies can do to keep the public’s trust, and who does a better job in maintaining trust during crisis situations. Quotes I strongly believe...

Crisis communicators are made, not born. In this episode, find out how the University of Maryland Global Campus educates students to be crisis communicators, and the lessons government and corporate executives can learn from the University’s approach to crisis communication training.

Some crisis situations strike without notice, while others can be seen coming over the horizon. Chris Rosica is the author of The Power Of B2B Social Media. In this episode, he discusses how government agencies and companies can spot an oncoming crisis, how they can ensure they are monitoring for these early warning signs effectively—and the dangers they’ll face if they don’t. Quotes By proactivel...

John is the Vice President of Workplace Strategy at the National Safety Council. In this capacity, he leads vision and strategic direction for the NSC Workplace Practice, including for thought leadership programs and offerings including the Campbell Institute, Work to Zero, SAFER, the MSD Solutions Lab, NSC Networks, and the Council’s deep array of training, survey, and consultative services. John...

A lot can be at stake for organizations that react too slowly—or too quickly—when addressing a crisis. Rick Alcantara, a crisis communication, explains why the speed at which companies and agencies respond to a crisis can help or hamper efforts to resolve the situation. Quotes Action involves ensuring that those who are responsible are held accountable, while also implementing preventative measure...

When and how should organizations appoint and test their crisis response teams? Eric McNulty is the associate director of Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. In this episode, he discusses the best time to appoint crisis management response teams, who should be appointed and why, and how to ensure the teams will work well together. Quotes It's crucial to invest in a we...

How you communicate information about a crisis is just as important as what you say about the situation. Karen Friedman, a business communications coach, shares her advice and recommendations for making remote and in-person presentations about a government or corporate crisis. Quotes "If you're trying to write for the masses, you may not have that personal touch. But if you're speaking to one pers...

How well did government agencies and the private sector respond to recent disruptions to supply chains? How should government and business leaders be proactive when protecting their supply chains from another crisis? Brian Alster is the general manager of the North America Finance & Risk and Enterprise Platform businesses at Dun & Bradstreet. In this “Crisis Ahead” episode, he shares his i...

Faced with a crisis, are you prepared? Ed Barks, a communications strategy consultant and president of Barks Communications, provides valuable insights to help organizations be ready for the unexpected. His message: utilize media training proactively as part of an ongoing process rather than viewing it as just a one-time deal. Proper media training is essential during times of turmoil. With this s...

When disaster strikes, can small businesses count on the federal government for the resources they need to recover? Isabella Guzman is the administrator of the Small Business Administration. She discusses the agency’s recent reorganization and how it will improve the help it provides to companies after a flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disaster. Quotes We must be highly responsive and provide...

How is the Biden administration managing the crisis at the southern border? What more can or should be done? Is there a role for the business community in addressing this worsening situation? In this episode, Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, shares his insights and observations in a candid conversation about the continuing immigration crisis. Quotes "If the eco...

Every industry is facing some level of cyber risk. Kate Kuehn, Chief Trust Officer at Aon, shares her advice and insights on how those in the private and government sectors can determine their readiness for a cyber crisis and prepare for and keep up with the latest threats. Quotes In order to protect your business, you should have mandatory minimum security solutions which are important for good c...

Bob Ackley is a nationally known gas safety expert and president of Gas Safety Inc. In this episode, he discusses the natural gas leaks and explosions that can create a crisis for companies and communities. Quotes It’s better to Ask the gas company for safety checks to ensure the safety of gas pipes, and if they don't provide satisfactory answers, contact the Department of Public Utilities. - Bob...

New technology can often come with dangers, downsides, and disadvantages. Take deepfakes, for example. The manipulated videos make it appear that someone is saying something they never said. This form of disinformation has the potential to create a crisis for individuals, companies, organizations, and governments. Cybersecurity attorney Matthew F. Ferraro takes a deep dive into this growing threat...

Social media platforms can be mixed blessings for government agencies and the private sector. While Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other sites can be used to reach target audiences quickly in a crisis, the messages and misinformation people post on the platforms can create a crisis for organizations. In this episode, Shannon Tucker, vice president of NextPR, shares her advice on how to communica...

Just because a company or government agency did not have a crisis today, there’s no guarantee they won’t have a crisis tomorrow. Paul Washington is the executive director of The Conference Board’s Environmental, Social & Governance Center. In this episode, he discusses the challenges, issues, and obstacles organizations can face when confronted by a crisis. Quotes Crisis management is part of...

How well are the Biden administration and corporate America communicating about the worsening climate crisis? And what could they learn from each other? Stacy Rosenberg is an associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, where she teaches graduate-level courses on writing for public policy and strategic presentation skills. In this episode, Rosenberg shares her insigh...