a16z Podcast

Crisis Communications 101

Jul 13, 2022

Margit Wennmachers, a seasoned marketing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins Kim Milosevich to unveil the intricacies of crisis communications. They discuss what truly constitutes a crisis and the early recognition necessary to prevent escalation. Key strategies include building transparency and trust between teams and the media, and the critical role of preparation. The conversation touches on navigating the complexities of fact-gathering, especially within the tech sector, and the ethical dilemmas that arise when communicating with the public.

34:20

Creator website

Episode guests

Margit Wennmachers

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Navigating Crises: Strategies for Success

8min

Navigating the Complexities of Fact-Gathering in Crisis Management

2min

The Importance of Transparency in Crisis Communication

2min

Navigating Crisis Communications in Tech

2min

Navigating Crisis Communications

19min

In this hallway-style conversation with a16z's Margit Wennmachers, longtime operating partner for Marketing, and Kim Milosevich, CMO for a16z crypto, open up the black box of crisis communications with Sonal Choksi and explore the process and mindsets before, during, and after a crisis.

They discuss common FAQs like: What constitutes a crisis? Can someone inside a company "call it" early and prevent a crisis from becoming a bigger deal? How do you respond when there's a lag or too much time between acknowledging the issue and finding out all the facts? Who should be in the (war) room ? Should you share the off-the-record background story with reporters? How do you know when a crisis begins and ends -- or that you're ready for a "comeback" story? We explore all this and more.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Get the app