The Leadership Crucible Podcast Crisis Expert, Melissa Agnes: Most Organizations FAIL Before The Crisis Even Starts
Jul 7, 2025
33:13
Crisis leadership isn’t about reacting faster — it’s about thinking differently. In this powerful conversation, Chief Randy Bruegman sits down with Melissa Agnes, founder of the Crisis Ready® Institute and one of the world’s most trusted voices on crisis management, to explore why most organizations fail before the crisis even starts — and how the best leaders prepare for pressure long before it arrives.Drawing from her work with NATO, the Pentagon, Fortune 500 companies, and major municipalities, Melissa unpacks the Crisis Ready® model — a three-part framework built on mindset, skillset, and capability.
But this isn’t just a checklist. It’s a call to lead with emotional intelligence, clarity, and conviction — especially when the stakes are high.You’ll hear stories of courageous leadership that saved millions, strategies for navigating disinformation and digital chaos, and practical tools to turn fear-based reactions into trust-building responses. Whether you’re leading a business, a government agency, or a community organization, this episode will challenge the way you think about crisis — and equip you to lead with greater strength, humanity, and purpose.
0:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:35 - Melissa’s Path Into Crisis Leadership
00:08:13 - Why Most Organizations Fail Before Crisis Hits
00:13:41 - The Crisis Ready® Model: Mindset, Skillset, Capability
00:19:00 - Case Study: $9 Million Saved Through Courageous Leadership
00:24:23 - Crisis Leadership in the Age of AI, Disinformation, & Chaos
00:28:51 - Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
00:34:08 - Final Thoughts: Leading With Connection, Not Control
About Melissa:
Melissa Agnes is a globally recognized thought leader, author, and strategist in crisis communication and leadership resilience. As the Founder and CEO of the Crisis Ready® Institute, she developed the widely adopted Crisis Ready® Model—a five-phase framework that helps organizations anticipate risk, respond with clarity, and build unshakable trust, even in the face of high-stakes disruption. Her work equips leaders and organizations to not only survive crises, but emerge stronger because of them.Melissa is the author of the best-selling book Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, which was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Business Books of 2018. Her model is taught in universities across the globe, including Harvard, NYU, Columbia, and McGill. She’s served as a trusted advisor to top-level institutions such as NATO, the Pentagon, ministries of foreign affairs and defense, Fortune 100 companies, healthcare systems, municipalities, and non-profits—helping them embed strategic resilience into their culture before a crisis ever strikes.
In addition to her consulting and executive coaching work, Melissa is a sought-after keynote speaker and media contributor. Her insights have been featured in outlets including Forbes, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and CNN. She has also delivered a TEDx talk in Los Angeles and continues to shape best practices in the field through her involvement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Institute for Strategic Risk Management (ISRM), and her co-development of ISO 22361, the international standard for crisis management.
Through her teaching, writing, and advisory work, Melissa Agnes is reshaping how leaders think about crisis—not as a moment to fear, but as a defining opportunity to lead with integrity, clarity, and care.
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@theleadershipcrucible)
- Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/5f2mxvfj)
- Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/5xvp5wyu)
RESOURCES:
- Melissa Agnes | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melissaagnes)
- Melissa Agnes | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaagnes/)
- Melissa Agnes | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/melissaagnes)
- Leading Through Change With Melissa Anges | Podcast (https://crisisreadyinstitute.com/podcast/)
- Crisis Ready Institute (https://crisisreadyinstitute.com/)
- Melissa’s Book | Crisis Ready: Build An Invincible Brand In This Uncertain World (https://tinyurl.com/2hu7nssu)
CONNECT WITH US:
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Web (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theleadershipcruciblefoundation)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-crucible-foundation/)
- Chief Bruegman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/chiefbruegman)
- Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/leaders-of-tomorrow-podcast)
MUSIC CREDITS:
Fanfare For The Uncommon Man
This Is The Beginning (Instrumental) - Lights & Motion (MB01ZYTIXH84LK9)
This Is The Good Life (Instrumental) - MOONWATER (MB01CTIIAZV80UU)
But this isn’t just a checklist. It’s a call to lead with emotional intelligence, clarity, and conviction — especially when the stakes are high.You’ll hear stories of courageous leadership that saved millions, strategies for navigating disinformation and digital chaos, and practical tools to turn fear-based reactions into trust-building responses. Whether you’re leading a business, a government agency, or a community organization, this episode will challenge the way you think about crisis — and equip you to lead with greater strength, humanity, and purpose.
0:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:35 - Melissa’s Path Into Crisis Leadership
00:08:13 - Why Most Organizations Fail Before Crisis Hits
00:13:41 - The Crisis Ready® Model: Mindset, Skillset, Capability
00:19:00 - Case Study: $9 Million Saved Through Courageous Leadership
00:24:23 - Crisis Leadership in the Age of AI, Disinformation, & Chaos
00:28:51 - Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
00:34:08 - Final Thoughts: Leading With Connection, Not Control
About Melissa:
Melissa Agnes is a globally recognized thought leader, author, and strategist in crisis communication and leadership resilience. As the Founder and CEO of the Crisis Ready® Institute, she developed the widely adopted Crisis Ready® Model—a five-phase framework that helps organizations anticipate risk, respond with clarity, and build unshakable trust, even in the face of high-stakes disruption. Her work equips leaders and organizations to not only survive crises, but emerge stronger because of them.Melissa is the author of the best-selling book Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, which was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Business Books of 2018. Her model is taught in universities across the globe, including Harvard, NYU, Columbia, and McGill. She’s served as a trusted advisor to top-level institutions such as NATO, the Pentagon, ministries of foreign affairs and defense, Fortune 100 companies, healthcare systems, municipalities, and non-profits—helping them embed strategic resilience into their culture before a crisis ever strikes.
In addition to her consulting and executive coaching work, Melissa is a sought-after keynote speaker and media contributor. Her insights have been featured in outlets including Forbes, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and CNN. She has also delivered a TEDx talk in Los Angeles and continues to shape best practices in the field through her involvement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Institute for Strategic Risk Management (ISRM), and her co-development of ISO 22361, the international standard for crisis management.
Through her teaching, writing, and advisory work, Melissa Agnes is reshaping how leaders think about crisis—not as a moment to fear, but as a defining opportunity to lead with integrity, clarity, and care.
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@theleadershipcrucible)
- Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/5f2mxvfj)
- Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/5xvp5wyu)
RESOURCES:
- Melissa Agnes | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melissaagnes)
- Melissa Agnes | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaagnes/)
- Melissa Agnes | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/melissaagnes)
- Leading Through Change With Melissa Anges | Podcast (https://crisisreadyinstitute.com/podcast/)
- Crisis Ready Institute (https://crisisreadyinstitute.com/)
- Melissa’s Book | Crisis Ready: Build An Invincible Brand In This Uncertain World (https://tinyurl.com/2hu7nssu)
CONNECT WITH US:
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Web (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theleadershipcruciblefoundation)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-crucible-foundation/)
- Chief Bruegman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/chiefbruegman)
- Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/leaders-of-tomorrow-podcast)
MUSIC CREDITS:
Fanfare For The Uncommon Man
This Is The Beginning (Instrumental) - Lights & Motion (MB01ZYTIXH84LK9)
This Is The Good Life (Instrumental) - MOONWATER (MB01CTIIAZV80UU)