In an era of global disruption, outdated systems, and mounting complexity, risk management isn’t enough — and leaders who rely on traditional models are falling behind. In this episode, Chief Randy Bruegman sits down with Dr. Gav Schneider — martial artist, risk strategist, and author — to unpack why resilience is the new core competency for modern leadership.
Drawing on decades of experience in protective security, executive education, and high-performance systems, Dr. Schneider explains why most risk strategies are reactive, compliance-driven, and disconnected from real decision-making. He introduces the concept of Presilience® — a proactive, opportunity-focused approach that fuses risk intelligence, mindset, and culture into a single leadership philosophy.
You’ll hear why post-crisis learning often fails, how siloed thinking undermines innovation, and why building resilient leaders means developing emotional intelligence, adaptability, and ethical alignment across generations.If you’re ready to stop playing defense and start leading through disruption — this conversation is your blueprint.
00:00 – Episode Intro & Welcome
02:20 – From Martial Arts to Risk Management
06:50 – Why Resilience Begins in the Mind
11:33 – What Most Risk Registers Miss
15:48 – Beyond Survival: Building Learning Cultures
21:00 – How Power Skews Decision-Making
25:58 – Tactical Debriefs & the Failure to Learn
29:42 – The Human Cost of Organizational Frustration
33:04 – Disruption, Mislabeling Risk & Our Role in It
36:44 – Leading Through a New Era of Change
40:51 – Developing Next-Gen Leaders for Uncertain Times
46:38 – Final Reflection & Call to Action
ABOUT DR. GAV:
Dr. Gav Schneider is a globally respected authority in risk intelligence, resilience, and human-centered leadership. With a background in martial arts, protective security, and behavioral science, he has advised governments, Fortune 500s, and emergency response agencies on how to lead in the face of complexity and crisis.He is the CEO of Risk 2 Solution Group and the founder of the Presilience® framework — a model designed to move leaders from reactive to proactive thinking by embedding resilience, agility, and opportunity-focused decision-making. Gav is also an academic, speaker, and author whose work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and organizational strategy to help leaders thrive in dynamic environments.His latest book, Presilience: Leadership for the Uncertain Future, offers a new playbook for building high-performing teams and navigating polycrisis environments with clarity and courage.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- Risk 2 Solution Group (
https://risk2solution.com/)
- Dr. Gav’s Book - Presilience (
https://tinyurl.com/2sjhx6kv)
- Dr. Gav Schnieder | LinkedIn (
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gav-schneider)
- Risk 2 Solution | Instagram (
https://www.instagram.com/risk2solution/)
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- YouTube (
https://www.youtube.com/@theleadershipcrucible)
- Apple Podcasts (
https://tinyurl.com/5f2mxvfj)
- Spotify (
https://tinyurl.com/5xvp5wyu)
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 Common Man
This Is The Beginning (Instrumental) - Lights & Motion (MB01ZYTIXH84LK9)
This Is The Good Life (Instrumental) - MOONWATER (MB01CTIIAZV80UU)
The Leadership Crucible Podcast 
