Good Risk Managers Know the Culture of an Organization and How it Communicates with Rick Graham of SEPTA

During the worst of the pandemic, SEPTA’s Rick Graham saw a drastic decline in ridership due to closures and people working from home. As the Chief Risk Officer for the sixth-largest public transit system in the U.S., Rick needed to take special care in assessing the risks and loss of revenue to his organization. During today’s informative interview, Rick offers advice to risk management professionals who are new to the game and those looking to enhance their careers. He also conveys the importance of understanding the culture and communication style of an organization and how risk professionals can develop cross-functional relationships with other departments for the benefit of all.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Rick has been the Chief Risk Officer of SEPTA for eight years.

• SEPTA is the sixth-largest public transit system in the U.S.

• Philadelphia has a large education and medical economy.

• Starting as a junior in high school, Rick left the volunteer fire department as an Assistant Chief.

• As an undergrad, Rick had part-time work performing underwriting tasks.

• Rick compares time in a career to tomatoes on the vine.

• Risk is risk. Risk managers must prepare for anything, like a pandemic.

• If you risk nothing, you get nothing.

• Advice for developing cross-functional relationships with other departments.

• How to measure an organization to check its tolerance for change.

• Rick explains how his group interacts with government affairs and utilizes public funds.

• Risk managers can help their clients get to yes.

• Rick has a hockey mask that makes risk management relatable.

• It’s key to understand the culture of an organization and how it communicates.

• What to look for in a broker or risk consultant.

• The book Band of Brothers offers examples of great and poor leadership qualities.

 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Band of Brothers, by Stephen E. Ambrose