Crisis Designer Weekly Podcast

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Daniel Valdepeña Cross, Senior Risk Analyst at Nestlé. Daniel shares his expertise in designing immersive cyber crisis simulations, highlighting the evolution from traditional tabletop exercises to dynamic, interactive scenarios that engage decision-makers in real-world crisis responses.He discusses the challenges of translating complex IT issues into business-relevant concerns, emphasizing the need for realistic, localized content that resonates with leadership. Daniel also reflects on his journey in cybersecurity and crisis management, offering valuable insights into how immersive simulations can prepare organizations to handle cyber crises effectively, with a focus on decision-making, impact assessment, and continuity planning.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Katie Kotke, Global Lead of the E.Y. Center of Excellence for Crisis Simulations. Katie shares her expertise in designing immersive and realistic crisis simulations, emphasizing the importance of mixing media channels to engage participants and make exercises feel lifelike. She discusses the process of tailoring simulations to different audiences, from crisis management teams to executive boards, ensuring that each scenario aligns with specific objectives. Katie also reflects on her unconventional journey into resilience and crisis management, offering valuable insights into how immersive simulations can enhance organizational preparedness and resilience across industries.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Eren Karatas, Senior Information Security Professional at PMI. Eren shares his expertise in designing crisis simulations that test and improve organizational processes, emphasizing the importance of creating realistic, immersive exercises. He highlights the role of communication and engagement in effective crisis training, explaining how tailored scenarios help teams identify gaps and improve their responses. Eren also reflects on his career journey, from sales to IT and finally to information security, and discusses the challenges of leading crisis simulation exercises for diverse departments. He offers valuable insights into how crisis simulation can be a powerful tool for both training and awareness, ultimately helping organizations strengthen their resilience.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we speak with Ross Hold, Business Resilience Manager at Sage. Ross shares his insights on designing crisis simulations that prepare teams for high-pressure situations, drawing from his extensive background in military crisis management. He emphasizes the importance of crafting realistic, narrative-driven scenarios that help teams immerse themselves in crisis situations and respond effectively. Ross also discusses the unique challenges of transitioning from the military to the corporate world, highlighting how military training principles can be applied to enhance business continuity and crisis preparedness.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, we talked to Alba Redondo, Senior Global Crisis Officer at Amadeus, a technology company that powers the global travel and tourism industry. She shares how tailored crisis simulations strengthen response capabilities and build resilience. Drawing from her background in crisis communications, Alba emphasizes the importance of clear goals, collaboration, and engaging, realistic scenarios.She highlights the value of after-action reviews to drive improvement and reflects on the creative and collaborative aspects of crisis management, encouraging others to explore this rewarding field.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, André Borlido, Crisis Management & Business Continuity Specialist working in the luxury goods industry, shares insights on building resilience in a volatile, interconnected world. Drawing from his experience working with over 20 prestigious luxury Maisons, André highlights the value of crisis simulations in improving preparedness, decision-making, and response times. André emphasizes the importance of tailoring scenarios to team maturity, incorporating realism to drive engagement, and fostering a safe environment for learning. He also shares best practices for scenario design and after-action reviews, stressing agility and adaptability as key to resilience in the luxury industry and beyond.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, Adam Barrett, Resilience Director at dentsu, shares insights into designing and executing impactful crisis exercises. With over 15 years of experience in business continuity and resilience, Adam emphasizes the importance of identifying critical activities, mitigating risks, and fostering team collaboration. Adam explains how crisis exercises help organizations validate processes, enhance communication, and build resilience. He highlights best practices for scenario creation, including using risk analysis, incorporating realistic elements, and balancing participant roles. He also discusses maintaining immersion through in-world facilitation and leveraging personas to enrich scenarios. Finally, Adam underscores the importance of relationships in resilience planning, advising practitioners to prioritize relationship-building over technical expertise for long-term success.

In this episode of the Crisis Designer Podcast, Steve Hather, Chief Risk Officer at Coca-Cola Hellenic, shares his insights on building business resilience. Drawing from over 35 years of experience, Steve discusses Coca-Cola Hellenic’s integrated approach to resilience, encompassing strategic, financial, operational, and reputational aspects. Steve emphasizes the importance of crisis simulations for preparing teams, highlighting realistic scenarios, leadership buy-in, and proactive communication. He stresses the need to share information promptly during crises to maintain trust and counter misinformation. Looking ahead, Steve advocates for evolving the risk management role into a "Chief Resilience Officer" mindset, focusing on leveraging opportunities alongside managing risks to drive long-term organizational growth.

In this episode, Bennett Golder, Managing Director, UK Digital Crisis Lead, and Head of Social at FGS Global, discusses the importance of his field and the value of crisis simulations for preparing companies. Golder explains how these simulations help companies test their protocols and responses, build resilience, and ultimately improve their crisis management skills. Our conversation explores the challenges and best practices of crafting these scenarios, including incorporating realistic elements, managing emotions, and fostering internal buy-in. Finally, Golder shares some advice, emphasizing the need to stay informed about global affairs and understand the wider context in which companies operate.

In this episode, Niall Duffy, Managing Director at Forestall Risk Management, shares insights from his work. He discusses the unpredictability of modern scenarios and the importance of using real-world sources for realistic content. He emphasizes the need to research and understand stakeholders and the challenges in gaining clear insights. Niall highlights strategies for maintaining engagement in exercises, including prepping key groups and engaging clients quickly. He notes that simple content often gets the best engagement and stresses the importance of managing noisy content and keeping content short.