Try breathwork free: https://www.brendawinkle.com/breathe In this podcast episode, host Brenda Winkle interviews Melissa Agnes, a crisis management expert and founder of Crisis Ready Institute. Melissa shares her insights on the necessity of being prepared for crises in various organizations. She discusses the concept of a "crisis penalty" and the importance of quick, effective responses to minimize damage. Melissa emphasizes the need for a crisis-ready culture and leadership that puts people first. The conversation also covers the challenges of communicating authentically during crises and aligning personal values with organizational goals. Melissa recounts her journey into crisis management and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. Brenda and Melissa also touch on the emotional aspects of crisis response and the importance of a strong sense of self. 

Here are the takeaways...

1. Melissa illuminated the concept of "crisis response penalties" and how swift, effective action can mitigate the damage.
2. We explored the parallels between managing crises in organizations and navigating personal trauma.
3. The importance of a crisis-ready culture and putting people first was a recurring theme that can't be overstressed. 
4. Crisis Management Insights include Leadership and Communication: Authenticity in leadership communication is key. Melissa shared practical tips for leaders to express genuine emotions and connect with their teams during tough times.
5. We discussed the challenge of aligning personal values with organizational directives and the courage it takes to find the right fit for your core beliefs.
6. The Digital Age and Crisis Management: A fascinating story about how Melissa's quick thinking saved a company's stock price during a Twitter rumor crisis highlighted the need for digital savvy in today's world.

About Melissa Agnes...

Recognized globally as an expert, thought leader and visionary in the field of crisis management, Melissa Agnes has worked with global players, including NATO, the Pentagon (DoD), Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, aviation organizations, global non-profits, and many others.

In 2020, Melissa founded Crisis Ready Institute, a public benefit corporate dedicated to creating a crisis ready, crisis-resilient world by elevating industry standards; providing training and certification programs to professionals that better protect people, brands, the environment, and the economy in times of crisis; and promoting and incentivizing organizations and leaders to invest in effective crisis readiness.

Her book, Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, is taught in dozens of universities around the world, including at Harvard University; is ranked amongst the leading crisis management books of all time, by Book Authority; and was named one of the top ten business books of 2018 by Forbes.

Melissa is the creator of the Crisis Ready® Model, which is recognized and being taught as leading industry best practice in the fields of crisis management and crisis communication.

As an in-demand international keynote speaker and a TEDx alumna, Melissa has traveled the world helping organizations and leaders further strengthen their crisis ready mindset, skills and capabilities.

In 2019, Melissa founded the Crisis Ready® Community, a space for professionals to come together to support one another, collaborate and strengthen their crisis-ready skills.

Melissa sits on the Board of Trustees for D'Youville University, a private University in New York, where she also serves as a visiting scholar for the course she co-created and co-teaches on Crisis Leadership.

Melissa also sits on the Board of Directors for ZeroNow, a non-profit organization committed to ending harmful events in schools.

Passionate about serving law enforcement and bridging the trust divide between agencies and the communities they serve, Melissa is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). In 2021 she co-chaired a committee that was tasked with developing a strategy and plan of action to begin managing and overcoming the trust crisis in the U.S.

In 2019 and 2020, Melissa sat on the panel tasked with developing the International Standard for Crisis Management— ISO 22361, Guidelines for developing a strategic capability.

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), Melissa currently lives in New York City and enjoys traveling, rollerblading, sailing, and working out when she isn’t working.

Connect with Melissa...

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaagnes/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissaagnes/ 

Website: https://crisisreadyinstitute.com/

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