A crisis can come in many forms. But whatever it looks like, one thing is certain: businesses need to be prepared. White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees host Gavin Megaw joined by Gary Cleland of Hanover and Karen White of National in Canada to talk with a super special guest to look at crises from all angles to explain how senior business leaders stay on top of things during those tense, headline-making moments.
Each episode of White Swan will feature an in-depth conversation with a senior figure from the world of business, who will tell us about their crisis experiences, give you the lessons you need to hear, and emphasise the importance of a nice cup of tea and a sit down.
White Swan is brought to you by Hanover Communications. Find out more at HanoverComms.com (https://hanovercomms.com/).
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Tom Greatrex: A political culture geared to crisis and why nuclear is the answer
In episode 15 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we welcome a person kept very busy during a global energy crisis: Tom Greatrex, CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, which represents 250 companies across the nuclear supply chain in the UK. Tom is also a former Labour MP (2010 and 2015), and a highly respected Shadow Energy Minister. He is the vice chair of the Football Supporters Association and represents supporters on the FA Council.
As an advocate of nuclear power, he deconstructs the fear associated with nuclear power and demystifies major nuclear disasters, including Fukushima and Chernobyl. On the recent concerns around energy security, Tom says: “The best time to build a nuclear power station has always been about 15 years ago. The next best time is now.”
Talking about his time as an MP, Tom reflects on the current political culture and how it – along with a missing sense of purpose –prevents politicians from making good long-term decisions. With politics geared to 24-hour news and social media, creating an environment of short-termism, Tom advises leaders to think for the future.
Listen to White Swan with Tom for an insightful and fascinating conversation about nuclear, politics, and football – and the crisis management lessons behind them.
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15 Dec 2022
Thomas Hurd: Inside COBRA - the UK government's crisis engine
In episode 14 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we are joined by Thomas Hurd – former Director General at the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the UK. Thomas was also responsible for overseeing the domestic operations of the intelligence agencies, CT Police and the National Crime Agency and played a leading role internationally on domestic security issues.
Back in May 2020, at the outset of Covid-19 in the UK, Thomas was tasked with setting up the UK's Joint Biosecurity Centre to detect Covid 19 outbreaks earlier and more accurately, alongside advising the UK government and local authorities on how best to respond. He speaks about building the centre up from scratch to incorporate both health expertise and data, and the importance for leaders to adopt a data-driven mindset.
With a strong expertise in crisis management and recovery, Hurd shares his experience managing crisis on a national level, including the UK response to the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Talking to Thomas, we see a glimpse into how COBRA meetings work and his role in keeping crises under control.
This action-packed episode is a must-listen for all leaders, especially those who want to be prepared and proactive when it comes to managing crises – with a myriad of valuable advice shared by the expert himself.
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20 Apr 2022
How Leaders Can Navigate The Gender Bias Crisis, with Kate Miller and Helen Sauntson
In Episode 13 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we talk about what leaders can do to avoid a crisis engulfing their business around the language of gender – and why getting this language right can make your business more resilient, and more profitable.
In this episode, Gavin Megaw talks with Kate Miller, Chief Diversity and Communications Officer at the England & Wales Cricket Board, and Helen Sauntson, Professor of English Language and Linguistics in the York St John University School of Languages and Linguistics.
The fascinating conversation talks about why getting the language of gender right, and avoiding biased wording, is important in creating successful – and profitable – organisations. The conversation takes in the importance of championing the changing of the status quo, why everyone needs to play a role in “checks and challenges”, and how moving with the times is essential for the progression of your business.
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14 Feb 2022
Bruce Daisley: Building Resilient Leaders
In Episode 12 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast we talk with Bruce Daisley - podcaster, best-selling author, former VP at Twitter and expert on workplace culture.
Bruce and Gavin Megaw focus on the topic of resilience: what it is (and, indeed, what it isn’t), and how you cannot be resilient on your own. The two talk about why it’s essential for the top-table of any business to have collective strength around the top table – especially in times of crisis, and how a top team can draw strength from each other.
Bruce also talks to us about the loneliness of the leader and how everyone needs to have a group of people, often outside your organisation or business, with whom you can have open and honest conversations. Having to explain things in layman’s terms to someone you trust is a very good thing and often enables you to think differently about the situation faced.
It's a fascinating conversation that will be of value to every business leader.
Bruce’s Eat, Sleep, Work Repeat podcast can be found here: Home - Eat Sleep Work Repeat - workplace culture (https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/), and you can find his most recent book here: The Joy of Work (UK) - Eat Sleep Work Repeat (https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/book/)
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21 Dec 2021
James Bielby: Navigating A Perfect Storm in Food & Drink
In Episode 11 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we talk to James Bielby, Chief Executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors. The FWD’s members distribute food and drink to more than half-a-million businesses, and over the last two years they have faced a seemingly never-ending wave of crises – through Brexit and Covid, to supply chain pressures and labour market issues, and beyond. James talks us through how he has helped unite the FWD’s membership and guided the organisation through crisis after crisis
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18 Nov 2021
Jo Anne Poirier: How Transparency and Empathy Can Help Guide Your Team Through Crises
On episode 10 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we hear from Jo-Anne Poirier, CEO of VON Canada, an organisation that has provided home and community care to more than 10,000 people throughout Canada for more than 120 years. VON has faced an array of crises that could have seen off a lesser-prepared organisation in the last few years – from a financial restructuring, through Covid, to a ransomware attack and even a mass shooting.
Jo-Anne tells us how her motto in a crisis is to “stay calm and stay steady”. She tells us about how she has projected this calmness into her organisation, and how this has helped VON get through a difficult period. The assumption that the top of the organisation should act like everything is fine at all times has changed, driven partly by Covid. More organisations now are looking for a transparent and empathetic – and above all, honest – leader to drive them forward. Jo-Anne embodies this, and this episode gives a unique look at how she has used these principles to guide VON through all that the last couple of years has thrown at them.
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26 Jul 2021
Farrah Storr: The Fine Line: Bringing People With You In A Crisis
Episode 9 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees Gavin Megaw speaking to Farrah Storr, Editor in Chief of Elle UK. Farrah also launched Women’s Health UK and is one of the most influential editors around. She has the awards to prove it – having been named BSME Editor of the Year three times, most recently in 2020. Farrah is also the author of a book called The Discomfort Zone, which looks at how challenge and discomfort can unlock human potential.
In a brilliant conversation, Farrah talks to us about how her unblinkered focus on being the best she could possibly be stopped opportunities being denied to her and helped get her where she is today.
She talks about the need for clarity in leadership, particularly during challenging times. When should you gloss over the truth with your team – if ever? How can you walk “the fine line” between bringing your team with you with clear direction, as opposed to dragging people along?
She talks openly about the challenges she has faced in previous roles at Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan, and how she has grown through the crises she has faced through all of her roles.
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28 Jun 2021
Lord Richard Wilson: Lessons from the Heart of Government During 9/11
Episode 8 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees Gavin Megaw joined by Richard Wilson, the former Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant in the United Kingdom when Tony Blair was Prime Minister.
In a fascinating and open conversation, Richard talks about the vital role that COBRA plays in pulling people physically together in one place to stop them running around like “headless chickens” in a crisis, and how the UK Government dealt with the September 11th attacks – including his own role in that response.
Richard goes on to lay down his eight-point manifesto for business leaders facing a crisis. This is a riveting listen and a true insight into how politicians deal with crises – with genuine lessons for all business leaders.
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26 May 2021
Steve Elworthy: How Being An All-Rounder Helps Control A Crisis
Episode 7 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast with Steve Elworthy MBE, the Managing Director of Events & Special Projects at the England & Wales Cricket Board.
Steve talks about how his international test cricket career has influenced his administrative career, including his role as Managing Director of the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Steve and Gavin talk about the importance of being a generalist – rather than a specialist – when controlling a crisis. Steve talks about how he worked hard to build a network on his arrival in England – and how important that network has been in tackling crises, allowing him to move quickly when crisis hits.
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28 Apr 2021
Dr Jessica Barker: Tackling a Cyber Security Crisis
In episode 6 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we speak to Dr Jessica Barker, co-founder and co-CEO of cyber security agency Cygenta. Jessica is a respected leader on the human side of cyber security, and a go-to expert on the growing threat that every business faces from cyber-attacks.
Jessica has been named one of the top 20 most influential women in cyber security in the UK and awarded as one of the UK’s Tech Women 50 in 2017. She is the Chair of ClubCISO.
Gavin and Jessica have a fascinating conversation about the importance of understanding human behaviour when you’re faced with a technological crisis. Behind every cyber security issue is a system that was built by a human: but blaming the end user is entirely the wrong thing to do. Training, and systems that don’t understand how humans behave and react are crucial.
Why do cyber attacks happen? How can you learn about the threats you might face? How should you assemble a team ahead of any potential disruption to deal with them? And why might it actually be better to leave a cyber security crisis running than trying to stop it immediately?
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1 Apr 2021
David Davis MP: Being At The Centre of a Political Crisis
In episode 5 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we speak with David Davis MP, former Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union and member of parliament for Haltemprice & Howden.
In a wide-ranging, open and honest conversation, host Gavin Megaw talks with David about how the Government has got its approach to the Covid crisis wrong by focusing on how to cope with the impending problems of the pandemic, rather than how to solve them.
David tells us about his career in politics, and how his seventeen years at Tate & Lyle helped inform his political career. He talks us through the difference between slow motion crises and quick moving crises, and his three-step approach to dealing with a crisis: gather information, gain insight, take action.
It’s a fascinating insight from how someone who has been at the centre of many of the political crises that have unfolded in the last 30 years has managed to cope.
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24 Feb 2021
Sarah Binder: How Pizza Hut Handled The Covid Crisis
In episode 4 of White Swan, The Crisis Podcast, Gavin Megaw talks with Sarah Binder, Chief Development Officer at Pizza Hut.
When the Covid-19 crisis first hit, every business had to react quickly to cope with a changing business environment. Pizza Hut were no different – with restaurants closed and an increased demand for takeaway food, they had to shift focus, educate and reassure delivery staff, and implement new processes in double-quick time.
Gavin and Sarah talk about how the business has managed to cope with a very different year, from understanding the new language of a pandemic, to juggling the many elements of a fast-moving crisis for a business with so many different global elements – starting with the importance of that very first message to stakeholders.
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25 Jan 2021
Ian Walker: Tapping into the Power of the Press
For episode 3 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we’re joined by Ian Walker, Executive Editor, MailOnline.
Ian talks about his early days in journalism and how a quest to be the first to publish the results of the local darts league helped shape his approach to journalism as a young reporter.
He talks to us about how businesses can get it wrong when responding to press enquiries, and how building a relationship of mutual trust is a vital tool in helping to get the right messaging out there when a crisis hits.
It’s a fascinating chat about how honesty and proactivity can help tap into the power of the press, and how a civilised glass of Sauvignon Blanc really is the best way to take yourself out of it all at the end of a busy day.
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17 Dec 2020
Emma Tottenham: Prevention is better than cure
In episode 2 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we’re joined by Emma Tottenham, Group Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability of Virgin Money.
Emma talks about her own journey to the top table at Virgin Money, how she and her team work to spot the trends that might ladder up to eventually become a crisis, and how in her view it is absolutely vital for businesses to get their purpose, values and sustainability agenda in check to help prevent crises arriving.
It’s a fascinating chat about how prevention really is better than any cure, via some life-affirming and calming crisis mantras, and huge shout outs to tea, Mini Cheddars and the value of taking half an hour out to watch Friends.
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8 Dec 2020
Phil Maher: The Three C's of Crisis Management
This week we’re joined by former Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, Phil Maher. Phil talks us through his crisis approach, and explains his “three c’s” of crisis management. We’ll hear in depth about how a trip to the ice skating rink with his son was interrupted to deal with an emergency landing at Gatwick – and how Phil and his team managed the communications around a story that led news coverage for hours in the run-up to Christmas.
You can see the videos of the VS43 emergency landing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqDP-FMgTy8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqDP-FMgTy8) (from the runway) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R87xvvUQ6VE (about:blank) (from inside the plane).
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