Crisis Management Unveiled with Rod Cartwright

In this episode of Leadership Bites, I’m joined by Rod Cartwright, a global expert in public relations, crisis management, and risk communication. Rod shares powerful insights on how organisations can prepare for the unexpected, protect their reputation, and strengthen relationships when the pressure is on.

We dig into:

✅The difference between capability risks (systems, operations) and character risks (leadership behaviours, ethics, culture).

✅Why crisis preparedness is more than a manual on a shelf – it’s about people, practice, and muscle memory.

✅How to run meaningful crisis simulations that test leaders under pressure.

✅The importance of the “human imperative” in risk, resilience, and reputation.

✅Real-world examples, from corporate scandals to viral social media storms, and what they teach us about leadership in the spotlight.

✅If you’re in leadership, HR, comms, or operations and ever wondered “Would we be ready if the worst happened?” – this conversation is for you.

Find out more about Rod:
🌐 rodcartwrightconsulting.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Rod Cartwright

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Crisis Management
02:54 Rod's Background and Experience
06:11 Understanding Crisis Preparedness
08:44 The Importance of Human Systems in Crisis
11:47 Case Study: Coldplay CEO Crisis
14:45 Character vs. Capability in Crisis Management
17:44 Crisis Simulations and Training
20:41 The Role of Leadership in Crisis
23:48 The Future of Crisis Management
26:42 The Impact of Social Media on Crises
29:26 The 2025 Reputation Risk and Resilience Report
32:25 Long-term vs. Short-term Thinking in Organizations
35:14 Conclusion and Future Directions