Navigating Chaos: Leadership in the Eye of the Storm with Stephanie Craig

The Communicative Leader

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When chaos erupts, the difference between catastrophe and manageable challenge often comes down to preparation. Crisis management expert Stephanie Craig brings a lifetime of experience navigating high-pressure situations to this illuminating conversation about organizational resilience.
Growing up as the daughter of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police hostage negotiator, Stephanie developed an unusual comfort with chaos from an early age. This natural affinity, combined with formative experiences in politics and business, positioned her perfectly to guide organizations through their darkest moments. Now, as president of Kith Consulting, she shares the formula that drives her approach: "clarity plus trust equals strategic speed."
This episode delivers actionable wisdom for leaders at all levels. Stephanie reveals the critical distinction between brand and reputation—"Brand is what you own. Your reputation is what people say about you"—and explains why reputation accounts for approximately 35% of organizational value. She dismantles the dangerous "it won't happen to me" mentality that leaves many organizations vulnerable and provides a blueprint for building a core crisis team that can respond effectively when disaster strikes.
Perhaps most valuable is Stephanie's insight into how values serve as an essential touchstone during crises. Whether responding to data breaches, navigating political tensions, or engaging with social movements, organizations with clear, consistently applied values make better decisions faster. Through compelling examples from Silicon Valley's COVID response to high-profile corporate missteps, she illustrates how preparation transforms potential disasters into manageable challenges.
Don't wait until crisis hits to develop your response strategy. Listen now to build the communication infrastructure, team dynamics, and leadership mindset that will protect your organization when—not if—challenges arise.

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Chapters

1. Meeting Crisis Expert Stephanie Craig (00:00:00)

2. Finding Calm in Chaos: Personal Journey (00:11:31)

3. Core Principles of Crisis Management (00:23:26)

4. Political Experience and Adaptability (00:36:01)

5. Safeguarding Organizational Reputation (00:43:43)

6. Building Resilient Crisis-Ready Teams (00:53:16)

7. Living Your Values in Advocacy (00:58:25)