Empathy & Direction: Leadership Communication in Uncertainty - Claire Furlong Cosmic Conference 2026

What do leaders say when they don’t have all the answers?In moments of uncertainty, communication carries a different weight. It’s no longer just about sharing information, it’s about steadying people, building trust, and creating direction in environments that are often unclear.In this episode, Tala Odeh (Capability Development Lead at Cosmic Centaurs) sits down with Claire Furlong, Partner at FGS Global, to explore what effective leadership communication looks like in high-pressure, complex situations.Drawing on experience across global organizations, governments, and crisis contexts, Claire shares how leaders can navigate the tension between empathy and direction, what often goes wrong in moments like these, and how to communicate in a way that actually lands.Together, they explore: Why communication becomes a critical leadership lever in uncertainty  How communication shifts between “peacetime” and “crisis”  The common pitfalls leaders fall into under pressure  How to balance empathy with clarity and direction  Communicating across different stakeholders and audiences  The role of cadence, structure, and consistency in reducing noise  Practical tools, from crisis playbooks to messaging frameworks This episode is part of the Cosmic Conference 2026: Grounded & Limitless: Leading Organizations that Survive & ThriveAbout the GuestClaire Furlong is a Partner at FGS Global, advising organizations on strategic communications in high-stakes and complex environments.She previously served as General Manager of Marketing & Communications at the International Cricket Council (ICC), where she led communications across major global events and periods of intense scrutiny. Her career spans journalism, consultancy, and leadership roles across international organizations.About the HostTala Odeh is the Capability Development Lead at Cosmic Centaurs, a leadership and organizational development consultancy based in the GCC. Her work focuses on helping leaders and teams navigate complexity, strengthen communication, and build high-performing organizations.Show Notes / Key Moments  Communication as a stabilizing force in uncertainty  The gap between what leaders say and what employees hear  Empathy vs direction: why it’s harder than it sounds  Stakeholder alignment in moments of pressure  Moving from reactive messaging to structured communication