How strong communities deal with the worst disasters, w/ Sonali Chandratilake

Sonali Chandratilake, a seasoned crisis management expert and Emergency Management & Business Continuity Manager at the University of Canterbury, shares insights from 15+ years on the front lines of NZ's major crises (Canterbury Earthquakes, Christchurch Mosque Attack, COVID-19). Her unique perspective combines professional roles with personal advocacy (Cleft New Zealand). Discover her pragmatic approach to crisis leadership, emphasizing community connection and emotional intelligence.In this episode, we talk about:0:00 | Introduction and Guest Background2:12 | Sonali's Unexpected Path to Emergency Management9:00 | The SVA Experience as a Foundation15:13 | Replicating Community Resilience in Organizations20:08 | Inspiring Employees: Acknowledgment and Validation26:59 | Transition to a Professional Career Path32:17 | Balancing Professional Work with Volunteer Passions36:41 | Challenging the "She'll Be Right" Attitude41:51 | Real-World Community Preparedness Example45:56 | Finding Champions and Leaders Setting the Scene50:43 | The Evolving Role of Technology59:51 | Social Media: Misinformation, Intelligence, and Trust1:02:50 | Actionable Steps for Building Personal Resilience1:03:49 | Book RecommendationKey Takeaways:Emergency management is deeply human. Community connection, built before crisis, forms the bedrock of resilience. While technology helps, analog backups are essential, and social media intelligence needs careful navigation. True leadership fosters self-sufficient teams. Emotional intelligence is key to effective crisis navigation and personal resilience.Reference LinksSonali on LinkedInCleft New Zealand (donate here)Student Volunteer Army, New ZealandUniversity of Canterbury, New ZealandNew Zealand ShakeOutBook recommendation: The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukavwww.unbreakableventures.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unbreakableventures.com