The Prepared Leader: From Crisis to Confidence

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you take the rigorous safety standards of feeding 70 million people daily and apply them to business resilience? In this episode, Larry Coons, Manager of Enterprise Risk & Business Continuity at McDonald’s, reveals how the disciplines of food safety and organisational resilience share more DNA than you might expect.Larry demonstrates that the best business continuity professionals aren't just rule-followers – they're translators who help organisations see that resilience isn't about adding more work, it's about working smarter when things go wrong. Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to grow the next generation of resilience leaders — and what role does mentorship play in building stronger, more confident teams?In this episode, Helen is joined by Sandra Bartley, a former business continuity professional who has journeyed from help desk supervisor to BCI-certified mentor and trainer. Sandra's story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn't just about plans and processes — it's about people.Together, Helen and Sandra explore how effective mentorship transforms not just technical skills, but confidence and professional identity. Sandra shares why making business continuity relatable is one of the most underrated skills in the sector, and how continuous learning networks and approachable mentoring relationships can change careers — and cultures.Whether you're an experienced resilience professional looking to give back, or a leader wanting to invest in your team's development, this episode is packed with practical insight.In this episode, you'll discover:How Sandra moved from help desk supervisor to BCI-certified mentorWhy formal qualifications build both competence and confidenceThe power of learning by doing alongside experienced practitionersHow to build supportive networks beyond your own organisationPractical ways to make business continuity accessible for allListen now, wherever you get your podcasts.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailWhat does resilience really look like beyond buzzwords and risk registers? Caroline Field, Partner at PA Consulting and co-founder of the Centre for Whole Society Resilience, explores it is a strategic advantage for organisations and communities facing constant disruption.Drawing on her work across infrastructure, policy and leadership, Caroline shares practical ways to embed resilience into culture and move from rigid risk planning to adaptive, flexible thinking. Discover how resilient leadership enables teams not just to withstand shocks, but to evolve and thrive through them.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailReputational challenges are no longer rare events; they’re an inevitable part of modern business. This episode unpacks what proactive PR readiness looks like and how leaders can communicate strategically before, during, and after a crisis. Sarah Henderson, founder and MD of Purely Public Relations, joins The Prepared Leader to unpack what effective crisis communications looks like before, during and after disruption. You’ll hear why PR is far more than a luxury, how trust and identity underpin resilient leadership, and get practical advice on building a crisis comms plan, keeping your communications team close, and maintaining honest messaging with staff and stakeholders. Plus, learn how the right preparation can help organisations grow through disruption.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailMary Kemp, co-founder of Brighton AI and CEO of AI Potential, joins for an honest conversation about how AI is reshaping leadership, decision-making, and organisational resilience. AI isn’t just a technical challenge but a people-focused journey. Mary highlights the importance of curiosity, mindset, and culture in successful adoption. She also shares stories from her own pivot into the AI space, demystifies common fears, and offers practical advice.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailCybersecurity expert Robert Jumpp unpack the crucial intersection of cybersecurity and organisational resilience. Find out why cyber risk is no longer just an IT issue, but a strategic concern for leaders at every level. With real-world stories and practical insights from Robert’s experience across sectors like defence, banking and charities, you’ll hear how the landscape has shifted from compliance silos to an inclusive, whole-organisation approach.Links mentioned in this episode:Connect with Robert Jumpp on LinkedInNational Cyber Security CentreConnect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailSara McCracken is an award-winning PR strategist and founder of the PR Club. She joins The Prepared Leader to explore one of the most often overlooked yet critical aspects of resilience: communication. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience helping organisations manage their reputation and prepare for media storms, Sara shares her insights on building robust communications plans, the vital role of PR in crisis management, and why planning your messaging matters just as much as planning your business continuity response. Links mentioned in this episode:Connect with Sara McCracken on LinkedInThe PR ClubSara McCracken PR On InstagramConnect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailToday’s episode tackles a commonly missed growth avenue – selling to the public sector. Why do so many smaller firms avoid it? Is it really too complex or competitive, or are those just myths?Helen Lipscombe is joined by Shiona Campbell, founder of BDS – Business Development Support Ltd. With 15 years’ experience in local government and the third sector, Shiona now helps owner-led businesses bid for and win public contracts.You’ll hear her journey from project management to business consultancy, unpack the misconceptions around public sector sales, and get practical guidance on how to find opportunities and stand out in tenders.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailOperational resilience isn’t just about compliance — it’s about culture, customers, and the way organisations think about disruption.In this episode of The Prepared Leader: From Crisis to Confidence, host Helen Lipscombe speaks with Nick Simms from Cornwood Consulting, who brings nearly 40 years’ experience in business continuity and resilience. Together, they explore what makes operational resilience different, where regulation helps (and hinders), and why culture often determines whether resilience efforts succeed or fail.You’ll hear:The shift from “if” to “when” disruption happens.Why resilience must focus on services, not just departments.Real-world disruptions — from escaped rhinos to IT failures.How regulation can both drive progress and create false confidence.Why soft skills and influencing matter more than technical training.“At its heart, operational resilience is about looking after your customers. Everything else should flow from that.”Whether you work in a regulated industry or not, this conversation offers practical lessons for leaders aiming to build resilience that lasts.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailOrganisational culture is more than a buzzword — it’s the invisible force shaping how people behave, make decisions, and respond to challenges. In this episode of The Prepared Leader, guest host Jo Grove-Lafarge sits down with Alison Crockford (Build Secure Thinking) and Helen Lipscombe (Resilience Continuity Consulting) to unpack what culture really means, how it’s shaped by leadership, and why it can make or break resilience programmes.We explore:Defining organisational culture beyond slogans.How leadership behaviour sets the tone — for better or worse.The role of psychological safety in driving accountability.Lessons from Boeing’s culture shift and its impact on safety.Why culture and engagement must be more than annual surveys.How to align resilience, cyber, and risk initiatives with the existing culture to make change stick.Whether you lead a small team or a global organisation, this conversation will challenge how you think about culture — and how you can influence it.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailWhat does real resilient leadership look like — especially when uncertainty isn’t a one-off crisis but a constant reality?In this episode of The Prepared Leader, Helen Lipscombe is joined by Steve Rabson-Stark from Then Somehow, a leadership coach who works with organisations to unlock resilience through purposeful change. Together, they explore what makes leadership teams thrive — or quietly unravel — under pressure.You’ll hear:Why psychological safety is non-negotiableHow to break out of silo thinking with “Team One” leadershipWhy charismatic leaders can be resilience risksThe importance of safe conflict, listening, and unfinished answersAnd why agile, imperfect action often beats perfect planning“If no one’s speaking and everyone agrees all the time, you’re in big trouble.”Whether you’re leading a university, a public service team, or a commercial organisation, this conversation will challenge your assumptions — and give you practical ways to lead with confidence, curiosity, and resilience.📩 Connect with Steve: [email protected] | thensomehow.com 🔗 LinkedIn newsletter: Reimagining LeadershipConnect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailHow do you build resilience into a transport system that’s already stretched thin?In this episode of The Prepared Leader, Helen Lipscombe speaks with resilience leader Joanna Grove-Lafarge about why transport systems are under pressure like never before, and what organisations can do about it.From the Heathrow power outage to the Iberian grid failure, Joanna shares real-world lessons on the hidden fragility of our transport infrastructure, the risks of modern tech on ageing systems, and how leaders can prepare for what they can’t control.“It’s not about why you’ve lost power — it’s about what happens next. That’s where resilience lives.”You’ll learn:Why interdependencies matter more than everHow to lead through cascading disruptionsThe value of scenario-agnostic planning in fast and slow crisesIf you work in transport, infrastructure, or business continuity, this one’s for you.🔗 Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn: Joanna Grove-Lafarge 📣 Like what you heard? Follow, rate, or share the episode with someone who leads under pressure.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailIn this kickoff episode of The Prepared Leader: From Crisis to Confidence, host Helen Lipscombe sits down with Tom Wootton, leadership coach and founder of the Scenario Testing Academy. Together, they explore why scenario testing is the secret weapon for leaders facing uncertainty.Discover why most organisations miss the mark on crisis readiness, how practical scenario work builds real confidence, and what every leader should be doing to turn potential crises into opportunities for growth.Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or resilience professional, this episode will leave you thinking differently about how you prepare.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of The Prepared Leader, host Helen Lipscombe explains why confidence begins with readiness. Discover what this podcast is all about — and how bold strategies and real stories can empower you to lead through any crisis. Until next time, stay prepared and stay resilient.Connect with Helen Lipscombe: Website: Resilience Continuity | UKEnjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.