Cultural Differences In Risk Communications Across Regions: Interview with Alexandre Beaulieu

In this episode, we had an interesting conversation with Alexandre Beaulieu. We discussed cultural differences across regions. Alexandre shared his journey from studying history at Miguel in Montreal to becoming the CEO of an Omnicon affiliate in Casablanca, North Africa.

His experiences living and working in various countries, including Ivory Coast, Ukraine, and Algeria, have shaped his approach to communications and management.

During the podcast, we touched on current hot-button issues in North Africa from a risk communications viewpoint, including regional geopolitics, the Libyan crisis, and tensions between Morocco and Algeria. He also highlighted the challenges of delivering consistent quality in North African markets, such as logistical issues like internet shutdowns during exams and specific HR regulations.

Alexandre emphasized the importance of curiosity and humility when working in multicultural environments. Suspending judgment and genuinely trying to understand the local culture and values are crucial for effective communication and management. Linguistic fluency is also a key to success, as it demonstrates respect and facilitates deeper connections with people.

The War in Ukraine: Interview with Sergii Bidenko

In this episode, Sergii Bedenko, a reputation and crisis advisor from Kyiv, Ukraine, discusses the daily stress of living in a war zone and how he manages it through dark humor, a psychologist, and massage therapy.

He talks about the importance of staying calm to advise clients effectively. The war has disrupted business systems, with many companies losing assets, but they continue to operate as a form of resistance.

Ukrainian businesses are redefining innovation and resilience by taking risks and adapting their business models. He mentions that a common mistake businesses make is remaining silent during a crisis, leading to negative stories being created by others.

He combats disinformation through Ukraine Actual News, using trusted sources and facts to maintain credibility.

Looking ahead, Sergii believes that trust and a human touch will be crucial for Ukrainian businesses to rebuild and thrive post-conflict, emphasizing that reputation management is a full-time job and a lifestyle.

Financial Risk Unveiled: The Importance of Risk Communications. Interview with Huseyin Iskender Karagul

In this episode, we had an interview with Huseyin Iskender Karagul, a financial risk advisor. We talked about about financial risk and its communication in uncertain times.

Karagul highlighted the critical importance of effective risk communication to a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, regulators, and business partners.

He also touched on the consequences of poor risk communication, citing the Equifax case as a real-world example where inadequate communication during a crisis significantly damaged the company's reputation.

Karagul also shared his approach to teaching financial literacy and risk communication to non-experts, focusing on simplifying complex concepts and using storytelling to make them relatable.

Finally, we talked about all the different kinds of risks connected. It's not just about money risks. It's also about following rules ("compliance risk"), what people think of the company ("reputational risk"), and even things happening far away in the world.

Interview with Laura Peck and Barry McLoughlin

In this interview, we had a conversation with reputational management experts Barry McLoughlin and Laura Peck.

Laura and Barry highlighted the fact that an organization's reputation is built on trust and its brand promise, emphasizing that it takes years to establish but can be quickly lost, especially in the age of misinformation.

They also talked about the importance of being proactive in managing reputation, recommending strategies like setting the record straight and pre-bunking to counter false narratives amplified by social media.

Laura and Barry also talked about the need for leaders to be visible and transparent. Effective crisis communication requires anticipating scenarios and engaging directly with the public.

Finally, they offered advice to young professionals on building their own reputation by being mindful of their online presence and exhibiting key professional skills.