Managing Partner | Creating More Effective Boards | Trusted Board Advisor | Accredited Board Reviewer | C-Suite Coach | Top10 Governance Podcast Host
What’s the worst thing a board can do in a crisis? On this Thursday’s podcast I’ll be joined by Barbara Lambert, a board member with over 40 years of experience in crisis management. Together we’ll be discussing the types of crises she’s encountered, how they emerge, and the best ways of dealing with them effectively. During her career, Barbara has observed how boards have responded both to external crises like the Covid pandemic to internal ones such as product failures and corporate scandals. One common thread? Boards often underestimate crises, leading to inadequate planning and communication that can spiral into uncontrollable situations. On Thursday, Barbara shares her golden rules for boards to navigate crises effectively, including; 1️⃣ Prepare effectively. Crisis management starts long before a crisis hits. Robust risk assessments, scenario exercises, and early warning systems can help boards identify vulnerabilities and act decisively. 2️⃣ Unite and act quickly. A cohesive board with a clear communication strategy prevents internal divisions and controls external messaging. A small, skilled task force can steer the organisation through the storm. 3️⃣ Learn and adapt. After the crisis, boards must review their response and extract lessons learned to refine strategies for the future. Barbara is a professional board member and is a member of the Audit, Risk and Nomination Committees. Her current and past mandates include Banque Pictet & Cie SA, Deutsche Börse AG, Implenia AG, Merck KgaA, Synlab AG and UBS Switzerland. Barbara spent 20 years at Arthur Andersen/Ernst & Young as a senior partner and Head of the Audit practice for banks and insurance. Between 2008-2018, she started as Head of Internal Audit at Pictet Group in Geneva and became a member of the Management Board as Group Chief Risk Officer. 🎧 See you on Thursday!
