In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser explores how Chief Risk Officers and resilience leaders can develop the next generation of risk talent—by focusing on business fluency as a core leadership capability. As the risk function continues to evolve, technical excellence alone is no longer enough. The most effective leaders are those who can translate risk into strategic advantage and influence decisions at the highest levels. Bryan unpacks insights from a recent McKinsey article and ties them to Bryghtpath’s own white paper, The Strategic Edge: Wielding Influence as a Resilience Leader. He shares practical strategies for cultivating …

In this episode, Bryan Strawser explores how resilience and business continuity leaders can effectively champion their programs by communicating with influence. He outlines how to keep executives informed, explain the real business value of your program, and share meaningful metrics that demonstrate progress. Bryan also discusses the importance of storytelling and using impact-focused communication to build credibility. Drawing from Bryghtpath’s The Strategic Edge whitepaper, this episode reframes communication as a leadership tool—not just an update mechanism. You’ll learn practical techniques to shift from simply reporting activity to driving engagement, alignment, and strategic investment. Whether you’re just gaining traction or advancing …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath CEO Bryan Strawser shares lessons from a recent week of paramedic skills training. As he practiced high-stakes procedures like IV insertions and airway management, Bryan was reminded of a fundamental truth: repetition builds muscle memory—and that muscle memory saves lives. This insight directly applies to how we approach crisis management and organizational resilience. Bryan draws a clear connection between clinical skill repetition and the value of regular crisis exercises. Just as paramedics must perform under pressure without hesitation, Crisis Management Teams must respond with clarity and speed when it matters most. …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath CEO Bryan Strawser explores why resilience leaders must have total command of their own programs to maintain credibility and influence. When executives ask pointed questions about recovery time objectives, critical processes, or current risks, hesitation or vague responses can quickly erode trust. You don’t need to recite every line of a continuity plan—but you must understand the strategy, current state, and gaps of your program cold. Bryan outlines what you need to know without reference material, how to build that command over time, and why this level of preparedness is essential …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & Chief Executive Bryan Strawser explores key insights from Forrester’s 2025 report, Building a Security Org for the Future. Bryan breaks down how cybersecurity leadership is shifting from tactical execution to strategic influence—where CISOs are now expected to lead through credibility, relationships, and alignment with business outcomes. The episode offers a clear perspective on why traditional control-based security models are no longer enough. Bryan outlines the essential transformations security leaders must prioritize: building federated teams, communicating risk in business language, and aligning investments to enterprise performance and trust. He shares …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser, Principal and Chief Executive at Bryghtpath, explores key insights from the 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report. He discusses how modern adversaries are behaving more like high-speed startups—leveraging generative AI, identity compromise, and sophisticated non-malware tactics to scale attacks quickly. With breakout times now averaging just 62 minutes, the threat landscape demands faster detection, tighter controls, and executive-level urgency. Bryan outlines critical shifts in adversary behavior, from the rise of ransomware-as-a-service to the increased use of AI for phishing and social engineering. He shares strategic takeaways for resilience and security leaders, …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser, Principal and Chief Executive at Bryghtpath, unpacks the key findings from the 2025 National Risk Study by Deloitte and NEMA. This nationwide assessment reveals the stark realities facing state emergency management agencies—rising disaster complexity, funding challenges, workforce gaps, and outdated systems. Bryan explores why these findings matter now more than ever and what leaders can do to turn risk into resilience. You’ll hear why strategic planning, modernization, and leadership investment are no longer optional in emergency management. Bryan breaks down the study’s four strategic imperatives and outlines practical steps resilience …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & Chief Executive Bryan Strawser explores the operational, reputational, and strategic risks organizations face when a major cloud provider like AWS experiences an outage. Bryan breaks down why most companies are underprepared for large-scale cloud disruptions and what executive leaders must do differently to ensure continuity. He also outlines how cloud dependency should be treated as an enterprise risk—one that deserves board-level attention and investment. Bryan shares practical actions organizations can take to build greater resilience, from conducting robust Business Impact Analyses to testing real-world failover scenarios. He discusses how …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & Chief Executive Bryan Strawser explores how to design and lead effective crisis or continuity exercises with your Board of Directors. These sessions are often filled with hesitation, but when approached with clarity and strategic framing, they become a powerful opportunity to build influence and drive alignment at the highest level of the organization. Bryan shares how to move beyond traditional tabletop exercises and instead facilitate a meaningful dialogue on risk, readiness, and executive decision-making. You’ll learn how to reframe exercises as strategic conversations, choose scenarios that matter to the …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser walks through ten high-impact crisis scenarios that organizations should prioritize in their tabletop exercises for 2025. From cyber extortion and data exfiltration to executive malfeasance and misinformation, these scenarios are drawn from real-world threats affecting the world’s leading companies. Bryan outlines how each scenario challenges leadership, disrupts operations, and demands cross-functional readiness. This episode is a strategic guide for resilience, business continuity, and crisis management professionals who want to build better exercises and strengthen organizational preparedness. Bryan also shares insight on compound crises—where multiple threats unfold at once—and why now …

In this episode, Bryan Strawser tackles one of the most frustrating patterns in resilience and continuity programs: the trap of check-the-box compliance. He unpacks how performative efforts that focus solely on documentation or audits undermine actual readiness and stall progress toward maturity. Bryan also explores the equally dangerous alternative—doing nothing—and why that’s no better. Instead, Bryan lays out a clear, actionable approach to building both capability and maturity without overcomplicating your program. From anchoring efforts in business value to leveraging influence across the organization, this episode offers practical guidance for moving forward—even when you’re not fully “ready.” If you’re stuck …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser of Bryghtpath explores the critical role of the Board of Directors during times of crisis. Boards are often looked to for leadership and assurance, but their responsibilities are frequently misunderstood. Bryan outlines how directors can provide strategic oversight without stepping into operational decision-making. Drawing on best practices from global standards and real-world examples, Bryan highlights how boards can support management teams, enable resources, and protect organizational reputation. He also examines common pitfalls that boards must avoid and offers practical guidance for engaging in crisis preparedness. Listeners will come away with …

Too many organizations treat crisis exercises as one-dimensional drills focused on ransomware and cybersecurity. While those scenarios are critical, they don’t prepare leaders for the full spectrum of disruptions that can impact operations, reputation, and people. In this episode, Bryan Strawser breaks down why your exercise program can’t live on cyber alone. He explores what’s missing when organizations over-index on ransomware, why exercising “other muscles” matters for true resilience, and how to build a balanced exercise program that strengthens decision-making, executive presence, and cross-functional coordination. If your crisis playbook feels stuck in a cyber-only loop, this episode is your roadmap …

Crisis exercises are meant to test decision-making and build organizational confidence. But too often, they fail because executives and other key players haven’t been trained on the crisis management framework. Instead of practicing decisions, the exercise gets bogged down in debates about the scenario or the process. In this episode, Bryan Strawser of Bryghtpath explains why training is preparation and exercising is practice. He shares the most common failure modes, the risks of skipping executive training, and practical steps to ensure your leaders are ready before the next exercise. By training first and then exercising, your team walks away with …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & Chief Executive Bryan Strawser explores why training your team before an exercise is essential for success. Too often, organizations treat exercises as teaching moments rather than validation tools. The result is confusion, wasted time, and missed opportunities to truly measure resilience. Bryan explains how effective training sets the foundation for meaningful exercises that build confidence, competence, and muscle memory. He shares common pitfalls when training is skipped and offers practical steps to prepare teams before they walk into the room. By investing in training first, leaders ensure exercises deliver …

Artificial intelligence is transforming how organizations prepare for and respond to disruption. From predictive analytics to automated crisis communications, AI offers powerful tools to strengthen resilience. But it also introduces new risks, including overreliance, bias, and vulnerabilities that can erode trust. In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath CEO Bryan Strawser explores whether AI ultimately helps or harms resilience. He examines both the opportunities and pitfalls of integrating AI into resilience strategies, offering practical insights for leaders navigating this complex landscape. You’ll walk away with clear considerations for balancing innovation with governance and ensuring AI enhances—not undermines—your organization’s …

In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryan Strawser of Bryghtpath explores how the role of the resilience leader has evolved. Once viewed primarily as a compliance function focused on writing plans and running exercises, today’s resilience leader is expected to operate as a strategic influencer. Influence, not documentation, is the new measure of impact. Bryan discusses why technical expertise alone is no longer enough, and how leaders must align their programs with business goals, communicate with executive presence, and build strong cross-functional relationships. He also examines common pitfalls that hold practitioners back and offers practical steps for shifting …

In this episode of Managing Uncertainty, Bryghtpath Principal & Chief Executive Bryan Strawser tackles one of the most common — and dangerous — mistakes leaders make in a crisis: doing nothing. Drawing on decades of experience in crisis management, business continuity, and organizational resilience, Bryan explains why waiting for perfect information can paralyze a response and worsen the situation. Instead, he makes the case for decisive, early action, even when all the facts are not yet clear. Bryan shares practical strategies for breaking the stalemate in high-pressure moments, including setting decision triggers, empowering teams, and practicing rapid decision-making. He emphasizes …

The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Resilience Pulse Check delivers a clear message: most organizations are still underprepared for the complex, interconnected risks shaping our world. In this episode, Bryan Strawser breaks down the WEF’s findings and shares Bryghtpath’s proven strategies for closing capability gaps, integrating resilience into strategy, and turning disruption into a competitive advantage. Listen to learn how leaders can move from reactive crisis management to offensive resilience—anticipating change, seizing opportunities, and accelerating transformation. Read the WEF’s 2025 Resilience Pulse Check: https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-resilience-pulse-check-2025 Read our full article: https://bryghtpath.com/the-2025-resilience-imperative-lessons-from-the-wef-pulse-check-and-bryghtpaths-playbook/

In this episode of Managing Uncertainty, Bryan Strawser shares lessons from his experience leading security and resilience at a Fortune 30 retailer, reflecting on what it takes to build a high-performing, future-focused team. From hiring with intent to fostering a culture of trust and accountability, Bryan outlines the principles that helped shape a team whose impact continues across industries. He emphasizes that true resilience leadership starts with people—not just processes. You’ll hear practical guidance on identifying potential leaders, investing in mentorship, and building the kind of cross-functional bench that can thrive under pressure. Bryan also explores how alignment, clarity, and …