Leadership in a Crisis - Clarity and Empathy

Today, 4 months into the pandemic, the typical rhetoric we are hearing includes - "we do not need an office", "we can all work from home", but we question the risks inherent in dramatic changes to the way we should work going forward.

The first stage of the crisis required quick thinking for Boards to be able to lead effectively.  Some will have got this right and many may well not have achieved this.

Then leadership had to deal with ongoing business, not quite as usual - how do they lead in times of such uncertainty?

Now leadership is dealing with the "new norm" that business leadership and the boardroom have changed.  It is not easy to define what is best; first we have to support the people, personally, professionally and physically. 

The next focus is likely to be adapting the "new way" within the law and best practice governance where these rules have not considered operating under pandemic conditions.

The most difficult stage is implementation, the tactical application of virtual working, risk management and technology requirements of new engagement styles.
 
The panellists are Ivor Gardiner, Stella David & Alison Horrocks, who are all from the Corporate sector in the UK, from listed, family, financial services or large global businesses, and serve on Boards that have led their businesses through these amazingly trying months, and continue to do so with no sign of a return to normalcy yet on the horizon.

Each will share a specific experience that highlights either a challenge, success or learning they have personally experienced.

The second phase of the webinar will be a conversation with the panellists chaired by Sharon Constançon, a Board Evaluation specialist and Chairman of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK.  The focus of this conversation is the value and importance of leaders being honest and clear in their messaging, engaging with empathy, and communicating constantly as situations evolve.

The third and most important phase of the webinar will be for the audience to ask questions of the panel, and draw on their experience to inspire solutions to their own particular challenges.

This is the first in a new series of professional (financial services, governance, technical) focused webinars for the SA Chamber, led by the newly formed Professional Forum of the Chamber.

This first Professional Forum webinar is being hosted by Genius Boards, a Board Evaluation organisation focusing on Boards in Financial Services, Listed, Regulated, Public Sector, Family business, & others.

The webinar is free, but registration is essential. Links will be sent out 24 hours before the webinar is due to start.

Panellists:

Ivor Gardiner, a former SADF and British Army officer, spent 25 years commanding soldiers including on numerous operational deployments. As special forces liaison to US Special Operations Command, he received a citation for his strategic leadership in global counterterrorism. Since being medically discharged from the Army due to service injuries, he has been a Director at Berwicks Ltd; a UK-based global consultancy specialising in risk management and leadership development. For 21 years they have provided emergency and crisis leadership support to high-hazard, high-consequence industries around the world. During the pandemic, they have provided direct crisis management leadership support to businesses ranging from nuclear to universities.

Stella David was the Chief Executive Officer of William Grant & Sons from 2009 until 2016 when she decided to focus on a non-executive portfolio. Prior to this she worked for Bacardi Ltd., where she held a variety of positions, including CEO of the UK, Irish, Dutch and African business and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Her first non-executive role was with Nationwide Building Society where she served on the Board for 7yrs, for 5yrs of which she was Chair of RemCo. She has been on the board of HomeServe plc since 2011 where she has been Chair of RemCo, SID and Chair of the People Committee.  She is the Chairman of C&J Clark, where she stepped in as interim CEO in 2018. After leaving Bacardi Ltd in 2009 she has returned to sit on the other side of their Board table as an Independent Director.

Alison Horrocks is responsible for group wide risk, compliance and corporate governance for Inmarsat PLC. She acts as Company Secretary to the Board and its Committees. She is a member of the Executive Management Team and Chairman of the Trustee Company for the Inmarsat UK pension plans. Alison manages Inmarsat's teams in India, China and Russia and also the corporate marketing and comms team. Prior to joining Inmarsat, Alison was Group Company Secretary of International Public Relations plc, a worldwide public relations company, for 11 years.

Watch the replay below: