What if protecting your reputation in a crisis meant telling the truth faster, clearer, and louder than the chaos around you? In this episode of Leaders Creating Rukus host Aashi Arora sits down with crisis communications expert Dave Oates, founder of PR Security Service, whose career spans more than three decades of navigating some of the most high-stakes reputational challenges organizations can face. From his early days as a U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer to roles as a corporate marketing leader, nonprofit president, and trusted crisis advisor, Dave has helped organizations across industries including healthcare, government, startups, entertainment, and nonprofits protect their credibility when everything is on the line.In this powerful episode, Dave shares one of the most compelling cases of his career. He helped defend Dr. Hasan Gokal, a Houston emergency room physician who was wrongly accused of theft after ensuring COVID-19 vaccines were not wasted during the pandemic. What followed became a global media story, a high-stakes legal battle, and a masterclass in crisis communication strategy. Through stories like this, Dave reveals what leaders often get wrong about crisis communication and what it truly takes to maintain trust when pressure is highest.

In this episode, Dave opens up about:

🔸 Why transparency and empathy matter more than spin during a crisis
🔸 How leaders should communicate when the stakes involve lives, livelihoods, and reputations
🔸 Why the best crisis strategy often begins long before the crisis itself

💬 “Audiences will give you a second chance if you’re transparent, empathetic, and action-oriented. But if you lose their trust, they’re gone.”A sought-after speaker and educator, Dave also teaches journalism and media studies at San Diego State University and has authored multiple books and LinkedIn Learning courses on crisis communications.