Preparing for the Unexpected

The Fall 2020 edition of the Disaster Recovery Journal magazine contained what became a controversial article on Business Continuity Management (BCM) entitled Is Our Profession at a Crossroads? As a result, there has been continued conversations about BCM and the value it offers to professionals, leadership, and organizations.

I talk with the author of the article, well-known industry expert James Green.

James will talk to us about why he wrote the article and the thinking behind it.

We'll also touch on some of the negative responses resulting from the article's publication.

Well-being is in the midst of a revolution and the more organizations understand wellbeing - what it is, what it's not - better they and their workforces become. I speak with Occupational Health & Safety and Well-being expert Kate Field to talk about well-being and what it really encompasses. As Kate puts it, well-being is not just yogurt and yoga and you'll have to listen to know what that means. Kate will talk to us about how resilience in people and organization's is created by trust and working together; bridging various groups instead of working in isolation. We'll even get some pointers on how Business Continuity professionals can help with and contribute to, the wellbeing revolution. If you want a better workplace, don't miss my chat with Kate.

Resilience isn't just about technology components are available or ensuring business operations continue, it's also about personal resilience. I speak with resilience expert and the creator and host of the popular podcast RESILIENCEPOD, Rina Singh. Rina will talk to us about four (4) key tips organizations and individuals can foster to help build a sense of resiliency by developing relationships in our professional and personal lives. These tips will seem simple and logical but without the hard work and continuous effort, resiliency cannot be pursued. Rina will also talk to us about Business Continuity Institute's (BCI) Women in Resilience (WiR) initiative, where she is the Vice-Chair. Don't miss a truly enlightening and inspiring discussion to help you become more resilient.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a key component in many components of our daily lives and that includes Technology Plans and Business Continuity Management. I talk with longtime security expert Agnidipta (Agni) Sarkar about how AI can help the BC industry in the future and what AI is doing for us now. Agni will also talk to us about Cyber Resilience, and how it differs from Cybersecurity. He will provide an overview of what organization's need to have in place to address Cyber attacks (e.g. Ransomware) prior to any actual instance occurring. An information chat about AI and Cyber Resilience you don't want to miss.

It's our September 2021 update with Regina Phelps on all things related to the global pandemic. This month we talk about: a) the current state of COVID around the globe, b) the latest happenings with the need (or not) for booster shots, c) vaccine 'passports' and why they are being implemented, d) the progression of the Delta variant and the impacts to the young and school systems, and, e) considerations for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. Aa always, it's an informative episode where you get the latest updates on the global pandemic without the political spin. Don't forget to check out the 2 article links mentioned during the episode for more information. 1) Considerations in Boosting COVID-19 Vaccine Immune Responses - The Lancet Published: September 13, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02046-8 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02046-8/fulltext 2) Fact-Sheet Workers-Need-Respirator Mask info - ACGIH https://www.acgih.org/covid-19-fact-sheet-worker-resp/ Don't miss it!

Supply Chain Management and building resiliency within your supply chain is more than thinking about finding alternate suppliers. I talk with recognized Supply Chain Management industry expert Paul Raw, about what really makes up a good Supply Chain Management system and the considerations that organizations often overlook - or don't even know about. We'll touch on how the supply chain can be managed effectively using risk identification and risk management practices. Paul will also talk about he Resiliency Cycle (Prevention, Mitigation, Preparation, Response, Recovery) using real-world examples and some personal experiences. Paul takes Supply Chain Management and Resiliency into a much more detailed world. Don't miss it!

Do you want to be better at what you do? Do you want stronger Organizational Resilience? Do you want stronger Risk Management practices? Join me as I talk with Dr. Aarti Anhal about how we can use personal reflection to help us increase our personal resilience, reach our optimal performance, and increase organizational resilience. Dr. Anhal will also provide some insights and tips for how managers and leaders can use feedback - often seen as a negative thing - to help their team members focus on and play to their strengths. Dr. Anhal helps us understand how these psychological aspects helps organizations deal with crisis situations, and to help build strong crisis team leaders and members. An enlightening episode you don't want to miss.

Audit is not the bad thing many would believe. Audit can actually help us with our Business Continuity Management (BCM) programs to develop stronger response plans and incident investigations. I talk with IT Audit expert Mark Fenech, who will provide insights on how BCM - and an organization in general - can leverage Audit practices and personnel. We'll chat about recommendations vs observations, where Audit can get involved with incident investigations, and even the differences between auditing documentation and applications. Mark will also help us prepare for an audit by providing some tips on what kinds of documentation and information Audit seeks. Make the Audit department your ally, and listen in to learn how Audit can help bolster your BCM programs.

It's my monthly update with expert Regina Phelps and we touch on a few subjects this month: a) where we are now with COVID, b) where we are with variants (and vaccine-resistant vaccines), c) health care workers, d) the world unvaccinated, e) the new COVID impacts upon the young, and f) a brief introduction to Long COVID. This episode is not about 'bunnies-and-rainbows' - it an open and honest real-world view of where we are in the fight against the global pandemic. Don't miss Regina's insights!

Organizational Resilience is so much more than what we think. Have you ever thought about Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), as being a contributing factor to creating a sense of resiliency? Join me as I talk with award-winning diversity and inclusion expert Lucile Kamar, as we chat about D&I; what it is, how you can contribute to it, and how to recognize it. We'll also learn about how our unconscious biases contribute to creating a non-inclusive environment, hindering an organization's ability to create a resilient environment. Lucile provides some incredible insights in how D&I contributes to resilience, with tips and suggestions you don't want to miss.