The Business Emergency Room: For Leaders Facing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity (VUCA)

Trust is everything in leadership. Lose it, and investors won’t think twice about making a change.

Maartje van Krieken takes a hard look at investor trust in scaling businesses as she breaks down why half of founder-CEOs don’t last three years after investment. When trust erodes, misalignment creeps in, and investors start questioning whether leadership can take the company to the next stage.

This episode explores founder-CEO transitions, the growing tension between long-term vision and investor demands, and the red flags that make investors lose confidence. Maartje shares what founders can do to strengthen these relationships before they unravel.

In the end, success depends on investor relations and business growth—how well leaders communicate, manage expectations, and handle feedback. If investors are watching, evaluating, and holding the power to pull funding, how can founders stay ahead of the curve?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Importance of Trust in Leadership

01:41 Benefits of Alignment with Investors

02:04 Recognizing Friction with Investors

04:14 Investors’ Frustration with Leadership

05:52 Strategic Risk Management Issues

07:32 Scaling Leadership and Bringing in Experienced Executives

09:21 Fixing Relationships with Investors

12:23 Agreeing on Escalation Protocols

13:30 Taking Investor Feedback Seriously

17:17 Being Proactive, Not Reactive

21:04 What Investors Can Do to Improve Alignment

23:44 Shared Strategic Risk Register

Links

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most businesses think they know why customers choose them until they realize they’ve been focusing on the wrong thing all along.

Maartje van Krieken sits down with Orly Zeewy for a sharp, no-nonsense look at brand messaging strategy and why so many businesses miss the mark. Orly shares how companies can stop marketing what they think matters and start focusing on what actually drives customer loyalty. She breaks down a case study of a business that spent decades highlighting the wrong thing, only to turn everything around with the right message.

How do you know if your messaging still works? What if your biggest selling point isn’t what you thought? In this episode, Maartje and Orly talk business scaling tips and growth marketing strategies that help brands attract the right audience, communicate their value, and build sustainable success.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:16 Difference Between an Entrepreneur and an Inventor

02:25 Rebranding a Summer Day Camp: A Case Study

05:16 The Importance of Understanding Your Business’s Core Value

07:53 Going Back to Basics Instead of Pivoting

09:02 The Secret Sauce of Longstanding Brands

10:14 Competing Where You Can Compete

12:03 The Role of Core Values in Business

16:03 The Shift from Transactional to Relational Business Models

18:14 Communicating Core Values in a Changing World

21:12 Internal Messaging and Employee Retention

23:10 Employees as Brand Ambassadors

24:46 Competing by Differentiating Yourself

Links

Connect Orly Zeewy:

https://zeewybrands.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlyzeewy/

Orly Zeewy is an author, speaker, and educator known for making the complex clear. She helps startup founders and business owners define their expertise, attract ideal clients, and scale quickly. A sought-after speaker, Orly has appeared on 30+ podcasts, including BroadBand and FemCity, and has lectured at Wharton and Drexel. Her writing has been featured in Medium, The Marketing Journal, and Smart Hustle. Her book Ready, Launch, Brand (2021) was an Amazon #1 new business release, endorsed by Seth Godin. Her next book, Why NOT Me?, arrives in 2025.

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most leaders could free up nearly half their workload but refuse to let go. Why is delegation so hard, and what’s the cost of holding on too tightly?

Maartje van Krieken unpacks why so many leaders become the bottleneck in their own organizations. Fear of mistakes, trust issues, and the belief that no one else can do the job quite as well keep leaders trapped in a cycle of overwork and micromanagement. But real leadership isn’t about doing everything but about creating the right structures so decisions flow to the right people at the right time.

This episode offers an approach to delegation, from defining clear outcomes to setting accountability paths that ensure work doesn’t just get passed around but actually moves forward. Maartje’s “70% rule” challenges leaders to let go sooner, even when it feels uncomfortable, because holding out for perfection will only slow everyone down. In a crisis, the instinct to take control can be strong, but the bigger the challenge, the more essential effective delegation becomes.

If you’re constantly overloaded, it’s time to ask yourself: Are you leading, or are you just managing everything yourself?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Importance of Delegation

01:28 Why Delegation is Challenging

02:01 Leadership in High-Pressure Environments

02:45 Focusing on Outcomes, Not Methods

03:18 How to Delegate Like a Pro

03:28 Defining Clear Outcomes

06:01 Setting Clear Accountability and Escalation Paths

09:02 Using the 70% Rule

10:16 Tying Delegation to Decision-Making Frameworks

12:08 Decision Trees in Emergency Response

15:01 Delegation in Chaos

16:37 Summary: Key Delegation Tips

18:24 Practicing Delegation

19:07 Closing

Links

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Scaling a business comes with big decisions, tough conversations, and the challenge of building a team that can grow with you. How do you know when it’s time to shift roles, implement structure, or step back so others can take the lead?

Maartje van Krieken sits down with Jennifer Cresswell, a growth strategist and the founder of Thoughtgro, to break down the realities of scaling in entrepreneurship. They dig into the people dynamics that make or break a growing business. When the team that got you here isn’t the team that will get you there, how do you navigate that transition with clarity and respect? Jennifer shares why removing emotion from role decisions can help leaders make choices that serve both the company and the employees.

The episode also tackles a common misconception about process. Many entrepreneurs see structure as a creativity killer, but Jennifer argues the opposite. She explains how the right processes reduce stress, create efficiency, and free up leaders to focus on innovation instead of getting caught in daily operations.

From recognizing the warning signs of stalled growth to handling difficult leadership transitions, this episode provides insights for anyone going through the next phase of their business. Jennifer leaves listeners with a key takeaway: growth isn’t just about adding more, but also about building smarter.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

00:33 Leadership in Uncertainty

01:06 Overlapping Challenges in Different Business Sizes

01:38 People Dynamics in Growing Businesses

03:13 Removing Emotion from Role Assessment

05:29 Process Management in Scaling

07:02 Efficiency Through Process

08:20 Leadership Transition and Delegation

13:06 Fractional Leadership and Finding the Right Fit

15:57 Symptoms of Growing Pains

18:46 Bottlenecks and Decision-Making Overload

21:14 Addressing Feedback and Disgruntledness

22:39 Closing

Links

Connect with Jennifer Cresswell:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cresswell-2a39892b/

https://www.thoughtgro.com/

Jennifer Cresswell is the Founder & Principal of Thoughtgro, helping business owners build lasting legacies through sustained growth and succession planning.

With 20+ years in leadership, operations, strategy, and communications, she strengthens businesses using her four foundational pillars—structure, team, process, and culture. A problem-solver at heart, she has quadrupled sales, integrated diverse business models, and boosted both morale and revenue. Whether preparing a company for acquisition or securing long-term stability, she helps owners achieve their vision.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband and daughter, tennis, cooking, baking, crafting, and continuous learning.

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Hesitation under pressure costs more than a bad decision. This season 2 kick-off episode of The Business Emergency Room unpacks how to make fast, confident calls when the stakes are high.

When everything is unfolding fast, how do you make the right call without second-guessing yourself? Host Maartje van Krieken shares a real-world example of decision-making gone wrong, turning a simple family outing into a mess of miscommunication and last-minute scrambling. The parallels to business are clear: disruption happens, and leaders who hesitate risk bigger problems.

This episode breaks down how to define the decision at hand, communicate what you know (and don’t), and commit to a path even with missing pieces. Decision-making is a skill, and like any skill, it gets stronger with practice.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome to Season Two!

00:43 Leadership in Uncertainty

01:04 Fast Decision-Making in Volatile Situations

02:29 Super Bowl Experience Chaos

03:02 Miscommunication and Assumptions

05:05 Defining the Decision

08:23 Importance of Communication

10:10 Different Assumptions

11:14 Sharing Information

13:23 Don’t Blindly Follow Others

15:02 Decision Frameworks

22:03 Final Takeaways

23:05 Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast

25:15 Closing

Links

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Scaling a business isn’t just about strategy—it’s about navigating chaos, making fast but sound decisions, and keeping teams aligned under pressure. The Business Emergency Room helps leaders, founders, and decision-makers sharpen their decision-making mechanics, master people dynamics, and build resilience in uncertain markets. Host Maartje van Krieken shares battle-tested frameworks to eliminate bottlenecks, avoid analysis paralysis, and turn turbulence into traction. Tune in weekly for real-world insights to lead with confidence and thrive in turmoil.

For leaders facing: High-stakes decisions, VUCA market conditions, crisis management, and rapid business growth pains.

In the dynamic world of business growth, the transition from entrepreneur to CEO is often fraught with challenges that can either propel a company forward or lead to burnout. This episode sheds light on the pivotal strategies that help business owners navigate rapid growth, avoid common pitfalls, and build sustainable success. The conversation uncovers the importance of strategic planning, effective delegation, and the mindset shifts required to lead with clarity and purpose.

Key insights from this discussion:

• The Entrepreneur’s Growth Struggle – Why many business owners feel stuck working long hours and the critical mindset shift needed to break free.
• Hiring vs. Outsourcing – When to hire in-house and when outsourcing might be the smarter, more cost-effective solution.
• Decision-Making Strategies – A simple three-question framework to make better business decisions quickly and effectively.
• Strategic Planning for Scaling – How a clear roadmap can prevent overwhelm, improve efficiency, and prioritize the right tasks at the right time.
• Transitioning from Entrepreneur to CEO – The mental and operational shifts required to successfully lead a growing business.

About the Guest: 

Lynne Roe is the President of LSR Consultants, a certified professional coach, group facilitator, and change-maker, Lynne helps independent businesses owners develop a foundation of leadership that serves as a catalyst for growth. Applying knowledge and skills acquired over decades of working with small and large companies, non-profits, and family businesses, she guides clients in building businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and valuable – with a focus on strategic planning, sound decision-making, and leveraging their strengths and those of their teams.

Lynne has grown two successful businesses; designed, conducted, and managed market research for major corporations; and developed and led non-profit programs and organizations from the ground up. She has worked with hundreds of individuals and stakeholders over the years, pulling together diverse teams to work towards a common goal. Lynne is also a certified facilitator and coach for The Alternative Board of Northern New Jersey, an organization dedicated to helping business owners and executives excel in their fields through peer advisory, mentoring, and leadership training.

Lynne’s Website: lsrconsultants.com

Free Resource: Lynn’s Entrepreneur to CEO Assessment

About the Host:

Your host, Maartje van Krieken, brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of business turmoil. With a background in crisis management, managing transformation and complex collaboration, she has successfully guided numerous organizations through their most challenging times. Her unique perspective and practical approach make her the go to First Responder in the arena of business turmoil and crisis.

Podcast Homepage: https://www.thebusinessemergencyroom.com/

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

Thanks for listening!

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Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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Disruptions are an inevitable part of both life and business, but how we respond to them can make all the difference. In this episode, we explore the structured crisis response strategies used by the Red Cross Disaster Action Teams and how these same principles can be applied to business disruptions. With clear decision-making, effective communication, accountability and escalation definition, and a focus on immediate priorities, businesses can strengthen their resilience and navigate crises with confidence. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or part of an organization facing unexpected challenges, this episode will equip you with actionable insights to stay prepared and in control.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• How emergency response strategies from the Red Cross can be adapted to business crisis management.
• The importance of structured decision-making and escalation protocols during disruptions.
• Why clear, transparent communication is essential for effective crisis resolution.
• How to prioritize and triage issues within the first 24–48 hours of a crisis.
• The role of post-crisis debriefs in strengthening future resilience and preparedness.

About the Host:

Your host, Maartje van Krieken, brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of business turmoil. With a background in crisis management, managing transformation and complex collaboration, she has successfully guided numerous organizations through their most challenging times. Her unique perspective and practical approach make her the go to First Responder in the arena of business turmoil and crisis.

Podcast Homepage: https://www.thebusinessemergencyroom.com/

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

Navigating high-pressure situations in the workplace requires more than just strategy—it demands trust, empathy, and a culture of psychological safety. In this episode, Maxine Legal, CEO and founder of Thrive Inclusively, shares insights from her 20+ years of leadership in healthcare to help leaders and teams thrive under pressure. Discover actionable strategies to foster resilience, communication, and trust, even in the most dynamic business environments.

Throughout this talk, we dive into:

• The importance of psychological safety and how it transforms workplace dynamics.
• Why transparent communication builds trust, especially in times of uncertainty or crisis.
• How to tailor your leadership approach to different communication styles and personalities.
• The balance between holding employees accountable and maintaining empathy as a leader.
• Practical tips on investing in self-care to lead effectively and build resilient teams.

About the Guest:

Maxine L. Legall is a dynamic speaker and the visionary founder of Thrive Inclusively LLC, a premier consulting firm based in New York. With over 20 years of groundbreaking experience across healthcare, non-profit, and corporate sectors, Maxine empowers organizations to thrive through transformative inclusion initiatives, cultural transformation, leadership development, and strategies that prioritize resilience and self-care. Her actionable insights inspire growth, drive impactful change, and foster environments where individuals and teams excel.

Maxine L. Legall is a passionate and empowering coach, dedicated to guiding leaders and teams toward unlocking their potential, building resilience, and achieving meaningful success through personalized strategies and transformative growth.

Maxine Legall’s website: www.thriveinclusively.com

About the Host:

Your host, Maartje van Krieken, brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of business turmoil. With a background in crisis management, managing transformation and complex collaboration, she has successfully guided numerous organizations through their most challenging times. Her unique perspective and practical approach make her the go to First Responder in the arena of business turmoil and crisis.

Podcast Homepage: https://www.thebusinessemergencyroom.com/

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

What happens when you’re tasked with solving a high-stakes problem you know almost nothing about? This episode of The Business Emergency Room takes you behind the scenes of a fascinating real-life challenge: tackling the unknown to support critical decision-making.

Join Maartje as she recounts a pivotal experience early in her career—a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity in Iran, fraught with risks, including unexploded ordinances in an oil field near the Iran-Iraq border. With little knowledge of the issue and limited resources, her team had to think fast, ask the right questions, and collaborate effectively to provide leadership with the insights needed to make a decision.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to approach complex, high-risk challenges with resourcefulness and creativity.
• The importance of de-risking decisions by identifying what you know—and what you don’t.
• Why collaboration and transparency are essential in problem-solving under uncertainty.
• Lessons learned from both the successes and missteps in their decision-making process.

This story is more than a case study; it’s a masterclass in resourcefulness, decision-making, and leadership. Whether you’re tackling a small challenge or navigating a major business emergency, the lessons in this episode will inspire you to face the unknown with confidence and clarity.

About the Host:

Your host, Maartje van Krieken, brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of business turmoil. With a background in crisis management, managing transformation and complex collaboration, she has successfully guided numerous organizations through their most challenging times. Her unique perspective and practical approach make her the go to First Responder in the arena of business turmoil and crisis.

Podcast Homepage: https://www.thebusinessemergencyroom.com/

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.