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Reputational challenges are no longer rare events; they’re an inevitable part of modern business. This episode unpacks what proactive PR readiness looks like and how leaders can communicate strategically before, during, and after a crisis.

 Sarah Henderson, founder and MD of Purely Public Relations, joins The Prepared Leader to unpack what effective crisis communications looks like before, during and after disruption.

 You’ll hear why PR is far more than a luxury, how trust and identity underpin resilient leadership, and get practical advice on building a crisis comms plan, keeping your communications team close, and maintaining honest messaging with staff and stakeholders. Plus, learn how the right preparation can help organisations grow through disruption.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Mary Kemp, co-founder of Brighton AI and CEO of AI Potential, joins for an honest conversation about how AI is reshaping leadership, decision-making, and organisational resilience.

 AI isn’t just a technical challenge but a people-focused journey. Mary highlights the importance of curiosity, mindset, and culture in successful adoption. She also shares stories from her own pivot into the AI space, demystifies common fears, and offers practical advice.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Cybersecurity expert Robert Jumpp unpack the crucial intersection of cybersecurity and organisational resilience. Find out why cyber risk is no longer just an IT issue, but a strategic concern for leaders at every level. With real-world stories and practical insights from Robert’s experience across sectors like defence, banking and charities, you’ll hear how the landscape has shifted from compliance silos to an inclusive, whole-organisation approach.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Robert Jumpp on LinkedIn

National Cyber Security Centre

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Sara McCracken is an award-winning PR strategist and founder of the PR Club. She joins The Prepared Leader to explore one of the most often overlooked yet critical aspects of resilience: communication.

 Drawing from more than 20 years of experience helping organisations manage their reputation and prepare for media storms, Sara shares her insights on building robust communications plans, the vital role of PR in crisis management, and why planning your messaging matters just as much as planning your business continuity response. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Sara McCracken on LinkedIn

The PR Club

Sara McCracken PR On Instagram

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Today’s episode tackles a commonly missed growth avenue – selling to the public sector. Why do so many smaller firms avoid it? Is it really too complex or competitive, or are those just myths?

Helen Lipscombe is joined by Shiona Campbell, founder of BDS – Business Development Support Ltd. With 15 years’ experience in local government and the third sector, Shiona now helps owner-led businesses bid for and win public contracts.

You’ll hear her journey from project management to business consultancy, unpack the misconceptions around public sector sales, and get practical guidance on how to find opportunities and stand out in tenders.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Operational resilience isn’t just about compliance — it’s about culture, customers, and the way organisations think about disruption.

In this episode of The Prepared Leader: From Crisis to Confidence, host Helen Lipscombe speaks with Nick Simms from Cornwood Consulting, who brings nearly 40 years’ experience in business continuity and resilience. Together, they explore what makes operational resilience different, where regulation helps (and hinders), and why culture often determines whether resilience efforts succeed or fail.

You’ll hear:

• The shift from “if” to “when” disruption happens.
• Why resilience must focus on services, not just departments.
• Real-world disruptions — from escaped rhinos to IT failures.
• How regulation can both drive progress and create false confidence.
• Why soft skills and influencing matter more than technical training.

Whether you work in a regulated industry or not, this conversation offers practical lessons for leaders aiming to build resilience that lasts.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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Organisational culture is more than a buzzword — it’s the invisible force shaping how people behave, make decisions, and respond to challenges. In this episode of The Prepared Leader, guest host Jo Grove-Lafarge sits down with Alison Crockford (Build Secure Thinking) and Helen Lipscombe (Resilience Continuity Consulting) to unpack what culture really means, how it’s shaped by leadership, and why it can make or break resilience programmes.

We explore:

• Defining organisational culture beyond slogans.
• How leadership behaviour sets the tone — for better or worse.
• The role of psychological safety in driving accountability.
• Lessons from Boeing’s culture shift and its impact on safety.
• Why culture and engagement must be more than annual surveys.
• How to align resilience, cyber, and risk initiatives with the existing culture to make change stick.

Whether you lead a small team or a global organisation, this conversation will challenge how you think about culture — and how you can influence it.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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What does real resilient leadership look like — especially when uncertainty isn’t a one-off crisis but a constant reality?

In this episode of The Prepared Leader, Helen Lipscombe is joined by Steve Rabson-Stark from Then Somehow, a leadership coach who works with organisations to unlock resilience through purposeful change. Together, they explore what makes leadership teams thrive — or quietly unravel — under pressure.

You’ll hear:

• Why psychological safety is non-negotiable
• How to break out of silo thinking with “Team One” leadership
• Why charismatic leaders can be resilience risks
• The importance of safe conflict, listening, and unfinished answers
• And why agile, imperfect action often beats perfect planning

Whether you’re leading a university, a public service team, or a commercial organisation, this conversation will challenge your assumptions — and give you practical ways to lead with confidence, curiosity, and resilience.

📩 Connect with Steve: [email protected] | thensomehow.com
🔗 LinkedIn newsletter: Reimagining Leadership

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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How do you build resilience into a transport system that’s already stretched thin?

In this episode of The Prepared Leader, Helen Lipscombe speaks with resilience leader Joanna Grove-Lafarge about why transport systems are under pressure like never before, and what organisations can do about it.

From the Heathrow power outage to the Iberian grid failure, Joanna shares real-world lessons on the hidden fragility of our transport infrastructure, the risks of modern tech on ageing systems, and how leaders can prepare for what they can’t control.

You’ll learn:

• Why interdependencies matter more than ever
• How to lead through cascading disruptions
• The value of scenario-agnostic planning in fast and slow crises

If you work in transport, infrastructure, or business continuity, this one’s for you.

🔗 Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn: Joanna Grove-Lafarge
 📣 Like what you heard? Follow, rate, or share the episode with someone who leads under pressure.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

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In this kickoff episode of The Prepared Leader: From Crisis to Confidence, host Helen Lipscombe sits down with Tom Wootton, leadership coach and founder of the Scenario Testing Academy. Together, they explore why scenario testing is the secret weapon for leaders facing uncertainty.

Discover why most organisations miss the mark on crisis readiness, how practical scenario work builds real confidence, and what every leader should be doing to turn potential crises into opportunities for growth.

Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or resilience professional, this episode will leave you thinking differently about how you prepare.

Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient.

Connect with Helen Lipscombe:
LinkedIn: Helen Lipscombe FBCI | LinkedIn
Website: Resilience Continuity | UK

YouTube: Resilience Continuity Consulting - YouTube

Enjoying the show?
Follow, share, and leave a review to help more leaders build confidence before the crisis.

Until next time, stay ready and stay resilient