Panel 1

Crisis Leadership: At the Helm in Heavy Seas

Today’s leaders must be prepared to deal with crisis. In a complex and interconnected world, events and reactions in one country or region have implications worldwide. Over the past decade, the world has faced economic, political and social challenges demanding critical and decisive action from its leadership. While some leaders succumb to the circumstances and pressure surrounding adversity, others thrive—becoming stronger, bolder and in some cases, seemingly superhuman. In the chaos of crisis, how does a leader maintain order and manage resources to overcome adversity and accomplish the mission? What skills or attributes are necessary to lead during crisis? Can a leader who prospers in adverse situations anticipate hardship and preempt it, and how does she do so?