Blog
REPUTATION TRENDS FOR 2026 AND BEYOND
Editor’s Note The following analysis is republished from research conducted by M Booth, a global strategic communications firm specializing in reputation, issues management, and crisis response. As organizations prepare for 2026 and beyond, these insights closely align with what Asfalis Advisors is observing across resilience, risk, and leadership decision-making. We are sharing this perspective in full to highlight emerging reputation risks that leaders should address now. SHORT-SIGHTED DECISIONS BRING LONG-TERM DAMAGE Vanessa Vaughn Mathews, Founder and Chief Resilience Officer, Asfalis Advisors: Declining leadership maturity is fueling reputation risk. Seemingly short-sighted executive decisions in 2025 are seeding long-term negative effects on employee relations, community goodwill, and customer trust. Going forward, leaders
Enhancing Transportation Resilience in North Carolina
Did you know that since 2020, at least six hurricanes have directly impacted North Carolina? This statistic not only exemplifies the reality we face but also highlights the critical need for robust emergency management and transportation resilience. While celebrating National Preparedness Month in September, amidst hurricane season, understanding how to strengthen our state's transportation infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms is vital. I recommend that policymakers, business leaders, and voters explore the current challenges facing North Carolina's transportation network and delve into actionable steps, including the NC Projects for Advancing Vehicle-Infrastructure Enhancements (PAVE) Act, that can collectively safeguard our communities and effectively prepare us for future disasters. Current Challenges in
Ethical Dilemmas In Crisis: A Structured Approach for Leaders
Have you ever faced a situation where there were no clear answers or perfect solutions? In the world of crisis management, ethical dilemmas often surface, demanding rapid decisions that can have significant ramifications. These dilemmas can create tension because they usually involve balancing competing priorities and navigating uncertainties that leaders must confront. This blog post will explore how leaders can use a structured approach for decision-making in crisis scenarios, focusing on understanding the essence of these ethical dilemmas. In the following sections, you will learn how to clarify the dilemma, assess stakeholder impact, review values and principles, weigh options and alternatives, and ultimately decide, communicate, and review your chosen course
Four Vectors of Risk: The Threat Landscape in the Post-Pandemic World
Originally published on the International Association of Emergency Managers November 2021 bulletin. Written by Vanessa Mathews, CEO of Asfalis Advisors. The post-pandemic world presents four main types of risk to businesses eager to capitalize on pent-up consumer demand, but determined to protect their stakeholders and ensure their businesses remain resilient. In this article, I'm going to lay out what those risks are and explain what thoughtful emergency managers can do to help their organizations reap the rewards but avoid the pitfalls. Recently, I and other members of my team at Asfalis Advisors participated in a discussion with our friends at M Booth, the New York communications agency, about the risk environment for business in the post-pandemic
Stronger Together
This month Asfalis Advisors CEO Vanessa Mathews published an article in the CISO Magazine titled "Stronger Together: Effective Cyber Defense Requires the Crisis Management and Security Teams to Work in Concert." In the article, Vanessa outlines why it is so essential for organizations to develop internal partnerships and working relationships between the Crisis Management, Business Continuity, Physical Security, and Information Security Teams. Read the entire article here (Vanessa's article starts on p.13 of the pdf). You can also view the entire November issue and get the latest cyber security news and information on the CISO Mag website here. Vanessa was also a featured guest on the magazine's podcast last month,
Team Development Smart Practices
Originally published on the International Association of Emergency Managers September 2021 bulletin. Written by Dan Rector, M.S., CEM, Business Resilience Advisor, Asfalis Advisors. Introduction Leadership and team development are more art than science. The variability of human experiences makes it nearly impossible to assign a one size fits all model to them. What is seen as effective and engaging to one may be viewed as isolating and off-putting to others. While there is no magic button to leadership and team development, there are concepts that leaders can use to develop their style and techniques. These concepts must be delivered to team members through effective communication methods. Team Development
What is Crisis Leadership?
Over the course of my career, I have been asked to create disruption and chaos, in a simulated environment, to provide a greater awareness of leadership obstacles and opportunities. From sounding fire alarms to see how quickly employees evacuate; simulating hurricanes to see how facilities teams prepare and protect the organizations assets; facilitating disaster recovery exercises to measure how quickly technology teams can restore systems and minimize disruption; simulating CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives) at airports with Customs and Border protection, to assessing how private aircraft carriers and law enforcement mitigate immediate threats to the public. Through experience and observation, I’ve learned leadership is discovered in action. In
10-Step Guide for Governments to Help Businesses Survive A Crisis
To say state and local governments have been overwhelmed with the onset of the COVID-19 and economic crisis and the long-term impacts of it, is an understatement. The response to reopen the United States in phases has created additional challenges with the pandemic recovery efforts, and people’s lives are at stake. As the federal government disburses trillions of dollars in recovery funding to provide some relief for families and businesses, local governments need to make proper investments with the resources. Many civic leaders are asking questions to help their business community: What resources do business owners need? How many businesses are prepared for another crisis? How can business owners keep
Crisis Management … What Can You do About Racism?
Welcome to episode #047 of the Business Resilience DECODED podcast with Vanessa Vaughn Mathews. Earlier this year, I published a podcast on Crisis Leadership that discusses the four principles every crisis leader should apply as crisis situations escalate. Many subscribers were able to immediately apply those leadership principles to better protect and serve their people during COVID-19. After the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis, we are sharing how crisis leaders can apply these same principles in your efforts to address racism and racial inequality in your businesses. This episode of the Business Resilience DECODED podcast discusses: Systemic racism that shows up