White Swan
18 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -A crisis can come in many forms. But whatever it looks like, one thing is certain: businesses need to be prepared. White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees host Gavin Megaw joined by Gary Cleland of Hanover and Karen White of National in Canada to talk with a super special guest to look at crises from all angles to explain how senior business leaders stay on top of things during those tense, headline-making moments.
Each episode of White Swan will feature an in-depth conversation with a senior figure from the world of business, who will tell us about their crisis experiences, give you the lessons you need to hear, and emphasise the importance of a nice cup of tea and a sit down.
White Swan is brought to you by Hanover Communications. Find out more at HanoverComms.com.
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Episodes
Tom Greatrex: A political culture geared to crisis and why nuclear is the answer
January 05, 2023 10:12 - 47 minutes - 523 MBIn episode 15 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we welcome a person kept very busy during a global energy crisis: Tom Greatrex, CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, which represents 250 companies across the nuclear supply chain in the UK. Tom is also a former Labour MP (2010 and 2015), and a highly respected Shadow Energy Minister. He is the vice chair of the Football Supporters Association and represents supporters on the FA Council. As an advocate of nuclear power, he deconstructs th...
Thomas Hurd: Inside COBRA - the UK government's crisis engine
December 15, 2022 10:41 - 46 minutes - 514 MBIn episode 14 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we are joined by Thomas Hurd – former Director General at the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the UK. Thomas was also responsible for overseeing the domestic operations of the intelligence agencies, CT Police and the National Crime Agency and played a leading role internationally on domestic security issues. Back in May 2020, at the outset of Covid-19 in the UK, Thomas was tasked with setting up the UK's Joint Biosecurity Ce...
How Leaders Can Navigate The Gender Bias Crisis, with Kate Miller and Helen Sauntson
April 20, 2022 08:30 - 42 minutes - 703 MBIn Episode 13 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we talk about what leaders can do to avoid a crisis engulfing their business around the language of gender – and why getting this language right can make your business more resilient, and more profitable. In this episode, Gavin Megaw talks with Kate Miller, Chief Diversity and Communications Officer at the England & Wales Cricket Board, and Helen Sauntson, Professor of English Language and Linguistics in the York St John University School ...
Bruce Daisley: Building Resilient Leaders
February 14, 2022 10:46 - 53 minutes - 882 MBIn Episode 12 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast we talk with Bruce Daisley - podcaster, best-selling author, former VP at Twitter and expert on workplace culture. Bruce and Gavin Megaw focus on the topic of resilience: what it is (and, indeed, what it isn’t), and how you cannot be resilient on your own. The two talk about why it’s essential for the top-table of any business to have collective strength around the top table – especially in times of crisis, and how a top team can draw strengt...
James Bielby: Navigating A Perfect Storm in Food & Drink
December 21, 2021 11:31 - 43 minutes - 713 MBIn Episode 11 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we talk to James Bielby, Chief Executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors. The FWD’s members distribute food and drink to more than half-a-million businesses, and over the last two years they have faced a seemingly never-ending wave of crises – through Brexit and Covid, to supply chain pressures and labour market issues, and beyond. James talks us through how he has helped unite the FWD’s membership and guided the organisation throug...
Jo Anne Poirier: How Transparency and Empathy Can Help Guide Your Team Through Crises
November 18, 2021 07:30 - 37 minutes - 85.6 MBOn episode 10 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we hear from Jo-Anne Poirier, CEO of VON Canada, an organisation that has provided home and community care to more than 10,000 people throughout Canada for more than 120 years. VON has faced an array of crises that could have seen off a lesser-prepared organisation in the last few years – from a financial restructuring, through Covid, to a ransomware attack and even a mass shooting. Jo-Anne tells us how her motto in a crisis is to “stay calm ...
Farrah Storr: The Fine Line: Bringing People With You In A Crisis
July 26, 2021 06:30 - 51 minutes - 119 MBEpisode 9 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees Gavin Megaw speaking to Farrah Storr, Editor in Chief of Elle UK. Farrah also launched Women’s Health UK and is one of the most influential editors around. She has the awards to prove it – having been named BSME Editor of the Year three times, most recently in 2020. Farrah is also the author of a book called The Discomfort Zone, which looks at how challenge and discomfort can unlock human potential. In a brilliant conversation, Farrah talks t...
Lord Richard Wilson: Lessons from the Heart of Government During 9/11
June 28, 2021 06:30 - 47 minutes - 108 MBEpisode 8 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees Gavin Megaw joined by Richard Wilson, the former Cabinet Secretary and most senior civil servant in the United Kingdom when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. In a fascinating and open conversation, Richard talks about the vital role that COBRA plays in pulling people physically together in one place to stop them running around like “headless chickens” in a crisis, and how the UK Government dealt with the September 11th attacks – including his ow...
Steve Elworthy: How Being An All-Rounder Helps Control A Crisis
May 26, 2021 06:30 - 50 minutes - 115 MBEpisode 7 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast with Steve Elworthy MBE, the Managing Director of Events & Special Projects at the England & Wales Cricket Board. Steve talks about how his international test cricket career has influenced his administrative career, including his role as Managing Director of the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Steve and Gavin talk about the importance of being a generalist – rather than a specialist – when controlling a crisis. Steve talks about how he worked har...
Dr Jessica Barker: Tackling a Cyber Security Crisis
April 28, 2021 06:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBIn episode 6 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we speak to Dr Jessica Barker, co-founder and co-CEO of cyber security agency Cygenta. Jessica is a respected leader on the human side of cyber security, and a go-to expert on the growing threat that every business faces from cyber-attacks. Jessica has been named one of the top 20 most influential women in cyber security in the UK and awarded as one of the UK’s Tech Women 50 in 2017. She is the Chair of ClubCISO. Gavin and Jessica have a fas...
David Davis MP: Being At The Centre of a Political Crisis
April 01, 2021 06:00 - 51 minutes - 119 MBIn episode 5 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we speak with David Davis MP, former Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union and member of parliament for Haltemprice & Howden. In a wide-ranging, open and honest conversation, host Gavin Megaw talks with David about how the Government has got its approach to the Covid crisis wrong by focusing on how to cope with the impending problems of the pandemic, rather than how to solve them. David tells us about his career in politics, and h...
Sarah Binder: How Pizza Hut Handled The Covid Crisis
February 24, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBIn episode 4 of White Swan, The Crisis Podcast, Gavin Megaw talks with Sarah Binder, Chief Development Officer at Pizza Hut. When the Covid-19 crisis first hit, every business had to react quickly to cope with a changing business environment. Pizza Hut were no different – with restaurants closed and an increased demand for takeaway food, they had to shift focus, educate and reassure delivery staff, and implement new processes in double-quick time. Gavin and Sarah talk about how the busin...
Ian Walker: Tapping into the Power of the Press
January 25, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBFor episode 3 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we’re joined by Ian Walker, Executive Editor, MailOnline. Ian talks about his early days in journalism and how a quest to be the first to publish the results of the local darts league helped shape his approach to journalism as a young reporter. He talks to us about how businesses can get it wrong when responding to press enquiries, and how building a relationship of mutual trust is a vital tool in helping to get the right messaging out there...
Emma Tottenham: Prevention is better than cure
December 17, 2020 15:07 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIn episode 2 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we’re joined by Emma Tottenham, Group Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability of Virgin Money. Emma talks about her own journey to the top table at Virgin Money, how she and her team work to spot the trends that might ladder up to eventually become a crisis, and how in her view it is absolutely vital for businesses to get their purpose, values and sustainability agenda in check to help prevent crises arriving. It’s a fascinat...
Emma Tottenham
December 17, 2020 15:07 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIn episode 2 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast, we’re joined by Emma Tottenham, Group Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability of Virgin Money. Emma talks about her own journey to the top table at Virgin Money, how she and her team work to spot the trends that might ladder up to eventually become a crisis, and how in her view it is absolutely vital for businesses to get their purpose, values and sustainability agenda in check to help prevent crises arriving. It’s a fas...
Phil Maher: The Three C's of Crisis Management
December 08, 2020 14:52 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThis week we’re joined by former Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, Phil Maher. Phil talks us through his crisis approach, and explains his “three c’s” of crisis management. We’ll hear in depth about how a trip to the ice skating rink with his son was interrupted to deal with an emergency landing at Gatwick – and how Phil and his team managed the communications around a story that led news coverage for hours in the run-up to Christmas. You can see the videos of the VS43 emergency l...
Phil Maher: The Three C's
December 08, 2020 14:52 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThis week we’re joined by former Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, Phil Maher. Phil talks us through his crisis approach, and explains his “three c’s” of crisis management. We’ll hear in depth about how a trip to the ice skating rink with his son was interrupted to deal with an emergency landing at Gatwick – and how Phil and his team managed the communications around a story that led news coverage for hours in the run-up to Christmas. You can see the videos of the VS43 emergency l...
Phil Maher's Three C's
December 08, 2020 14:52 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThis week we’re joined by former Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, Phil Maher. Phil talks us through his crisis approach, and explains his “three c’s” of crisis management. We’ll hear in depth about how a trip to the ice skating rink with his son was interrupted to deal with an emergency landing at Gatwick – and how Phil and his team managed the communications around a story that led news coverage for hours in the run-up to Christmas. You can see the videos of the VS43 emergency l...