AI is powering the future of energy — handle with care
CS&A’s resident expert in high-risk industries, Thomas Helmer, says that while AI is revolutionising the energy sector, adopting AI systems should be approached with caution, strategic planning, and rigorous oversight. He explains here. It was impossible to escape AI at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) last November. Admittedly, AI is ubiquitous […]
When human savvy meets machine intelligence
AI is revolutionising the way we work and workplace dynamics, but we should not underestimate the value of the human dimension, says Caroline Sapriel. This article first appeared in the Autumn–Winter 2025 issue of CODI, the magazine for the European Association of Communication Directors. AI is driving a workforce evolution, but with far-reaching economic, legal, […]
Never waste a crisis
CS&A’s resident expert in high-risk industries, Thomas Helmer, explains why a crisis is an opportunity to learn new habits and skills that can help build resilience within your organisation. Around 55 million people were affected by a major power outage that struck Spain, Portugal and southern France at the end of last month. At the […]
Most Companies are Not Prepared for a Crisis
We need to do more to strengthen our crisis resilience, says risk, crisis and business continuity management expert Caroline Sapriel. If there was ever a mantra for crisis management, a good one would be, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” While Benjamin Franklin is said to be the source of this […]
Under pressure in a crisis, would your ethics stand up to scrutiny?
What happens when there’s a conflict between personal ethics and professional duties? CS&A International’s Andrew Morrison examines the risks that arise when individual values don’t align with business ethics and puts the spotlight on some real-life, high-profile, messy ethical dilemmas. As crisis consultants, we guide and advise C-suite executives, cross-functional heads, division leaders and managers […]
Why crisis leadership competencies matter in the effective management of a cyber crisis
This article was published in Cyber Security: A Peer-Reviewed Journal Vol. 8, 2 160–168 (2024) Abstract This paper examines whether specific leadership competencies are relevant in a cyber crisis and what it takes to manage one effectively. Our increasing dependence on technology exposes us to risks and makes us more vulnerable to digital crises. Cyberattacks […]
Solution Stories: Missteps & poor decisions can escalate a crisis, but it doesn’t have to be the case
This post is the second in our six-part Solution Stories series, where in each story, we profile a real-life crisis and how it evolved and was managed. We also offer a digital solution that could support effective crisis management in similar circumstances. On April 8, 2022, Belgium’s federal food safety authority (FASFC) revoked the license […]
Solution Stories: Stakeholders matter, especially in a crisis – just ask Pepsi
This post is the first in our six-part Solution Stories series, where in each story, we profile a real-life crisis and how it evolved and was managed. We also offer a digital solution that could support effective crisis management in similar circumstances. Stakeholders’ influence is the single biggest variable in crises today. The reality is […]
Big egos and good crisis leadership don’t mix
Today’s reality is that most businesses, large or small, will face a crisis at some stage of their life cycle. Increasing interconnections in social, economic and political systems make us more vulnerable to crises. Our growing dependence on technology exposes us to risks such as disinformation, ransomware, malware, and data leaks. Globally intertwined supply chains […]