Inside the War Room: Case Studies in Crisis

As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11/2001, we are reposting one of our earliest and most important episodes to date, an interview with Karen Hughes, former White House Counselor to the President for President George W. Bush. In this interview, Karen discusses leading the nation's communications response during the September 11 terrorist attacks, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the events of 9/11 and the days immediately following. 

In this episode of Inside the War Room, join hosts Jordan Strauss, Michael Estevez, and Sherine Ebadi as they discuss how organizations should manage a whistleblower complaint. Our experts will give you a better understanding of the ways whistleblower complaints develop, the two categories into which they fall, and the appropriate manner and method of response for each.

In this episode of Inside the War Room, join hosts Jordan Strauss, Michael Estevez, and Sherine Ebadi as they discuss how organizations should handle a media leak. Our experts give you the high-level playbook on how to avoid leaks in the first place, as well as when and how to respond to a leak publicly. The conversation also touches on the best practices for mitigating the impact of a leak investigation on your organization and the importance of brand reputation.

In this episode of Inside the War Room, join hosts Jordan Strauss, Michael Estevez and Sherine Ebadi as they discuss the issue of misinformation and disinformation in today's business and media landscape. This conversation dives into BCW and Kroll's specialties, investigating the origins of harmful information and mitigating its potential impact. You will get a deeper understanding of how and why this type of information can spread as well as when and how to respond as an organization.

In this episode of Inside the War Room, join hosts Jordan Strauss, Michael Estevez and special guest Tim Gallagher as they discuss best practices for responding to, and preparing for, a potential ransomware attack. These include important considerations like who should be in the room when decisions are being made and how to communicate internally and publicly if an attack should happen. They also cover some of the most common mistakes made by organizations during a ransomware attack. As ransomware attacks grow in frequency and sophistication, this episode will provide a high-level roadmap for protecting your organization. 

In this episode of Inside the War Room, join hosts Jordan Strauss, Michael Estevez and Sherine Ebadi as they discuss potential blind spots organizations may face as they navigate the return-to-office landscape. This conversation dives into best practices on how to engage employees and prepare them for the next phase of recovery, as well as important considerations that should be included on every employer's return-to-office roadmap. 

Daniel Linskey, Former Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston Police Department, discusses the department's response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.Through his harrowing account of this dreadful day, Linskey examines the in-depth training that prepared his police force for a bombing, the importance of transparency and clear communication in the midst of a crisis, and why it's essential to “write your script before you key your mic.” 

Abbe Lowell, Co-Chair of Regulatory Defense and Investigations at Winston & Strawn, discusses representing former U.S. Representative Gary Condit, who was wrongfully implicated in the 2001 disappearance of a Capitol Hill intern. Lowell shares his experience as a criminal defense attorney at the center of a case that garnered national attention, including facing criticism for the representation of his client, handling challenging interactions with law enforcement officials and addressing misinformation spread throughout the news media. This episode gives listeners insight into the life of a high-profile defense attorney and offers sound advice to lawyers and professional consultants who represent controversial clients. 

Todd Lieberman, co-owner of Mandeville Films and producer of movies including 2017's “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Proposal,” “The Fighter,” “The Muppets,” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” explores the realities of the film industry and its overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At the start of 2020, Lieberman looked forward to starting five separate projects – three movies and two television series. By spring, all were entirely shut down, a combined 30 years of work stripped away due to the devastating impact of the global pandemic. In this episode, Lieberman advises those whose careers were upended due to COVID-19, and shares how he and his teams were able to creatively overcome the obstacles presented throughout 2020 and 2021. 

David Shulkin, Former Secretary of the United States Veterans Affairs (U.S. VA), discusses his response to the VA “wait time” crisis after his appointment by President Obama – where many U.S. veterans could not access urgently needed healthcare through the nation's veterans' hospitals.  Shulkin also takes listeners through an array of crises managed while working for the government, including the Pulse nightclub shooting and the Charlottesville riots, and how he stood by his principles – even at the risk of dismissal from public service.  

Karen Hughes, former White House Counselor to the President for President George W. Bush, discusses leading the nation's communications response during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the events of 9/11 and the days immediately following.   In vivid detail, Hughes recounts the moment when she first received word that a passenger plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, how she and others made their way through a desolate downtown Washington, D.C. to the White House, and the crucial decision to brief a stunned nation on the state of the federal government. 

Joseph Wolk, Chief Financial Officer of Johnson & Johnson, discusses key aspects of the company's strategic shift toward developing a COVID-19 vaccine. From the moment Johnson & Johnson executives learned of the virus, to the ultimate decision to enter into the race to eradicate the global pandemic, Wolk goes behind the scenes of what it's like to be a key decision-maker in one of the largest international medical companies. He also offers insight into how corporate values should drive decision-making during a crisis—even during a global pandemic. 

Welcome to Inside the War Room: Case Studies in Crisis. In this introductory episode, meet your hosts: Sherine Ebadi, Michael Estevez and Jordan Strauss, leaders in crisis management, business intelligence and investigations. Listen as each host recounts major crises they have personally managed. Go behind the scenes with Jordan Strauss, who discusses his experiences leading the U.S. Department of Justice response to the 2011 Fukushima tragedy; with Michael Estevez, who touches on the many crises he has worked on during his 20-plus years in the industry, as well as the personal impact of 9/11 on his career; and with Sherine Ebadi, who revisits her years as an FBI special agent and her humanitarian relief work in Turkey.  In the episodes to follow, Sherine, Michael and Jordan will take you inside the war room with special guests who led or had senior roles on crisis management teams. Join us as we explore key decisions that were made during these events, how those decisions unfolded, what was learned and what advice our guests and hosts have for leaders who face the inevitable crisis.