Inside the War Room: Case Studies in Crisis

Latest Episodes:

Episode 2: Karen Hughes, Former Counselor to the President for President George W. Bush, on the United States’ Response to the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

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.

Episode 1: Johnson & Johnson Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Wolk, on Reallocating Resources to Create a COVID-19 Vaccine Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

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.

Episode 0: Meet the Inside the War Room Hosts Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

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.