RiskMasters | Trailblazing Risk Leadership

Julien Haye | Strategic Risk Leadership Expert | Author of The Risk Within

Join Julien Haye, Chief Risk Officer and author of The Risk Within, a groundbreaking book on psychological safety and decision-making in risk management, for insights on risk management from leaders and board directors. RiskMasters is the CPD-accredited podcast for risk managers and business leaders navigating strategic risk, enterprise risk and leadership challenges. The show explores how senior executives build strong business foresight and lead with purpose. In collaboration with Risk.net, each episode delivers thought-provoking conversations on leadership, resilience, and governance.

  1. Risk Culture and Decision-Making: Leadership Lessons for Chief Risk Officers and Boards with Leroy Roberts

    4 DAYS AGO

    Risk Culture and Decision-Making: Leadership Lessons for Chief Risk Officers and Boards with Leroy Roberts

    In this episode of RiskMasters, I speak with Leroy Roberts, founder of Team-Worth Solutions and a leadership and risk advisor specialising in risk culture, conduct risk, and decision-making in high-pressure environments. With more than 19 years of frontline leadership experience across the British Army, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and board-level advisory roles, Leroy brings a practical perspective on how risk management frameworks, leadership behaviour, and culture interact to shape outcomes. This conversation focuses on a critical but often overlooked reality: risk culture is not a values exercise. It is a control mechanism that directly influences risk decision-making and operational risk outcomes. 🎯 What You Will Learn How risk culture influences decision-making at every level of the organisationWhy operational risk often builds through behavioural drift, not isolated eventsHow chief risk officers and board directors can identify early warning signalsWhy silence and hesitation are indicators of weakening risk controlHow “decision drag” impacts risk management effectiveness and executionPractical ways to strengthen leadership accountability and governance discipline ⏱️ Episode Highlights 02:30 – Risk decision-making under pressure and leadership accountabilityHow leaders behave when decisions carry consequence, and why accountability often weakens under stress. 06:45 – The role of risk culture in operational risk outcomesWhy culture acts as a control mechanism shaping how risks are identified, escalated, and managed. 12:10 – Early warning signals in risk management systemsHow behavioural drift, hesitation, and delayed escalation signal weakening control before incidents emerge. 21:30 – How boards can improve oversight of risk culture and conduct riskWhat boards should actually look for, moving from narrative to evidence-based oversight. 30:15 – Strengthening governance through clear ownership and escalation disciplineWhy clarity of ownership and decision rights is the most direct lever to restore control and execution pace. 🧠 Key Insight “Risk culture determines whether issues are surfaced early or allowed to accumulate. It is a control mechanism embedded in how decisions are made.” 👤 About Leroy Roberts Leroy Roberts is the founder of Team-Worth Solutions, specialising in risk culture, leadership, and conduct risk. He advises organisations on strengthening risk management, decision-making, and governance frameworks, helping leaders identify and act on early signals before risks escalate into incidents. Find Leroy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leroy-roberts-leadershipconsultant/Learn more about the Culture and conduct scorecard mentioned during the episode: https://forms.gle/xf2RmgTsYGP57KJf7Learn more about Leroy’s book The Risk Owner’s Reset: A 90-Day Culture & Conduct Operating System for Executive Leaders Under Scrutiny  📝 Related Resources ·  Psychological Safety in Risk Leadership: The silent foundation of trust, culture, and challengeExplores how psychological safety directly impacts risk culture, decision-making, and escalation behaviour. ·  From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolHow board directors and chief risk officers can align risk appetite with decision-making and governance outcomes. ·  What Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?Reframing risk management as a forward-looking capability that strengthens leadership and strategic execution. ·  Strategic Uncertainty Governance: Who Owns Strategic Uncertainty?Clarifies ownership and accountability in risk decision-making under uncertainty. ·  Risk Capacity: The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and GovernanceHow operational risk, capacity, and leadership decisions interact to shape strategic limits.   🎓 Download your CPD certificate: The CPD Group – Accreditation #501145

    45 min
  2. Why Governance Fails Without Culture: The Role of Psychological Safety in Risk Management

    11 APR ·  BONUS

    Why Governance Fails Without Culture: The Role of Psychological Safety in Risk Management

    In this insightful episode of RiskMasters The Download, Julien Haye chats with Jennifer Geary, COO, CRO, and author of The C-Suite Framework, about the critical interplay between governance, culture, and risk management. They explore why organisations with similar governance structures can have vastly different risk outcomes despite having consistent escalation paths, committees, and reporting mechanisms. The conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety as a key enabler for risk escalation and effective decision-making within risk management frameworks. Listeners will learn how behavioural factors shape governance effectiveness, why certain issues remain unraised despite being known, and how risk leadership plays a crucial role in fostering a culture where risks are surfaced early. This episode underscores that successful governance is not just about structure but about creating trust and psychological safety that empowers risk managers and board directors to act in time and with impact. Tune in to understand why organisations that cultivate psychological safety and proactive risk escalation build stronger governance and reduce their exposure to strategic and enterprise risks. This discussion is essential for chief risk officers, risk leaders, and anyone involved in strategic leadership and risk management. What You’ll Hear • Why similar governance structures can produce different outcomes• The role of psychological safety in risk escalation• The moment where issues are not raised despite being known• How behaviour shapes the effectiveness of governance• Why escalation is a critical point of divergence Governance effectiveness is often assessed through structure. In practice, outcomes are determined by whether risk is surfaced at the moment it can still influence a decision. Organisations that consistently raise issues early create the conditions for effective governance. Those that do not can maintain strong structures while carrying increasing exposure. This segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Jennifer Geary, covering executive leadership, governance, psychological safety, and the future of the C-suite, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at ⁠⁠aevitium.com.

    3 min
  3. First 90 Days as Chief Risk Officer: Strategic Leadership and Risk Integration

    4 APR ·  BONUS

    First 90 Days as Chief Risk Officer: Strategic Leadership and Risk Integration

    This is The Download, a short extract from my conversation with Jennifer Geary, COO, Chief Risk Officer, and author of The C-Suite Framework. In this segment, we explore the critical role of a Chief Risk Officer and what matters most in the first 90 days. Moving beyond rapid assessment, effective risk leadership depends on implementing a robust risk management framework, understanding organisational context, and building strong relationships to embed enterprise risk into strategic decision-making.  What You’ll Hear • Why acting too quickly can reduce impact at the CRO level • How to approach your first 90 days with strategic leadership • The importance of understanding the organizational context and risk dynamics • Why relationships are crucial to embedding risk management in decisions • How to align expectations across the executive and board directors The effectiveness of a CRO is not defined by early activity. It is defined by how well risk becomes integrated into decision-making over time. Leaders who prioritise understanding, alignment, and relationships in their first 90 days create the conditions for sustained influence. Those who act too quickly often reinforce the perception of risk as a function rather than a strategic capability. This segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Jennifer Geary, covering executive leadership, governance, psychological safety, and the future of the C-suite, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at ⁠aevitium.com.

    6 min
  4. C-Suite Leadership & Risk Management with Jennifer Geary

    21 MAR

    C-Suite Leadership & Risk Management with Jennifer Geary

    In this RiskMasters episode, Jennifer Geary, a seasoned chief risk officer and senior executive leader, delves into the intricacies of C-suite leadership and risk management frameworks. Discover how risk managers and aspiring chief risk officers can navigate leadership transitions with clarity and strategic insight. Jennifer discusses the critical role governance and culture play in shaping enterprise risk outcomes and shares how psychological safety fosters resilient risk leadership.   Listeners will gain valuable strategies for applying structured risk management frameworks in complex environments and learn how AI and technology are transforming the expectations of risk leaders and board directors alike. This CPD-accredited discussion is essential for those committed to excelling in strategic risk and leadership roles.   Jennifer Geary’s expertise spans diverse sectors including banking, fintech, and SaaS, making her insights invaluable for risk professionals aiming to lead with purpose and impact. Whether you're a risk manager, a board director, or an emerging chief risk officer, this episode offers practical tools to reinvent leadership and strengthen enterprise risk governance.    “Stepping into the C-suite is less about having answers and more about creating clarity.” – Jennifer Geary 🔹 Key Themes & Takeaways C-suite leadership is a shift in perspective, not just responsibilitySuccess depends on moving from expertise to orchestration, alignment, and influence.Clarity is the primary leadership currency at the executive levelHigh-performing leaders create direction and alignment across ambiguity.Frameworks enable structured decision-making under pressureThe C-Suite Framework provides a practical way to prioritise, assess, and act.Governance and culture are interdependentFormal structures only deliver value when supported by trust and psychological safety.Role boundaries are becoming more fluidTechnology and organisational complexity require leaders to operate across functions.  🔹 Discussion Highlights What changes when leaders step into the C-suite for the first timeApplying the C-Suite Framework to a high-growth CRO scenarioBalancing expertise with leadership across specialised teamsAligning governance, culture, and execution in complex organisationsHow AI and technology are reshaping executive expectations  🔹 Who Should Listen C-suite and senior executives navigating complex organisational environmentsRisk, compliance, and governance leaders seeking stronger decision alignmentCOOs, CROs, and transformation leaders stepping into new rolesProfessionals preparing for executive transitions and broader leadership scopeBoard members and advisors focused on performance, resilience, and oversight  🔹 Timestamped Highlights (Optional) ⏱️ Episode Highlights 00:02 – Career journey and leadership foundations00:12 – Common misconceptions about the C-suite00:25 – Applying the C-Suite Framework in practice00:38 – Culture, governance, and psychological safety00:50 – The future of leadership and AI 📌 More about Jennifer Geary Jennifer Geary is a multi-time COO and CRO with experience across banking, fintech, SaaS, and the not-for-profit sector. She is the author of five bestselling books on executive leadership and the creator of The C-Suite Framework, supporting leaders transitioning into senior roles. 👉 Connect on LinkedIn 📝 Related Resources Building Psychological Safety in Risk ManagementFrom Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolWhat Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?Strategic Uncertainty Governance: Who Owns Strategic Uncertainty?Risk Capacity: The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and Governance 🎓 Download your CPD certificate: The CPD Group – Accreditation #800161

    50 min

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Join Julien Haye, Chief Risk Officer and author of The Risk Within, a groundbreaking book on psychological safety and decision-making in risk management, for insights on risk management from leaders and board directors. RiskMasters is the CPD-accredited podcast for risk managers and business leaders navigating strategic risk, enterprise risk and leadership challenges. The show explores how senior executives build strong business foresight and lead with purpose. In collaboration with Risk.net, each episode delivers thought-provoking conversations on leadership, resilience, and governance.

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