Emergency Leadership for Futureproof Companies

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin

We find ourselves in the era of consequences, where decisions at both national and global levels have immediate and long-term impacts. This dynamic imposes a pressing need for businesses to adapt and anticipate the future through careful planning based on past analysis. Particularly in the field of corporate security, where the Emergency Champion becomes a crucial figure, understanding and managing the consequences of choices becomes essential to preserve operational continuity and employee safety. Only by embracing a forward-thinking mindset, founded on a strategic and planned approach, can we make our companies resilient and prepared to successfully confront emerging challenges, ensuring their future-proofness in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world.

The management of emergencies is undergoing a radical transformation, especially concerning employee mobility. The traditional role of the Travel Security Specialist, initially focused on field operations, has evolved to address growing challenges and geopolitical dynamics, giving rise to a more advanced and strategically relevant figure: the Emergency Champion. This evolution is closely linked to the directives of international standards such as ISO 31030, ISO 31000, and ISO 22320.

We are witnessing a substantial change in the traditional role of the Travel Security Specialist. Initially concentrated on field operations, this function has evolved into a role more oriented towards compliance, shifting attention towards legal checks and preventing the risk of sanctions in a company through the application of the legal model model (ex. Legislative Decree no. 231 for Italy). Concurrently, field operations have been entirely delegated to external security companies, marking a direct result of the increasing digitalization of corporate activities.

This transformation is reflected in the growing importance of analysis and forecasting for creating futureproof companies. The era of consequences has taught us that past decisions have tangible impacts on the present and, even more significantly, on the future. Through careful analysis of the past, businesses can discern patterns, anticipate trends, and understand the consequences of strategic choices. Forecasting, in particular, becomes a guiding light in navigating future uncertainties, enabling companies to proactively prepare for unforeseen challenges. The abilty to interpret data, analyze scenarios, and predict trends becomes a critical skill for creating a resilient and future-oriented corporate environment.

The Emergency Champion, a key figure in this context, aligns rigorously with the directives established by ISO 22320, providing a methodical approach to planning, preparation, and response to emergency situations. In this scenario characterized by a continuous state of emergency, the focus shifts from managing individual trips to the movement of tens, if not hundreds, of people involved in projects or situated in locations worldwide. In line with ISO standards, the Emergency Champion is tasked with coordinating and managing this complex human logistics, adopting technical and strategic approaches.

This new context will significantly alter the role of those involved in Travel Security. Instead of primarily focusing on managing individual trips, the emphasis will shift towards the large-scale movement of people involved in global projects. Mobility management becomes a crucial component, requiring advanced skills in logistics, transport security, and operational coordination.

The Emergency Champion, therefore, must adopt a specialized approach to managing groups of people in motion, ensuring efficient and safe movement during emergency situations. This evolution will transform the role of the Travel Security professional into a strategic manager of global corporate mobility, with increased attention to planning and managing large-scale impacts rather than individual trips. Early planning, crucial in ISO 31000 and ISO 22320 standards, assumes a fundamental role.

The role of the Emergency Champion extends beyond operational coordination; it necessitates seamless collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders, often guiding them towards informed decisions. From liaising with Human Resources for personnel considerations to coordinating with logistics teams and external service providers, the Emergency Champion must navigate the intricate web of internal and external partnerships. Effective communication, both internally and externally, is paramount to ensure a unified response during emergencies. Additionally, collaboration with risk management is crucial to assess and mitigate potential threats, while aligning with business decisions that impact the commercial landscape. In this multifaceted role, the Emergency Champion becomes a linchpin, orchestrating collaborative efforts across various domains to steer the organization towards well-informed and strategic decisions in the face of emergent challenges.

Asset protection, in accordance with the principles of ISO 31000, extends well beyond human safety, involving the safeguarding of critical corporate resources. The Emergency Champion, aligning with the principles of enterprise risk management, assumes the responsibility of protecting vital elements of business operations in complex and unpredictable scenarios. Furthermore, acting as a manager of stakeholder groups on a global and regional scale, the Emergency Champion integrates coordination and collaboration directives provided by ISO 22320 standards. Their ability to collaborate with diverse entities becomes crucial for monitoring the impacts of emergencies on business decisions and adopting timely measures.

In conclusion, navigating the era of consequences requires forward-thinking strategies and a proactive approach to emergency management. The fusion of compliance, strategic supervision, and specialized operational management sets the stage for a comprehensive and integrated approach to corporate security. This mix of skills aims to ensure a thorough response to the ever-growing challenges in the modern era of consequences.