Michele Wucker , the author of “The Gray Rhino,” recently keynoted at an investor summit in Beijing, China, where she shared her insights on risk management and how to deal with “gray rhino” events that can have a significant impact on businesses and economies.
For those who are unfamiliar, a “gray rhino” is a metaphor for a highly probable, high-impact event that is often ignored or overlooked. In her book, Wucker explains that these events are not unpredictable black swans but rather “all too obvious dangers that are neglected despite their size and likelihood.”
At the summit, Wucker discussed the importance of identifying and managing these gray rhinos, which can range from climate and energy risks to financil asset market volatility. She emphasized that being proactive and addressing these risks before they escalate is crucial for long-term success.
Wucker also spoke about the need for a new mindset when it comes to risk management, one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of our world and the potential impact of events beyond our immediate surroundings. She stressed that we need to adopt a more holistic approach to risk management that considers both the local and global context.
An award-winning global thought leader with experience in strategy, immigration policy, finance, globalization, turnarounds, and crisis management, Michele Wucker draws on three decades in media and non-profit management and policy development. Her third book is THE GRAY RHINO: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore, which grew out of a presentation at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland in which she coined the term “gray rhino” for highly probable, high impact crisis events. The book has received praise from business, policy, and thought leaders around the world and influenced policy debates at the highest levels. Michele founded Gray Rhino & Company in 2015 to help leaders and organizations to identify and strategize responses to gray rhino risks that are neglected despite -and all too often because of- their size.
Michele has been recognized as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a Guggenheim Fellow, among other honors. Her previous leadership positions include Vice President for Studies at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs; President of the World Policy Institute, which she re-launched in 2007 in a dramatic turnaround; and Latin America Bureau Chief at International Financing Review. She also has taught master’s students at the School for International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, of which she is an alumna. An engaging keynote speaker, moderator, panelist, and facilitator, she has delivered presentations in 16 countries on five continents. She lives in Chicago.
Michele‘s speaking topics are:
- Gray Rhino-Proofing Your Future: A New Way To Think About Risk And Response
- Demographic Gray Rhinos: Robots Meet Aging And Migration
- Beyond Kicking The Can: How To Stop Muddling And Innovate
Contact us to engage Michele Wucker to speak at your next conference.