RiskMasters | Trailblazing Risk Leadership

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 & TakeawaysC-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 HighlightsWhat 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 ListenC-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 Highlights00:02 – 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 GearyJennifer 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 ResourcesBuilding 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

This is The Download, a short extract from my recent RiskMasters conversation with Iremar Brayner, focused on risk management in fraud prevention. In this segment, we explore how technology is reshaping fraud detection and prevention for risk leaders and chief risk officers. Automation, data analysis, and AI are enhancing capabilities to detect fraud, while fraudsters simultaneously leverage the same advanced technologies to develop increasingly sophisticated attacks. Fraud prevention is evolving into a high-stakes technological race that requires strategic leadership and continuous adaptation.What You’ll Hear• How automation is transforming fraud detection within risk frameworks• Why technology both strengthens fraud prevention and empowers fraud attempts• The necessity for risk managers to constantly adapt to emerging risks and consider human emotionsListen to the Full EpisodeThis segment is taken from the full RiskMasters interview with Iremar Brayner, which explores identity verification, automation, and the future of fraud prevention strategies in digital marketplaces, offering invaluable insights for chief risk officers and board directors in the enterprise risk landscape.Full interview: ⁠https://www.aevitium.com/post/iremar-brayner-on-riskmasters

In this episode of RiskMasters, Julien Haye dives into advanced risk management and fraud prevention strategies with Iremar Brayner, focusing on high-growth, high-volume digital platforms. Drawing on over 17 years of experience, Iremar explains why fraud strategy cannot be generic, the critical role of identity as a strategic control, and the importance of embedding risk management practices into product functions rather than treating them as policing layers. Listeners will gain insights into balancing security with user experience, navigating the practical trade-offs inherent in enterprise risk, and leveraging adaptive, data-driven frameworks to scale trust effectively. The conversation also highlights risk leadership approaches that integrate collaboration across fraud, product, engineering, and legal teams. Key Themes & TakeawaysFraud is contextual, not universalEffective fraud strategies flex by product design, payment flows, and user behaviour.Identity as a strategic controlIdentity verification shapes trust, conversion, and loss prevention when designed intelligently.Risk as a product capabilityStrong outcomes come from deep collaboration between fraud, product, engineering, and legal.False positives matter as much as fraud lossCustomer friction is a risk in its own right.Scaling trust in marketplacesHigh-volume platforms demand adaptive, data-driven controls rather than static rules. Discussion HighlightsWhy one-size-fits-all fraud frameworks fail in practiceDesigning onboarding that protects the business without driving customers awayThe role of biometrics, 2FA, and analytics in modern fraud defenceManaging fraud risk while supporting growth targetsBuilding and leading multicultural fraud teams at scale Who Should ListenFraud and financial crime leadersRisk, compliance, and trust & safety professionalsProduct and engineering leaders working on onboarding and paymentsExecutives balancing growth, conversion, and loss prevention DisclaimerThe views shared by Iremar Brayner are his own and do not represent those of G2A or any other organisation. 📌 More about Iremar BraynerIremar Brayner is a senior fraud, risk, and payments professional with 17 years of experience leading fraud prevention, KYC, transaction monitoring, chargebacks, and AML across fintech, ride-hailing, retail, banking, and digital marketplaces. He is currently Head of Fraud Prevention at G2A.com, where he focuses on combining data-driven insight, operational excellence, and scalable controls to reduce risk while enabling strong customer experiences, following senior roles at PayPal, DiDi, FARFETCH, MetaMap, Zettle, and will bank. 👉 Connect with Iremar on LinkedIn📝 Related Resources:How to Integrate Fraud Detection and Prevention into Your Enterprise Risk Management FrameworkWhat Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?⁠From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board Tool⁠⁠Building Psychological Safety in Risk Management⁠ 🎓 Download your CPD certificate: ⁠The CPD Group – Accreditation #501019

In this conversation, Julien Haye is joined by Jeff Simmons, Head of Advisory Group and Risk & Compliance Lead at ALBA Partners, and former Chief Risk Officer at MUFG Securities Europe. With over two decades in global banking and regulatory leadership, Jeff shares candid reflections on how risk management must reconnect to purpose, people, and performance.“Good CROs are not good scientists. They’re good risk managers who understand business.” – Jeff SimmonsIn this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn:• How regulatory relationships built on trust can become a strategic asset• Why effective governance depends on proportionate execution and delivery discipline• The cultural shifts needed to close the gap between strategy, appetite, and action• How to educate boards and teams to make confident decisions with imperfect data• Lessons from Brexit, DORA, and regulatory divergence on sustaining resilience⏱️ Episode Highlights00:02 – From CRO to advisor: why Jeff redefined his purpose00:14 – Lessons from the financial crisis and the evolution of the risk function00:31 – Building trust and transparency with regulators00:44 – Making governance practical: from plans to delivery00:57 – Culture, tone from the top, and psychological safety01:05 – The future of risk: reconnecting risk and finance📌 More about Jeff SimmonsJeff Simmons is a senior advisor and risk governance expert with ALBA Partners, specialising in regulatory transformation, culture, and risk-function effectiveness. A former Chief Risk Officer at MUFG Securities Europe, he has led major licensing and Brexit-related programmes and continues to advise firms on building credible governance frameworks.👉 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-simmons-608254a/🎓 Continue your learning: Enrol in the Risk Leadership CPD Masterclass. 📝 Related Resources:• Appetite as a Strategic Capability – Framework linking ambition, capacity, and governance to strengthen decision alignment.• The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and Governance – Understanding risk capacity as the foundation of credible board oversight.• Guiding Principles for an Effective Control Environment – Twelve principles for designing ownership-driven, performance-oriented controls.• Building Trust with Regulators – Turning supervisory dialogue into a partnership that improves governance credibility.• Psychological Safety in Risk Management – How leadership tone and escalation culture shape foresight and resilience.• From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board Tool – Practical steps to embed appetite into strategic execution.• Change Management Risk Assessment Framework – A step-by-step guide for aligning transformation programmes with risk capacity and tolerance.🎓 Download your CPD certificate:The CPD Group – Accreditation #800148Episode Credits:Produced by Aevitium LTDEdited by Julien HayeDesign: Julien Haye

What does real risk leadership look like when the pressure is on? In this debut episode of The Download — the short-form companion to RiskMasters — host Julien Haye dives deep into risk management and crisis leadership with Brenda Boultwood. Join us as we extract three transformative lessons from her vast experience in banking, energy, and governance. Learn how to build an effective risk management framework that prioritises culture and clarity, shaping resilience long before a crisis hits. From navigating the 2008 financial crisis at Constellation Energy to redefining risk visibility in the C-suite, this episode reveals how strategic risk and governance can be leveraged as key strengths in leadership. 💡 In this episode:Understanding the moral and strategic dimensions of risk leadership in times of crisisBrenda’s “sombrero view” — why risk culture is a vital leadership platform for the futureInsights from Jamie Dimon’s favourite meeting highlighting the essence of lived governanceLessons from Aevitium’s work on how risk management contributes to corporate resilience and fosters conversations in governance 🧭 Reflection prompt:If your organisation faced a near-death experience tomorrow, would risk be viewed as the problem — or the solution to survive? 🎧 Listen to the full episode and more: https://www.aevitium.com/post/brenda-boultwood-on-riskmasters 🎙 On Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riskmasters/id1709495792?i=1000710473825🎙 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39kvq1RN8Am7NaPLw1Dbox?si=xj_ktMyGSdm8HYa6rLLzIg 🔔 Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of risk.

Join us in RiskMasters to delve into risk culture and people risk quantifications with Horst Simon."Risk management is not about colors and matrices. It's about people." – Horst SimonIn this CPD-accredited episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye welcomes Horst Simon, veteran risk management expert and pioneer of people risk and risk culture. Drawing from decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Horst shares his journey, his challenges to outdated risk practices, and his vision for the future of risk management.As organisations face an unpredictable world shaped by interconnected threats and rapid change, Horst argues that the real competitive advantage lies not in more controls or more reports — but in empowering every employee to be a risk manager.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, follow, and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring more thought-provoking insights from industry leaders.In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn:🔹 Why Risk Culture Starts with People, Not Policies: Horst shares how true risk resilience depends on embedding risk thinking into every employee’s mindset — and why outdated models like the Three Lines of Defense miss this opportunity.🔹 How to Rethink Leadership, Reporting, and Risk Strategy: Discover why boards must stop relying on sanitized historic reports, how to measure risk culture maturity meaningfully, and why leadership must move from control to empowerment.🔹 The Future of Risk Management in an Unpredictable World: Explore the biggest emerging risks for 2025 — including cyber threats, social cohesion risks, and the misuse of AI — and how cross-cultural awareness and proactive risk intelligence will define future success.More about Horst Simon:Horst Simon is a recognized global expert in risk culture, operational risk, and people risk. With experience across continents and industries, Horst is the founder of Risk Culture Builders, a network dedicated to helping organizations embed effective, sustainable risk cultures. His non-conformist and practical approach challenges outdated thinking and redefines how organizations should approach risk in a fast-changing world.📌 Connect with Horst Simon on LinkedIn for insights into risk culture, leadership, and future-proofing risk management.🎙 Tune in now to learn how you can future-proof your organization by embedding risk thinking into every layer of the business.Discover related risk management topics:Embracing a Dynamic Risk CultureEmbedding Psychological Safety into Risk ManagementLeading Through Uncertainty: Risk and Decision-Making in a Nonlinear WorldBeyond Checklists: The Human Factor in Risk ManagementDownload your CPD Certificate:Link: ⁠ https://thecpd.group/podcast/Accreditation number: #800117

Join us to learn about strategic foresight and its application in risk management with expert Roger Spitz. "In a world of deep uncertainty, the ability to adapt is more important than the ability to predict." – Roger SpitzIn this CPD episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye continues his conversation with Roger Spitz, global foresight expert and founder of Techistential and the Disruptive Futures Institute. Building on Part 1, Roger delves deeper into the practical application of foresight in risk management, covering how organisations can integrate scenario planning, anticipate systemic risks, and build resilience against unpredictable disruptions. In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: • The Limits of Traditional Scenario Planning: Why conventional risk models fail in deep uncertainty and how organisations can develop a more adaptive approach.• Foresight-Driven Decision-Making: How risk leaders can integrate foresight methodologies to navigate complexity and enhance strategic planning.• Asymmetry and Uninsurable Risks: The impact of asymmetric risks, why some disruptions cannot be insured, and how leaders can build resilience in unpredictable environments.• Beyond Resilience – Embracing Anti-Fragility: The critical distinction between fragility, resilience, and anti-fragility—and how organisations can thrive under systemic disruption.• Leadership and Governance in an Uncertain World: Practical strategies for embedding foresight into risk culture, governance frameworks, and executive decision-making. More about Roger Spitz Roger is a leading authority on strategic foresight, systemic disruption, and complexity. As President of Techistential, he advises executives and boards on navigating uncertainty. He is also the author of Disrupt with Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World. Listen to the full episode on your player of choice:⁠RiskMasters with Roger Spitz on Apple Podcast⁠⁠RiskMasters with Roger Spitz on Spotify⁠⁠RiskMasters with Roger Spitz on Amazon Music⁠ Find out more about Roger Spitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerspitz/ Discover related risk management topics and RiskMasters podcasts:Building Operational ResilienceHow to Scope an Emerging Risk FrameworkHow to Identify and Manage Emerging Risks?Anti-Fragile Risk Management: Turning Volatility into Strategic Advantage Download your CPD Certificate:Link: ⁠https://thecpd.group/podcast⁠Accreditation number: #800056

In this episode of RiskMasters, we delve into the critical intersection of conduct and culture in risk management with expert Toby Billington. As a seasoned risk and compliance leader, Toby asserts that ‘Conduct beats controls every day; fix the culture, and the controls will follow.’ Join host Julien Haye as Toby shares his extensive experience from legal advisory to leading compliance at top institutions like Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC. Discover how authentic leadership fosters cultural change and the significance of aligning tone from the top with genuine behaviors in organizations. We also discuss the evolving role of first and second lines of defense in enhancing accountability and the narrative-driven approach to risk communication that engages senior risk leaders. With emerging threats in financial crime and cybersecurity, Toby emphasizes the necessity of innovative strategies to stay ahead of risks. Tune in for compelling insights into building a robust risk culture and redefining compliance into a strategic advantage. Connect with Toby Billington on LinkedIn for more on improving risk management frameworks and leadership in financial services. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, follow, and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring more thought-provoking content and insights from industry leaders. In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: • Career Shifts and Lessons Learned: Toby reflects on his transition from legal advisory to conduct and risk culture, highlighting pivotal career moments that shaped his expertise and his focus on behavioural science.• Authentic Leadership and Cultural Change: Toby emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership in driving cultural transformation. He discusses the challenges of aligning tone from the top with actual behaviours and provides practical steps to ensure leadership walks the talk.• The Role of First and Second Lines of Defence: Toby critiques the traditional three-lines-of-defence model, proposing greater collaboration between first and second lines to reduce duplication, enhance accountability, and streamline risk oversight.• The Power of Storytelling in Risk Communication: Toby highlights the value of narrative-driven risk reporting to engage senior leadership and move beyond data-heavy, technical discussions.• Emerging Risks in Financial Crime and Cybersecurity: With advances in AI and quantum computing, Toby outlines the evolving threats in financial crime and cybersecurity. He stresses the importance of staying ahead of these risks through innovation, vigilance, and behavioural psychology. More about Toby Billington: Toby Billington is a highly respected compliance and risk management leader with a career spanning top financial institutions such as Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Citi. Recognized for pioneering conduct frameworks and promoting ethical behaviour in financial services, Toby’s work integrates behavioural science into risk management strategies. Connect with Toby on LinkedIn to explore more about compliance, risk culture, and leadership in financial services. Tune in to this episode for an in-depth discussion on improving risk culture, redefining compliance frameworks, and managing emerging threats. Find out more about Toby Billington: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-billington-0646b89/ Discover related risk management topics:How to Establish a Sustainable and Sound Approach to Regulatory ComplianceEthical Compliance ManagementUnderstanding and Overcoming the Risks of Cultural Silos: Building a Collaborative and Inclusive WorkplaceFCA CP23/20 Consultation: Diversity and Inclusion in Financial Services Download your CPD Certificate:Link: ⁠https://thecpd.group/podcast⁠Accreditation number: #800043