Stimulating Conversations on Managing Risk: You Can’t Afford Not To

Stimulating Conversations on Managing Risk:  You Can’t Afford Not To

Michele Braun, Director

Institute for Managing Risk

Thinking about risk?  You know it is a good idea, but who has the time? 

CFOs, nonprofit executives, risk managers, business leaders, insurance and technology thinkers, financial managers, and students of many disciplines learned how essential it is to make the time!  Last month, they gathered at the Institute for Managing Risk at the Manhattanville School of Business for stimulating discussions on risk.  Most importantly, they joined together to talk about how an organization can think about risk and practical steps to be ready for expected and unexpected risks. 

In two events, participants joined no-holds-barred discussions on preparing for risk, identifying risk, managing and mitigating risks, as well as preparedness for those risks that are harder to foresee.

On June 7, risk professionals with years of experience at hedge funds, utilities, financial firms, and job placement companies tangled on the nature of risk and what “managing risk” entails.  With active challenges from the audience, event participants explored ethical issues, when it may be appropriate to take risks and when it is absolutely not appropriate, and the importance of “backbone” to stand up for good risk management inside an organization.  Co-hosted by Stamford PRMIA, this discussion on “Managing Risk in an Age of Uncertainty,” held participants in excited networking long after the official panel presentation had ended.  

The following week, executives and board members for nonprofit organizations gathered to explore their obligations to manage risk.  Co-hosted with the Nonprofit Management Center at Manhattanville, participants spoke of the challenges of balancing an organization’s mission while managing its risks.  These risks, they revealed, come in many forms, encompassing day-to-day management challenges as well as potential unusual events.  The executive of a grant-making organization and leading experts in strategic planning, financial preparedness, and insurance for nonprofits provided important guidance for nonprofit enterprises on “Preparing for the Unknown.”

To learn more about future events at the Institute for Managing Risk at the Manhattanville School of Business, check out the website or email me at michele.braun@mville.edu.