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White Swan: The fine line—bringing people with you in a crisis

White Swan Podcast

A crisis can come in many forms. But whatever it looks like, one thing is certain: businesses need to be prepared. White Swan: The Crisis Podcast showcases host Gavin Megaw and guest Gary Cleland, both of Hanover Communications, our sister company in the United Kingdom, and Karen White of our Halifax office to talk with a special guest to look at crises from all angles to explain how senior business leaders stay on top of things during those tense, headline-making moments.

Each episode of White Swan features an in-depth conversation with a senior figure from the world of business, who tells us about their crisis experiences and gives you the lessons you need to hear.

Episode 9 of White Swan: The Crisis Podcast sees Gavin Megaw speaking to Farrah Storr, Editor in Chief of Elle UK. Farrah also launched Women’s Health UK and is one of the most influential editors around. She has the awards to prove it—having been named BSME Editor of the Year three times, most recently in 2020. Farrah is also the author of a book called The Discomfort Zone, which looks at how challenge and discomfort can unlock human potential.

In a brilliant conversation, Farrah talks to us about how her unblinkered focus on being the best she could possibly be stopped opportunities being denied to her and helped get her where she is today.

She talks about the need for clarity in leadership, particularly during challenging times. When should you gloss over the truth with your team—if ever? How can you walk “the fine line” between bringing your team with you with clear direction, as opposed to dragging people along?

She talks openly about the challenges she has faced in previous roles at Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan, and how she has grown through the crises she has faced through all of her roles.