The Big Questions in Operational Resilience – Part 2

The Big Questions in Tech - An Airwalk Reply Podcast

In part two of this podcast series, host Alex Hammond continues the conversation with Adam Banks, Andrew Kirkby and Tom Heyes, diving deeper into the practical challenges and strategic approaches to operational resilience in financial services.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Beyond disaster recovery – Why organisations must shift their mindset from traditional disaster recovery to assuming complete operational failure and planning from that perspective.
• Service vs. business resumption – The importance of having distinct strategies for service restoration and broader business recovery.
• The role of communication – Clear, timely, and transparent communication helps maintain trust with customers and stakeholders during disruptions.
• Empowering employees – Equipping frontline teams with the right tools and authority is necessary to respond effectively in a crisis.
• Crisis leadership vs. management – Understanding the difference between leadership and management during high-pressure situations and how decision-making structures impact response effectiveness.
• Third-party and supply chain resilience – The complexities of managing outsourced services, regulatory expectations, and integrating suppliers into resilience planning.

With regulatory scrutiny on the rise, the discussion offers actionable insights for IT leaders and business executives looking to enhance their operational resilience strategies and ensure continuity in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

Tune in for a candid, no-nonsense discussion on what it really takes to build a resilient financial institution in modern times.