I cannot recall how many crisis situations I have found myself in the middle of, but each one has something in common. The crisis typically provides opportunity for everyday individuals to step into a heroic role. I have seen employees put themselves in extreme danger outside of their area of expertise, to save a life in a war zone.

Are you a security expert? That is a good question. It's one I'm often asked and consistently ask myself. Am I a security expert? Well, maybe... at least for this month.

As painful as it might be to acknowledge, 2020 proved to be a significant year for those engaged in risk mitigation as a profession. Never before has there been a more opportune time to glean real-world lessons on what not to do in times of crisis. From mishandling a pandemic response to mismanaging protests and even tarnishing one's reputation to the point of business downfall – the year offered a wealth of lessons.

In recent months, my consultancy, Morton Executive Decisions, has been actively involved in Ukraine, conducting long-term needs assessments, facilitating refugee evacuations, providing logistical support for humanitarian aid, and delivering tailored training programs for aid workers.