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CPD EP16 - Strategic Risk, Psychological Safety & AI with Brenda Boultwood
- Julien Haye
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
"I don’t think risk management is about compliance anymore. I think it’s about enabling a business and enabling a strategy." – Brenda Boultwood
In this CPD-accredited episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye welcomes Brenda Boultwood, a seasoned Chief Risk Officer (CRO), economist, board advisor, and tech executive, to explore the evolving nature of risk leadership across industries and geographies. Brenda brings a unique perspective from her work across finance, energy, academia, the IMF, and Silicon Valley.
Together, they explore what it takes to build strategic, future-ready risk frameworks that embrace uncertainty, promote psychological safety, and make space for innovation. Brenda reflects on the limitations of traditional models, the risks of ignoring cultural dynamics, and the transformative potential of AI in governance, risk, and compliance.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Brenda Boultwood in this episode are her own and do not reflect the official position of any institution or university with which she is affiliated.
In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn:
🔹 Why Tone at the Top Is a Strategic Risk Lever: Brenda explains how leadership behaviour, especially during crises, shapes organisational resilience, cultural trust, and board engagement.
🔹 How to Create Psychological Safety for Better Risk Outcomes: Explore real-world examples of how safe, candid conversations improve governance and why fear-based cultures lead to paralysis, not protection.
🔹 AI and the Next Frontier of Risk Management: Discover how Brenda’s work in tech startups is shaping the future of risk intelligence, and what risk professionals need to understand about AI's capabilities and limitations.
More about Brenda Boultwood:
Brenda is a former risk executive and transformation leader with a career spanning global financial institutions, the U.S. Department of Energy, AI tech firms, and the International Monetary Fund. She serves as a board member, governance advisor, and mentor to the next generation of risk leaders. Brenda brings a data-driven, human-centred approach to strategy, cultural change, and innovation in the risk profession.
📌 Connect with Brenda Boultwood on LinkedIn for insights on risk leadership, AI, and strategic governance.
🎙 Tune in now to explore how today’s leaders can embed resilience and foresight into every layer of decision-making.
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Certificate:Link: https://thecpd.group/podcast/Accreditation number: #800123
Recap Blog: Leadership, Trust, and Technology - Risk in a Changing World
“Culture is king and risk management must be about value creation, not just compliance”
In this wide-ranging episode of the RiskMasters podcast, host Julien Haye speaks with Brenda Boultwood, a former CRO, IMF advisor, and tech executive who has worked across finance, government, energy, and AI. Together, they explore how risk leaders can build value, resilience, and trust in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Why Culture Is a Strategic Risk Lever
Brenda challenges the assumption that risk management is just about frameworks and controls. Instead, she argues that culture, leadership behaviour, and candid dialogue are what ultimately determine whether risk management adds value or becomes a box-ticking exercise.
"You can have the best framework in the world, but if people don’t believe in it or feel safe speaking up, it fails."
Leadership, especially at the board and executive levels, must model curiosity, inclusion, and openness. When tone at the top is absent, even the most sophisticated risk infrastructure breaks down.
From Crisis to Clarity: Building Resilience Through Conversation
Drawing from her experience leading risk through crises and restructurings, Brenda shares how open dialogue — even when uncomfortable — is essential to risk resilience. Teams must feel psychologically safe to surface emerging risks, challenge assumptions, and learn from failure.
"It becomes a freewheeling discussion of what could happen. And everyone is grateful. Even if things don’t end well, they know they had the conversation."
Technology & AI: Enabler, Not Answer
Brenda is also a leader in the tech space, working with startups at the forefront of AI-driven governance and control. But she is clear: AI is a tool, not a solution. It can enhance data, streamline operations, and strengthen oversight — but judgment, ethics, and context remain fundamentally human.
Key recommendations:
Don’t over-automate risk processes — context matters.
Combine tech tools with qualitative, behavioural insights.
Prioritise explainability and accountability in AI-enabled decisions.
Rethinking Risk Strategy for the Future
The conversation closes with a call to move from compliance-driven models toward strategic, integrated risk thinking. Risk functions must sit at the heart of business strategy, helping leadership navigate uncertainty with foresight and agility.
Actionable Takeaways from the Episode
✔ Embed psychological safety into your risk culture — people need to feel safe raising red flags.
✔ Align tone at the top with values, behaviors, and incentives.
✔ Use AI and data strategically — but never at the cost of human judgment.
✔ Elevate the role of risk as a strategic business partner, not just a control function.
✔ Focus on resilience through leadership, culture, and cross-functional collaboration.
Conclusion: The Future of Risk Is Cultural
Brenda Boultwood reminds us that culture isn’t a soft topic; it’s a strategic risk factor. Whether navigating crises, adopting AI, or building future-ready organisations, the leaders who succeed are those who connect people, values, and vision to their risk approach.
Risk management, at its best, isn’t about control; it’s about clarity, trust, and transformation.
Episode FAQs: Strategic Risk, Safety, and AI
What is the main theme of the episode with Brenda Boultwood?
The episode focuses on how risk leaders can shift from compliance-driven approaches to strategic, culture-led risk management, incorporating psychological safety and artificial intelligence.
How does Brenda Boultwood define the role of risk management today?
Brenda believes risk management should be about enabling business and strategy, not just ensuring compliance.
Why is psychological safety critical in risk governance?
Psychological safety allows individuals to raise concerns, challenge assumptions, and share insights without fear, which strengthens governance and decision-making.
What does "tone at the top" mean in the context of this episode?
It refers to how leadership behaviour sets the cultural tone of an organisation, influencing how risk is understood, escalated, and addressed.
How can risk functions support innovation and transformation?
By fostering open dialogue, aligning with strategic objectives, and using tools like AI responsibly, risk functions can become enablers of innovation rather than blockers.
What risks come with adopting AI in risk management?
Brenda highlights the risks of over-automation, lack of explainability, and ethical concerns if AI is used without proper judgment or governance.
What sectors has Brenda Boultwood worked in that influence her views?
Her experience spans finance, energy, academia, international policy at the IMF, and AI startups, providing a unique cross-sector perspective on risk.
How can leaders build resilience in uncertain environments?
By encouraging candid conversations, integrating cultural awareness into risk frameworks, and making space for adaptive learning and strategic foresight.
What are Brenda’s key recommendations for risk professionals?
Avoid over-automation, combine tech with behavioural insight, embed psychological safety, and align risk leadership with strategic goals.
What is the future of risk management according to this episode?
The future lies in a cultural and strategic approach to risk, where trust, human judgment, and innovation are central to resilience and success.
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