Risk Culture and Decision-Making: Leadership Lessons for Chief Risk Officers and Boards with Leroy Roberts

Risk culture, risk management, and risk ownership become visible through how decisions are taken in practice.In this RiskMasters — The Download segment, Leroy Roberts explores decision drag as an early signal of weakening control, showing how slowing decisions and unclear risk ownership affect risk management outcomes and leadership effectiveness. For chief risk officers, board directors, and risk leaders, this provides a practical way to observe risk culture and control in real time.The discussion focuses on how decision-making behaviour reflects the strength of governance and highlights why delays, escalation patterns, and ownership clarity are critical indicators of operational risk.Listeners will gain insight into:• How risk culture shapes risk decision-making and control• Why decision drag signals changes in risk ownership and accountability• How leadership behaviour influences escalation and decision clarity• How chief risk officers and boards can observe risk management effectiveness through decision patternsThis segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Leroy Roberts on risk culture, leadership, risk management, and operational risk, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at aevitium.com.

Risk culture, risk decision-making, and operational risk are deeply connected, yet often managed separately.In this RiskMasters — The Download segment, Leroy Roberts explores how risk culture operates as a control mechanism shaping risk management, leadership decisions, and governance outcomes. For chief risk officers, board directors, and operational risk leaders, the discussion offers a practical lens on how culture influences control effectiveness long before formal incidents emerge.Listeners will gain insight into:How risk culture strengthens risk management and decision-makingWhy behavioural signals can act as early indicators in operational riskHow chief risk officers and board directors can view culture through a control lensWhy governance effectiveness depends on how decisions and escalation work in practiceThis extract is taken from the full RiskMasters interview with Leroy Roberts on risk culture, leadership, operational risk, and risk decision-making, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at aevitium.com.

In this episode of RiskMasters, I speak with Leroy Roberts, founder of Team-Worth Solutions and a leadership and risk advisor specialising in risk culture, conduct risk, and decision-making in high-pressure environments.With more than 19 years of frontline leadership experience across the British Army, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and board-level advisory roles, Leroy brings a practical perspective on how risk management frameworks, leadership behaviour, and culture interact to shape outcomes.This conversation focuses on a critical but often overlooked reality: risk culture is not a values exercise. It is a control mechanism that directly influences risk decision-making and operational risk outcomes.🎯 What You Will LearnHow risk culture influences decision-making at every level of the organisationWhy operational risk often builds through behavioural drift, not isolated eventsHow chief risk officers and board directors can identify early warning signalsWhy silence and hesitation are indicators of weakening risk controlHow “decision drag” impacts risk management effectiveness and executionPractical ways to strengthen leadership accountability and governance discipline⏱️ Episode Highlights02:30 – Risk decision-making under pressure and leadership accountabilityHow leaders behave when decisions carry consequence, and why accountability often weakens under stress.06:45 – The role of risk culture in operational risk outcomesWhy culture acts as a control mechanism shaping how risks are identified, escalated, and managed.12:10 – Early warning signals in risk management systemsHow behavioural drift, hesitation, and delayed escalation signal weakening control before incidents emerge.21:30 – How boards can improve oversight of risk culture and conduct riskWhat boards should actually look for, moving from narrative to evidence-based oversight.30:15 – Strengthening governance through clear ownership and escalation disciplineWhy clarity of ownership and decision rights is the most direct lever to restore control and execution pace.🧠 Key Insight“Risk culture determines whether issues are surfaced early or allowed to accumulate. It is a control mechanism embedded in how decisions are made.”👤 About Leroy RobertsLeroy Roberts is the founder of Team-Worth Solutions, specialising in risk culture, leadership, and conduct risk.He advises organisations on strengthening risk management, decision-making, and governance frameworks, helping leaders identify and act on early signals before risks escalate into incidents.Find Leroy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leroy-roberts-leadershipconsultant/Learn more about the Culture and conduct scorecard mentioned during the episode: https://forms.gle/xf2RmgTsYGP57KJf7Learn more about Leroy’s book The Risk Owner’s Reset: A 90-Day Culture & Conduct Operating System for Executive Leaders Under Scrutiny 📝 Related Resources·  Psychological Safety in Risk Leadership: The silent foundation of trust, culture, and challengeExplores how psychological safety directly impacts risk culture, decision-making, and escalation behaviour.·  From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolHow board directors and chief risk officers can align risk appetite with decision-making and governance outcomes.·  What Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?Reframing risk management as a forward-looking capability that strengthens leadership and strategic execution.·  Strategic Uncertainty Governance: Who Owns Strategic Uncertainty?Clarifies ownership and accountability in risk decision-making under uncertainty.·  Risk Capacity: The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and GovernanceHow operational risk, capacity, and leadership decisions interact to shape strategic limits. 🎓 Download your CPD certificate:The CPD Group – Accreditation #501145

In this insightful episode of RiskMasters The Download, Julien Haye chats with Jennifer Geary, COO, CRO, and author of The C-Suite Framework, about the critical interplay between governance, culture, and risk management. They explore why organisations with similar governance structures can have vastly different risk outcomes despite having consistent escalation paths, committees, and reporting mechanisms. The conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety as a key enabler for risk escalation and effective decision-making within risk management frameworks.Listeners will learn how behavioural factors shape governance effectiveness, why certain issues remain unraised despite being known, and how risk leadership plays a crucial role in fostering a culture where risks are surfaced early. This episode underscores that successful governance is not just about structure but about creating trust and psychological safety that empowers risk managers and board directors to act in time and with impact.Tune in to understand why organisations that cultivate psychological safety and proactive risk escalation build stronger governance and reduce their exposure to strategic and enterprise risks. This discussion is essential for chief risk officers, risk leaders, and anyone involved in strategic leadership and risk management.What You’ll Hear• Why similar governance structures can produce different outcomes• The role of psychological safety in risk escalation• The moment where issues are not raised despite being known• How behaviour shapes the effectiveness of governance• Why escalation is a critical point of divergenceGovernance effectiveness is often assessed through structure. In practice, outcomes are determined by whether risk is surfaced at the moment it can still influence a decision.Organisations that consistently raise issues early create the conditions for effective governance. Those that do not can maintain strong structures while carrying increasing exposure.This segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Jennifer Geary, covering executive leadership, governance, psychological safety, and the future of the C-suite, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at ⁠⁠aevitium.com.

This is The Download, a short extract from my conversation with Jennifer Geary, COO, Chief Risk Officer, and author of The C-Suite Framework. In this segment, we explore the critical role of a Chief Risk Officer and what matters most in the first 90 days. Moving beyond rapid assessment, effective risk leadership depends on implementing a robust risk management framework, understanding organisational context, and building strong relationships to embed enterprise risk into strategic decision-making. What You’ll Hear• Why acting too quickly can reduce impact at the CRO level• How to approach your first 90 days with strategic leadership• The importance of understanding the organizational context and risk dynamics• Why relationships are crucial to embedding risk management in decisions• How to align expectations across the executive and board directorsThe effectiveness of a CRO is not defined by early activity. It is defined by how well risk becomes integrated into decision-making over time.Leaders who prioritise understanding, alignment, and relationships in their first 90 days create the conditions for sustained influence.Those who act too quickly often reinforce the perception of risk as a function rather than a strategic capability.This segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Jennifer Geary, covering executive leadership, governance, psychological safety, and the future of the C-suite, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at ⁠aevitium.com.

In this insightful segment of RiskMasters, we dive into the critical shift leaders must make when transitioning into the C-suite, focusing on risk leadership and the evolving role of chief risk officers. Jennifer Geary, COO, CRO, and author of The C-Suite Framework, shares expert insights on how traditional technical expertise can become a constraint for effective risk management and strategic leadership at the executive level. Listeners will learn why the move from hands-on problem-solving to orchestrating outcomes is vital for leadership success. The discussion highlights how risk managers and board directors can avoid becoming decision bottlenecks by fostering clarity and alignment, essential components of a robust risk management framework. This episode emphasizes the importance of redefining leadership capabilities to meet the complex demands of enterprise risk and strategic risk, key concerns for risk leaders and chief risk officers aiming to drive organizational performance. Tune in to discover how psychological safety complements risk leadership and helps executives lead with purpose in the C-suite. This segment is extracted from the full RiskMasters interview with Jennifer Geary, covering executive leadership, governance, psychological safety, and the future of the C-suite, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at aevitium.com.

In this RiskMasters episode, Jennifer Geary, a seasoned chief risk officer and senior executive leader, delves into the intricacies of C-suite leadership and risk management frameworks. Discover how risk managers and aspiring chief risk officers can navigate leadership transitions with clarity and strategic insight. Jennifer discusses the critical role governance and culture play in shaping enterprise risk outcomes and shares how psychological safety fosters resilient risk leadership. Listeners will gain valuable strategies for applying structured risk management frameworks in complex environments and learn how AI and technology are transforming the expectations of risk leaders and board directors alike. This CPD-accredited discussion is essential for those committed to excelling in strategic risk and leadership roles. Jennifer Geary’s expertise spans diverse sectors including banking, fintech, and SaaS, making her insights invaluable for risk professionals aiming to lead with purpose and impact. Whether you're a risk manager, a board director, or an emerging chief risk officer, this episode offers practical tools to reinvent leadership and strengthen enterprise risk governance.  “Stepping into the C-suite is less about having answers and more about creating clarity.” – Jennifer Geary🔹 Key Themes & TakeawaysC-suite leadership is a shift in perspective, not just responsibilitySuccess depends on moving from expertise to orchestration, alignment, and influence.Clarity is the primary leadership currency at the executive levelHigh-performing leaders create direction and alignment across ambiguity.Frameworks enable structured decision-making under pressureThe C-Suite Framework provides a practical way to prioritise, assess, and act.Governance and culture are interdependentFormal structures only deliver value when supported by trust and psychological safety.Role boundaries are becoming more fluidTechnology and organisational complexity require leaders to operate across functions. 🔹 Discussion HighlightsWhat changes when leaders step into the C-suite for the first timeApplying the C-Suite Framework to a high-growth CRO scenarioBalancing expertise with leadership across specialised teamsAligning governance, culture, and execution in complex organisationsHow AI and technology are reshaping executive expectations 🔹 Who Should ListenC-suite and senior executives navigating complex organisational environmentsRisk, compliance, and governance leaders seeking stronger decision alignmentCOOs, CROs, and transformation leaders stepping into new rolesProfessionals preparing for executive transitions and broader leadership scopeBoard members and advisors focused on performance, resilience, and oversight 🔹 Timestamped Highlights (Optional)⏱️ Episode Highlights00:02 – Career journey and leadership foundations00:12 – Common misconceptions about the C-suite00:25 – Applying the C-Suite Framework in practice00:38 – Culture, governance, and psychological safety00:50 – The future of leadership and AI📌 More about Jennifer GearyJennifer Geary is a multi-time COO and CRO with experience across banking, fintech, SaaS, and the not-for-profit sector. She is the author of five bestselling books on executive leadership and the creator of The C-Suite Framework, supporting leaders transitioning into senior roles.👉 Connect on LinkedIn📝 Related ResourcesBuilding Psychological Safety in Risk ManagementFrom Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolWhat Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?Strategic Uncertainty Governance: Who Owns Strategic Uncertainty?Risk Capacity: The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and Governance🎓 Download your CPD certificate: The CPD Group – Accreditation #800161

This episode of RiskMasters dives into fraud risk management with Iremar Brayner, Head of Fraud Prevention at G2A. We uncover how adopting a comprehensive risk management framework enables fraud teams to protect digital platforms effectively while fostering growth and trust. In this bonus episode, we explore the role fraud teams play in enabling growth. Effective fraud prevention is not only about blocking malicious activity. It is about working across product, engineering, and operations to build systems that protect the platform while preserving a strong customer experience. What You’ll HearWhy fraud teams must collaborate closely with product and engineeringThe importance of cross-functional collaboration for effective risk management frameworksHow fraud prevention supports both protection and growthWhy balancing control and customer experience is essentialListen to the Full EpisodeThis segment comes from the full RiskMasters interview with Iremar Brayner, covering fraud prevention, customer friction, automation, and trust at scale. Full interview: ⁠https://www.aevitium.com/post/iremar-brayner-on-riskmasters⁠

This is The Download, a short extract from my recent RiskMasters conversation with Iremar Brayner, focused on risk management in fraud prevention. In this segment, we explore how technology is reshaping fraud detection and prevention for risk leaders and chief risk officers. Automation, data analysis, and AI are enhancing capabilities to detect fraud, while fraudsters simultaneously leverage the same advanced technologies to develop increasingly sophisticated attacks. Fraud prevention is evolving into a high-stakes technological race that requires strategic leadership and continuous adaptation.What You’ll Hear• How automation is transforming fraud detection within risk frameworks• Why technology both strengthens fraud prevention and empowers fraud attempts• The necessity for risk managers to constantly adapt to emerging risks and consider human emotionsListen to the Full EpisodeThis segment is taken from the full RiskMasters interview with Iremar Brayner, which explores identity verification, automation, and the future of fraud prevention strategies in digital marketplaces, offering invaluable insights for chief risk officers and board directors in the enterprise risk landscape.Full interview: ⁠https://www.aevitium.com/post/iremar-brayner-on-riskmasters

This episode of RiskMasters The Download features a compelling extract from Julien Haye's conversation with Iremar Brayner on the evolving challenges in fraud risk prevention. Iremar discusses why user identity is becoming increasingly complex to define within data-rich environments and reframes fraud management as an adaptive journey. He highlights how identity verification now occurs at multiple points across the customer lifecycle, not just at checkout, emphasising a dynamic risk management framework that adjusts to context.Listeners will learn about the shifting verification layers involved in fraud prevention and why adaptive fraud controls are critical for effective risk leadership. This conversation offers valuable insights for chief risk officers, enterprise risk managers, and board directors seeking to enhance their strategic risk approaches and leadership in fraud prevention. Tune into RiskMasters for thought-provoking discussions that connect psychological safety, leadership, and the continuous evolution of risk management strategies in today's complex environment. Listen to the Full EpisodeThis segment comes from the full RiskMasters interview with Iremar Brayner, covering fraud prevention, customer friction, automation, and trust at scale. Full interview: https://www.aevitium.com/post/iremar-brayner-on-riskmasters