Wake-up call for CEOs: How misinformation is redefining resilience

The Atlantic hurricane season and record-hot summer are expected to bring significant risks to corporate America, including supply chain disruptions and investor confidence issues. The environment can turn any crisis into a business liability, and CEOs, board members, and C-suite leaders must be prepared to handle these risks. Misinformation is a growing threat that can spread quickly and cause significant damage to businesses, and it is essential for companies to have a plan in place to combat it. Recent events have shown that misinformation can have severe consequences, including triggering unnecessary panic and disrupting coordinated responses. Foreign adversaries and opportunists are exploiting crises to spread false narratives, and companies must be proactive in fighting misinformation to protect their reputation and bottom line. To prepare, companies should adopt a trusted crisis framework, conduct high-stakes crisis simulations, establish public-private resilience networks, and diversify communication channels. By taking these steps, businesses can build trust with their employees, customers, and local communities, and help stabilize recovery efforts during crises. The cost of inaction is high, and companies that fail to adapt to the growing risk of misinformation are exposing themselves to significant risks. Ultimately, preparedness is no longer a best practice, but a market imperative, and companies that lead with clarity and humanity can help shape a stronger, more resilient economy for everyone. By investing in crisis preparedness and resilience, companies can protect their reputation, build trust, and ensure business continuity, which is essential for long-term viability and success.