Why This Conversation Matters
In leadership, few moments feel heavier than when trust is broken. In today’s world where social media amplifies every misstep and public opinion shifts overnight, a reputation crisis can shake an organization to its core.
But here’s the truth: a crisis isn’t the end. It’s a defining moment.
In Episode 16 of Blu Thread Conversations, Blu Ivy Group’s founders and globally respected employer brand experts, Stacy Parker and Leandra Harris, sit down to share what they’ve learned guiding CEOs, CHROs, and leadership teams across the U.S and Canada through some of the toughest reputation challenges.
Their message is clear: you can’t control the narrative, but you can control how you lead through it. And done well, leaders can not only repair credibility, they can deepen loyalty, re-energize culture, and strengthen long-term performance.
Here are the big takeaways:
1. Own the Golden Hour: Show up
When a crisis strikes, the instinct is often to hide or wait for the “perfect” statement. As Stacy and Leandra explain, the first hours matter most. They call it the golden hour.
“So you don’t need to have any of the answers yet, just an acknowledgement. Get in front of it right away.” – Stacy Parker
Our advice:
- Speak to your team: town hall, manager briefs, and an always-on Q&A channel.
- Be transparent about what you know (and what you don’t).
- Pause to listen, gather your team, and plan your response.
Humility, not perfection, is the foundation of rebuilding trust.
Pro tip for CEOs: People forgive imperfect answers. They don’t forgive distance, defensiveness, or delay.
2. Presence Matters More Than PR
What comes after the storm is just as important as how you handle the first moment. Rebuilding trust is a marathon, not a press cycle.
“What I saw working with some amazing leaders, humility and visibility.” – Leandra Harris
“Isn’t it true too, that when you think about some of the most dynamic, successful leaders, it is that they take the time to step away from their desk. The skills that got them to the CEO spot, they lean on during a time of crisis. It’s that persona relationship that builds back trust as opposed to a specifically well-crafted message” – Stacy Parker
In other words:
- Be visible. Ask questions. Listen with intent.
- Create informal opportunities for connection.
Pair consistent presence with formal tools like surveys and culture diagnostics.
Trust is built through relationships, not just statements.
3. When Leadership Is the Issue: Own It and Act
Sometimes the hardest truth is that the crisis points back to leadership itself. That’s when accountability matters most.
“I think humility is one of the most incredible things to lean on during a crisis. But then, very clear and actionable steps on what you’re going to do to address it. And follow that messaging up with consistency, so that is far more than just a promise to do better.” – Stacy Parker
Steps to consider:
- Engage trusted third parties to assess what went wrong.
- Remove yourself to let others do the due diligence since your trust has been impacted.
- Return with humility, transparency, and concrete actions.
4. Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Build Trust
One of the strongest themes from this episode: trust doesn’t begin after a crisis – it begins long before.
“It makes it easier to rebuild trust, if you already have a voice that people listen to.” – Leandra Harris
“Connect and nurture that trust with your teams on an ongoing basis, so that you have a team that stands behind you after the crisis has hit.” – Stacy Parker
At Blu Ivy Group, we see this every day. Our Employer Brand & Culture Index™ helps leaders uncover issues early, the kind that, if left unchecked, can smolder into multimillion-dollar crises.
Practical steps:
- Make transparency and two-way dialogue part of daily leadership.
- Regularly monitor platforms like Glassdoor, Reddit, and Indeed.
- Share positive stories proactively, so one negative doesn’t dominate.
5. Treat Reputation Like Strategy
Reputation isn’t a side concern. It’s a core business driver.
“63% of your market value is tied to corporate reputation. It’s the CEO’s responsibility to ensure that it is being constantly monitored. Its an essential right now… Build it like your brand strategy.” – Stacy Parker
What leaders need to do:
- Elevate reputation and culture to the boardroom level.
- Hold CEOs accountable for building trust as rigorously as they deliver financial results.
- Curate your brand daily, not just in crisis.
Final Thoughts: Lead Now, Not Later
In an era of AI, employee activism, and constant transparency, leaders don’t have the luxury of waiting. Rebuilding trust is about presence, humility, and strategy.
Handled well, a reputation crisis doesn’t just repair credibility, it strengthens culture, energizes teams, and creates enduring loyalty.
This episode of Blu Thread Conversations is a must-listen for any leader navigating uncertainty or proactively shaping an employer brand that can withstand it.
🎧 Listen to Episode 16: Rebuilding Trust After a Reputation Crisis
About Blu Ivy Group
Blu Ivy Group is a senior advisory and consulting partner that helps organizations turn employer brand and the employment promise (EVP) into an operating advantage. We work with COOs, private equity partners, CHROs, board leaders, and global employer brand teams to link culture, leadership credibility, and reputation to measurable business performance. Operating from Canada and the United States and serving clients globally, we’ve partnered for more than a decade with some of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. Our specialty is reputation and culture narrative development. We translate purpose, values, and leadership behaviors into a lived employment promise that improves leadership consistency, M&A integration clarity, and reputation with investors, customers, and talent. If you are searching for reputation and risk guidance, culture narrative or employer brand solutions tied to business performance, we’re built for that mandate.
Contact Us: Ready to align your employer brand with execution?
Website: bluivygroup.com
Email: Stacy Parker — sparker@bluivygroup.com
Leandra Harris — lharris@bluivygroup.com
