Breaking the Prime Directive: Rethinking Risk with Stefan Gershater

In this episode of Risk Is Our Business, Michael Rasmussen welcomes Stefan Gershater, Head of Risk and Governance at the Co-op, for a bold and unflinching conversation that challenges the very foundations of modern risk management.

Broadcasting from the front lines of strategic uncertainty, Stefan shares insights from his forthcoming book, a deep critique of the risk orthodoxy shaped by accounting firms, software vendors, and low expectations. He argues that what passes for risk management in many boardrooms is little more than a comforting illusion—one that fails to serve strategy, enable decisions, or engage with the complexity of the real world.

Together, they explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of today’s risk practices, from the myth of “risk appetite” to the misuse of assurance resources and the danger of chasing frameworks over outcomes. But this isn’t just a teardown, it’s a mission briefing. Stefan lays out how risk can be reimagined as a cognitive, analytical, and strategic asset that improves decision velocity and organizational intelligence.

For risk professionals ready to break orbit and leave behind the gravitational pull of mediocrity, this episode is both roadmap and rallying cry.