Episode 322 Deep Dive: Courtney Guss | Resilience in Real Time: Women, Leadership and the Frontlines of Cyber Crisis

In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Guss, Director of Crisis Response at Sempris, as she sheds light on why a crisis plan alone won’t always save organizations in moments of disruption. Courtney unpacks surprising research showing that despite 97% of organizations regularly planning and training for crises, 76% still suffer significant impacts during incidents. She discusses how misaligned training, outdated and irrelevant scenarios, and a “checkbox” mentality frequently undermine preparedness. Courtney emphasizes the need for organizations to tailor crisis exercises to their specific business context, practice more frequently in smaller, relevant groups, and prioritize adaptability with backup plans when things go awry. She also highlights the importance of having accessible contact information and robust communication channels, as well as clearly defined decision triggers and justifications for pivoting during an incident.

Courtney Guss, Semperis, Director of Crisis Management 

Courtney Guss brings over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, crisis response, and business resilience. She began her career in the insurance and risk management sector, working with FEMA and the NFIP, where she developed a strong foundation in emergency preparedness and crisis communications before transitioning into cybersecurity leadership roles. 

Courtney has led cyber crisis management initiatives for a wide range of organizations, including global enterprises, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously served as a senior consultant at IBM Security, where she specialized in cyber risk quantification using the FAIR framework and advised clients on regulatory compliance, incident response, and stakeholder management. 

Her work has included developing and running executive-level tabletop exercises, supporting ransomware recovery efforts, advising organizations on SEC, DORA, CCOP, and CIRCIA reporting obligations, and orchestrating cross-functional response plans to major incidents. Courtney is passionate about turning chaos into order and equipping teams with the clarity, tools, and playbooks they need to act decisively under pressure.