When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent

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In this episode, University of Memphis expert Michele Ehrhart joins host Jason Mudd to discuss crisis communication, leadership preparedness, reputation management, and how organizations can navigate high-pressure situations with clarity and confidence.

Tune in to learn more!

Meet our guest:

Our guest is Michele Ehrhart, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at the University of Memphis. Michele is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Why crisis preparation must happen before a crisis occurs

2. How leaders can use “what if” scenario planning to prepare for high-risk situations

3. Why silence can be a strategic communication choice depending on context

4. How reputation is built slowly but can be damaged quickly during a crisis

5. Why defining roles and responsibilities in advance improves crisis response execution

Quotables

“The day you have a crisis should not be the first day you've thought about what you'll do.” — Michele Ehrhart

“Planning the work and working the plan.” — Michele Ehrhart

“Silence is a strategy. If the story isn't yours, don't talk about it.” — Michele Ehrhart

“The brand is what you put out there; reputation is what they think of you.” — Michele Ehrhart

“When PR is at its best, it's building a reputation for your company — just not visibility, but also the reputation. You could have great visibility, but it's not positive.” – Jason Mudd

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More About Michele Ehrhart

Michele Ehrhart is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. After 22 years with FedEx, she now serves as the University of Memphis's senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. She is a bestselling author, speaker, and industry expert helping leaders navigate crises with confidence and clarity.

Guest’s contact info and resources:

Michele Ehrhart on LinkedIn

Michele Ehrhart’s website

Get the “Crisis Compass: How to Communicate When It Matters Most” book

Axia’s CrisisPoint service

Axia’s Reputation Restoration service

Additional Resources:

How to recover from a PR crisis and manage your reputation

What is reputation management?

Build a crisis communication plan that works fast

Question-based crisis communication: What leaders miss online

How to build a crisis-resilient marketing and communication plan

Support the show

• On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
• On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.