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Bits, Bytes and BusinessConversations with a range of business owners fro Author: Bhairav Patel
Conversations with a range of business owners from across the globe that discuss the challenges, triumphs and failures that are faced when trying to build and grow a business. In addition we talk about the latest trends in tech and generally anything we feel is relevant for today's tech and business savvy audience The companies interviewed operate in a diverse set of industries and are of varying maturity from the new startup to the established multi-national. If you would like to take part in a podcast or would like to learn more then follow the link to Substack or LinkedIn and message us there Language: en Genres: Business Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Leading with Courage: Crisis Lessons from the Humanitarian Front Line
Wednesday, 21 October, 2026
About This Episode What does good leadership look like when everything is falling apart? In this episode of Bits, Bytes and Business, Bhairav talks to Dom Courage, who left a career in engineering and project management for humanitarian response with Save the Children, and now works freelance in leadership development and training. Dom’s route in began with an intense five-day crisis simulation in Wales, where he realised he had found his tribe. He went on to support emergency and development programmes around the world, including the Rohingya response, where he stepped into a new leadership role with a team that was blocked from acting while the crisis grew around them. The conversation focuses on leadership under pressure. Dom explains why empathy comes before process, how to move between detail and the bigger picture, and how to lead a frustrated team through change it cannot control. The episode was recorded some time ago and parts of the sector have shifted since, but the leadership lessons translate directly to anyone running a team that is growing fast or under strain. What We Cover How a five-day crisis simulation led Dom into a humanitarian career Why empathy is the starting point for crisis leadership, and why it must be built before a crisis What leaders can learn from BP’s handling of the Deepwater Horizon disaster The “dance floor and balcony” model for switching between detail and context Scaling a response team rapidly over a few months Leading a team that is stuck when outside forces block it from acting Why collaboration with “competitors” matters when everyone shares a purpose Making trade-offs in the grey areas Why industry experience before a humanitarian career can make you more effective Key Takeaways Empathy is the foundation of crisis leadership. Without it, process and planning will not save you. You cannot summon empathy in a crisis. You have to build and protect it beforehand. Good leaders move between the detail and the big picture, and know when to do each. Crisis leadership is not about the leader. It is about the team and the people it serves. Hard trade-offs are part of the job. Avoiding them often means you are not doing enough. Links Bhairav Patel: https://bitsbytesandbusiness.com Dom Courage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domcourage/
