Learning from Disasters
The world’s greatest catastrophes reveal one undeniable truth: crises do not become disasters because of uncertainty alone—they become disasters when leadership fails.
Leadership Learnings from Global Catastrophes by Leon van Schalkwyk is a practical leadership manual that examines five defining global events—including COVID-19, Chernobyl, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Global Financial Crisis, and the Rwandan Genocide—to uncover the leadership principles that protect people, strengthen organisations, and build resilient futures.
Rather than focusing on history, this guide transforms real-world events into practical leadership strategies that executives, boards, managers, and operational leaders can apply immediately.
What You'll Learn
- Practical lessons from five major global catastrophes
- The leadership failures that repeatedly lead to crisis
- Proven leadership behaviours that reduce risk and save lives
- A 10-pillar Leadership Blueprint for future preparedness
- Industry-specific preparedness frameworks for Mining, Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, Energy, and Logistics
- Actionable checklists and leadership tools for building resilient organisations
Who Should Read This?
- CEOs & Executives
- Board Members
- Senior Managers
- Safety & Risk Professionals
- HR & People Leaders
- Project Managers
- Government & Public Sector Leaders
- Anyone responsible for leading people through uncertainty
Prepare Today. Protect Tomorrow.
Discover how the lessons of history can help you build stronger leadership, better decision-making, and organisations that are prepared for whatever comes next.
