Episode 300: Conducttr and Robert Pratten: Risk Prevention

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Robert Pratten discuss why storytelling is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools in crisis management, which shapes how leaders, their teams, and organisations behave under pressure.

Find out more about how immersive, narrative-driven crisis simulations build confidence, reveal real decision-making styles, and change behaviour in ways that traditional plans, policies, and PowerPoint exercises cannot.

The conversation also addresses leadership engagement, organisational culture, information warfare, and why awareness and punishment fail to improve crisis readiness without experiential learning.

Finally, they explore how open feedback, realistic rehearsal, and story-based training can transform crisis preparedness from a compliance exercise into a true strategic advantage.

Robert Pratten is a UK-based transmedia storyteller, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Conducttr, a crisis-simulation platform used for training, exercises, and information operations simulation. He’s also the author of a practical guide on transmedia storytelling and regularly comments on the overlap between story design and simulation. 

The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.

The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Visit Conducttr to learn more.

Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

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Chapters

• 1:30 Introduction
• 2:30 The power of shared experiences
• 5:50 Leadership blind spots and false engagement
• 6:55 Three ways to engage people in crisis exercises
• 8:00 CEOs as chief storytellers
• 9:40 Behaviour change, not awareness, is the goal
• 12:33 Why simulations outperform manuals
• 15:14 Stress and cognition: the role of checklists
• 16:15 Crisis exercises as narrative journeys
• 18:55 Measuring the value of crisis preparedness
• 20:25 Culture, feedback, and leadership humility
• 25:20 Open cultures and closing reflections