Defusing the Dilemma: How Resourcefulness Solves Big Challenges

What happens when you’re tasked with solving a high-stakes problem you know almost nothing about? This episode of The Business Emergency Room takes you behind the scenes of a fascinating real-life challenge: tackling the unknown to support critical decision-making.

Join Maartje as she recounts a pivotal experience early in her career—a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity in Iran, fraught with risks, including unexploded ordinances in an oil field near the Iran-Iraq border. With little knowledge of the issue and limited resources, her team had to think fast, ask the right questions, and collaborate effectively to provide leadership with the insights needed to make a decision.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to approach complex, high-risk challenges with resourcefulness and creativity.
• The importance of de-risking decisions by identifying what you know—and what you don’t.
• Why collaboration and transparency are essential in problem-solving under uncertainty.
• Lessons learned from both the successes and missteps in their decision-making process.

This story is more than a case study; it’s a masterclass in resourcefulness, decision-making, and leadership. Whether you’re tackling a small challenge or navigating a major business emergency, the lessons in this episode will inspire you to face the unknown with confidence and clarity.

About the Host:

Your host, Maartje van Krieken, brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of business turmoil. With a background in crisis management, managing transformation and complex collaboration, she has successfully guided numerous organizations through their most challenging times. Her unique perspective and practical approach make her the go to First Responder in the arena of business turmoil and crisis.

Podcast Homepage: https://www.thebusinessemergencyroom.com/

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

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