The six habits of highly successful chief risk officers

Industry Overview - The financial industry has faced unprecedented and fast-moving threats in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and real-time bank runs accelerated by social media, which have disrupted traditional credit and liquidity models [3] - Chief Risk Officers (CROs) in financial institutions are under increasing pressure to manage both financial and nonfinancial risks while boosting the bottom line, requiring them to adapt to a rapidly evolving risk environment [4] Core Habits of Successful CROs - Successful CROs are explicit about their risk and resilience purpose and vision, championing a risk-aware culture across the organization [6] - They invest in and empower the next generation of risk leaders, building diverse teams and planning for leadership succession from the start [6] - Leading beyond risk, CROs engage deeply with other C-suite leaders and the board to align risk and resilience objectives with business goals [7] - They treat supervisors as partners, maintaining transparency and proactive communication to build constructive relationships [7] - CROs focus on their unique role by integrating insights across the organization to anticipate future threats and strengthen resilience [7] - They continually monitor their personal effectiveness, manage time strategically, and delegate responsibilities to maintain balance and readiness [7] Key Practices and Insights - CROs spend an average of 34% of their time with the risk function to understand team strengths and weaknesses, while dedicating up to 56% of their time engaging with the executive team and board [13][15] - Successful CROs use their unique vantage point to manage cross-cutting risks, take a long-term view, and allocate resources effectively to build organizational resilience [17] - They prioritize self-reflection and time management, with some spending up to 73% of their time preparing for potential future risks [22] Conclusion - The six habits of highly successful CROs—championing risk culture, investing in leadership, leading beyond risk, partnering with supervisors, focusing on their unique role, and improving personal effectiveness—are essential for navigating today's complex risk environment [27] - By adopting these habits, CROs can transition from risk managers to influential leaders, driving organizational success and sustainability in an ever-changing landscape [28]