001 - Are We Ready? Preparing to Lead When the Unthinkable Happens -with Kristen Ziman

001 - Are We Ready? Preparing to Lead When the Unthinkable Happens with Kristen Ziman Former Aurora, Illinois Police Chief Kristen Ziman spent 30 years in law enforcement and led her department through the 2019 Henry Pratt Company mass shooting—an event that killed five people and left five officers wounded. But Kristen is quick to reject the idea that great crisis leadership begins when the crisis starts. It begins years earlier. In this conversation with Conrad Weaver, Kristen shares how asking one simple question—“What’s the worst thing that could happen, and are we prepared?”—changed the trajectory of her department. She explains why leaders must prepare for what they cannot predict, why organizations drift toward crisis when leaders ignore warning signs, and why every leader eventually faces what she calls a “moment of reckoning”: the point where you know something needs to change and must decide whether you have the courage to act. Kristen also speaks candidly about something she got wrong: taking care of everyone around her after the shooting while failing to take care of herself. This is a conversation about crisis preparation, courageous leadership, organizational culture, mental health, vulnerability, accountability, and what it really means to take care of the people in your charge. IN THIS EPISODE You'll hear Kristen and Conrad discuss: Whether leaders can truly prepare for something they've never experienced The question Kristen asked her command team after becoming chief Why her department admitted it wasn't prepared for a major crisis How preparation before 2019 affected the Henry Pratt response Why preparation is often mundane, uncomfortable and unpopular The difference between practicing for a crisis and actually living through one Making decisions in the middle of chaos Hearing officers being shot while responding to the scene The emotional aftermath that begins after the tactical incident ends Kristen's struggle to take care of herself while taking care of everyone else Challenging the “suck it up” mentality in first responder culture Communicating with officers, families, media and the public during a crisis Why “I don't know” can be one of a leader's most credible answers Kristen's Blind → Aware → Moment of Reckoning → Crisis framework Why fear keeps leaders from acting on problems they already know exist Courage as one of the defining characteristics of leadership Why technical competence doesn't automatically translate into leadership The importance of loving your people more than your position Why leaders need dissent rather than silence How asking “What do you need?” can reveal organizational vulnerabilities Why every leader should ask: What do I need to know that I don't want to know? GUEST BIO Kristen Ziman spent 30 years with the Aurora Police Department in Illinois, rising through the ranks and becoming chief of police in 2016. During her tenure as chief, she led the organization through the 2019 Henry Pratt Company mass shooting, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the civil unrest and protests following the murder of George Floyd. After retiring at the end of 2021, Kristen turned her experience toward helping other leaders and organizations. She is an author, keynote speaker, consultant and coach focused on leadership, culture, courage and the moments of reckoning that shape organizations. She also co-hosts the Hollow Bunny podcast. https://kristenziman.com +++++ First Responder Wellness Solutions The First Responder Leadership Podcast is presented by First Responder Wellness Solutions, equipping first responder leaders to lead better, live healthier, and build stronger cultures. Take the 30-Day Healthy Leadership Challenge Join the First Responder Leadership Mastermind Connect with other first responder leaders in a facilitated leadership development experience focused on growth, wellness, accountability, and becoming the leader your people deserve.  Learn more about the Leadership Mastermind Join the First Responder Leadership Network Access leadership development resources, training, community, conversations, and opportunities designed specifically for leaders throughout the first responder community. © 2026 First Responder Wellness Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.