Present & Future: Leading when the Crisis Doesnt End - Claudia Zeisberger | 2026 Cosmic Conference

Not all crises are the same.

When uncertainty is prolonged, the rules of leadership change. There are no clear timelines, no reliable benchmarks, and often no precedent to guide decision-making. Leaders are required to act while the ground is still moving, balancing immediate pressures with the need to build for an unknown future.

In this episode, Claudia Zeisberger, Professor at INSEAD and expert in private capital and turnaround management, joins Marilyn Zakhour for a deep conversation on what it takes to lead when the crisis doesn’t end.

Together, they explore:

•  How prolonged crises fundamentally reshape decision-making and risk 
•  Why waiting for a “return to normal” can become a strategic trap 
•  How leaders can rethink core business assumptions under pressure 
•  The importance of scenario planning, cash awareness, and structural flexibility 
•  What enables organizations to adapt, innovate, and move forward in uncertainty 
•  The role of leadership, culture, and communication in navigating complexity 

This episode is part of the Cosmic Conference series, exploring how leaders can move beyond reacting to crisis and instead use it as a moment to reshape what comes next.