Risk and Leadership with Lt. Gen. (ret) Roméo Dallaire

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

General Dallaire is an outspoken advocate for human rights, bringing attention to situations too often ignored, whether the atrocities of genocide, the struggle of veterans with mental health injuries, or the recruitment and use of child soldiers. He addresses geo-political issues, global and international affairs, leadership skills, and conflict resolution.

Listen for insight into discerning deception, using the media for good, and learning to observe and assess the behavior of your competition.

 

Key Takeaways:

[:01] About RIMScast.

[:39] About today’s episode, where we will talk about risk and leadership with our special guest Lt. Gen. (ret) Roméo Dallaire.

[1:01] All about exciting, upcoming RIMS events! The RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held October 4th–6th in Vail, Colorado. Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com for more information and to register.

[1:17] Head to the RIMS.org/Advocacy page to find information about The RIMS Legislative Summit, which is returning to Washington, D.C. on October 25th and 26th.

[1:32] We are very excited about the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, which will be held November 2nd and 3rd in Denver, Colorado! The theme is Elevate and Evolve. The Conference will be different than years past with some great changes; book your travel plans now! Visit the Events page of RIMS.org or the links in this episode’s notes.

[1:59] Throughout Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire’s distinguished military career, he served in staff, training, and command positions throughout North America. Europe, and Africa, rising in rank from Army cadet in 1960 to  Lt.-Gen. In 1998.

[2:18] Most notably, Gen. Dallaire was appointed the Force Commander of the U.N.’s Assistance Mission for Rwanda prior to and during the 1994 genocide.

[2:28] His defiant dedication to humanity during that mission has been well-documented in films and books, including his own award-winning account Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda.

[2:39] Gen. Dallaire is one of Canada’s national treasures and we were so honored that he keynoted Day 2 of the RIMS Canada Conference 2023 in Ottawa. Justin was captivated by his presentation and had a chance to catch up with him right after, to ask him for some follow-ups.

[2:55] Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire, welcome to RIMScast!

[3:07] Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire just presented one of the most memorable keynotes ever at the RIMS Canada Conference 2023. Justin thanks him for being on RIMScast and has some follow-up questions for Gen. Dallaire.

[3:25] Lt.-Gen. Dallaire used the media as a weapon for good. His advice is first, not to consider the media as an enemy. They are seeking information to advance the knowledge of the population. Gen. Dallaire gave the media access to everything except some classified material that would put people’s lives at risk.

[4:28] The instrument of media can get your message out. You can influence public opinion through the media. Without public opinion, you can find yourself isolated and you don’t get much feedback.

[5:15] Lt.-Gen. Dallaire used his eyes and body language to get his message across. His eyes showed his conviction. The eyes show whether you are sincere. He talked to the media and passed information to them as a human being. The words would flow. Sometimes he was vulgar and combative but he always informed. He used no script.

[6:29] RIMS plug time! Sponsor an episode of RIMScast! Contact us at pd@rims.org. For upcoming virtual workshops visit RIMS.org/virtualworkshops for the calendar. Managing Data for ERM is a three-module course that begins September 21st.

[7:17] Optimizing Risk Management with Artificial Intelligence will be led on September 28th by Pat Saporito. Recent RIMScast guest Chris Hansen will be leading Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability, and Employment Practices in the US on November 7th and 8th. Be sure to register for that course!
[7:50] Information about these sessions and others is on the RIMS Virtual Workshops page. Check it out and register!

[8:03] The next virtual RIMS CRMP workshop will be on September 26th and 27th and it will be led by Joseph Milan. Visit RIMS.org/Certification for these and future workshops. A link is also in this episode’s show notes, as is a link to the full Virtual Workshop calendar.

[8:23] On September 26th, Gallagher returns to present A Road Less Challenged? An Outlook on the Management Liability Market at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. On October 12th, AXA XL returns to present Stand Tall: How to Boost your Cyber Posture Against Creative Cyber Criminals.

[8:49] Visit RIMS.org/Webinars to learn more about these webinars and to register! Links are in the show notes. Webinar registration is complimentary for RIMS members.

[9:14] One of the bullets in Lt.-Gen. Dallaire’s presentation was on deception. The essence of discerning deception is understanding the enemy or the other players. Understanding the philosophy of the leadership of the other players means knowing what values they have and what references they use in decision-making.

[10:07] How do the other players see their clients or treat their people? When you have that type of insight, then you can discern when there’s a change happening. A deception plan puts a smokescreen up to hide the other plan they have going. The smokescreen can only last as long and be effective as you’ve convinced other people it’s the truth.

[10:42] If you keep your eye on them, and have enough information on how they think and act, you can discern whether or not there is something in the midst. That is a quality senior management needs to spend time enough to develop. Get good intelligence on your competitors. Get to the gut of their organizations.

[12:01] That is dependent on your ability to assess your capacity to achieve your mission. You’ve got to keep your focus on your aim. Based on what’s coming at you, you must adapt within the parameters of the aim you are trying to achieve.

[13:07] Lt.-Gen. Dallaire’s last thoughts: The parameter that should be guiding us all is that we are in a period of enormous, revolutionary flux. It’s a unique time in humanity. We can talk to the whole of humanity. We can assess the whole of the planet. Try to master the scale of what we’re able to do to move the future.

[13:44] We don’t wait for something to happen; what we should do is shape the future, and prevent things from happening as a result.

[14:02] Justin thanks Lt.-Gen, Dallaire for being his guest on RIMScast.

[14:11] Special thanks again to Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire for joining us on RIMScast. It was a thrill to meet and speak with him. You can find coverage of the RIMS Canada Conference 2023 at RiskManagementMonitor.com. Links are in the episode’s show notes.

[14:27] Go to the App Store on your phone and download the RIMS App. This is a special members-only benefit. Everybody loves the RIMS app!

[14:48] You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in our show notes. RIMScast has a global audience of risk professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let’s collaborate! Contact pd@rims.org for more information.

[15:30] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. The RIMS app is available only for RIMS members! You can find it in the App Store.

[15:54] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today’s risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more.

[16:10] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com and in print, and check out the blog at RiskManagementMonitor.com. Justin Smulison is Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org.

[32:32] Justin thanks you for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!

 

Mentioned in this Episode:

NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App

RIMS Legislative Summit — Oct 25 & 26, Washington, D.C.

RIMS Advocacy

RIMS ERM Conference 2023 | Nov 2–3 in Denver, CO!

RIMS Western Regional — Oct 4–6, Vail Colorado

RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)

Dan Kugler Risk Manager on Campus Grant

RIMS Webinars:

A Road Less Challenged? An Outlook on the Management Liability Market | Sponsored by Gallagher | Sept. 26, 2023

Stand Tall: How to Boost your Cyber Posture Against Creative Cyber Criminals | Sponsored by AXA XL | Oct. 12, 2023
RIMS.org/Webinars
Upcoming Virtual Workshops:

Optimizing Risk Management with AI | Sept. 28

Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US | Nov 7

See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops
All RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops

Upcoming Virtual Workshops:

Optimizing Risk Management with AI | Sept. 28

Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US | Nov 7

See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops
All RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops

Related RIMScast Episodes:

“Mental Health Awareness Month 2023”

“The Future of AI and Work with Sinead Bovell” (RIMS Canada 2023 Keynote)

“Crisis-Ready with RIMS Canada 2023 Closing Keynote Melissa Agnes”

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“Insuring the Future of the Environment” | Sponsored by AXA XL

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“Technology, Media and Telecom Solutions in 2023” | Sponsored by Allianz

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“How to Reduce Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD

“Managing Global Geopolitical Risk in 2022 and Beyond” | Sponsored by AXA XL

RIMS Publications, Content, and Links:

RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community!

RIMS Virtual Workshops

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Risk Management Magazine

Risk Management Monitor

RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)

RIMS-CRMP Stories — New interview featuring Roland Teo!

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Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.

 

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About our guest, Lieutenant-General (ret) Roméo A. Dallaire

The Honorable Roméo A. Dallaire, O.C., C.M.M., G.O.Q., M.S.C., C.D., L.O.M. (U.S.), B.ésS., LL.D. (Hon.), D.Sc.Mil (Hon.), D.U.

 

Roméo Dallaire is the founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security, a global partnership with the mission to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence. A celebrated advocate for human rights, especially in regard to child soldiers, veterans, and the prevention of mass atrocities, General Dallaire is also a respected government and UN advisor and former Canadian Senator.

 

Throughout his distinguished military career, General Dallaire served in staff, training, and command positions throughout North America, Europe, and Africa, rising in rank from Army Cadet in 1960 to Lieutenant-General in 1998.

 

Most notably, General Dallaire was appointed Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda prior to and during the 1994 genocide.  General Dallaire provided the United Nations with information about the planned massacre, which ultimately took more than 800,000 lives in less than 100 days; yet, permission to intervene was denied and the UN withdrew its peacekeeping forces.  General Dallaire, along with a small contingent of Ghanaian and Tunisian soldiers and military observers, disobeyed the command to withdraw and remained in Rwanda to fulfill their ethical obligation to protect those who sought refuge with the UN forces.

 

His courage and leadership during this mission earned him the Meritorious Service Cross, the United States Legion of Merit, the Aegis Award on Genocide Prevention, and the affection and admiration of people around the globe.  His defiant dedication to humanity during that mission has been well-documented in films and books, including his own award-winning account: Shake Hands with the Devil: the Failure of Humanity in Rwanda.

 

General Dallaire’s 1997 revelation that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a direct result of his mission in Rwanda paved the way for destigmatizing responders. Though it led to his being medically released from the Canadian Army in 2000, he has devoted decades of passionate leadership and advocacy to the issue on behalf of other veterans struggling with PTSD, including the publication of his bestselling memoir: Waiting for First Light: My Ongoing Battle with PTSD.

 

However, with his acclaimed book, They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children: The Global Quest to Eradicate the Use of Child Soldiers, General Dallaire proclaimed that the rest of his life will be devoted to the eradication of the use of children in war, and through the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative he continually seeks innovative ways to help end the use of child soldiers.

​

Whether as a military commander, humanitarian, senator, or author, Roméo Dallaire has penetrated our national consciousness, often in supremely uncomfortable ways. Setting aside his natural reserve, he has felt compelled to bring national and international attention to situations too often ignored, whether the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide, the struggle that he and many other military veterans face with post-traumatic stress disorder, or the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

 

Tweetables (For Social Media Use):

 

“The essence of trying to discern deception is understanding … the enemy. So, you’re understanding the competition, but understanding the philosophy of the leadership of the institution that’s out there; … What values do they have?” — Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire

 

“If you keep your eyeball on them and you have enough of the information on how they think and act, … you will be able to discern whether or not there is something in the midst.’” — Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire

 

“You don’t sit there, waiting for something to happen; what you do is you shape the future, you prevent things from happening, and in fact, you anticipate what that can be, as a result.” — Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire