About
Michele Wucker coined the term "gray rhino" as a metaphor for obvious risks that are neglected despite -and often because of- their size and likelihood. She is the author of the international bestseller THE GRAY RHINO: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore, which China’s leadership has used to frame and signal a crackdown on financial risk. Drawing on three decades of experience in media and think tank management, turnarounds, and strategy, Michele in 2015 founded the strategic advisory firm Gray Rhino & Company. She has been honored as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a Guggenheim Fellow. Her first two books, LOCKOUT: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong When Our Prosperity Depends on Getting It Right and WHY THE COCKS FIGHT: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola, have influenced policy debates and decisions. She speaks regularly on risk management, leadership, and macro strategy for high level global audiences. She has written for and been interviewed by leading global media including CNN.com, The New York Times, Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal; National Public Radio, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, and many others. Visit her website at www.thegrayrhino.com.
Featured Work
THE GRAY RHINO: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore
A Gray Rhino is a high impact, highly likely threat: a massive angry horned beast about to charge. Leaders ought to be better at preparing for and handling these seemingly obvious dangers than surprise “Black Swan” crises. Yet all too often, the opposite is true. Why do leaders and policy makers keep missing clear opportunities to head off highly probable major threats? Drawing on recent work in cognitive science and decision making, stories of crisis management successes and failures, and policy insight, The Gray Rhino explains how the foibles of human nature combined with perverse incentives make leaders prone to mistakes that escalate crises to catastrophe. It lays out a framework for overcoming those obstacles in order to recognize and build resilience to highly probable yet neglected dangers.
Other Works
-
LOCKOUT: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong When Our Prosperity Depends on Getting It Right
2006/2007
-
Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola
1999/2000
Awards and Recognition
- Guggenheim Fellow, 2007
- World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, 2009
- American Council on Germany Young Leader, 2008
- Womens Media Center Progressive Womens Voices Alumna, 2008