What do you do when everything goes wrong and everyone is looking to you for answers?
In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with Alyssa Burns, CEO of Alyssa Burns Communications and a communications strategist specializing in crisis management and resolution, for an honest conversation about what happens when leaders, businesses, and organizations are under pressure.
Alyssa shares how resilience shaped her career, how she left a toxic workplace to build her own business, and how she discovered that crisis management and resolution were at the center of her zone of genius.
Together, Anne and Alyssa explore why trust is so important during a crisis, why effective communication starts with listening, and how asking the right questions can uncover what is really happening beneath the surface.
The conversation also goes deeper into transparency, reputation, leadership, human connection, and the importance of creating a safe space where people can tell the truth. Alyssa explains why crises often have warning signs long before they become public and why leaders need to address what is actually happening instead of simply reacting to the emotional fallout.
At the heart of the conversation is a powerful message: when things go wrong, clear, honest, and purposeful communication can help leaders find a way forward.
IN THIS EPISODE
PULL QUOTES
“I run towards chaos when people run away from it.”
“Can you tell me really what's going on?”
“The power of asking questions, the power of being curious, and the power of listening.”
“Communication is a profession that's built on relationships.”
“Don't hide anything from me.”
ABOUT ALYSSA BURNS
Alyssa Burns is the CEO of Alyssa Burns Communications and a strategic communications powerhouse who helps leaders cut through complexity, build trust, and lead with confidence. She specializes in crisis management and resolution.
With senior communications experience at Edelman Worldwide and Kraft Foods, Alyssa has spent her career helping leaders and organizations navigate high-stakes communication challenges.
Her work is rooted in clear, honest, and purposeful communication. She brings curiosity, strong listening skills, resilience, and a calm presence to difficult situations, helping leaders understand what is really happening and communicate effectively when the stakes are high.
Alyssa is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches and mentors students in communications.
CONNECT WITH ALYSSA BURNS
Website:
https://alyssaburnscommunications.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaburns2/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/paris.girl.007/
CONNECT WITH ANNE GILLASPIE
Website:
https://theannegillaspie.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/
OnlyFounders Podcast:
https://theannegillaspie.com/podcast
LISTEN / WATCH ONLYFOUNDERS
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders-explicitly-human-stories/id1832541527
ABOUT ONLYFOUNDERS
OnlyFounders is about the human side of entrepreneurship—the messy, complicated reality behind building businesses, leading teams, navigating pressure, relationships, identity, fear, failure, and growth.
Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the podcast explores the real stories behind the people building businesses and the human experiences that shape how we lead.
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