Leadership Under Fire: The Executive’s Role in Crisis Response

Chanan Smith

Founder of MAGEN LLC and a seasoned security and crisis leadership expert

May 12, 2026 | 10–11 AM PT

Crisis incidents are among the most extreme leadership tests an executive team can face. These events unfold rapidly, involve incomplete and conflicting information, and carry immediate life-safety, legal, reputational, and organizational consequences.

In this webinar, Lt. Chanan Smith (Ret.), Founder of MAGEN LLC and a seasoned security and crisis leadership expert, will explore what executive leadership truly looks like when the stakes are at their highest. From active shooter response to organizational continuity under pressure, this session will focus on the critical role leaders play in maintaining command, clarity, and control during chaotic, fast-moving emergencies.

Drawing on decades of operational experience and elite-level training work with organizations ranging from the U.S. Secret Service to professional sports teams and corporate executives, Lt. Smith will provide practical insights into how leaders can prepare, respond, and guide their teams through crisis with confidence and resilience.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the executive mindset, decision-making frameworks, and leadership behaviors that matter most when every second counts.

About the Speaker

Lt. Chanan Smith (Ret.) is the Founder of MAGEN LLC and an expert in crisis leadership, security operations, and executive response under pressure. A former Lieutenant in the Israeli Defense Forces, he was recognized as a top leader among his peers and served as a combat commander responsible for more than 200 soldiers, with zero casualties.

With decades of experience in active-shooter response and counterterrorism, Lt. Smith has trained clients ranging from U.S. Secret Service agents and NFL security teams to corporate executives and high-profile public figures. Through his work, he equips leaders with the clarity, resilience, and tactical decision-making needed to navigate high-stakes crises.