Senior Leader Crisis Decision-Making Program
Program Outcomes
In this program, the senior leaders will:
- Understand the psychology and methods for makingtime-criticaldecisions
- Learn how to overcome ineffective decision habit patterns regardless of the situation
- Gain a deepunderstanding of their proper roles in each phase of a crisis
- Get equipped with real-time tools to aid in quality decisions under pressure
- Exercise their new skills to better prepare for their roles when their organizations need it most
- Share experiences with peers in a non-attribution environment
Who it's for
University chancellors and presidents who want to work through various higher education scenarios to sharpen their skills in a crisis and sharing challenges and solutions to situations in a confidential and comfortable peer environment.
The program is purposefully designed to accommodate a busy leader schedule with the most impactful in-person experience over a day and a half.
July 2025
Boulder, CO
One and a half days
In-person
$7,000
Includes instruction, materials, meals and lodging
Contact us for any details or clarifications
LeedsExecEd@Colorado.edu
Meet the faculty

Jack Briggs, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Operations, University of Colorado, Boulder
With over four decades of experience with high-stakes decision-making, Jack’s career includes 30+ years as a senior military leader-a fighter pilot in combat or leading tens of thousands of warfighters, as a general officer in Afghanistan. Ultimately, he served as the defender of North America, where he trained, mentored, and led the decision-making process to protect North America from the most serious threats. More recently Jack brought this same passion to higher education and non-profit leadership for almost 10 years making similar high-stakes decisions for those in need and multiple campuses in multiple countries for tens of thousands of students, faculty, and administrators.
Jack Briggs is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Operations within the Division of Public Safety. Jack overseas the university’s departments of Events, Emergency Management, Flight Operations, and the Security Operations and Communications Centers. Before 鶹ѰBoulder, Jack served as the President & CEO for Springs Rescue Mission, southern Colorado’s largest homeless shelter and addiction recovery program. Prior to his time at Springs Rescue Mission, Jack was Vice President for Global Resiliency and Security at New York University (NYU). He was responsible for organizing, integrating, and executing the University’s Emergency Management and Continuity Programs and security for NYU’s 15 campuses in 11 countries. While at NYU, Jack earned his Doctorate in Education Leadership and Innovation.
Before NYU, Jack served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 30 years in a variety of senior leadership roles retiring as a Major General. As the Director of Operations for US NORTHERN Command in Colorado Springs, Jack was responsible for the defense of North America and managed Department of Defense efforts in national emergencies.
Program Information
Today’s higher education senior leaders face intense, high-pressure situations where every decision can shape the future of their institutions. In the heat of a crisis, all eyes turn to leadership with one critical question: “What do you want to do?” The choices made in these moments can drive lasting success or lead to unintended consequences.
Imagine navigating the storm of uncertainty, limited information, and tough trade-offs with confidence.This session takes leaders on a deep dive into their decision-making instincts, uncovering the psychology behind why we choose the paths we do under pressure.
Through real-world case studies and interactive discussions, participants will explore:
- How the brain processes decisions under stress—and how to harness it.
- The difference between a decision and an outcome.
- Strategies to strengthen confidence and create clarity in the midst of acrisis.
This is your opportunity for a transformative experience that will challenge your thinking and refine your ability to lead decisively when it matters most.
Understanding how and why we make decisions under pressure is just the beginning—true leadership demands preparation before a crisis unfolds. Senior leaders must not only react in the moment but proactively define their roles, priorities, and strategies before challenges arise.
In this dynamic session, participants will:
- Clarify organizational priorities and ensure they are risk informed.
- Evaluate decision-making frameworks—what must be done and what should not be done.
- Understand how options are developed within their institution to drive decisive action.
- Leverage the power of checklist to align teams and stakeholders.
- Explore the critical role of relationships—why building trust before a crisis is essential.
Through scalable, real-world scenarios, leaders will gain actionable tools to shape their institution’s crisis response strategy. This immersive experience will empower participants to lead with clarity, confidence, and resilience when the unexpected strikes.
While effective crisis response begins long before with training, preparation, and a clear leadership strategy, making decisions in the moment is the bottom line. In this session, participants will step into the role of crisis leadership, exploring the decisive actions and mindset shifts required to navigate high-stakes situations with confidence.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding the leader’s role in directing a crisis response effort.
- Recognizing the pitfalls of early reports—why even great leaders react prematurely.
- Implementing proven decision-making frameworks to streamline collaboration and drive clarity under pressure.
- Understand the power of the 4 Core Questions to accelerate crisis responses.
- Building the confidence to be decisive in the most critical moments.
This session goes beyond theory—it’s aboutaction. Participants will practice their crisis decision first moves against real-world challenges and leave with practical, adaptable strategies to ensure their first steps in a crisis set the stage for both immediate and long-term success.
When the dust settles, the real work begins. What comes next? How do leaders evaluate their decisions, refine their strategies, and strengthen their organizations for the future?
This session delves into the critical post-crisis phase, equipping participants with the skills to:
- Analyze decision quality—assessing both individual and team choices under pressure.
- Evaluate the impact of uncertainty—understanding how assumptions and risk factors shaped outcomes.
- Critique crisis response dynamics—examining the flow of information, guidance, and execution.
- Transform lessons learned into actionable strategies that drive organizational resilience.
The session culminates in an interactive tabletop exercise, where participants will synthesize insights from previous discussions and put their crisis leadership skills to the test. Leaders will leave empowered with proven frameworks, renewed confidence, and practical tools to navigate chaos with clarity and control—ensuring their institutions emerge stronger from every challenge.
In addition to the curriculum, the program leverages case studies to reinforce learning objectives. Materials aree supplemented with a pre-attendance survey to learn more about the concerns and challenges in handling the next crisis as a leader and institution. These insights are folded into the program for a more tailored experience.
This one and a half day program is only available to university chancellor and presidents with a maximum capacity of 10 per cohort. Full price includes faculty instruction, meals and lodging.