Watch Juliette in Action
About Juliette Kayyem
Juliette Kayyem is a crisis management and homeland security expert who has led responses from inside government and now prepares leaders for the disruptions they cannot prevent. At Harvard's Kennedy School of Government she teaches the school's premier course on mitigating and managing crises. She is a senior advisor to Teneo, the global consulting firm, and a frequent consultant to businesses, nonprofits and governments internationally, from Fortune 500 companies to startups.
"What makes crises different is the short runway. Time is limited and decisive action is critical," Kayyem explains. "Rather than dwelling on what could go wrong, the best leaders focus on preparation and resilience strategies. Disaster preparation must be standard operating procedure for any leader."
Juliette's Keynote Topics
Leaders don’t need to be reminded that the world is unpredictable or that crises can strike without warning. But what truly defines a crisis? It’s the short runway – where time is limited, and decisive action is critical. In this hyper-relevant presentation, faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Global Crisis Resilience Projects at Harvard’s Kennedy School Juliette Kayyem shifts the focus from dwelling on what could go wrong to proven strategies for preparation and resilience. Drawing on her extensive expertise in crisis and disaster management, she explains that while we can’t prevent every disaster, we can better prepare for any crash landing. Audiences will leave with a clear and actionable playbook that equips leaders with tools for anticipating and preparing for the pressures and disruptions that will surely arise, empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and readiness.
America stands at a pivotal moment in history, where artificial intelligence is reshaping the very foundation of national security. According to Harvard Kennedy School professor Juliette Kayyem, AI is not just a technological advancement — it is a force multiplier, one that can either strengthen our defenses or be exploited by our adversaries. In this revealing presentation, she outlines the importance of leveraging AI’s power for good while mitigating the risks that come with it such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, supply chain disruptions and more. Audiences will leave with a practical understanding of the national security implications of AI and how we can better harness its powers and regulate the vulnerabilities it is simultaneously creating for our safety.
When disasters and emergencies are unavoidable, the line between success and failure blurs. Traditionally, people think of success as ‘the bad thing didn’t happen’ and failure as ‘the bad thing happened,’ but, according to Harvard Kennedy School professor Juliette Kayyem, when “bad things” are inevitable, it’s important that leaders understand how to “fail safer.” In this eye-opening presentation, she draws on her landmark book “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters,” to show that a vital part of rethinking our approach to disaster preparedness and response is rethinking what failure can look like. Audiences will leave with a new outlook on how we can take back agency with the capacity to fail safer.
Books by Juliette Kayyem
Juliette in the Media
Aviation experts react to hijack attempt on Israel-bound flight
National security expert discusses alleged U.K. bomb plot
Boston Public Radio, The Curiosity Desk, & The Culture Show Live Wednesday, September 9, 2026
FEMA is off the chopping block. But disaster aid is still a guessing game.
Why Rebuilding After Climate Disasters Is No Longer Enough
CNN National Security Analyst Warns About Electric Shock Tool Purchased By ICE
The Legacy of Eddie Andelman
Ask The Mayor, May Edition
Democracy Demolition Derby
Former Homeland Security official on how to protect the president at events
Security Expert Talks About Domestic Security During Times of War
What to Make of the Gracie Mansion Incident
Insightful, honest and with no shortage of humor, Kayyem's memoir may prove -- beyond any government accounting or historical analysis -- the most lasting contribution to explaining America's security efforts and engaging our communities for the challenges we will certainly face. She brings it home for all of us.
Edward DavisFormer Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
Kayyem combines real-world national security experience, the everyday personal experiences of an individual, and the genius of a policy thinker for her compelling and engaging new book. Virtually anything Kayyem writes is a must-read and she has put it all together to help us prepare for our era of disasters.
Jeh JohnsonFormer Secretary of Homeland Security
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