Suzanne Rich Folsom: Qualities Essential to Managing a Crisis

Suzanne Rich Folsom has not only handled, managed, and mitigated serious organizational crises for much of her career; she has thrived in the role of crisis manager, earning the reputation as a proficient, exceptional crisis management professional and invaluable organizational leader along the way.

A transformative CCO and General Counsel, Folsom has been looked upon on multiple occasions as a source of calm, confidence, and leadership during periods of serious, consequential upheaval; and has provided the presence and peace-of-mind needed to restore order and implement the change necessary to guide the organization through a successful transformation.

As Folsom knows, there are number of intangible qualities essential to successfully managing a crisis, regardless of magnitude. Such qualities include:

Skil: Good crisis managers aren’t born; they’re made. Effective crisis management tends to come more often from those who have been there, who have seen and experienced different approaches to managing a crisis, and who have learned what not to do during times of upheaval.

Judgment: A strong crisis manager possesses the good judgment needed to make the best decisions at the right times, to know which personnel to trust and place in charge, and to avoid mistakes that can worsen the problem.

Resolve: To be an effective crisis manger, one must have the resolve not just to make the hard decisions, but to stand behind them in spite of pushback. 

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Suzanne Rich Folsom: Noted Business Leader and Women’s Advancement Advocate

Accomplished General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Suzanne Rich Folsom has been consistently recognized by leaders in business, politics and throughout the legal profession for her work not only in rooting out corruption; but for providing the adept, transformative, and courageous leadership needed to deliver measurable results to an organization’s bottom line.

As someone who has made an indelible, undeniable imprint on the legal profession, as well as the position of general counsel, Suzanne Rich Folsom has utilized her professional prominence to champion the advancement of women, particularly throughout the legal community. This is something that has not only earned her accolades from colleagues and peers throughout the legal profession, but that has garnered the opportunity to speak and advocate for women’s rights and empowerment at numerous speaking events around the country.

A public proponent of female advancement and leadership in corporate America, Folsom has also made her mark in the areas of mentorship and sponsorship. She continues not only to serve as an inspiration to female professionals making their way up the corporate ladder but to provide the tangible support and encouragement they need to take their rightful place in boardrooms across the country.

Suzanne Folsom: An Attorney Who Matters

Suzanne Folsom has been a force for positive change throughout her career. A seasoned general counsel, chief compliance officer and accomplished change agent, Folsom has been at the forefront of much-needed transformation, as well as a pillar of integrity, for numerous public and private corporations; someone who has demonstrated the ethical backbone and resolve needed to fight corruption, pursue accountability, and do what’s right, even in the face of intense public scrutiny and attention.

Most recently a Senior Vice President, General Counsel and CCO for the United States Steel Corporation, Folsom isn’t afraid to tackle problems at the highest organizational levels, nor to face the consequences of doing what is needed to ensure the maintenance of integrity and accountability within a prominent national or multilateral enterprise. 

A valued U.S. Steel executive and asset for four years, Folsom provided composed, committed leadership and service throughout her tenure, managing crises and implementing strategies that put her company on the best path to success.

It was her work for U.S. Steel, as well as her longstanding reputation for impactful, ethical executive leadership, that garnered Folsom recognition as one of Ethisphere Magazine’s 2017 Attorneys Who Matter.   

Suzanne Rich Folsom: The Acceleration of Opportunity

Suzanne Rich Folsom always understood the role of general counsel to require an in-depth knowledge of the company’s business in order to provide sage legal guidance. It was the rapidly-growing opportunity to become an impactful and influential business leader within the organization, however, that may have been most surprising, particularly over the last 10 years.

“We’ve gone from the general perception of the legal department as the place where ideas go to die, and businesses suffer the dreaded ‘slow no,’” says Folsom, “to legal departments being a valued and general counsels being valuable business leaders who play key roles in driving the company forward.”

Most recently General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at U.S. Steel, Suzanne Rich Folsom has been rewarded by the chance not only to serve at the helm of a large corporate organization’s legal operation but to be an important and influential part of the firm’s high-level decision-making process.

“…along with being General Counsel and an advisor to the Board,” says Folsom of her role at U.S. Steel, “I (oversaw) the company’s real estate department/portfolio and (headed) our Government Affairs team, my role (was) to look for – and navigate around –potential pitfalls, including mitigating against business with asymmetrical risk, carefully vet partners and affiliates, and drive proactive legislative and regulatory policy that will advantage the entire company.”

(The above was taken from a 2017 interview with ALM)

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