424 - Navigating Volatility, Risk, and Collaboration
At a moment when organizations are navigating volatility, fragmentation, and mounting compliance pressure, small- and medium-sized enterprises increasingly rely on trusted external networks to navigate legal, regulatory, and compliance challenges they often lack the capacity to manage alone. In this episode of Democracy That Delivers, Michele Crymes speaks with Rick Johnston about crisis response, reputation, regulatory complexity, and how business associations, chambers of commerce, industry groups, and organizations like CIPE can help businesses build resilience. The discussion also explores where civil society can be a practical partner rather than an outside critic. The takeaway is clear: collaboration works best when it starts with trust, shared interests, and concrete issues like anti-corruption. Rick Johnston is Chair of the Executive Board of Business at OECD (BIAC) and Managing Director of Global Government Affairs at Citibank. In his BIAC role, he represents the global business community in engagement with the OECD and helps guide business input on international economic policy. At Citi, he leads engagement with governments and political stakeholders, overseeing geopolitical analysis, issue advocacy, and relationships with policymakers across more than 100 countries. An expert in international trade and investment, Johnston has advised U.S. and foreign government leaders as well as multinational companies on complex transnational issues. He previously served as International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and as an advisor at the U.S. International Trade Commission.
