Carolyn Clarke

Carolyn is an entrepreneur bringing 30 years’ experience in translating strategic objectives through the language of risk. A former Big 4 partner and FTSE 20 Head of Audit, Risk and Control, she combines scaling a pioneering business focused on Changing Governance; From Within; For Good with a NED portfolio.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

Carolyn is a risk pioneer. She is passionate about developing practical solutions to enable organisations to take the right risks to deliver outcomes that are commercially successful, while being kind to people and the planet. She works with directors and senior leaders bringing a human-first, digitally enabled pragmatic mindset.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Founding and scaling BRAVE as a differentiated multi-disciplinary governance boutique that puts people and purpose at the forefront.
2. Building a unique and disruptive digital and AI-enabled approach to risk and assurance that drives effective decisions, Objectives@Risk.
3. Charting a career course that breaks the mould, from leaving a successful role in a Big 4 partnership, to challenging the status quo within a FTSE 100 and then to becoming an entrepreneur.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

The greatest risk I have taken has been to speak-up and constructively challenge perceived outcomes and ways of working, when individuals in positions of power are reluctant to lean into the consequences of their decisions. As risk professionals our organisations need us to have clarity and be decisive in our insight, while delivering it with empathy.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I learned about operational risk through training as an Explosives and Ordinance Disposal officer in the Royal Engineers.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

We believe successful leadership is defined by our values in being BRAVE: Grace; Curiosity; Authenticity; Courage; Clarity; Commerciality.