Foresight Unleashed: SCAN Smart!
05/14/25 • 23 min
Most businesses don't fail from bad decisions; they fail because they never saw the storm coming.
This episode is a wake-up call for leaders who are too busy managing today to think about what’s coming next. Maartje van Krieken breaks down the concept of Environmental Scanning and why it matters far more than most executives realize. Are you missing the early warning signals that could shape or shake your business? Are you confusing busyness with foresight?
Maartje introduces the SCAN framework (Signals, Context, Alignment, Navigation) as a way to build strategic foresight in business. She explains how to focus on what matters without getting buried in data, and why scanning should be part of your regular rhythm, not something you do only when a major shift hits.
You’ll also hear why the best signals often come from the front lines, not the C-suite. If your team isn’t part of your scanning process, what are you missing? And how can you create a system that surfaces insights before they become missed opportunities? This episode is for leaders who want to stay sharp, stay aware, and stay ready.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Environmental Scanning Matters
00:42 Over-Scanning vs. Under-Scanning
03:23 What Happens When You Miss the Signals
06:24 The SCAN Framework Overview
07:50 Using Context to Interpret Signals
10:00 Aligning Insights with Strategy
11:17 Turning Signals into Action
13:37 Tools and Ownership for Scanning
15:04 Involving Frontline Teams
18:07 Sharing Outlooks and Creating Feedback Loops
20:28 Auditing and Applying Your Scanning Rhythm
Links
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
Most businesses don't fail from bad decisions; they fail because they never saw the storm coming.
This episode is a wake-up call for leaders who are too busy managing today to think about what’s coming next. Maartje van Krieken breaks down the concept of Environmental Scanning and why it matters far more than most executives realize. Are you missing the early warning signals that could shape or shake your business? Are you confusing busyness with foresight?
Maartje introduces the SCAN framework (Signals, Context, Alignment, Navigation) as a way to build strategic foresight in business. She explains how to focus on what matters without getting buried in data, and why scanning should be part of your regular rhythm, not something you do only when a major shift hits.
You’ll also hear why the best signals often come from the front lines, not the C-suite. If your team isn’t part of your scanning process, what are you missing? And how can you create a system that surfaces insights before they become missed opportunities? This episode is for leaders who want to stay sharp, stay aware, and stay ready.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Environmental Scanning Matters
00:42 Over-Scanning vs. Under-Scanning
03:23 What Happens When You Miss the Signals
06:24 The SCAN Framework Overview
07:50 Using Context to Interpret Signals
10:00 Aligning Insights with Strategy
11:17 Turning Signals into Action
13:37 Tools and Ownership for Scanning
15:04 Involving Frontline Teams
18:07 Sharing Outlooks and Creating Feedback Loops
20:28 Auditing and Applying Your Scanning Rhythm
Links
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
Previous Episode
How to Be a Cybersecurity Porcupine
Most businesses overlook cybersecurity risk management until an attack hits, but small moves like the “porcupine strategy” and multi-factor authentication can be the difference between staying safe and facing a major breach. Maartje van Krieken sits down with cybersecurity expert Bryce Austin for a conversation that every business owner needs to hear. They start with a story: a business that lost over $100,000 to a wire fraud scam and ended up declaring bankruptcy. What would you do if your company faced a loss like that? Could you survive it?
Bryce explains how cybersecurity risk management has shifted in a world where criminals no longer hunt just big targets. Today, anyone with an email account or a bank connection is fair game. He shares clear steps you can take to prevent business data breaches, including why using strong passwords and setting up multi-factor authentication should no longer be optional.
They also talk about the real value of cyber insurance for business. Would insurance cover you when things go sideways? And just as importantly, how can you strengthen your defenses so you are less likely to need it?
If you think cybersecurity can wait, this episode offers a reality check, and clear actions you can take to protect your data, your finances, and your future.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity
01:33 Cybersecurity Breach Example
03:30 How to Assess Your Cyber Risk
04:10 How Cybercrime Has Evolved
06:44 Risks of Personal Devices for Business Owners
08:05 The Porcupine Strategy for Cybersecurity
10:05 Key Cybersecurity Measures: Passwords and MFA
15:21 Protecting Business Data and Preventing Breaches
21:00 What to Do After a Cyber Attack
23:34 Why Cyber Insurance for Business Matters
26:00 Proactive Cybersecurity
Links
Connect with Bryce Austin:
Bryce Austin began his technology career on a Commodore 64 and is now a leading voice in technology and cybersecurity. With over 20 years as a technology leader, he advises company boards across industries and serves as Chief Information Security Officer for businesses ranging from 50 employees to S&P 500 firms. He was previously the CIO and CISO of Wells Fargo Business Payroll Services and a Senior Group Manager at Target Corporation. Bryce’s best-selling book, “Secure Enough? 20 Questions on Cybersecurity for Business Owners and Executives,” draws on over a decade of hands-on cybersecurity crisis experience, including Target’s major 2013–2014 breach. His goal is to help organizations bring cybersecurity risk to a level that is secure enough for their needs. Outside of work, Bryce is a high-speed track driver and coach with over 100 students, and a perfect safety record.
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
Next Episode
What a Gun in the Face Teaches You
High-stakes decisions don’t reward the loudest voice; they favor the calmest mind and the clearest why.
Maartje van Krieken is joined by Jeffrey Owens, a former police officer, FBI-trained hostage negotiator, and executive leader, for a conversation that connects crisis response tactics to the boardroom. What does facing down an armed man teach you about managing people under pressure? And how can the rules of hostage negotiation help leaders make better decisions in chaotic moments?
Jeff shares the hostage negotiation lessons that shaped his career, including a story where listening, not authority, saved his life. That experience became the foundation for his crisis decision-making framework, a clear and repeatable model built on asking why, deciding what, and then acting on how. He also breaks down his philosophy of respect-based leadership in high-stakes moments, reminding us that respect is not weakness, but the fastest path to influence.
If your business feels like it’s running in crisis mode more often than not, Jeff and Maartje’s conversation will change how you lead through it.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Jeff Owen’s Hostage Negotiation Story
07:02 Key Lessons from Hostage Negotiation
09:20 The Trinity Concept: Why, What, How
10:55 Applying Negotiation Lessons to Business
14:10 Empowering Leadership and Delegation
18:09 High-Stakes Decision-Making
22:07 The Power of Respect in Leadership
24:02 Wisdom and Learning from Mistakes
Links
Connect with Jeffrey Owens:
Mobile/WhatsApp: +1 808-722-5311
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.JeffreyOwens.com
Jeffrey Owens is a leadership advisor and human interaction expert with decades of experience as a police hostage negotiator and senior business executive. After retiring as a Major from the Honolulu Police Department and leading at an international security firm, he founded Transcend Inc. to help leaders and teams thrive under pressure. His Power of RespectTM framework offers practical strategies for reducing conflict, building influence, and driving results. A Certified Speaking Professional and Certified Threat Manager, Jeff is a member of both the Virtual Speakers Hall of Fame and the Hawaii Speakers Hall of Fame.
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/
Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.
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