Natalia Smalyuk

 

Natalia is an award-winning communications advisor and trainer with a global outlook and 20 years of hands-on experience in strategic communication, crisis resilience and stakeholder engagement. With a passion for helping people and organizations fulfil their missions and live their dreams, Natalia believes there’s no such thing as “business as usual.” There’s only an unchartered landscape of opportunity – and risk.

Known for her ability to dig into the issues from a 30,000-feet-view right to the core to unpack insights and paths to value creation, Natalia quickly zeroes in on the real problem. And the real story. Positioning clients as thought leaders with strong authentic narratives, she equips them with the tools they need to advance their growth agenda, manage their reputation and navigate risk. Natalia looks at organizational issues in broad systemic contexts, asks hard questions and searches for transdisciplinary solutions that enhance the ability of organizations to act, not just react going through change. Her sweet spot is facilitating group sessions – with empathy and integrity – where teams reach a tipping point making important decisions. Natalia is skilled in capturing team wisdom, creating a shared picture, and designing participatory environments.

Natalia's client roster includes Fortune 500 companies, international institutions, healthcare, financial services, professional services, technology, education and public service organizations, among others. She works closely with executives in diverse Canadian and international markets to prepare them for all scenarios of change.

Currently, Natalia runs a Women Business Enterprises Canada certified communication consultancy called NBAU, which stands for Not Business As Usual. NBAU supports organizations before, during and after adverse events with a unique planning and training model that broadens the understanding of crises and enables positive action in an uncertain world.

Natalia has brought stakeholders to the table to tackle complex conflicts; managed contentious litigation; navigated data breaches; guided through mergers and restructuring; counselled on labour disruptions; interviewed with the media as the companies’ spokesperson in a crisis, and engaged with protesters.

A diligent student of crises, Natalia is committed to building resilience in organizations and individuals to manage adversity – and to grow and thrive. She presents, publishes and blogs about crisis leadership and reputation management regularly.

Among Natalia's credentials:

  • Owner of WBE Canada certified business.

  • IABC World Conference speaker.

  • Host of the online Resilience Unfiltered coffee & Q&A chat.

  • CMP/Prosci-certified change management practitioner.

  • Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Powered by Ivey Business School

    Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Western University.

  • Researcher, Centre for Catastrophic Risk Management, University of California, Berkeley.

  • MBA, crisis communications dissertation, University of Liverpool.

  • MA, Political Science and Media Studies, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto.

  • Group facilitation methods certificate, Institute of Cultural Affairs.

  • The Founder’s Journey certificate/Ivey/Western Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship.                       

  • PR post-graduate certificate, Ryerson University.

  • BA, Minsk State Linguistic University, Belarus.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but building the new.”

— Socrates