Judy Smith

“'Scandal' is soooo Hollywood. It's not me.”

“The truth of the matter is, when you think about it, we all make mistakes.”

“You don't want to appear as if you are not a team player, but at the same time, you don't want to be taken advantage of.”

“Establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers. You don't have to be friends, but you do have to be friendly.”

“A crisis, by its very nature, is a negative event.”

“Problems arise when we go through life relying too much or too little on particular traits, which, in turn, can lead to a crisis.”

“Make sure you are clear about the expectations your boss has for you.”

“My theory on an existing crisis is that you have to be very strategic about each case's unique elements. If a crisis involves a legal component, you need a communication strategy that complements the company's legal objective. A strategy for a plea deal is different than a case going to trial.”

“Reputations can be built, attacked, and destroyed on social media. It's a huge game-changer - instantaneously emboldening adversaries and shortening the ride for any corporate or personal brand.”

“We all make mistakes, and sometimes the difference that we forget is that the people we read about in the paper and on the Internet and see on TV, behind that is, at its core, a mistake.”

“When times are good, a CEO should remain poised and composed. When times are difficult, a CEO should remain poised and composed.”

“Nothing kills a CEO's credibility faster than legal, regulatory, and/or ethical questions.”

“It can be a real blow to our egos when we feel as if our hard-earned degrees don't matter as much as our ability to get the morning coffee orders right.”

“I think that scandal and intrigue and all of those sort of things that occur behind closed doors - whether it's on the Hill or in the White House - people all find intriguing.”

“When you're at the center of the universe, you have to think quickly and size up a situation instantly because, whether you like it or not, you're going to be on the news the next day.”

“Protect yourself by always having a record of what transpired or was said in any situation that might be considered sensitive.”

“I think there are some things that just cannot be fixed.”

“I think, sometimes when we face problems and issues in our life, we have a tendency to really deny that a problem exists. Or sometimes we say, oh, it'll go away, or we can handle it. It's - you know, don't worry. I've got it covered. And a lot of times, that's not the case.”

“Most of the time, you think the problem is not as big as it is - because it says something negative about you or your company or your leadership. Face the reality: The facts are not as you want them to be.”

“My experience at the White House was invaluable.”