Led By Jillian Hamilton: Manage Damage, a Global Advisory Firm, Helps Identify and Overcome Non-Financial Risks for Multiple Sectors

“In my space; safety and risk management advisory can have a tendency to isolate the one operational risk – safety – but you can not solve a complex problem by only fixing one part of it – we look deep into risk and find the damage costs, the real causes and provide true solutions.”

Risk management should be embedded within the culture of an organization so that employees are focused on managing risk and optimising opportunity. However, most individuals, and even leaders are not risk savvy enough to see potential risk to the company and to translate this into monetary terms.

“Our method provides leaders with risk information in language they understand – we convert non-financial data into a financial context to enable businesses to see where issues lie and where true associated costs are located.”

Founded by Jillian Hamilton, an executive with a proven 10+ year track record, Manage Damage has saved millions of dollars of workers’ compensation and associated damage costs for large companies, insurance agents, and government authorities. Since its advent in 2016, Manage Damage has created an environment where non-financial risks are converted into dollar terms to enable management to more easily address the complex interplay of these factors within a business and reduce associated costs. The firm is currently based in Australia with its clients spread all over the world.

In an exclusive interview with Jillian Hamilton, Managing Director of Manage Damage, she reveals some interesting facts. Below is an excerpt.

Can you brief us about your company?

Manage Damage helps business leaders take a Financial Approach to Non Financial Risk, helping them to realize the significance of these risks and empowers them to overcome them using the Risk Dollarisation process.

We work with boards, CEOs, CFOs, and other senior leaders to drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability by dollar-ising a business’s risk portfolio.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

I fear to be mediocre towards myself, my clients, and the world. It would be rather mundane to be standard. I work hard to stay edgy, to be on the verge of another great piece of work and I thank our customers who throw us some wild problems to solve!

What do you hope to accomplish in the long run?

I want to dominate the designers’ and coders’ space – ethics and design by risk and safety is a path that is underdeveloped, unexplored and “at risk” globally. There is token work in this space but essential design to risk elements can make epic products with little latency or risk to end users and stakeholders. This will be my next voyage.

’It is difficult to start a venture, but far more difficult to maintain it’. How would you and your team interpret this saying?

Tenacity is the key. People find that the pace, rhythm and energy required is exhausting. It takes routine, strategy for long range plans with the flexibility and focus to continually adapt.

What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business’ success?

Financial acumen and business savvy are my key influential factors. In my space; safety and risk management advisory can have a tendency to isolate the one operational risk – safety – but you can not solve a complex problem by only fixing one part of it – we look deep into risk and find the damage costs, the real causes and provide true solutions.

What other leaders do you look up to, and why?

Elon Musk and Steve Jobs. They are humorous and my kind of blokes. I can see myself and Elon sharing a beer while talking about his next big plan.

What are your future focus areas?

Robotics/AI Design,AI Risk Management,Simplification and Automation of Legislation Requirements,

Automation of Risk Professionals – Remote automated advice with smart devices and a ‘Siri’ of kinds in the risk advice world!

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Do not leave your job until your credit cards are clean. Build your social media presence. Write a plan down. Check it and recheck it a couple more times. Plan your exit strategy, work to make your employer your first customer. Don’t plan any big purchases when just starting out, be prepared to work harder and smarter than you have ever dreamed of, be more frugal than you can imagine.

What do you think is the most memorable moment in your career?

There are great moments everyday. I opened Pakistan’s first-ever safety conference. I attended the World Safety Conference where a country became my client. I was asked to be an expert for the World IEC by Japan! We love all of our clients, designers, engineers, manufacturers, builders and end users. So to sum it up, there isn’t a day goes by that I don’t just love my work because We really have the best customers and they give us great challenges that we just can’t wait to tackle!

The Charismatic Leader at the Helm of Manage Damage - Jillian Hamilton, MD

Jillian Hamilton is the Managing Director of Manage Damage, a global risk management advisory firm. Following her extensive career across many industries, Ms. Hamilton saw the need to approach safety and risk in a different way. Her vast knowledge of health and safety has seen many businesses save millions of dollars in damage costs.

Ms. Hamilton’s impressive academic background consists of a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health, Safety and the Environment. She has studied the complete set of key skillsets for risk, ranging from ergonomics to economics, to econometrics, to environmental law and politics.

“There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t just love my work because I have the best customers and they give me great challenges that I just cannot wait to tackle!”