Evan Nierman

Founder & CEO, Red Banyan PR | Author of Top-Rated Newsletter on Communications Best Practices

I'm the Founder and CEO of Red Banyan, an international public relations and crisis management firm that exists to press the truth and deliver results. My team and I specialize in high-stakes PR, cancel culture response, litigation communications, and complex reputational challenges that require creative thinking, strategic clarity, and unshakable judgment.

For more than two decades, I’ve helped CEOs, public figures, law firms, and global brands navigate their most difficult moments. Whether it’s a viral controversy, a legal dispute, or a reputational crisis, I bring deep media experience and a relentless commitment to exceeding expectations.

I’m also the author of The Cancel Culture Curse and Crisis Averted, and I frequently appear on major news outlets like Fox News, CNN, BBC, and Newsmax to share insights on cancel culture, media strategy, and crisis communications.

🔹 Founder & CEO of Red Banyan
🔹 Author of The Cancel Culture Curse and Crisis Averted
🔹 Regular media commentator on PR and reputation issues
🔹 Trusted advisor to executives, attorneys, and public figures
🔹 Featured in Newsweek, PRWeek, The Washington Post, and Forbes

My mission is simple: help people and organizations tell their stories truthfully, strategically, and powerfully—especially when the stakes are highest.

📩 Learn more at www.redbanyan.com

Founder and CEO

Red Banyan Group is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis management and marketing.  Red Banyan Group combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.  Red Banyan offers a wide array of services, including: media relations, crisis management, marketing, corporate communications, litigation support, social and digital media, copywriting and editing and media training.

Reputations don’t fall apart during press conferences. They fall apart in private conversations with your team.

Before the statement. 

Before the lawyers finalize language. 

Before the media calls.

Crisis exposure starts internally.

When pressure rises, executives often shift into control mode. 

Tighter messaging. Fewer voices. More distance.

It feels strategic.

But inside the organization, people are listening for something else.

Ownership. Clarity. Steadiness.

The leaders who protect reputation long term don’t default to defensiveness.

They say:

“I was wrong.” “What’s your take?” 

“I trust you.” “We’ll figure this out.”

Those words do more than motivate.

They lower internal panic. 

They align legal and communications before tension escalates. 

They prevent small issues from turning into cultural fractures.

External reputation is a reflection of internal leadership.

If your language fractures trust behind closed doors, no press strategy will repair it.

Leadership under pressure is measured in tone, not talking points.

Every leader faces a defining moment. Preparation starts here.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis PR and reputation management.

Kindness isn’t soft leadership.
It’s reputation management.

Many leaders assume reputation is built through visibility.

Press coverage. Big announcements. Strong quarterly results.

But reputation inside an organization forms somewhere much quieter.

In daily interactions.

How a leader speaks to people when things go wrong. 

Who gets credit when things go right. 

Who gets defended when they’re not in the room.

Employees remember these moments.

And when pressure arrives, those memories matter.

Because in a crisis, reputation is rarely protected by messaging alone.

It’s protected by people.

People who trust your leadership. 

People who believe you treated them fairly. 

People who are willing to stand behind you when scrutiny begins.

That loyalty isn’t built during the crisis.

It’s built long before it.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis PR & reputation management.

Jeffrey Epstein is dead. The reputational risk tied to his name isn’t. In most crises, I advise clients to engage and push back. This is one of the rare exceptions. 

Watch for my take on why. #cisisPR #reputationmanagement #mediastrategy #epstein

The Prince Andrew arrest, tied to the Epstein scandal, is another blow to the already fragile reputation of the British monarchy. 

This ongoing controversy is a prime example of how reputations can unravel with each new revelation. 

Watch my take on why this situation requires a strategic shift in crisis communication.

#PrinceAndrew #Epstein #BritishMonarchy #CrisisPR #ReputationManagement #CrisisCommunication

Sydney Sweeney shared a makeup-free photo and faced immediate online criticism. It’s a sad reminder of how far some people will go to bring others down for showing authenticity.

The real strength lies in staying true to yourself, regardless of the noise.

#SydneySweeney #OnlineTrolling #Authenticity #SocialMedia

It was an honor to speak at the Chief Outsiders National Meeting yesterday on “The PR Imperative in an AI World.”

As AI reshapes industries, PR plays a critical role in driving growth and powering reputation. 

We explored how AI-driven communications can align sales, marketing, and leadership teams for sustained success.

Thanks to everyone who joined the session! 

Excited to see how AI continues to reshape PR and leadership strategies.

#PR #AI #Leadership #BrandReputation #StrategicCommunications

A live broadcast is never truly “live.” 
There are safeguards for a reason.

The BAFTA controversy raises a bigger question about responsibility, judgment, and where education ends and avoidable harm begins. 

Watch the video for my take.

#BAFTAAwards #CrisisPR #MediaStrategy #ReputationManagement #PublicPerception

Building a company is hard. Doing it alongside someone you trust completely is a gift.

Grateful today for Robbin Lubbehusen, MBA and the steady hand she’s been in building Red Banyan from the early days to where we are now. 

Trust is earned and she’s earned it every step of the way.

#Leadership #Teamwork #Gratitude #RedBanyan

A leader’s reputation is defined in the moments
when everyone else is losing control.

In a crisis, people rarely remember the smartest analysis.

They remember composure.

Panic spreads quickly inside organizations. So does calm.

The leaders who protect their reputations during difficult moments usually do three things well:

-They slow the room down. 
-They focus attention on facts instead of emotion. 
-They communicate clearly while everyone else reacts.

This isn’t about personality.

It’s about discipline.

Because when pressure rises, people look for signals.

If the leader appears controlled, the organization stabilizes.

If the leader appears uncertain, the chaos multiplies.

Crisis leadership isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about becoming the calm others can follow.

Every leader faces a defining moment.

Preparation starts long before the chaos begins.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis PR & reputation management.

Crisis doesn't just test your strategy.
It tests your character.

And the leaders who rise aren't the ones with all the answers.

They're the ones who show up with clarity, courage, and composure when everything's falling apart.

Here's what the best leaders do differently under pressure:

1. They act quickly, even without all the answers.

Waiting for perfect information leads to paralysis.

The best leaders move fast, acknowledge what they don't know, and take decisive action anyway.

They adjust as they learn more. But they don't freeze.

Speed builds trust. Hesitation breeds doubt.

2. They stay visible.

Disappearing isn't an option.

The best leaders stay front and center—offering updates, answering questions, showing they're engaged.

Visibility signals commitment. Silence signals abandonment.

3. They lead with empathy, not just authority.

Decisions still need to be made. But people need to know you care.

The best leaders acknowledge the impact, show humanity, and connect before they command.

Empathy doesn't weaken authority. It strengthens trust.

4. They keep the message clear and consistent.

Mixed messages fuel confusion and distrust.

The best leaders repeat the same core message—simply, clearly, relentlessly.
Consistency creates clarity. And clarity calms chaos.

5. They take responsibility.

When things go wrong, they don't deflect. They don't blame. They don't hide.

They own it. They fix it. They lead through it.

Accountability isn't weakness. It's the foundation of trust.

Crisis leadership isn't about having all the answers.

It's about how you carry yourself when no one does.

The best leaders rise by staying composed, staying present, and staying human.

Because when everything's uncertain, people aren't looking for perfection.

They're looking for someone steady enough to follow.

Great content doesn’t just build authority.
It drives growth.

Many brands focus heavily on expert, authority-driven content. 

It’s smart. 

It builds credibility and signals depth.

But authority alone doesn’t expand reach.

Growth-oriented content plays a different role. 

It connects expertise to broader conversations and pulls new audiences in—without watering down the message.

The strongest brands balance both. 

Here’s how the most effective brands approach it:

1. Lead with insight, not jargon. Expertise lands better when it’s accessible.

2. Tie experience to real-world moments. Growth happens when people recognize themselves in the message.

3. Vary the packaging, not the principle. The message stays the same. The delivery adapts.

4. Meet people where they are. Authority earns trust. Reach earns attention. You need both.

Authority-driven content proves you know what you’re doing.

Growth-driven content ensures people actually see it.

When those two work together, credibility scales.

Visibility increases.

Reputation strengthens.

This isn’t about changing your message.

It’s about making sure it travels far enough to matter.

Had a great time connecting with Adriana Lynch from Chief Outsiders at their National Meeting in Dallas. Always valuable to share insights with leaders who are focused on helping CEOs scale quickly and strategically. Looking forward to what’s ahead with Chief Outsiders and CEO Coaching International!
#Leadership #CEO #GrowthStrategy

Great to see strong partners together in Dallas last week.

Evan Nierman of Red Banyan and Adriana Lynch of Chief Outsiders connected at our National Meeting while leaders across our network gathered to share ideas and sharpen strategies for the CEOs we serve.

Appreciate the partnership with CEO Coaching International and the shared focus on helping leadership teams move faster and grow with clarity.

The brands people love? They're not the loudest. They're the most consistent.


In my latest article for Entrepreneurs'​ Organization, I break down why brand consistency isn't just a marketing tactic, but the foundation of long-term trust and recognition.

Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eJ3eTj9c
#BrandBuilding #Consistency #ReputationManagement

Open article: The Role of Consistency in Building a Recognizable Brand by eonetwork.org

A woman listens to a speaker at a learning event.

The Role of Consistency in Building a Recognizable Brand

Success brings attention—and scrutiny. One dismissive comment can create controversy that distracts from everything you’re doing right.

Here’s a take on Timothée Chalamet’s remarks about opera and ballet and the reputation lesson behind them.

#TimothéeChalamet #ReputationManagement #CrisisPR #MediaStrategy

Honored to appear as a speaker at this event!  Thank you to Jeffrey Bast, Brett M. Amron and the outstanding team at BAST AMRON LLP.

📣 BAST AMRON LLP‘s 8th Annual Business Advantage Forum is coming up on April 22, 2026!

Our SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT today is on Evan Nierman, Founder & CEO of Red Banyan. Evan is a crisis PR expert and best-selling author who leads Red Banyan, an award-winning strategic communications firm. With 25 years of experience in crisis and reputation management, Evan has guided top executives, public figures, global brands, and political leaders through complex, high-stakes challenges.

His expertise spans reputational risk, public scrutiny, and crisis response, and his insights are regularly sought by major media outlets covering today’s most pressing communications issues. Evan’s work focuses on helping leaders navigate difficult moments with clarity, strategy, and confidence.

For more information and to register and get your tickets, please visit https://lnkd.in/eUEFQRDe

FLORIDA BAR CLE CREDITS PENDING APPROVAL

You do not want to miss out on this great event!

#BastAmron
#BAForum2026
#BAInTheCommunity

ICE-related issues don’t just impact operations, they can shift public perception quickly. Leaders need to stay composed and act swiftly to control the narrative. Read our latest blog to learn how to prepare before the situation intensifies. #CrisisPR #ReputationManagement #ImmigrationEnforcement #RedBanyan

Immigration enforcement can put businesses in a tough spot fast.

If ICE-related activity touches a workplace, a deal, or sparks employee concern, leaders need to stay calm and coordinated: align with legal, communicate clearly internally, and stick to what is verified.

Our latest blog lays out a practical way to prepare ahead of time and respond responsibly if things escalate:
https://lnkd.in/e4B-nGk4

Open article: How Businesses Should Handle ICE-Related PR Risk by redbanyan.com

How Businesses Should Handle ICE-Related PR Risk

Co-founder & CEO at Flash Pack 🌏 Social adventures for solo travelers. Follow for daily posts on building a career and life with purpose.

On a mission to create 1 million meaningful friendships using the power of travel. 

In 2014, I founded a boutique adventure company called Flash Pack that connects solo travellers aged 30-49 across the globe. 

I was in my 30s:
 
➤ Stressed with work. 
➤ Not quite nailed what I wanted to do. 
➤ Friends were busy, getting married & having kids

I wanted to get away for some fun & an adventure. 

But when I researched the market, there was nothing for me, just: 

a) Party packages for budget backpackers in their 20s.
b) Slow but luxurious options for retirees in their 60s. 

I wanted something in between:

✨ A dynamic adventure. 
✨ People at my stage of life. 
✨ A boutique hotel, not a hostel! 

And Flash Pack was born 🌏 

Fast forward 10 years… 

🗺️ We offer all the classics, as well as bucket list trips. 
🗺️ From Portugal, to Japan, Australia, and beyond! 

Our trips are 100% hassle-free. We sort the incredible people, handpick the experiences, hotels & guides. And we OBSESS over  the group dynamic, ensuring those connections feel natural. All you need to do is turn up! 

So far, we’ve created: 

✨100,000 friendships
✨With 80% of travellers staying connected after trips. 

But the journey has been FAR from linear. 

Diwali 2020: COVID forced us to close the business & we lost everything. 
Diwali 2021: we relaunched Flash Pack 2.0. 

Today, we’re stronger than ever. 

↳ A global team of 90.
↳ A +400k strong community. 
↳ A £7.5M raise to expand our mission. 

What took us 4 years pre-COVID, has taken 2. And we’re just getting started!

Follow for more of the journey, as I scale Flash Pack 2.0 - sharing the mistakes & the lessons, whilst championing the importance of human connection, women’s empowerment & diversity in entrepreneurship 🩵

Want to explore our life-changing trips? ⤵ 
🌐 Head to FLASHPACK.COM 

– 

For media, press or speaking inquiries: radha@flashpack.com

For soul-warming content ⤵
📽️ @flashpack on Instagram 
📽️ @flashpacktravel on TikTok

Radha Vyas

A 60-year-old founder is three times more likely to succeed than a 30-year-old.

So why are we still hiring like youth is the advantage?

We have a bias problem.

We scan CVs for gaps like they're red flags. 🚩 🚩 🚩 

We conflate "digital native" with "capable."

We assume hunger fades with age.

The data says otherwise.

A National Bureau of Economic Research study found that scientists and inventors now hit their peak contributions after 40, not before.

It's not enough to know things.

You have to know how they fit together.

That takes time. Setbacks. Pattern recognition you can't shortcut.

Younger hires might bring fresh tools.

Older hires bring judgement. ⚖️ 

They've seen what doesn't work. They don't need to learn it the hard way on your payroll.
If your hiring filters keep surfacing the same profiles, the problem isn't the talent pool.

It's the filter.

🍀 Repost if you're done believing there's an "expiry date" on success.
_
👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.
Follow for daily posts on the journey!

Fragile people don't last at startups.

Here's how I spot them in interviews.

I ask one question: "Tell me about a significant personal obstacle you've had to overcome."

And then I watch.

The ones who’ve stayed within their comfort zone panic. They scramble for something that sounds impressive but safe. A project that "didn't go to plan." A team that "had challenges."

Nothing real. Nothing that cost them.

But the ones who've actually been tested? They go quiet for a moment. Then they tell me something true.

A failure that still stings. A setback that changed them. A moment they weren't sure they'd recover from.

That's what I'm listening for.

Not the obstacle itself. The way they talk about it.

Do they own it or blame others? Did they learn or just move on? Are they embarrassed or honest?

Startups will humble you. The market won't care about your CV. Your plan will fall apart in ways you didn't know were possible.

And when that happens, I need people who've been humbled before.

Not broken by it.

Rebuilt by it.

🍀 Repost if your setbacks made you startup-proof.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

A friend turned down a weekend away recently.

Not because she was busy. Not because of money.

"I'm just really protecting my peace right now."

A week later, she told me she regretted it.

I've been thinking about that ever since.

Somewhere along the way, we all got very good at boundaries. At saying no. At curating our lives down to only what feels comfortable.

And the correction was necessary. Years of people-pleasing will do that to a generation of women.

But I'm starting to wonder if some of us have over-corrected.

I see women in their 30s and 40s with lives so optimised, so protected, that there's no room left for friction.

No awkward dinners. No spontaneous plans. No friendships that require effort.

Just... quiet.

The problem is, connection has never been frictionless.

The best friendships often come from saying yes when you're not sure. From showing up tired. From being in rooms where you don't know anyone.

Peace is worth protecting.

But not at the cost of becoming unreachable.

🍀 Repost if you've ever said no and wished you hadn't.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

A friend turned down a weekend away recently.

Some of my closest friendships started in an office.

The person you message 20 times a day about nothing. The one who makes the hard meeting bearable just by being in the room. The one you debrief after something satisfying or completely absurd happens.

Work friends know a version of you your real friends never see.

The stressed version. The ambitious version. The version that cares too much about a project that won't matter in six months.

They witness your small wins when no one else even knows you were trying.

And then one of you leaves.

And sometimes the friendship survives. You make the effort. You text. You meet for dinner and realise you still have things to talk about beyond the job.

But sometimes it just... fades.

Not because it wasn't real.

But because it lived inside a context that no longer exists.

I don't think that makes it less meaningful.

I think it makes it honest.

Some friendships are for a season. Some are for a career. Some become the people you call twenty years later.

All of them count.

🍀 Repost if a work friend became a real friend.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

You meet someone on a trip.

Three days later, they know more about your life than colleagues you've worked with for years.

There's something about being far from home.

The usual small talk doesn't last long. You skip past the surface stuff. You end up talking about the divorce, the career you're not sure about anymore, the thing you've never said out loud.

Maybe it's the unfamiliar surroundings. Maybe it's knowing you might never see them again. Maybe it's just that you're both a little untethered from who you are back home.

Travel friends see you without the context.

No job title. No history. No role you're supposed to play.

Just you, figuring out a map in a language you don't speak. Or crying at a view. Or admitting something you've been carrying for months.

I've watched strangers become friends in 48 hours.

Not because they had things in common on paper.

But because they were both open at the same time, in the same place.

That doesn't happen often in regular life.

We're too guarded. Too busy. Too stuck in the version of ourselves other people expect.

Travel strips that back.

And sometimes the friendships fade when you get home. Sometimes they don't.

But the conversations stay with you either way.

🍀 Repost if a stranger on a trip became a friend for life.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

No one is hiring your CV.

They're hiring the story it tells.

If you're changing careers in your 40s, your job isn't to apologise for your path.

It's to connect the dots for people who can't see them yet.

Here's how to find your unique proposition:

→ Identify what's consistently set you apart (not what you think sounds impressive — what people actually come to you for)

→ Translate your skills through the lens of your new field (you're not starting over — you're redirecting)

→ Understand what your new industry actually needs (then position your experience as the solution)

→ Craft one clear sentence that explains why your background is the advantage

Your story doesn't need to be linear.

It needs to make sense.

And you're the only one who can tell it.

🍀 Repost if you've ever been told your career path is "unconventional" like it's a bad thing.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

The most dangerous hire?

Someone who's never failed.

Not because they're unlucky. Because of what it usually means.

They've played it safe. Stayed in their lane. Only taken on things they knew they could win.

That's not excellence. That's comfort zone management.

And comfort zones don't survive startups.

When I interview someone with a spotless record, I get suspicious. No failures. No gaps. No mess.

It looks impressive. But it tells me they've been optimising for safety, not growth.

They've chosen certainty over risk. Every time.

And that's a problem. Because startups are pure risk. You'll try things that don't work. Launch things that flop. Make calls that turn out to be wrong.

If your entire identity is built on not failing, what happens when you do?

I'd rather hire someone who's failed publicly, learned painfully, and came back stronger.

They've already proven the thing that matters most:

They can survive being wrong.

🍀 Repost if leaving your comfort zone taught you more than staying in it.

👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack. We connect solo travellers on life-changing social adventures.

Follow for daily posts on the journey!

taplio

The Battle

Evan Nierman

Radha Vyas

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreEvan Nierman's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRadha Vyas's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Evan Nierman

Radha Vyas

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Evan Nierman's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRadha Vyas's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreEvan Nierman's LinkedIn Performance