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

Top Voice —Follow for posts on leadership, high-performance, and peak productivity 🦉 I help business leaders reclaim their time and accomplish more by leveraging the expertise of our top 1% offshore executive assistants

The most successful founders I know have one thing in common.

Their business does not need them every minute of the day.

That realization is what led me to build what I built.

I started it because I tasted freedom.

There was a moment early on when I realized something simple:

Success is not exciting if you are too tired to enjoy it.

I was building.
Creating.
Growing.

But what changed everything was not more revenue.

It was support.

Real support.

The kind where:

• my inbox wasn’t waiting for me in the morning
• my calendar finally had white space
• follow-ups happened without mental notes
• projects moved while I was with my family

The real flex is not what you own.

It is buying back your time.

Because every day I see brilliant founders stuck in reactive mode, solving low-level friction when their genius belongs in strategy.

This is exactly the problem the Force Multiplier OS™ was built to solve.

At Vera Outsourcing, we help founders systematically buy back their time by pairing them with a world class Virtual Executive Assistant who thinks with you and installing the systems that multiply your impact.

This is not basic task delegation.

Your VEA operates as a true strategic partner trained to:

• anticipate priorities
• manage moving parts
• drive follow-through
• protect your focus

Alongside the assistant, we install the operational structure most founder-led businesses are missing:

• workflows and SOPs
• task and follow-up systems
• communication rhythms
• ownership clarity

So work keeps moving forward without everything depending on you.

What changes is not just productivity.

It is breathing room.

Fewer fires.
Less decision fatigue.
More white space on the calendar.
More strategic thinking time.
More life outside the business.

Because real leverage is not doing more.

It is building a business that no longer requires your constant presence.

A Rolex is visible.
A Ferrari turns heads.
A designer bag makes a statement.

But walking into your day calm, prepared, and clear
knowing your business runs without you gripping every lever…

That is quiet wealth.

If you are ready to step out of constant overload and into multiplied impact…

DM me “OS” or book a free strategy call through the link in my bio.

We intentionally work with a limited number of founders each month to ensure depth of support.

You can also download the Self Running Business Playbook in my Featured section.

—
Virtual Executive Assistant
Outsourcing
Offshore Talent
Offshore Executive Assistant
Executive Support
Founder Assistant

Sandra Pellumbi

Growth isn’t free.
But neither is staying where you are.

Most founders don’t fear failure.

They fear the investment.

The hire.
The systems.
The restructure.
The shift in identity.

So they wait.

And while they wait…

→ Opportunities expire.
→ Energy drains.
→ Momentum slows.
→ Confidence erodes quietly.

You worry about the cost of going for it.

But have you calculated the price of staying stuck?

Staying stuck looks safe.

Until you realize it’s costing you:

→ time you can’t get back
→ deals you should’ve closed
→ talent you should’ve hired
→ thinking space you no longer have
→ the version of you that leads calmly

Here’s what I tell founders when they’re hesitating:

1/ Inaction compounds just like action does.
Every quarter you delay structure, complexity grows.

2/ The real cost isn’t money.
It’s decision fatigue and lost strategic focus.

3/ If everything still runs through you, you don’t own a company.
You own a dependency.

4/ Growth requires upgrading your operating system.
Not just adding more effort.

5/ The safest move long-term is installing leverage early.
Systems. Delegation. Ownership beyond you.

You built the business for freedom.

Don’t accidentally build a cage.

If this hit close to home, pause for a moment.

Ask yourself:

What is staying exactly where I am costing me right now?

And what would change if I stopped operating as a Force of One?

—
♻️ Repost this to help your network.
➕ Follow Sandra Pellumbi for more.🦉

Credits to Mel Robbins for this powerful visual. 

📌 If you saw yourself in this post, that’s exactly what the Force Multiplier OS is built to fix.

We install the leverage your business is missing:

→ systems that hold the work
→ delegated ownership that moves decisions
→ a world-class Virtual Executive Assistant who takes real weight off your plate

So growth no longer depends on you being everywhere.

DM me “OS” if you’re ready to stop paying the price of staying stuck.

Or start here: https://lnkd.in/dxR3Ht67

From “Always On” to “Finally Free” in 90 days.

the-real-price-of-staying-where-you-are.jpg

Growth doesn’t die from lack of talent.

It dies from poor time choices.

You can have the best ideas in the world…

But if your calendar is chaos, your systems live in your head, and you’re still doing everything yourself

Scaling will always feel just out of reach.

I created this visual cheat sheet to help you spot the habits silently stalling your growth

Even if you’re smart, strategic, and deeply driven.

Here are the 10 Time-Wasting Habits That Kill Momentum (even when your vision is big):

1 Being the Bottleneck
↳ Approving everything You are the block not the leader
↳ Fix: Define decision rules and push ownership down to your team

2 Reactive Scheduling
↳ If your day serves others priorities your strategy suffers
↳ Fix: Time block your top three priorities before opening your calendar

3 Manual Everything
↳ Still doing it all by hand Automate or stay stuck
↳ Fix: Identify repeat tasks and automate or templatize them first

4 No Clear SOPs
↳ If the answers live in your head your team cannot scale
↳ Fix: Document once in a simple SOP and store it in one central hub

5 Low Impact Tasks
↳ You are too valuable for inbox zero and formatting slides
↳ Fix: Delegate anything that does not require your unique expertise

6 Avoiding Delegation
↳ Only I can do it is costing you hours and growth
↳ Fix: Start with a 30 percent handoff and improve through feedback

7 Strategy in the Cracks
↳ Big thinking cannot happen in 10 minute gaps
↳ Fix: Protect weekly deep work blocks for CEO level thinking

8 Chasing Everything
↳ Saying yes to everything equals diluted focus
↳ Fix: Set clear quarterly priorities and filter opportunities against them

9 Ignoring Energy
↳ Burnout leads to bad decisions Protect your bandwidth
↳ Fix: Design your day around peak energy windows not just availability

10 No Metrics
↳ Guesswork bleeds momentum Clarity comes from data
↳ Fix: Track a simple weekly dashboard tied to growth and time
 
If even two or three of these are hitting a nerve…

That’s a sign it’s time to shift from doing to designing.

Want to scale faster?

✅ Set up delegation systems
✅ Automate predictable workflows
✅ Protect your energy and strategy time
✅ Get an assistant who can anticipate needs and follow through

—
 📌 Save it for your next reset.
 ♻️ Repost to help your network.
 ➕ Follow Sandra Pellumbi for more.🦉
 
📌 If you’re still answering emails, chasing updates, or re-explaining the same task… You’re burning time on things a smart system + assistant should be handling.

Let me show you how to buy back time and build momentum.
DM “Delegate” and let’s get your time back.

I didn’t start a Virtual Executive Assistant firm
because I love productivity.

I started it
because I tasted freedom.

There was a moment early on
when I realized something simple:

Success isn’t exciting
if you’re too tired to enjoy it.

I was building.
Creating.
Growing.

And I loved it.

But what changed everything
wasn’t more revenue.

It was support.

Real support.

The kind where:

→ My inbox wasn’t waiting for me in the morning.
→ My calendar had white space.
→ Follow-ups happened without mental notes.
→ Projects moved while I was with my family.

The real flex isn’t what you own.

It’s buying back your time.

Not because you’re overwhelmed.

But because you value your energy.

When you experience true executive support, something shifts.

→ You think longer.
→ You decide better.
→ You show up calmer.

You lead instead of react.

And I remember thinking:

More founders deserve to feel this.

Because here’s what I see every day:

Brilliant founders living in reactive mode.

High performers solving low-level friction.
When their genius belongs in strategy, not scheduling.

Teams waiting for permission.
When they could be empowered with structure.

Growth happening but without breathing room.
Momentum without margin.

Freedom available but not installed.

That’s why I built this.

Not to give founders “assistants.”

But to give them capacity.

→ To give them back their mornings.
→ Their evenings.
→ Their thinking time.

A Rolex is visible.

A Ferrari turns heads.

A Gucci bag makes a statement.

But walking into your day

calm, prepared, and clear

knowing your business runs
without you gripping every lever?

That’s quiet wealth.

Do you agree?

P.S. If you had 10 hours back this week, where would you invest them?

—
♻️ Repost this to normalize buying back your time.
➕ Follow Sandra Pellumbi for more. 

Credit to Preston S. for this powerful visual!

📌 If this felt familiar, this is exactly what the Force Multiplier OS is built for.

We install the leverage layer your business is missing

→ systems that hold the work,
→ clear delegation that moves decisions,
→ and a world-class Virtual Executive Assistant who protects your time.

So growth doesn’t depend on you being everywhere.

DM me “OS” or start here:
https://lnkd.in/dxR3Ht67

From “Always On” to operating with space.

I once heard someone say:
“Be the person you needed when you were struggling.”

And I realized, almost everyone is carrying something you can’t see.

Stress. Self-doubt. Exhaustion. Silence.

Criticism is easy.
Judgment is cheap.
Negativity is contagious.

Most people don’t need another critic in their ear.
They already have one in their own mind.

But encouragement?

Encouragement is leadership.

It shows presence. Strength. Vision.

The ability to see people not just as they are… 

but who they can become.

And when you lead this way, your team doesn’t just work for you,
they grow with you.

Here are 5 simple encouragement habits leaders and founders should practice daily:

1/ Catch people doing something right
We are trained to spot mistakes. Train yourself to notice progress.

2/ Affirm effort, not just outcomes
Effort builds identity. Praise builds confidence.

3/ Ask: “What do you need to succeed?”
Support is more powerful than direction.

4/ Speak life in rooms where others stay silent
If you believe in someone, say it. Out loud. Often.

5/ Lead with curiosity instead of correction
“Help me understand” goes further than “Here’s what you did wrong.”

It doesn’t take much to change someone’s day, sometimes even their direction.

The world has plenty of critics.

Be the one who lifts.

Because someone out there is holding on by a thread today…

and your words might be the reason they don’t let go.

P.S. Who encouraged you when you needed it most?
Tag them. Let them know. 👇

—
♻️ If this resonated, share it. Someone in your circle might need this reminder today.
➕ Follow Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉

It’s Monday! Rooting for every leader building something meaningful this week. Let’s go. 🔥

Be an encourager. the world has plenty of critics already

taplio

The Battle

Evan Nierman

Sandra Pellumbi

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreEvan Nierman's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreSandra Pellumbi's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Evan Nierman

Sandra Pellumbi

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 ScoreSandra Pellumbi's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreEvan Nierman's LinkedIn Performance