What does the Titanic teach us about psychological safety, trust, and moral leadership?
In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Kelly Skwarcan—leadership consultant, author, and creator of Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, and Californian. Through this unique, immersive case study, Kelly unpacks the psychology behind two ships on the night of the Titanic disaster: one that responded heroically, and one that stood still.
With a background in personality psychology and a flair for dramatic storytelling, Kelly offers a powerful lens into how individual traits and organizational climate shape performance—especially under pressure. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of what creates (or destroys) psychological safety on a team, and what leaders today can do to build trust that endures.
You’ll Hear:
The Real Story Behind the Titanic Rescue: Why one ship’s captain answered the call while another ship’s captain went back to sleep
Why Personality Matters – How the HEXACO model and honesty-humility shape team behavior and leadership effectiveness
The Hidden Cost of Silence – How fear of speaking up can sink performance, and how to create a climate where every voice counts
Trust Requires Vulnerability – Why we get the trust equation backwards—and how to reverse it for stronger leadership
From History to High Performance – How CBMI (Competence, Benevolence, Integrity) builds trust that lasts
This conversation offers rich takeaways grounded in psychological research and real-world resonance.
Resources ~
Website: kellyskwarcan.com
Iron & Ice: The Full Tale of the Titanic by Kelly E. Skwarcan – Buy on AmazonInstagram: @kellyskwarcan
LinkedIn
Personality Assessment: HEXACO.org
Contact Kelly: kellyskwarcan@gmail.com
Alexandra Boyd’s feature documentary that Jerome mentions is Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries. Supporting actors in James Cameron’s film tell of their research for the film and read from diaries they wrote on set including Peter White who played 3rd Officer Groves of the Californian. Sadly, his scene was cut from the film.
Available to rent/own on Amazon and many other platforms.
Trailer: shipofdreamsfilm.com
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Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.
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