For certain, every risk manager and risk management department encounters a wide range of mountains to conquer. While I could expand further about these issues, I instead thought that I would share some observations and confessions about my risk management career:

For me, risk mitigation and insurance have been and always will be continued areas for learning and improvement;
I still get surprised with new operational risks and issues all the time, and wonder how that happens after 23 years in the industry;
I impart lessons to my children—who listen painfully—on risk management and life before work each day while I drive them to school. I only hope that they remember 1% of what I say and use it in their own lives and careers, so that they might be spared some of the mistakes that I've made;
Sometimes I feel like I really know nothing, and I am OK with that;
Managing people and projects is fun for me but managing risks is hard;
Living in the world of unknowns and having fluid situations really can wear on a non-risk manager, and risk managers need to be considerate of that fact;
Even in times of crisis you can step away and relinquish control if you have built a good team around you;
Government officials do not win elections on risk management issues, so you need to relay to them why risk management matters;
Be a leader, facilitator and collaborator, and don't worry about who gets the credit;
And finally: risk management rocks!

Now that I have confessed, I feel much better. I work for a large public agency that has 15 elected council members and a citywide elected mayor, controller and city attorney. They all have many staff members and numerous agendas that are sometimes mind boggling. However, I've learned that if I want to be of value to my organization, I have to bring value to my organization. No matter how hard it is to affect change, I'm the person who needs to lead the charge. I accept that mission, and enjoy it immensely. Persistence and passion can always make a difference.

Special Reports /

Victor Parker: Leading the charge, in Los Angeles

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