In a recent Fast Company op-ed, BlueHub Capital’s CEO, Elyse Cherry, reflects on nearly three decades of leadership and how organizations can navigate times of uncertainty with resilience and innovation. As BlueHub celebrates its 40th anniversary, Cherry emphasizes that crises are inevitable, but with a clear mission and a people-centered approach, they can become opportunities for growth.
Cherry highlights lessons learned from pivotal moments, including the 2008 financial crisis, which spurred the creation of BlueHub SUN—an innovative foreclosure relief program that has prevented more than 1,200 evictions and returned $67 million in equity to communities. She also shares how, during the pandemic, BlueHub adopted a transparent and supportive approach to staffing transitions, helping impacted employees reskill and find new roles, while ultimately saving the organization money.
She stresses that crisis resilience is built before a storm hits—by grounding decisions in mission, building trust, and putting people first. By resisting short-term fixes and focusing on long-term values, organizations can emerge stronger, more loyal, and better equipped to serve their communities.
As Cherry notes, “The best time to prepare for a crisis is when you’re not in one. Now is the moment to reflect on what a crisis might mean for your organization and think about what you can do to put people first and how you can support clients, partners, and team members every step of the way.”