Molly McPhersonCrisis and Reputation Strategist | Creator of Mollyfi | Host of The PR Breakdown

Molly McPherson | Keynote Speaker Reel | Crisis, Reputation & Trust

8 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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1:24

In this interview‑style keynote reel, Forbes contributor and crisis communications specialist Molly McPherson discusses her role in public relations, emphasizing how fear drives storytelling and crisis narratives. She explains that social media acts as an accelerant, turning bad news into viral crises rapidly, and highlights the importance of what a reasonable person believes in shaping reputation. Molly notes the growing relevance of authenticity, especially in entertainment, where being unlikable can be a strategic brand choice. She also shares her modern PR reach, citing nearly half a million TikTok followers, and reflects on timing of messages—such as releasing statements late on a Friday—to manage public perception effectively.

Chapters

Joining us now is Molly McPherson.
Joining me now is Molly McPherson, Forbes contributor and public relations expert in crisis management.
Who is Molly McPherson and what exactly does she do?
So Molly is a crisis communications expert practitioner, and that's a subset of the field of public relations. What are they driven by, what do you think? Tell me about your— Fear! Fear, anxiety, it all comes down to the same thing.
Fear. We are storytellers, we'd love to tell people's stories, and that's such a— it's at the heart of your music. For you to be so Oh, real. There was no social media back then. I know. Social media is the accelerant that can make news go from bad to worse very quickly. It all comes down to what does a reasonable person believe?
Authenticity works. Molly is a PR professional who has spent years advising clients in the art of repairing reputations. And over the past 2 years, she has racked up nearly half a million TikTok followers.
Yeah, so when you say we finally have a message, it's not a surprise that it landed on a late Friday afternoon. Oh yeah, Friday, that's a good point. Yep. In the entertainment industry, I don't think you need to be likable because sometimes being unlikable is part of the brand, and a lot of people like that.
Please welcome Molly McPherson.
Molly is world-renowned for being able to manage communications in a crisis.