How to Move Your Organization from Management to Orchestration

In the realm of compliance management, risk mitigation has traditionally been the name of the game. Compliance professionals work tirelessly to identify risks, aiming to stay ahead of potential issues and mitigate them as early as possible. The focus has long been on prevention—finding risks and stopping them in their tracks. However, we live in a world full of risks, and not all of them are inherently negative. When navigated properly, some risks can actually yield positive outcomes for an organization.

This paradigm shift—viewing risks not just as threats but as potential opportunities—may be difficult to embrace in the short term. But in the long run, it can offer immense strategic value. Of course, this doesn’t mean throwing risk mitigation out the window, but instead, deciding which risks should be mitigated and which should be leveraged for the greater good. A new approach is emerging in which compliance functions are evolving from risk mitigation to risk orchestration. This shift encourages organizations to be more agile and proactive, strategically managing risks to not only avoid negative outcomes but also unlock new opportunities for growth.

Risk orchestration also involves acknowledging that risk management is not a one-size fits-all approach. Some forms of risk management– or compliance– simply aren't appropriate for earlier-stage organizations to tackle, for example, and acting as if it may place a drain on resources over something that is otherwise unnecessary. Organizations must be smart about when to move on risk management by using an orchestration approach to create value.

Step One: A New Mindset

The biggest challenge in this evolution is adjusting the mindset around risk. In industries like finance, risk avoidance has been deeply ingrained. Compliance professionals are trained to spot potential hazards and eliminate them immediately. However, not all risks are created equal, and in today’s fast-paced world, treating all risks as threats can limit an organization’s ability to innovate and grow.

To move toward risk orchestration, compliance professionals need to adopt a new understanding of risk and its potential. Risk management still involves minimizing threats to protect the organization– just like traditional risk mitigation– but it also requires identifying which risks can be leveraged strategically through careful risk orchestration. If an organization is equipped to take calculated risks, it can navigate them to unlock opportunities, whether that’s entering a new market or adopting cutting-edge technology.

Risk orchestration requires bold steps, but it’s a necessity for organizations looking to stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic marketplace. Compliance teams must become strategic partners, guiding their organizations through risks rather than avoiding them altogether.

Step Two: Providing the Tools

Shifting mindsets is only part of the equation. To orchestrate risk effectively, organizations must also have the right tools and technology in place. Compliance functions have traditionally focused on identifying risks and developing actions to either remove or manage them. While this remains a critical responsibility, compliance teams must now consider how risks can be navigated with a green light instead of a red one.

This new approach demands flexibility and agility. Compliance teams need to be prepared to accelerate, pause, or pivot quickly, depending on internal and external conditions. To maintain this level of agility, tools that automate routine tasks and provide real-time insights are essential. Outdated compliance technology no longer suffices in this new landscape.

The pivot to risk orchestration also requires automating risk mitigation tasks. By leveraging automation, compliance professionals can free up time to focus on strategic risk management instead of getting bogged down in routine tasks. This bird’s-eye view allows for more informed, forward-looking decision-making, enabling compliance to actively contribute to organizational growth.

Step Three: Taking the Swing

Risk orchestration is more than a shift in approach—it’s the dawn of a new era for compliance and risk management. A recent survey indicates that compliance professionals who embrace this new perspective report a significantly higher focus on strategic activities compared to their peers who remain entrenched in risk mitigation roles. These professionals are driving better outcomes not only for their teams but also for the broader organization. By focusing on strategic risk management, they help position their companies for long-term success.

This mindset shift may initially feel like a risk in itself. Moving away from tried-and-true risk avoidance strategies can be uncomfortable, especially in industries with a culture of caution. However, as the old saying goes, fortune favors the bold. Taking calculated risks is often the only way to achieve significant progress. Without a willingness to try new things and navigate uncertainties, organizations risk stagnation.

The shift from risk mitigation to risk orchestration represents a pivotal moment for compliance functions. By embracing risks instead of shying away from them, organizations can reach new heights. This change in mindset, combined with the right tools and strategic focus, positions compliance teams not as gatekeepers but as essential partners in driving organizational growth.

The Future of Compliance

The relationship between strategic risk management and risk orchestration is clear: risk orchestration is a forward-looking approach that transforms risk from a hazard to an opportunity. Compliance professionals are no longer simply mitigating risk to avoid harm—they are orchestrating risk to guide their organizations through uncertain waters and toward new opportunities.

This new era of compliance demands both a change in mindset and the adoption of advanced tools to stay agile and responsive to emerging risks. As organizations embrace this strategic approach, they are better equipped to not only protect themselves from potential threats but also capitalize on the opportunities those risks may present. So long as organizations are smart and efficient with risk management in the context of risk orchestration, they will reap the benefits. The future of compliance lies not in avoiding risk, but in managing it strategically to achieve growth and competitive advantage.