Inside CORE
We’re not built like other firms — because pressure doesn’t behave like business as usual.
CORE Strategic is shaped by sustained, real-world exposure to how disruption actually forms and escalates. We’ve worked inside the system, for organizations and alongside communities. That experience includes firsthand exposure to organized pressure—how campaigns are coordinated, how institutions are leveraged, and how escalation is engineered long before it becomes visible.
Purpose-built. Impact-driven. Focused clearly on what matters to you.
What We Bring To the Table
We provide leaders with clear thinking and trusted judgment when the stakes are high and the margin for error is small. Whether navigating crisis, advancing reconciliation, negotiating complex agreements or shaping long-term strategy, our role is to help you move decisively — and protect outcomes that endure.
Confidence to act in uncertain or high-pressure moments
Protection of what matters — reputation, relationships and long-term value
Execution without noise — disciplined thinking, alignment and action
Senior-level counsel without bureaucracy — direct access, no layers, no distraction and without the overhead
We’re not here to perform. We’re here to help leaders decide — and act — when it counts.
Built for impact. Grounded in judgment.
The People Driving Impact.
Shawn Howard
President
Risk + Response Advisory
Strategic clarity and bold counsel — built to protect, built to deliver.
Shawn Howard is Co-Founder and President of CORE Strategic and the author of The Activist Playbook™. He advises executives and boards navigating organized pressure, reputational risk, and high-stakes decision environments.
Shawn works inside leadership teams where scrutiny, disruption, and stakeholder pressure shape decisions. His work focuses on helping organizations recognize emerging risks early, understand escalation dynamics, and act decisively before options narrow. This includes activist and shareholder campaigns, crisis and reputational exposure, complex negotiations, and moments where timing and judgment determine outcomes.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience across industry, government, and public service, Shawn brings practical strategic counsel grounded in real-world consequence. His experience spans the boardroom, elected office, and the field — blending strategic insight with operational understanding.
Shawn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Canadian Studies from the University of Calgary and certifications in Indigenous learning and risk communication. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a lifetime member of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association.
Shawn works with leaders to protect decision-making space, manage pressure before it escalates, and deliver outcomes that hold under scrutiny. Request a conversation ➞
Cris Howard
Vice-President
Strategic Impact + Governance Advisory
Building relationships and sustainable strategies that drive real impact.
Cris brings a human-centered, systems-driven approach to complex challenges — helping organizations build trust, align strategy, and move forward with clarity. As Co-Founder and Vice-President of CORE Strategic, she partners with leaders to design practical solutions that endure beyond the immediate moment.
With more than 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning health care, post-secondary education, energy, and telecommunications, Cris helps organizations navigate change where relationships, legitimacy, and long-term alignment matter.
Her work blends formal training in sustainable business with a deeply grounded leadership style — combining structure, empathy, and disciplined execution. She brings direct governance experience from professional boards, hearing tribunals, and advisory committees, with a strong grasp of regulatory nuance, risk, and reputation.
Cris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University and applies her expertise in strategic management, governance, sustainability, and policy development to help organizations strengthen resilience and deliver results that stand up to disruption.
At CORE, Cris leads with both vision and resolve — helping clients align people, purpose, and outcomes for lasting impact. Request a conversation ➞