From Michael Vick to Monica Lewinsky, Judy Smith, a D.C.-based crisis management expert has brought her unique combination of communication skills, media savvy, legal and political acumen to clients facing a host of issues and career-defining challenges. The founder and president of Smith and Company, a leading strategic and crisis communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, Smith is the inspiration for the ABC drama series “Scandal” debuting on April 5.
The sexy and savvy Kerry Washington will portray Smith, a Washington power player who in real life has rescued the likes of former D.C. Mayor Marion Berry (prosecution), Justice Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court confirmation hearings) and former President Bill Clinton (Monica Lewinksy scandal) from scalding hot water and public relations nightmares.
Smith serves as the show’s co-executive producer and is also releasing her first book on April 3 titled Good Self, Bad Self. In the bookshe chronicles her 25 years of experience. It’s sound guidance on identifying and curbing bad behavior peppered with various accounts of celebrity misbehavior that keeps it spicy.
Smith identifies seven character traits that get out of balance and lead to possible self-destruction: ego, denial, fear, ambition, accommodation, patience and indulgence. Once they are in check, they work to your advantage.
Each chapter closes with Smith’s POWER model applied to the trait: Pinpoint the problem; Own it; Work it; Explore it; and Rein it in.
