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This talk was recorded at the Hot Stories Business Networking event in Cambridge, held every second Wednesday at The Red Lion, Cherry Hinton. Video by Jamie Ellam Visuals. Photography by Chris Hornby Photography. Organised by Gemini Web Media, Hot Stories brings professionals together to share real experiences, real insights, and real business growth.
In this Hot Stories session;
Chizubel E. Beluchi – CEO of The Risk Reviewer and author of Get Risky or Get Lost – explains the true meaning of risk,
why every person is a risk, and how purpose determines the outcome of every decision in business.
Learn more at https://theriskofyou.com/
Order the book: https://amzn.eu/d/iHHF5sZ
Some speakers deliver information. Others deliver impact. Chizubel E. Beluchi does both.
Yes, Chizubel E. Beluchi does both.
As the CEO of The Risk Reviewer, Chizubel works with organisations of all sizes - from small businesses to large enterprises - helping them understand, navigate, and leverage risk to achieve their purpose. He is a trainer, author, podcaster, and lifelong entrepreneur whose message is clear: risk is not the enemy - misunderstanding risk is.
His book, Get Risky or Get Lost, shaped the foundation of his talk, and his energy, clarity, and bold delivery made one thing unavoidable: risk is personal, risk is constant, and risk is the key to growth.
Who Is Chizubel E. Beluchi?
Chizubel is a risk consultant, risk analyst, risk educator, and business strategist who has spent his life understanding how people and organisations navigate uncertainty.
His work includes:
• risk analysis and risk management • organisational risk consultancy • strategic purpose alignment • training and workshops • podcasting on business and risk • authoring Get Risky or Get Lost
But more importantly, he brings decades of real entrepreneurial experience - from building fish tanks and selling aquariums as a young entrepreneur to launching his consultancy and working with leaders across sectors.
Risk, he explained, isn’t something he learned only from books.
It’s in his blood.
The Truth: You Are the Risk
One of the most memorable lines from Chizubel’s talk was simple:
“You are a risk.”
Not your business. Not your competitors. Not the economy.
You.
Every person is a risk because every person makes decisions that shape outcomes. This truth applies to everyone - founders, leaders, employees, and investors.
And every business, regardless of size or maturity, carries risk because businesses are built and run by people.
The question isn’t whether risk exists.
The real question is: Are you managing risk with purpose?
Purpose: The Foundation of Risk
Chizubel emphasised that you cannot manage or apply risk principles without knowing your purpose.
He asked the fundamental questions:
• Where are you going? • Why does your business exist? • What are you trying to achieve?
Purpose is not optional. It is the anchor that determines whether risk decisions move you forward or pull you off course.
Without purpose, risk becomes chaos.
With purpose, risk becomes direction.
Risk Is Not Just About Preventing Loss
Many people believe risk management is simply loss prevention - stopping problems, limiting threats, and protecting assets.
Chizubel challenged this idea completely.
While mitigating threats and problems is essential, he explained that opportunities are just as important - and often more valuable.
He broke risk into three components:
1. Threats
What might harm your progress or stability?
2. Problems
What issues are you currently facing that need to be addressed?
3. Opportunities
What possibilities can bring revenue, profit, and growth?
Too many businesses focus only on avoiding threats and solving problems.
But without pursuing opportunities, a business cannot grow sustainably.
“In simple terms,” Chizubel said, “it’s the money.”
Because without revenue, no business survives.
Risk Is Navigated Through Action
Risk management is not a theoretical exercise. It is practical, daily decision-making.
Every action you take - or avoid taking - carries risk.
• Hiring a new employee • Launching a new service • Entering a new market • Investing in technology • Changing strategy • Saying yes • Saying no
You cannot separate risk from action.
Your actions determine your outcomes - and those actions are influenced by your understanding of purpose.
Entrepreneurship and Risk - A Personal Story
One of the most compelling aspects of Chizubel’s story is his personal connection to entrepreneurship.
From a young age, he was building, selling, and creating opportunities:
• selling aquariums • building fish tanks • trading pigeons • developing products • launching ventures • earning a trademark • building businesses
Entrepreneurship, he explained, is part of who he is - and risk is part of entrepreneurship.
“We are entrepreneurs, whether we know it or not. And we have to take risks.”
This mindset is what allows him to advise businesses of all sizes.
He understands both the strategic principles and the lived reality.
Risk in Business: Simple, but Not Easy
Chizubel’s ability to simplify complex concepts is part of what makes his work impactful.
He distilled risk into one essential truth:
Risk is you. And your actions determine your outcome.
This removes confusion.
It removes excuses.
It puts responsibility back where it belongs - with the decision-maker.
Risk is not something external forcing itself upon you.
It is something you engage with every day.
And the quality of your decisions determines the quality of your results.
Your Story Matters - Share It
Chizubel’s talk is a reminder of why Hot Stories exists.
Stories are powerful. They give clarity. They build confidence. They connect people. They inspire action.
Your voice matters, and your story is a tool for growth.
Don’t keep it private. Share it, and let it strengthen your business and your community.
We always stand by your side.
Join Us at Hot Stories
Hot Stories Business Networking runs:
Cambridge - every second Wednesday of the month
Location: The Red Red Lion, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge
Duxford - every third Thursday of the month, 10:00–12:00
Location Partner: Mantle Space, The Officers’ Mess
We support one another, recommend one another, and grow through meaningful stories and honest conversations.
Your next story could inspire someone else.
