Risktory: The Story Of Risk

A very often requested Master of the Risk Universe figure is Queen Elizabeth II of England. She is one of the most famous women in the world. She has ruled the United Kingdom for an astonishing 68 years. And, for many, she is the symbol of serene resilience.But, I’m gonna be honest, QE2 isn’t someone I would consider good at risk. She isn’t or wasn’t a reformer. At least, not like Queen Victoria or even her predecessor in name, Queen Elizabeth I. Her approach to risk is one of waiting for the risk to manifest, and then either responding by not responding, or responding by cleaning up the mess. Which is a strategy, I guess, but not one I consider to be particularly masterful. But the requests did start to make me think about female rulers and monarchs who were masters of risk. And when it comes to those, I can’t go past the legendary, Holy Roman Empress, Maria Theresa of Austria. Now often better known for being the mother of the doomed Maria-Antoinette of France, Maria-Theresa was a risk maestro. I