Promote the Dog Sitter

And Other Principles for Leading during Disasters

By: Edward L. Conley

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Crisis leaders never feel completely prepared. From your first response to your hundredth, you feel the same nerves, the same anticipation, and the same desire to serve with each crisis you encounter.

But when disaster strikes, you’re there to make a difference—and you’ll need to rely on more than just your good intentions.

***Winner of the 2023 Goodby Business Book Award for Leadership-Team Building***

In Promote the Dog Sitter, former FEMA responder and NATO advisor Ed Conley shares ten proven principles for acting decisively and leading dynamically throughout any disaster. Drawing upon extensive experience, Ed has an eye-of-the-storm perspective that shows up-and-coming leaders how to overcome setbacks, develop teams, respond compassionately, and serve with integrity. A book for practitioners by a practitioner, Promote the Dog Sitter is a must-read guide for those who heed the call to make a positive difference in the world’s biggest crises.

The Truth reflected in each page

5 stars – Surprisingly Human, Fittingly Ed

I worked with Ed Conley during our FEMA days, so I knew going in this book would hit close to home. What I didn’t expect was how real it would feel in audio—even though the narration wasn’t Ed himself.

Turns out, he used an AI-generated voice. And somehow? It works. The tone, the pacing, even the subtle cadence—it actually sounds a bit like him. That’s fitting, because Ed was always an early tech adopter. He was the guy championing Apple inside FEMA long before the rest of us caught on. Using AI for narration just feels right for him: practical, future-facing, and quietly bold.

The book itself is full of solid leadership lessons, grounded in real-world experience. But in audio form, it has a calm, clear presence that mirrors how Ed approached tough moments—steady, no drama, focused on people.

If you’re in emergency management, leadership, or just want a thoughtful, human take on leading under pressure, this is worth your time.