Thought Leader perspectives

Jeremy Utley - How to work with AI as a teammate, not a tool

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:54:42 GMT

Why does working with AI as a teammate unlock exponentially better results than treating it as a search engine? And how do you actually build that collaborative relationship?

These are the key questions we discuss in this episode of Changing Conversations with Jeremy Utley.

Jeremy is a leading thinker and speaker within innovation, creativity, and collaboration with AI. He teaches these topics as an Adjunct Professor at Stanford and advises CEOs and leadership teams. Jeremy also shares his expertise more broadly through his writing and podcasting. He is the best-selling author of IdeaFlow and host of the wildly popular podcast "Beyond the Prompt: How to use AI in your company."

In this conversation, we share:

That most people treat AI like a search engine when they should be having real conversations.
How giving AI permission to ask you questions can significantly improve the quality of the output, enhancing (rather than replacing) your human intelligence.
Why leaders need firsthand experience experimenting with AI to imagine the future of their organizations.
The power of starting with personal, emotionally meaningful questions rather than work tasks to overcome fear and build fluency with AI.
How simple questions like "Have you tried AI?" can shift organizational cultures to support the spread of AI collaboration.

We'd love to keep this conversation going. To continue the conversation with us, send your reflections and questions to us at katc@implement.se.

You’re also welcome to use this episode as a conversation starter by sharing it with your colleagues and friends.

OPEX26: Reinventing operations for the AI era

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:37:54 GMT

AI is no longer just a promise; it’s a strategic imperative – but one that still eludes impact in most operational settings.

Despite soaring expectations, many organisations remain trapped in ‘pilot purgatory.’ While 96% of executives believe AI can boost efficiency, 77% of employees report rising workloads due to poorly implemented solutions.Forbes 

True operational transformation requires more than experimentation: it demands new ways of working, strong governance, and a workforce empowered, not sidelined, by technology.

On 22 January, we will share Implement’s perspectives on AI in operations. To help us do that, we’ll be joined by leading AI expert Ethan Mollick, who will share his approach to the scalability challenge, as well as guest speakers from NVIDIA, Stena Line, and MATAS, who will share real-world examples.

You'll discover how AI’s true potential lies in its ability to reinvent how operations run. But success hinges on one key shift: moving from fragmented use cases to scalable, value-driven deployments. Think of it as a learning journey for your entire company rather than a tech rollout.

Ethan Mollick - AI will reshape work. If we let it.

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:14:55 GMT

AI is transforming the way organisations work, but the biggest challenge is not technology - it’s how leaders harness innovation, share insights, and redesign processes. This session explores how operational leaders can use AI to amplify productivity, make smarter decisions, and build an AI-first organization.

The organisational challenge

Traditional structures were built for human intelligence and deterministic workflows, but AI operates statistically and continuously generates insights. Operational leaders must rethink how work is organised, how breakthroughs are shared, and how innovation is scaled across teams to avoid isolated gains and maximise impact.

Applying AI strategically

The real value of AI comes when leaders integrate it into decision making, procurement, product quality, and everyday processes. By actively using AI to guide actions, identify opportunities, and test scenarios, organisations can move beyond pilots, harness collective intelligence, and align investments with measurable business outcomes.

Preparing for the future

Even as AI advances toward general intelligence, human context, interdependencies, and organisational complexity remain central. Companies that proactively build AI capabilities internally will gain a lasting advantage, widening the gap between AI-forward organisations and those that wait for external solutions.

Ethan Mollick - The nexus where everything is going to happen is in operations.

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:12:11 GMT

AI is no longer just a technology initiative. To unlock real value, organisations must rethink leadership, incentives and ways of working. In this video, you will learn how to turn AI from isolated productivity gains into company wide innovation through a practical model for action.

Why AI needs a new lens

AI has shifted from a technical data science discipline to a hands on tool used across organisations. Treating it purely as a technology project leads companies astray. The real opportunity lies in rethinking people, processes and creativity. Success depends on leadership that sets direction and aligns incentives with a clear vision for an AI enabled future.

Leadership, lab and crowd

The model presented highlights three essentials. Leadership must articulate why and how AI matters. The crowd, meaning employees, should experiment and discover practical use cases. The lab acts as an ambidextrous engine, scaling what works today while exploring what might work tomorrow. Together, they turn experimentation into shared capability.

From individual gains to organisational impact

Many employees already use AI, often quietly, reporting strong personal productivity gains. Without the right incentives and psychological safety, these gains stay hidden. The challenge is to convert scattered improvements into organisational innovation. That requires deliberate effort, willingness to fail and renewed focus on management as a source of competitive advantage.

Megan Reitz - Why you need to be more spacious as a leader

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:11:00 GMT

In a world driven by speed and execution, leaders risk missing what truly matters. This conversation explores how creating space in thinking and dialogue can unlock better decisions, deeper insight and more meaningful collaboration.

What is spaciousness and why it matters
Spaciousness is a different mode of attention that allows leaders to step back, see relationships and uncover insights that remain hidden in constant doing mode. When we slow down and expand our awareness, we become more present, more curious and better equipped to navigate complexity and uncertainty.

The tension between doing and being
Modern organisations reward speed, efficiency and output. While essential, this focus can narrow attention and limit creativity. The conversation highlights how leaders often equate success with activity, even when it leads to doing the wrong things faster. Balancing doing with reflection is key to effective leadership.

How leaders shape conversations and outcomes
The way leaders show up directly impacts the voices around them. Creating psychological safety, inviting reflection and being intentional about attention can open up more meaningful dialogue. Small shifts, such as pausing before meetings or asking better questions, can transform everyday interactions.

Practical ways to create space
Through the SPACE framework, the conversation outlines tangible ways to enable spaciousness, including safety, people, attention, conflict and environment. These elements help leaders and teams pause, reflect and act more deliberately, even in high pressure environments where speed dominates.

Lisa Doig - How to expand your consciousness

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:16:00 GMT

True transformation starts with awareness. This episode explores how expanding consciousness helps leaders navigate complexity, overcome fear, and connect deeply with their authentic selves. Discover how self-awareness can spark meaningful growth in both individuals and organizations.

Exploring consciousness in leadership
In this episode of Changing Conversations, hosts from Implement Consulting Group speak with leadership pioneer Lisa Doig about the power of consciousness in business. Together, they unpack how awareness shapes leadership, culture, and the ability to create lasting transformation. Through stories and frameworks, Lisa shows how expanding our awareness can unlock courage and authenticity.

The seven levels of consciousness
Lisa introduces Barrett’s seven levels of consciousness and how they align with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. She explains how our values reflect our level of awareness and how recognizing fears and limiting beliefs can help leaders move from performance-driven mindsets to purpose-driven leadership. The conversation bridges spirituality and practical business growth.

Transforming the inner and outer horizon
The discussion reveals how organizational change depends on personal transformation. By understanding our fears, leaders can shift from reactive patterns to creative awareness. When consciousness expands, collaboration, innovation, and genuine human connection follow. The episode invites listeners to reflect on their own development and bring more authenticity into everyday leadership.

Amy Gallo - How healthy conflict can bring you better business results

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT

To what degree do you lean into conflict at work?

If you’re like most of us, it’s not always the most natural tendency – but there are business results to be gained for getting the balance right.

In this episode we are joined by Amy Gallo. Amy is a workplace expert who writes and speaks about effective communication, interpersonal dynamics, gender, difficult conversations, and feedback. She is the best-selling author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, as well as hundreds of articles for Harvard Business Review.

In this conversation we discuss:

Why both getting along and healthy conflict are important in driving transformation
What level of conflict to strive for in high performing teams
How to surface tensions when you are working together with others

We’d love to keep the conversation alive. Reach out to Katrina and Stig to challenge us, ask a question, recommend a future guest and give us feedback.

What really drives successful digital transformation

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:16:00 GMT

What truly determines success in digital transformation? Drawing on four years of research and 155 case studies, Alexander Bozier and Kim Thuesen share surprising insights that challenge conventional wisdom about structure, vision, and user involvement in change initiatives.

Understanding what drives transformation success

Four years of research across 155 digital transformation projects reveal a surprising truth. The success of change is less about strict methodologies and more about adaptability, dialogue, and trust. Clear frameworks alone cannot guarantee meaningful results if they fail to engage people effectively.

Seven levers that define successful change

The study identified seven core levers of success, from leadership ownership to communication and user engagement. But the findings upend common beliefs. Structured methods and early user involvement are not always the key to success. Instead, prioritising flexibility, collaboration, and trust delivers stronger outcomes.

From research to practical advice

Bozier and Thuesen invite leaders to rethink how they manage transformation. Rather than overinvesting in frameworks, they suggest focusing on listening, co-creation, and empowering managers to take ownership. Effective change happens when people are involved in meaningful dialogue, not just informed through plans or processes.

Peter Møllgaard - Responsible leadership for today’s challenges

Wed, 07 May 2025 09:16:00 GMT

In a world defined by intertwined crises, traditional leadership models fall short. In this video the President of Copenhagen Business School Peter Møllgaard explores how responsible, collective leadership can navigate complexity, bridge sectors, and create practical solutions, offering insights for leaders seeking to thrive amid disorder and uncertainty.

Navigating complex global crises
Peter Møllgaard highlights the multiple, interconnected crises shaping our world, from climate and biodiversity challenges to geopolitical tension, technological gaps, and misinformation. He emphasizes the need for leaders to understand this complexity and respond effectively through collaborative and responsible approaches.

Rethinking leadership for today
Traditional leadership models, like the MBA concept, often focus on individual achievement and business knowledge. Møllgaard argues for a new model that is collective, cross-disciplinary, and practical. Leaders must work in ecosystems, engage diverse stakeholders, and combine insights from academia, public, and private sectors to solve real-world challenges.

Building bridges and partnerships
Leadership today requires collaboration across sectors, borders, and disciplines. Møllgaard emphasizes the importance of connecting people, testing solutions with stakeholders, and embracing collegiality. By fostering partnerships and inclusive decision-making, leaders can navigate uncertainty and create sustainable, impactful solutions.

Susan David - Why you should embrace emotions at work

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

How do you find comfort in the discomfort of uncertainty?

In this episode we are joined by Susan David, PHD, and will bring her research and perspective to life on this topic.

Susan David (link: https://www.susandavid.com/) is a renowned psychologist and the author of the best-selling book "Emotional Agility". (link: https://www.susandavid.com/book/) Susan is a co-founder of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, and a frequent contributor to publications like the Harvard Business Review. Her groundbreaking work focuses on the role of emotions in psychological resilience, leadership, and personal growth.

As business leaders, most of us operate and lead in complex and uncertain environments – and emotional agility has an important role to play in how to find comfort in the discomfort of uncertainty.

In this conversation, we discuss:

· What it means to be emotionally agile

· How emotions are data points in leading transformation

· How you can authentically be in your emotions without oversharing

We’d love to keep the conversation alive.
Reach out to Katrina and Stig to challenge us, ask a question, recommend a future guest and give us feedback.

Charles Duhigg - How to build stronger connections

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 01:05:00 GMT

How can you build a stronger connection with others during conversation? In this episode, we are joined by guest Charles Duhigg to explore this question and share several practical examples of things you can do to build a deeper connection with the people around you. Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and best-selling author of the books The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and, most recently, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. In this episode, we discuss: Three categories of conversation: Practical (What’s this really about?), Emotional (How do we feel?), and Social (Who are we?) The importance of matching categories to build stronger connections The types of questions that can deepen our conversations and relationships with others We would love to keep the conversation going, so feel free to reach out to Katrina and Stig to challenge us, ask a question, recommend a future guest, or provide feedback.

Imagining the futures of AI together

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:01:22 GMT

If AI is the new electricity, how will it reshape our world? This video invites you to rethink the role of generative AI, exploring how it transforms businesses, leadership and innovation. Discover stories and insights from leaders already shaping the future of AI.

Understanding the bigger picture
Generative AI is often seen as a simple tool, but what if it is more like electricity, changing everything from the ground up? This discussion invites us to look beyond chatbots and lightbulbs to understand how AI can reshape organizations, industries and societies when guided by purpose and imagination.

Learning from early adopters
Through cases like FTFA’s Job Partner and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we explore what happens when leaders dare to imagine new possibilities. These stories show how curiosity, courage and trust can drive real transformation, empowering employees and redefining entire industries through responsible AI adoption.

Exploring the AI wonderland
AI’s rapid evolution can feel like stepping into a wonderland, full of promise and uncertainty. Experts from Implement Consulting Group and voices like Benedict Evans and Nadja Kallsten share insights on balancing ambition with responsibility, encouraging leaders to co-create an AI future that benefits people, business and society.

Professor Brian Cox - What leaders can learn from scientists about facing the...

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Professor Brian Cox is a physicist, musician, and a professor of particle physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester, and The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science.

In this conversation, we talk with Brian Cox about what the scientific community can teach us about dealing with the unknown, and how business leaders can learn to embrace complexity to successfully navigate an ever-evolving business landscape.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

How holding contradictory ideas can be a strength in handling complexity
What business leaders can learn from scientists to embrace complexity and reduce fear of the unknown
How to handle discomfort with the unknown
What characteristics and attitudes are crucial to future leadership when dealing with complex challenges
Finding comfort and curiosity in the unknown

For references, links and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Making great choices in an era of paradoxes

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:16:00 GMT

In a world shaped by paradoxes and constant change, leaders face choices that cannot be solved by simple trade-offs. This video explores how to embrace both and thinking, navigate tensions with courage and authenticity, and build the mindset needed to make better choices in an era of complexity.

Why choice-making matters
Choice-making begins before decisions are finalized. It is about keeping options open, listening, and navigating complexity with intention. Today’s leaders must balance competing demands like profit and planet, inclusion and growth, or short-term results and long-term purpose. The key lies in developing the mindset to thrive amid tension and uncertainty.

Navigating paradoxes
Crises, societal expectations, and shifting stakeholder landscapes have made leadership more complex. As shown through insights from thought leaders like Roger Martin and Wendy Smith, effective leadership now means embracing paradox rather than resolving it. By cultivating both and thinking, leaders can transform discomfort into creativity and build resilience in decision-making.

Courageous conversations
Authentic leadership requires conversations that matter. As Maersk’s Henriette Halberg Thygesen highlights, progress comes from reflection, feedback, and vulnerability. Courageous conversations invite honesty and shared learning, enabling teams to move beyond surface dialogue and shape the discussions that define an organisation’s direction.

Reimagining strategy
The traditional approach to strategy as a static, top-down process is no longer enough. Implement Consulting Group encourages organisations to view strategy as continuous choice-making—a living conversation across all levels of leadership. By holding tension, embracing uncertainty, and building collective capability, leaders can turn paradox into progress.

Zafer Achi - How to lead in complexity

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Zafer Achi is an executive coach, a team coach and a designer and facilitator of leadership development interventions. He has 34 years of consulting experience, including 27 years as a partner with McKinsey & Company. We have invited Zafer Achi to talk to us about complexity. He will help us create a language on the different types of challenges we face to enable us to apply the right tools.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

The difference between technical and adaptive challenges, and when something is complicated or complex
How to lead with curiosity and compassion
How to address adaptive challenges
Integrating perspectives to manage complexity better
How to set a direction instead of a destination and lead towards it

For references, links and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Jennifer Garvey - Five ways your brain is stopping you from embracing complexity

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Garvey Berger is the co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership. She holds a master’s degree and a doctorate from Harvard University and is a former associate professor at George Mason University. Jennifer believes that leadership is one of the single most important tools in these times of uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. We have invited Jennifer to introduce us to mindtraps and how they can hinder us when dealing with complexity.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

The five instincts that are most prevailing in our conversations
How our mindtraps lead to corporate theatre
How awareness of our mindtraps can lead to an invitation
How we can dissemble our mindtraps to thrive in complexity

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Roger Martin - Strategy in a hyper political world

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:53:00 GMT

In this video, Roger Martin explains how the Bud Light backlash reveals hidden fault lines in a hyperpolitical marketplace. You will learn how to recognise these fractures in your own customer base, avoid accidental brand crises and design strategies that respect diverse views.

Why strategy is now hyperpolitical

Roger Martin reflects on the idea of hyperpolitical markets, where every action is instantly visible and can create unexpected reactions. He introduces the metaphor of hidden fault lines to explain how small triggers can unexpectedly reveal deep and persistent divisions within broad customer groups.

The Bud Light case

Using the Bud Light example, he shows how a single social media post by Dylan Mulvaney activated a hidden fault line among consumers. Sales dropped sharply because the brand spoke to one segment without considering how others would react in a climate where everyone sees everything.

How to act on hidden fault lines

He argues that companies serving broad markets must study their audiences carefully and anticipate where divisions may surface. By recognising potential fissures and communicating with the full market in mind, organisations can avoid accidental crises and build strategies that respect the diversity of views in modern society.

Lars Sandahl Sørensen - Navigating leadership in a complex world

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:16:00 GMT

Discover how today's leaders tackle the toughest business dilemmas and navigate a world of constant change. This conversation Lars Sandahl Sørensen, CEO at DI - Confederation of Danish Industry, reveals practical insights on balancing purpose, profit, and partnerships while addressing complex challenges that define modern leadership.

Understanding modern leadership challenges
In today’s complex world, leaders face dilemmas that rarely have clear solutions. Stig Albertsen from Implement Consulting Group and Lars discusses how CXOs must navigate competing demands, balance purpose with profitability, and adapt to rapidly changing geopolitical, technological, and financial landscapes. These insights help leaders approach challenges with a paradox mindset.

Key dilemmas and strategies
The conversation highlights three central challenges for leaders: attracting and retaining top talent, leveraging technology effectively, and leading through constant change. Lars explains how understanding different perspectives and embracing partnerships—public-private, R&D, and market collaborations—can create sustainable solutions and strengthen organizational resilience.

Balancing purpose and profit
Lars emphasizes the tension between creating societal value and meeting business objectives. Leaders who can think in multiple directions, consider opposing views, and adapt decisions quickly are more likely to succeed.

Wendy Smith - Finding comfort in the discomfort of paradox

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:16:00 GMT

Paradoxes often trigger strong, sometimes negative emotions, but these emotional tensions can unlock strategic thinking and leadership growth. In this video Professor of Delaware University and author of Both/And Thinking, Wendy Smith explores how to navigate discomfort, embrace ambivalence, and turn emotional challenges into opportunities for insight and better decision making.

Understanding paradoxes and emotions
Paradoxes create tension by presenting dilemmas, uncertainty, and conflicting demands. While they often trigger negative emotions such as anxiety, frustration, and defensiveness, they can also spark positive feelings of possibility and opportunity. Recognizing these emotional responses is key to leveraging paradoxes for growth and effective decision making.

Strategies to engage with discomfort
Implementing practices such as pausing, accepting emotions, and broadening perspective allows leaders to navigate paradoxes more effectively. Pausing provides space between trigger and response, radical acceptance helps acknowledge negative emotions, and broadening the perspective encourages positive emotions to fuel creative solutions.

Turning emotions into strategic advantage
By leaning into emotional ambivalence, leaders can use both positive and negative emotions to inform rational thinking. This approach, supported by research and expert insights, enables more thoughtful decisions, stronger collaboration, and innovative problem solving, ultimately transforming discomfort into strategic advantage.

David Whyte - Real conversations can transform the way we lead, collaborate,...

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:16:00 GMT

In this video poet and philosopher David Whyte explores how leaning into courageous conversations, embracing feedback, and fostering a reflection culture can unlock new insights and strengthen relationships at work.

The courage to start
Many of us avoid difficult conversations, yet real dialogue begins with taking the first step. By acknowledging the conversations we hesitate to have, we open the door to growth, understanding, and connection. Even small moments of courage can lead to meaningful transformation.

Reflection and feedback culture
A key part of courageous conversations is fostering a reflection culture. By focusing on what went well, what could improve, and the lessons learned, teams can embrace vulnerability and learning rather than blame. This approach strengthens collaboration and promotes authentic leadership.

Diversity, inclusion, and authenticity
Courageous conversations also extend to sensitive topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion. Leaning into these discussions, being honest about feelings, and focusing on outcomes enables teams to create a more inclusive environment. Authenticity and openness make these dialogues powerful and transformative.

Practical takeaways
Whether giving or receiving feedback, courageous conversations require vulnerability, presence, and willingness to engage. By asking the right questions and reflecting openly, leaders and employees can uncover insights, strengthen relationships, and drive meaningful change within their organizations.

Roger Martin - Integrative thinking behind the Lego Movie success

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:16:00 GMT

Discover how Lego turned a risky idea into a global success while protecting its brand. In this video Roger Martin explores the integrative thinking that allowed the Lego Movie to win audiences and respect simultaneously, showing leaders how to creatively resolve seemingly impossible tensions.

The Lego challenge
The Lego Movie was a global box office hit, generating over $468 million and cementing Lego as the top toy company, surpassing Hasbro and Mattel. The success came from carefully balancing brand protection with creative freedom, a tension that could have easily derailed the project.

Integrative thinking in action
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, then CEO of Lego, faced a critical either-or decision: risk the brand by giving Hollywood talent full editorial control or compromise the movie’s quality. By requiring the filmmakers to deeply understand Lego fans, he achieved both high-quality storytelling and brand reverence.

Lessons for leaders
This approach, called integrative thinking, shows how leaders can resolve conflicts creatively rather than choosing one side at the expense of the other. By addressing tensions constructively, decision-makers can achieve outcomes that satisfy multiple objectives and drive innovation.

The impact
From subtle jokes about Lego colors to respecting the freedom of play, the Lego Movie became more than entertainment. It exemplifies how blending discipline with creativity produces results that resonate with audiences and strengthen brand loyalty simultaneously.

Wendy Smith - Navigating paradoxes

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:08:00 GMT

Tensions at work and in life are not problems to eliminate but paradoxes to navigate. In this video, you will learn how to shift from either or choices to both and thinking so you can innovate, lead change and handle complexity with more clarity and confidence.

Exploring everyday tensions
The video introduces tensions as a natural part of strategy, leadership and everyday life. Professor of the University of Delaware Wendy Smith outlines tensions of time, obligation, coordination and identity, showing how we juggle today and tomorrow, profit and purpose, collaboration and competition, the individual and the collective across our work and personal lives.

From either or traps to both and
She explains how either or thinking leads to three vicious cycles. We double down on one choice and miss alternatives, then overcorrect to the opposite, or end up in polarized trench warfare with others. Viewers are invited to see these patterns in their own organisations and relationships.

Practising both and thinking
Finally, the video reframes dilemmas as paradoxes and offers four tool sets for both and thinking. You will hear about shifting assumptions, creating helpful boundaries, building emotional comfort with discomfort and using dynamic practices, including asking both and questions, to handle complexity with more creativity and resilience.

Laura Sicola - Speaking to influence

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Dr Laura Sicola is a leadership communication and influence expert and the author of “Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice”. We have invited Laura to talk to us about how you can establish your vocal executive presence through the three C’s: command, connect and close the deal. She also addresses how to remain invitational in conversations even if there is an experience of competing priorities and how to unlock the potential of seemingly opposing views.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

The experts curse and not taking the perspective of the listener
Conversations are not a zero-sum game
People do not listen to process – they listen to respond
The three C’s: command, connect and close the deal
How to be intentional in the way you use your voice

For references, links and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Eli Buren - How you can practice presence in every meeting

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Eli Buren is an expert in embodied presence. Eli has taught workshops and retreats and has worked with clients internationally since 2005, working with thousands of people across the US, Europe and Asia. We have invited Eli to talk about how we can be more present in our conversations by working with embodiment.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

How to bring presence to your conversations
How to practise presence
How to honour the creation cycle
Giving space in the conversation to be more effective
Noticing how your body is reacting in a conversation
Using the body as your anchor

For references, links and other episodes, visit our podcast page here.

Michele Zanini - How conversations change when we cut bureaucracy

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Michele Zanini is the co-founder of the management lab and the co-author of the book “Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them”. Michele helps organisations become more resilient, creative and engaging places to work by inventing new management practices. We have invited Michele to talk about how we can unleash people’s potential by introducing a more humanocratic organisational model.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

How organisations can reach their full potential by introducing the right organisational model
How conversations in post-bureaucratic companies are far more lateral than they are vertical
How to transfer knowledge and problem-solving expertise in a very organic way
How to create cross-pollination of expertise within an organisation
The importance of opening up the conversation and giving people the tools to have interesting and productive conversations with each other.

For references, links and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Wendy Smith - How to create value from competing demands

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Wendy Smith is a professor of management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics, co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative and author of the book Both/And Thinking. She is an advocate for bold leadership, and much of her work focuses on helping leaders and teams navigate paradoxes. We have invited Wendy Smith to talk about how we can get better at embracing paradoxes and go from either/or to both/and thinking.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

How we can embrace and invite tensions into the organisation
How paradox invites us to honour different points of view
How we can capitalise on friction
The importance of being transparent and vulnerable as a leader
Inviting ourselves to think about a different possibility space
How we can change questions from either/or to both/and

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Sheila Heen - Feedback and why you’re not getting the most out of it

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Sheila Heen is the founder of Triad Consulting Group, a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School and Co-Author of “Thanks for the Feedback” and “Difficult Conversations”. She is consulting with companies ranging from Pixar, Hugo Boss to the NBA around difficult conversations, negotiation and sound decision-making. We have invited Sheila Heen to talk about the conversations around feedback and specifically how we can each be better feedback receivers.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

How do we move away from being dismissive in the way we receive feedback to genuinely being grateful and appreciating the feedback
Feedback as a learning and leadership skill
The three types of triggered feedback reactions: Truth triggers, relationship triggers and identity triggers
Asking for the feedback you want
Enabling feedback in your organisation

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Gail Gallie - Changing a global conversation

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Gail Gallie is the co-founder and creative leader of Project Everyone. Project Everyone is the organisation behind the campaign launch of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Previously, Gail has run marketing and advertising practices, but she is now focusing on how to drive solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. In this episode, we have invited Gail Gallie to talk about the conversations that led up to the big success that is the Global Goals and how it changed global conversations.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

The conversations that led up to the creation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The power of conversations, trusting your instinct, keeping it low-fi and listening
How visuals can help fuel a conversation
The importance of making things granular
How we can engage everyone in changing global conversations
How to enable a global ecosystem of changemakers

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Julie Diamond – How to increase your personal power

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Julie Diamond is the founder of Diamond Leadership. She works as an executive coach and international leadership consultant, and she authored the book: “Power - A User’s Guide”. Her focus is on creating transformational learning and leadership solutions across sectors. In this episode, we talk with Julie Diamond about the power of power in conversations and how each of us can become better power users.

Key topics covered in this episode are:

Understanding the difference between social and personal power
Advice on how to be more inclusive as a person with high social power
Speaking up as a person with low social power
Addressing power when it comes to difficult conversations, for example conversations in a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Fred Dust – Committing to the conversation

Wed, 25 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Fred Dust is the founder of Dust&Co. He works as a designer and advisor to social and business leaders and he authored the book “Making Conversation”. Fred works at the intersection of business, society, and creativity where he tries to implement the craft of humancentric design. In this conversation, we talk with Fred Dust about the importance of committing to the conversation and thinking of conversation as a creative act.

Key topics covered in this episode are:

Building a space for creative conversations
Committing to the conversation first, the people second and your beliefs third
Making friends with the unknown
The importance of being a good listener

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

David Whyte - Courageous conversations

Sun, 22 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Reimagining sustainability from strategy to action

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

To create real impact, organizations must go beyond sustainability strategies and reimagine their purpose. This video explores how leaders and companies can redefine success to build a sustainable future for all stakeholders.

Rethinking business for a sustainable world

Sustainability can no longer be an add-on to business strategy. This session explores how organizations can move from business as usual to true sustainable transformation. By redefining purpose, value creation and collaboration, leaders can build strategies that serve both people and the planet.

Insights from global leaders

Roger Martin, Jacob Stasholm, Amy Burek and Mette Lykke share how companies like Rio Tinto, Novozymes and Too Good To Go are embedding sustainability into the core of their strategies. From integrating stakeholder value to rethinking supply chains, they reveal how business can drive meaningful, lasting impact.

Empowering people and purpose

True transformation begins with leadership that inspires choice and ownership. Discover how empowering employees, embracing transparency and redefining metrics for success can unlock a more resilient and responsible future for business and society alike.

Roger Martin - From command and control to empowered choice

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

This conversation with Roger Martin reframes execution as a matter of choice, not blind compliance. Learn how leaders can set clear strategic frames, ban the word execution, and create real empowerment through choice chartering so teams bring smarter, practical strategies that align with sustainability and business goals.

What this video covers

This video challenges the command and control mindset that sees strategy as something to be executed. It explains why calling it execution insults talented people, and how a CEO can instead set the strategic frame, ask for aligned choices, and invite teams to propose clever ways to meet goals. The focus is on dignity, not directives.

How to make the shift

Practical steps include banning the words implementation and execution, spending time on choice chartering, and clarifying expected outputs while allowing freedom in methods. The speaker highlights genuineness and psychological safety, explaining that clear frames plus trust reduce transmission loss and speed empowerment across the organization.

Who benefits and why

Leaders aiming to bridge strategy and action, and teams seeking real ownership will benefit most. The approach helps organizations pursue sustainability and value creation by tapping frontline insight, increasing engagement, and ensuring strategies are tested and refined by those who know the business best.

Roger Martin - Why companies must innovate to stay sustainable

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

In this video, we together with Roger Martin explore why genuine sustainability progress depends on customer demand, smarter business models, and empowered employees. Viewers gain insights into how companies can innovate, move beyond outdated structures, and make responsible choices that support long term growth.

Why customer pressure matters
Customer behaviour is highlighted as a powerful force that can move companies toward real climate action. While regulation has a role, the conversation points to the limits of government driven change and the unintended consequences it may create. Companies respond faster when customers reward sustainable choices.

Rethinking corporate structures
The video challenges the traditional top down corporate model, arguing for an assistant style approach where decision making sits closer to customers. This shift enables faster learning, better choices and a culture where employees can act on what truly creates value.

Facing difficult sustainability choices
The discussion acknowledges how hard it is for companies to phase out profitable but harmful cash cows. Real change comes when customers demand better solutions and companies innovate accordingly. This sets the stage for more responsible growth and stronger long term business resilience.

Roger Martin - How companies can turn sustainability into a strategic advantage

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

In this conversation with Roger Martin explore how sustainability is evolving from a side project to a core business strategy, and how companies can gain a competitive edge by embedding it into everything they do. Learn what it takes to make a meaningful impact and lead in a world where customers demand action.

Why sustainability matters in strategy
Sustainability is no longer optional for companies, it is becoming central to business success. Many organizations struggle to integrate sustainability beyond operational tasks, often keeping it separate from core strategy. The video explores how companies can move beyond superficial measures and embed sustainability into their main operations.

Making sustainability a competitive advantage
Companies that strategically embrace sustainability can differentiate themselves in the market. By rethinking their approach to products, services, and operations, they create unique value while addressing environmental and social challenges. Examples from Patagonia and Nike illustrate how transparency and innovation can reinforce business purpose.

Strategic insights for companies
The discussion highlights that sustainability requires systemic thinking, balancing the needs of the planet, customers, employees, and shareholders. Implement Consulting Group provides guidance on making these connections, helping businesses implement meaningful strategies that align with long-term value creation and leadership in a changing world.

Gary Pisano: How leaders turn innovation into strategy

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

Discover how innovation drives strategy and growth, and why agility is key for leaders. Gary Pisano, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School shares insights from decades of experience, exploring how organizations can foster the right systems, culture, and mindset to succeed in breakthrough innovation.

Key insights from the interview
Gary highlights the deep connection between innovation and strategy. He explains that successful leaders excel by clearly defining their innovation strategy, building systems to support it, and fostering a culture that encourages risk-taking. Agility is essential, enabling organizations to adapt quickly while sustaining progress over time.

Examples and practical lessons
Through real-world examples like Paul Stoffels at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Gary shows how modeling behaviors and accepting responsibility can transform organizational culture. Breakthrough innovation requires both strategic focus and a mindset open to experimentation, iterative learning, and overcoming skepticism, as seen in cases like Apple and Moderna.

Future research and perspectives
Gary also shares insights on his ongoing work in corporate growth strategy, exploring how companies maintain vitality as they scale. He emphasizes that innovation is not a one-time effort, but a continuous journey that requires tailored approaches for each organization and industry to achieve sustainable success.

Bossard and Brugg Group: Rethinking strategy for new attractive futures

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:16:00 GMT

At the Strategy Reimagined event in Zurich, Implement Consulting Group explores how strategy can inspire innovation, collaboration and continuous learning. Through global leaders and CEOs, the conversation shows how reimagined strategy creates purpose-driven organisations ready for future challenges.

Why rethink strategy

Strategy is no longer a rigid plan but a living process. In this event, Implement Consulting Group brings together thought leaders like Gary Pisano and business leaders from Bossard and Brugg Group to explore how strategy can evolve through innovation, purpose and agility.

From planning to purpose

The dialogue challenges traditional goal-driven strategy and highlights a new focus on purpose, impact and collaboration. Growth becomes an outcome, not a starting point, as leaders share how open strategy processes and shared ownership energise organisations and build resilience.

Continuous learning and leadership

Leaders from Bossard and Brugg Group show how empowering teams, fostering dialogue and redefining leadership can turn strategy into a continuous journey. The event reveals how to combine innovation, inclusion and adaptability to create more human, future-ready organisations.

Rethink, react and transform for the future

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:16:00 GMT

Transformation is more than a buzzword. In this conversation from OPEX 222, leaders and thought provokers explore how empathy, sustainability and digitalization come together to help organizations rethink, react and transform for a more resilient and purpose-driven future.

Building successful transformations

Transformations fail when they focus only on processes and numbers. As Martin Lindström explains, true change starts with empathy and common sense. Successful leaders look at transformation as a human journey, taking people from point A to point B with purpose and meaning. The key is involving employees early and aligning around shared ownership of the change.

Embedding sustainability into operations

Novo Nordisk’s Circular for Zero strategy shows how purpose-driven sustainability can mobilize thousands of colleagues and suppliers. By combining formal structures with grassroots movements, they engage people across functions and geographies. Their approach highlights that long-term environmental goals must become tangible actions today, creating both business value and collective impact.

Shaping the future with digitalization

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies demonstrates how intelligent automation and modular processes can speed up the delivery of life-saving medicine. Their digital transformation focuses on reducing lead time, improving quality and empowering employees with data-driven tools. The journey underlines that successful digital change depends as much on people and culture as on technology.

Turning insight into action

From harmonizing processes to collaborating across ecosystems, the event reminds leaders that thriving in uncertainty means acting with empathy, clarity and focus. Transformation is not a one-time project but a continuous journey of learning, innovation and purpose.

Martin Lindstrøm - Making sustainability tangible in complex organisations

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:16:00 GMT

In this conversation branding expert and New York Times best-selling author Martin Lindstrøm together with Implement Consulting Groups Sheva Rostam explore how organisations can move beyond talk and embed sustainability into every function. They discuss why ownership across the company is essential and how turning long-term goals into tangible, emotional actions creates real progress.

Embedding sustainability across the organisation

Sustainability cannot live in one department alone. Martin Lindstrøm explains that when companies isolate it as a separate function, they repeat the same mistake once made with marketing and sales. True progress happens when sustainability becomes part of every role, woven into culture, purpose and structure.

From long-term vision to short-term impact

Martin introduces his Perceived Justification Symbol (PGS) method, showing how large goals can feel more achievable through small, emotional and tangible steps. Drawing on examples from P&G, Shell and Aquafresh, he illustrates how perception drives engagement. The key is to make sustainability visible, actionable and rewarding for everyone.

Martin Lindstrøm - The power of empathy in driving transformation

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:16:00 GMT

Transformation often fails not because of strategy, but because of human behavior. In this video branding expert and New York Times best-selling author Martin Lindstrøm together with Implement Consulting Groups Pedro Maestrelli, explore how empathy, psychological safety, and default behaviors shape the success of organizational change. Viewers will gain insights into practical ways to make transformation stick.

Understanding transformation
Transformation is more than incremental change or process improvements. Martin Lindstrøm explains it as the act of speeding up a customer recalibration, focusing on both internal and external stakeholders. The key to successful transformation lies in empathy, the ability to see the world from the customer's perspective, and applying common sense to organizational decisions.

The role of psychology and behavior
Human behavior is the hidden barrier to change. Peer pressure, default habits, and social compliance often derail transformation initiatives. Martin illustrates this with examples of everyday actions, showing how even simple behavior changes can fail without conscious effort and practice, highlighting the depth of psychological impact on organizational change.

Lessons from innovation
Startups like Snapchat thrive because they are deeply in tune with customer needs. By fostering empathy and understanding, organizations can overcome fear and rigid compliance structures, creating space for innovation. The discussion emphasizes that lasting transformation requires both emotional intelligence and deliberate behavioral change.

Elizabeth Stokoe - Effective conversations

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth Stokoe British is a scientist and Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University where she studies conversation analysis. In this conversation, we explore how Elizabeth’s research and experience could be applied to better understand and change conversations.

The key topics covered in this episode are:

Our ability to predict the way a conversation is going to go
The way that one word can change an entire conversation
Mapping conversations to better understand which parts of them work less well
The importance of “recipient design” in shaping great conversations

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Priya Parker - Gatherings that change us

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode we meet with conflict resolution facilitator and author, Priya Parker. We discuss takeaways from her book, “The Art of Gathering” and how to make a gathering meaningful, effective and engaging.

In the pursuit of designing more transformational conversations and meetings, Priya encourages us to address the deepest need of the moment in our gatherings, to name a meeting according to its purpose, and to think about when a conversation or a meeting should take place in the context of the “arch of the week”.

For references and links, visit the podcast homepage here.

Roger Martin - Changing conversations in strategy

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Hosts Katrina and Stig are joined by renowned strategy advisor and author Professor Roger Martin. Roger Martin is former Dean and Institute Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in Canada.

In this episode, we discuss Roger Martin’s 5 strategy questions laid out in his book “Playing to Win”. We talk about a case example from the book through the lens of changing conversations: how strategic conversations might have been problematic in the past, what the resulting conversations looked like, and what it took to change those conversations.

For references, links, and other episodes, visit the podcast homepage here.

Gary Hamel - From purpose to action: Creating problem-solving organisations

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:16:00 GMT

Explore how organisations can turn purpose into action and unlock human potential to address pressing global challenges in a conversation with Gary Hamel, leading business thinker and Professor at London Business School, and Stig Albertsen from Implement Consulting Group, as they share practical insights on empowering employees, driving innovation, and creating meaningful impact.

Understanding worthwhile problems
Organisations succeed by solving important problems, from feeding millions to advancing technology and sustainability. This discussion explores why purpose matters and how leaders can ensure their organization’s goals are noble, ambitious, and future focused, while maintaining real-world impact beyond mere profitability.

Unleashing human potential
True organisational change requires empowering employees, flattening hierarchies, and offering decision rights and financial upside. By fostering autonomy and initiative, companies can harness latent human capacity, transforming everyday workplaces into hubs of creativity and problem solving capable of addressing global challenges.

Collaboration for systemic change
Many societal challenges are systemic, requiring collaboration across companies, governments, investors, and communities. Implementing new incentives, accountability systems, and leadership development is essential to collectively solve problems that no single organization can address alone. This holistic approach ensures meaningful, lasting impact.

Driving purpose into action
Purpose without empowerment is ineffective. Organisations must connect noble ambitions with practical strategies that unlock creativity, initiative, and problem-solving skills. By embracing entrepreneurship within large institutions, businesses can contribute to solving the world’s toughest problems while engaging employees in work that truly matters.

Novo Nordisk, Unilever and Ørsted - Balancing purpose, profit and real impact

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:23:00 GMT

Companies are redefining their role in society, moving from separate sustainability efforts to fully integrated strategies. This video explores how leaders can balance purpose and profit, work with partners and activate networks to drive meaningful and lasting change.

Sustainable strategy
Integrating sustainability into the core business is no longer optional. The video highlights how environmental considerations must become part of strategic decisions, not an add on. Viewers gain an understanding of why a sustainable strategy supports long term value creation.

Working with suppliers and partners
A significant part of a company’s impact sits in its value chain. The conversation shows how engaging suppliers, educating them and sharing best practices can accelerate progress. It also illustrates the importance of partnering with governments and NGOs to shape better conditions.

Leadership and new power
Modern leadership requires navigating paradoxes, activating networks and strengthening both inner and outer capabilities. The video invites leaders to reflect on purpose, resilience and learning agility while fostering collaboration across ecosystems to solve meaningful problems.

Rethinking leadership for a human future

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:16:00 GMT

How do we build organizations that are fit for humans and fit for the future? In this inspiring journey of ideas and leadership, Susan Salzbrenner and Stig Albertsen explore how courage, imagination, and collaboration can unlock the potential of people and organizations to create meaningful change.

The future of leadership
The video invites viewers to question traditional leadership and strategy models. Instead of focusing solely on where to play and how to win, leaders are encouraged to ask, how can we make a difference? Through stories of visionary leaders and companies, we see how courage, curiosity, and purpose can redefine what success means in modern organizations.

Catalytic organizations and meaningful change
From Ørsted’s transformation into a sustainable energy pioneer to Unilever’s ecosystem of purpose-driven partnerships, the video highlights how organizations can act as catalysts for collective action. By connecting their craft to meaningful problems, they inspire employees, investors, and communities alike to contribute to positive change.

Unleashing human potential
Thought leaders like Gary Hamel and Bjarke Ingles emphasize the importance of empowering people and fostering creativity within organizations. Moving away from control and bureaucracy, they call for trust, experimentation, and the courage to rebel constructively against outdated norms. Humanocracy, as Hamel describes, is the path to unlocking every individual’s potential.

Creating movements that matter
Change is no longer managed top down but sparked through collective ownership. Implement’s dialogue with leaders from LEGO, Tony’s Chocolonely, and Danfoss reveals how change movements grow from shared purpose, experimentation, and storytelling. When people are trusted to lead, transformation becomes both human and sustainable.

Future-proofing operations for a resilient tomorrow

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:57:00 GMT

In a time of constant change, leading companies are rethinking how to build resilient, adaptable and sustainable operations. This event brings together voices from industry and consulting to share how collaboration, digitalization and human-centric transformation can future-proof businesses and create long-term value.

Building resilient operations
Explore how organizations can transform supply chains, manufacturing and distribution to thrive amid uncertainty. Learn how a mix of strategy, technology and people-driven transformation can create lasting impact and make businesses fit for both the future and for humans.

Transformation through collaboration
At the heart of every successful change is co-creation. Implement Consulting Group and leading industry partners show how involving people at every level drives performance, fosters ownership and accelerates learning. Real-world cases demonstrate how to turn transformation from theory into tangible results.

Digitalization and innovation
From data-driven planning to smart logistics, digital technologies are reshaping the way operations work. Discover how companies like Dow are using digital platforms and partnerships to improve visibility, agility and decision-making across global supply chains.

Sustainability as a growth driver
IKEA’s story highlights how climate-positive goals can become a business opportunity. Integrating circularity and renewable energy into every step of the value chain can align sustainability with profitability while inspiring employees and customers alike.

The human side of adaptability
Economist and author Tim Harford reminds us that real adaptability is not about perfection but learning fast, staying open and reframing failure as growth. By building diverse teams and nurturing curiosity, organizations can develop the mindset to thrive in change.

A call to action
Future-proofing operations requires courage, creativity and collaboration. The key lesson: rethink how we lead, co-create and act today to ensure we are ready for tomorrow.

Eric Ries - From bureaucracy to creativity: Rethinking project budgets

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:16:00 GMT

Discover how traditional budgeting practices can stifle innovation and slow product delivery. In this video Eric Ries explores the difference between entitlement funding and metered funding, showing how adopting a customer-focused, milestone-driven approach can unlock creativity, urgency, and real results for your organization.

The problem with entitlement funding
Many organizations rely on entitlement funding, where projects continue year after year regardless of results. This creates perverse incentives, discourages teams from taking risks, and leads to delays in delivering products to customers. Even well-intentioned teams often prioritize perfection over progress.

The power of metered funding
Metered funding, as used in Silicon Valley, provides discrete rounds of financing with clear criteria to unlock more resources. Funding is linked to validated learning from customers, shifting teams from entitlement to scarcity. This encourages creativity, urgency, and meaningful outcomes.

Driving corporate transformation
Adopting metered funding is just one step in a broader corporate transformation. By integrating clear processes, milestones, and accountability, organizations can move from bureaucratic inertia to a system that prioritizes customer impact, speed, and continuous innovation.

Eric Ries - Unlocking intrapreneurial talent in your organisation

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:16:00 GMT

Discover how entrepreneurial talent thrives within organisations without relying on executive assignment. In this video Eric Ries shows how letting people find the right projects themselves creates engagement, accountability, and unexpected innovation outcomes.

Understanding intrapreneurship
In organisations, the most effective intrapreneurs are not assigned to projects by executives. Instead, they identify opportunities themselves, driven by curiosity and ownership. By signaling opportunities clearly, organisations can allow talent to self-select and engage in projects where they can have real impact.

Compensation and motivation
Entrepreneurial work often requires different incentives. Employees may accept lower guaranteed compensation in exchange for a stake in the project’s success. This approach mirrors practices in Silicon Valley, rewarding risk-taking and aligning personal success with organisational impact. It helps identify who truly believes in a project’s potential.

Creating the right environment
The key is to provide visibility and access to opportunities, supported by training and coaching programs. When organizations trust employees to self-select and engage, innovation thrives naturally. Entrepreneurs in your company already exist, you just need to make sure they know where to find the opportunities.

Eric Ries - Key principles behind thriving startup ecosystems

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:16:00 GMT

Discover the principles that make Silicon Valley startups flourish, from ownership to mission-driven work. In this video Eric Ries explores how accountability, equity, and a culture of learning from failure create highly innovative and resilient organizations, offering practical insights for businesses worldwide.

Understanding startup ecosystems
Silicon Valley startups may seem chaotic on the surface, but underneath there is a highly structured management system. From board structures to venture capital processes, these organizations follow rigid frameworks that foster rapid experimentation and growth. This system balances risk with accountability, creating fertile ground for innovation.

Principles that drive success
Key factors include giving every employee a stake in outcomes, building mission-oriented organizations, and emphasizing ownership and accountability. Research shows that non-monetary rewards, such as a sense of purpose and responsibility, often motivate employees more than financial incentives, driving performance and engagement.

Learning from failure
A culture that embraces failure as a learning opportunity is central to Silicon Valley’s approach. Entrepreneurs take personal responsibility for outcomes, learning from mistakes to improve future ventures. These lessons demonstrate that failure, when managed effectively, is a catalyst for growth and innovation.

Global inspiration
While not every company can copy Silicon Valley, the underlying principles can inspire organizations worldwide. By fostering ownership, mission-driven work, and accountability, businesses can cultivate resilient and innovative cultures that thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Daniel Pink - Stop saying how, start explaining why

Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:32:00 GMT

Why do we obsess over how and forget to explain why. In this video you will explore research and simple practices that show how purpose driven conversations can lift performance, support change and help your team feel more connected to the value of their work.

Why conversations beat how checklists
Many leaders default to telling people how to act, sell or present, while skipping the deeper question of why the work matters. The video explains how reconnecting teams to meaning is one of the most powerful, cost effective ways to drive performance, especially in times of change.

Seeing the impact of your work
Through examples from cafeterias and lifeguard teams, you see how simply making purpose visible can change behaviour. When people understand who they serve and why their tasks matter, quality, commitment and follow through improve. Small shifts in attention to purpose create very real effects in everyday work.

A simple exercise to try next week
The session ends with a practical challenge for leaders. Next week, notice how often conversations focus on how. Then, twice, pause and turn a how into a why conversation instead. You can expect richer dialogue, clearer motivation and a noticeable lift in energy and performance.

Roger Martin - Rethinking leadership through the power of choice

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:16:00 GMT

Discover why traditional metaphors of leadership and execution may be holding your organization back. Roger Martin explores how rethinking choice at every level can transform engagement, decision-making, and results, offering a fresh perspective on leading and executing strategy effectively.

Understanding leadership metaphors
In this video, Roger Martin challenges the traditional view of strategy as top-down formulation followed by execution. Using compelling metaphors, he shows how the way we conceptualize organizational roles shapes behavior and outcomes. Misleading metaphors can lead to disengagement, poor decision-making, and flawed execution, even when strategies are sound.

The power of choice
Martin introduces a choice-based model where every individual in an organization, from frontline employees to CEOs, is a decision-maker. Using examples like Four Seasons Hotels, he demonstrates how empowering employees to make critical choices in real time leads to exceptional service, stronger engagement, and superior results.

Transforming execution and leadership
By replacing outdated metaphors, organizations can foster a seamless cascade of choices, improve execution, and elevate overall performance. Leadership becomes about mentorship, guidance, and accountability rather than control. This approach offers practical insights for anyone seeking to improve strategy implementation and organizational effectiveness.