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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I am delighted to host Dr. Jess Tayel, a top LinkedIn voice and a distinguished leader in global change and transformation. Dr. Tayel has over 25 years of experience in leading global change and transformation programs in senior leadership roles, guiding and leading large-scale change programs across 15 countries.

She has worked with companies like Google, Boeing, Apple, Emirates, World Cup, ABN Amro, Barclays and more.

Jess is also the founder of the People of Transformation Program and Community. People of Transformation aims to attain the next level of mastery of change and transformation practice and leadership.

In this episode, Jess and I dive into understanding the transformation journey for professionals, discussing the challenges and rewards, and tracing the growth continuum from early development to mastery.

We discuss what it truly takes to overcome personal growth hurdles and how achieving mastery can bring profound rewards—not just for individuals, but for businesses and even society as a whole

Contact Jess
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/business-transformation-change-coach-mentor

Websites

• peopleoftransformation.com (Other)
• peopleoftransformation.com (Company)

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I am joined by Kavita Ganesan; an AI advisor, strategist, and founder of Opinosis Analytics. Kavita has led numerous AI projects, from recommendation engines to advanced sentiment analysis systems, impacting millions of users and shaping strategic AI initiatives for major organizations like McKesson, Verizon, and the University of Sydney.

In today’s episode, we will explore the transformative power of AI and its wide-reaching impacts. Drawing from her book The Business Case for AI, Kavita will help us understand how AI is reshaping organizations and discuss how leaders, managers, and change professionals can navigate this shift to tackle both challenges and opportunities.

I am grateful to have Kavita chatting with me today.


About Kavita (In her words)
As an AI advisor, strategist, and founder of Opinosis Analytics, I help business leaders and tech teams in two key areas. The first involves architecting complex AI (and GenAI/LLM) systems. I’ve designed and managed over two dozen projects from a vague idea through productionization of these solutions.

This includes problems such as:
» Recommendation engines (people, product, jobs, topics, content)
» E-commerce search improvements
» Organization-specific question-answering systems (RAG-Based Q&A)
» Chatbots
» Sentiment analysis
» Categorization engines
» Unstructured data integration

The solutions I’ve managed scale to millions of products and users and some of these initiatives have led to successful funding events for the clients supported.

My second area of focus is in helping companies with strategic AI integration. Whether it’s to spot low-hanging but high-impact AI opportunities, teach teams how to plan their AI strategy, develop a truly executable roadmap, or get started with individual initiatives--I’ve helped put teams on the path to achieving tangible results.

I’ve supported/am supporting the following companies through my work: McKesson, McMaster-Carr, The University of Sydney (Australia), Brown-Forman Corporation, The Odevo Group (Sweden), Verizon, NRC (US Government), and Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (US Government).

Contact
LinknedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavita-ganesan/

Websites

• kavita-ganesan.com/blog/ (Other)
• opinosis-analytics.com (Company)
• amazon.aibusinesscasebook.com (Other)

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to a special episode ; The Outer Game of Change. In these unique episodes, I am joined by leaders and executives who drive change and shape the future of their organizations. We listen to their unique insights, explore how they perceive change, and uncover what is simmering in their minds.

Today, I am thrilled to have with me Professor Theo Farrell, the 7th Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University here in Australia. Professor Farrell has a distinguished career in academia and research, having held leadership positions at top universities around the world. He is an author, and renowned advocate for academic excellence, inclusivity, and transformative change. Most importanly, I find Theo to be a great human.

In this episode, we will dive into the dynamics of change leadership, exploring how transformative forces like AI are reshaping higher education. We discuss the evolving nature of academia, the challenges and opportunities of integrating advanced technologies, and what it takes to lead an institution through such significant transformation.

With his extensive background in both strategic leadership and research, Professor Farrell offers unique insights into the future of higher education and how universities can adapt to and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

I am grateful to have Professor Farrell chatting with me today.

About Theo Farrell
Professor Theo Farrell commenced as the 7th Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University in February 2024. He brings a deep commitment to advancing academic excellence, building inclusive communities, forging external partnerships, and leading transformative change.

Prior to joining La Trobe, Professor Farrell held a number of leadership roles including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Students), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), and Executive Dean of Law, Humanities and the Arts, all at the University of Wollongong, and Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at City, University of London. From 2006 to 2016, he held a chair in online learning at King’s College London. At UOW, City and King’s, Professor Farrell led numerous initiatives to develop research capacities, innovate learning and teaching, and enhance student experience.

Professor Farrell has held ten UK research council awards. His most recent book, Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan (Vintage 2021), was shortlisted for three national book awards and selected book of the year by The Sunday Times. Professor Farrell is a champion of real-world impact from academic research. A leading expert on the conflict in Afghanistan, he acted as strategic advisor to the UK government and the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, and participated in track II talks with the Taliban.

Professor Farrell is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK), Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Visiting Professor at King’s College London, and past President of the British International Studies Association.


Contact Info
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/theo-farrell-35698b1b3

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

I’m thrilled to be joined by Maggie Jackson, an award-winning journalist and author, celebrated for her insightful exploration of uncertainty, the impact of technology on our lives, and the science of attention.

Her latest book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, uncovers how uncertainty is often misunderstood but can actually promote open-mindedness and innovation.

In this episode, Maggie shares her insights on how embracing uncertainty can help us navigate and lead through change, turning unpredictability into a tool for growth and adaptability.

I am grateful to have Maggie chatting with me today.

About Maggie
Award-winning Journalist and Author exploring the unsung wisdom of uncertainty; the impact of technology on humanity; the science of attention an age of flux and angst.

Author of
- "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure", forthcoming November, 2023
- "Distracted: Reclaiming Our Focus in a World of Lost Attention"​ (New Edition September 2018) -- the award-winning book that sparked a global conversation on the costs of fragmenting our attention.

Former contributing Boston Globe columnist who has also written for The New York Times, CNN.com, New Philosopher, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Courrier International, and publications worldwide.

Sought-after speaker (Google, Harvard Business School, Bank of America, Chautauqua)
and frequent media guest (MSNBC, New York Times, Book TV, Oprah Radio, All Things Considered, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Sunday Times of London, BBC, Presa Diretta (Italy) and other outlets around the globe.)

Contact Maggie
LinknedIn
linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson

Website
maggie-jackson.com (Other)

Email
maggie@maggie-jackson.com

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I am privilaged to be joined by Dr. David Weiss, a renowned author, speaker, and executive coach. Dr. Weiss is the President and CEO of Weiss International Ltd., where he has led over 1,000 business and organisational projects across five continents. He’s a recognised expert in innovation, leadership, and HR consulting, with accolades from global organisations, including the Government of Canada and the Asia-Pacific HR Congress.

In his latest article, *Winning Against Resistance to Change*, Dr. Weiss shares powerful strategies for navigating and overcoming resistance to change.

Let’s dive into these insights with Dr. David Weiss and learn how to lead more effectively through challenging transitions.

I am grateful to have David chatting with me today.

About David

Dr. David S. Weiss, Ph.D., ICD.D, CHRE, is an author, innovator, speaker, executive coach and consultant. He is the President and CEO of Weiss International Ltd., a firm specializing in innovation, leadership coaching, and HR consulting for many Fortune 500, social enterprise and public-sector organizations.

David has provided coaching and consulting on more than 1000 business and organizational projects on five continents including in Canada, USA, England, Holland, France, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Russia, China, Malaysia, Uganda, South Africa, and Chile. He delivered over 200 conference presentations and he has written over 60 journal and trade articles. He is the author or co-author of seven books including Innovative Intelligence (Publisher: Wiley, also available in Chinese and Persian) which was reported by CBC News as a “top 5 business book” in the year it was published and Leadership-Driven HR which was listed by the Globe & Mail Report on Business as a bestseller in the year it was published.

Previously, Affiliate Professor of the Rotman School of Management, Senior Research Fellow at Queen’s University, and VP and Chief Innovation Officer in a multinational consulting firm, David currently is affiliate faculty at the executive development programs of Schulich School of Business, and the Sobey's School of Business. He also is an International Coach Federation certified coach and a certified Life and Wellness Coach. He also is a Certified Director with the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D).

David’s doctorate is from the University of Toronto and he has three Master’s degrees. He has been honoured by many organizations globally including by the Government of Canada with the “Distinguished Lecturer” certificate, by the Asia-Pacific HR Congress with the “HR Leadership Award,” by the Institute for Performance and Learning as the first lifetime “Fellow” in Canada, and by HRPA with the fourth lifetime designation of “Fellow HRPA.”

You can download many of David’s innovation, leadership, and HR articles at www.weissinternational.ca/articles, and read a comprehensive Wikipedia article about David’s innovative concepts at wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Solomon_Weiss. Follow David's daily posts on LinkedIn along with his over 24,000 followers and 16,000 connections. See www.weissinternational.ca

Contact David
Dr. David’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/drdavidweiss
Websites
weissinternational.ca (Weiss I

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Paul Gibbons, a leading voice in the future of change management. In his latest work, The Future of Change Management, Paul explores the quiet revolution in how we understand transitions, blending behavioral science, mental health, generative AI, and neuroscience to offer more effective strategies for leading change.

With up-to-date insights into HR, design thinking, and neurodiversity, Paul is reshaping how businesses adapt in a rapidly evolving world.

Let’s dive into the future of change management with Paul Gibbons.

About Paul
My mission is to bring a science-based approach to culture, wellness, sustainability, the future of work, and leadership - to make practical the finest academic ideas so that business leaders can deploy those rather than dated ideas (or worse, myths.)

At IBM I wear three hats: 1) Head of our leadership and culture sub-offerings in the change practice, 2) head of the behavioral science practice development for IBM's consulting, 3) Thought leadership and eminence in IBM's Talent Transformation practice.

Today's keynotes focus on
1) Making hybrid work work. What the pandemic and "Great Resignation" have taught us about leadership and culture - and, crucially, how leaders must adapt their behavior in the new world of work.
2) Change mythology - the change world is populated by gurus where "popularity is a proxy for expertise." But many change ideas, learning styles, 70-20-10, MBTI, "sense of urgency" have been challenged by science. What should we discard? What do we replace those ideas with?
3) The behavioral revolution in culture and leadership. Behavioral science is slowly percolating its way into how leading organizations drive culture change - but few organizations fully capitalize on the opportunity. What can, for example, nudges do for critical topics such as sustainability, inclusion, and wellness? What are the ethical pitfalls?
4) Leadership. Most models of leadership and change were developed in the previous century and most leadership education is rooted in ideas on leadership that were birthed when organizations were different. What are the pitfalls of using 20th century leadership notions in 21st century organizations.

From the books...
"... illustrates the inauthenticity of using analog methods to drive digital change and the irony of using 20th-century change management practices with millennial workforces. Impact debunks hallowed change models, points out their flaws, and suggests updates, based upon principles such as: human-centered, technology-enabled, systemic, creative, scalable, and based on a holistic understanding of what inspires today’s generation of workers."

Contacts
Paul’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/paulggibbons

Websites
paulgibbons.net (Company)
paulgibbons.net/blog/ (Blog)

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, where I explore the intricate layers of organizational change alongside insightful professionals in the field.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Nicole Gahagan: an author, a high-performing strategist and organizational change expert committed to improving employee experiences and organisational effectiveness.

With her vast experience, Nicole has honed a distinctive method for fostering change. Renowned for forging relationships, achieving agreement, and inspiring various groups of stakeholders, she reliably delivers significant results.

In this episode, we will dive into the pivotal role of middle management, which Nicole aptly calls the linchpin in managing change. We will explore how middle managers enable their teams to adopt change . We'll discuss the critical influence they have in driving successful adoption or potentially hampering it, and the strategies they can use to enable their teams. Additionally, we'll examine how middle managers can act as effective change agents, leveraging their unique position to ensure alignment and cohesion throughout the organization.

I am grateful to have Nicole chatting with me today.

About Nicole (In her own words)
Professional Profile: High-performing strategist and organizational change expert committed to improving student and employee experiences in higher education settings. Skilled at developing relationships and building consensus and motivation amongst stakeholder groups to accelerate transformation and produce meaningful outcomes. Record of cultivating broad-scale engagement to enhance student success and reduce equity gaps through a human-centered, data-informed systems approach sensitive to organizational context and culture. Demonstrated responsiveness to diverse student and employee needs through cohesive institutional design and operations.

Contact Nicole
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/nicole-gahagan

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, where I explore the intricate layers of organizational change alongside insightful professionals in the field.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Steve Rawling: a master storyteller, author, strategic learning facilitator, and leadership development expert.

Drawing from his rich personal experiences, journalistic curiosity, and continuous reflection, Steve has cultivated a value-based approach to helping clients communicate through the art of storytelling. His publications are globally considered among the most effective tools for anyone aspiring to become a storyteller.

In this episode, Steve and I dive into the profound impact of storytelling—how it enriches our experiences, inspires action, and transforms our perspectives.

I am truly grateful to have Steve with me today.

About Steve (In his own story)

It's March 2020 and my order book has shrunk to zero. I was supposed to be in Estonia, speaking at a conference and running workshops with clients. Then Covid killed it all. But hey, I'm a TV journalist - I know how to communicate via a screen. I shifted all my training to Zoom, I rescued 80% of my cancelled work - and new clients started coming in.

2020 has turned into a boom year. I miss working face to face with clients. I miss Meeting-Biscuits and coffee break chats. But I sell stories - and stories work across any medium.

I've spent 30 years telling stories. I've chased people with a camera crew; I've walked through petrol bombs; I've been bitten by a dog once, sworn at many times and welcomed into strangers' homes again and again. All so I could get people to tell their side of the story.

But I was amazed how bad most people were at telling stories when it came to their work. I'd listen to the rehearsed soundbites and the PR spin. Eventually I'd go: "So what you're really saying is... [insert much more interesting story]."

Now I do this for a living. I help people find the great stories that are buried beneath the business-speak. I help them tell simple stories to connect with customers, staff and investors. I work with media companies, designers, innovators, charities, CEOs and universities across Europe.

My book on innovation techniques - Be Creative Now - was published by Pearson Business in 2016 and is translated into Chinese, Russian and Arabic.

Contact
Steve’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/steverawling

Websites
stories-that-work.com (Company)
pipdecks.com/products/storyteller-tactics (Company)

Email
steverawling@gmail.com

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast