In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Brynn Shader, an organizational change management advisor and speaker, about Change HR (human resources)—Brynn’s definition of a new era of HR in which teams will leverage and maximize human insights to help progress organizations forward.

Brynn has a background in strategic HR, technology, and leadership, with a 16+ year track record of helping enable organizations to thrive by catalyzing disruption into opportunity, transforming challenges into innovation, and partnering with leaders to craft change that blossoms.

During the conversation, Jessica and Brynn discussed change agility and why it’s a critical skill to build into organizations. Says Brynn, “Change agility should be one of the behavioral anchors, a way that we are helping employees grow. [We need] metrics to show how agile they could be or [how agile] they are being and where we want them to grow. The future is change, and it will only get faster.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ A deep dive into where HR teams can upskill from a change management perspective to meet the needs of this new era and bring more value to their organization

☑️ How HR teams can leverage employee stories and case studies to highlight how they mitigated risks during change in the absence of numerical data

☑️ The two skills Brynn believes sit adjacent to change management that can help HR professionals succeed in this era (and how they will also benefit them in their personal lives)

If you want to learn more about Change HR and the future of change management for HR professionals, be sure to tune in and hear what Brynn has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Julie Lee, a keynote speaker, coach, podcast host, and two-time author, about connected leadership and how to show up as a leader who sees, appreciates, and trusts their people.

Julie Lee’s personal experiences with human connection saved her life and changed her career trajectory. As a keynote speaker, Julie shows leaders exactly how to saturate their work culture with human connection to improve the mental health of their people so they can perform at peak potential.  She's also the host of the I See You podcast, Head Speaking Coach for The Relevant Speaker, and the author of I See You: How Compassion and Connection Save Lives (as well as a children’s book).

During the conversation, Jessica and Julie discussed why it's essential for leaders to build trust with their team members to support smoother transitions during change. Julie explained that when people feel seen and appreciated by their leaders, their relationships can withstand the bumpy parts of transitions. Says Julie, “We can’t force anyone to be happy. Happiness isn’t your business. It’s not your job to make your people happy; connection is. Showing gratitude is one of the best ways to do this.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ The value of being a connected, influential leader who shows up compassionately and how that can influence and advance organizations

☑️ How to become a more connected leader through three pillars: I see you. I appreciate you. I trust you.

☑️ Why leaders can and should ask for help (and how it encourages team members to do the same)

If you want to learn more about connected leadership and gratitude, be sure to tune in and hear what Julie has to say!

Special episode alert! In this episode of Change Leader Insights, host Jessica Crow, who is also the founder of Apogy, a change management training, coaching, and consulting firm, discusses conscious change leadership and how professionals who prioritize development across three key pillars (self-leadership, leadership of others, area leadership) can increase their impact and influence at work.

Jessica started Apogy in 2019 under the premise that employee well-being was a key driver of organizational change success. To help leaders get better at strategy execution and improve the employee experience with change, she created Apogy's Change Leader Certification program, which combined change management training with coaching and mindfulness practices to result in a more holistic approach to professional development.

According to Jessica, "the magic happens during the coaching calls", when clients would discover new ways to approach recurring challenges and find fresh motivation to try again.

As Apogy’s consulting practice grew, however, Jessica stopped individual coaching. To commemorate the firm’s fifth year in business, though, Jessica is pleased to bring back her coaching practice, starting with an offer for five free calls for one lucky client!

Conscious change leadership coaching is a transformative experience that enables clients to unlock their leadership potential and thrive. With Jessica as your coach, you will:

☑️ Quickly identify where you are out of alignment, and how to develop new behaviors that support your overall health and well-being

☑️ Learn the four essential power skills for effective change leadership, and how to embrace experimentation as a tool for personal growth and development

☑️ Use mindfulness practices to develop greater self-awareness, so you can consciously overcome what may be subconsciously holding you back from reaching new heights, personally and professionally

If you would like to learn more about conscious change leadership, be sure to tune into this episode! If you would like to apply for the five free coaching sessions, please go to Apogy's website to learn more at www.apogy.biz.

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Paula Anastasiade, an Organizational Change Manager, Consultant, and Trainer based in Bucharest, about her research on change management in higher education and where there are gaps in the system.

Paula has 8+ years of organizational change management experience. Her mission is to help organizations adopt new ways of working and interacting with one another. She has led change management efforts for multinational companies running change and transformation initiatives, such as AI and ERP deployments, tool and process improvements, organizational business model redesigns, and organizational restructuring across IT, environmental technology, FMCG, finance, marketing, and sales teams.

During the conversation, Jessica and Paula discussed the three essential skills Paula believes are most important for MBA students looking to become organizational leaders. Says Paula, “Change management is one of them. In my opinion, [change management should be] a mandatory topic worth exploring as a standalone course. [The others] are critical thinking and decision-making.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Staggering statistics around how few colleges offer change management as a core program and the lack of change management focus within MBA programs

☑️ Why digital transformation should be part of a holistic business leadership curriculum alongside change management education

☑️ The distinction between change leaders (the sponsors or people managers) and change managers (the practitioners)

If you want to learn more about change management and higher education, be sure to tune in and hear what Paula has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Shoshanna French, the founder of Simple Spirit, about leadership, change, and listening to your intuition.

Shoshanna French is the founder of Simple Spirit™, a keynote speaker and executive coach to million—and billion-dollar business founders, CEOs, and business professionals. She generates unpredictable and profound results for leaders ready to align purpose and action. Shoshanna combines two decades in the professional development field with executive coaching to support visionary leaders.

During the conversation, Jessica and Shoshanna discussed the significance of active listening in change leadership and how important it is for people to feel heard. Balancing intuition with active listening takes time to develop, and I asked Shoshanna how active listening plays into following intuition. Says Shoshanna, “My general philosophy about listening to yourself is that within ourselves is wisdom. Wisdom is a combination of experience, what you’ve learned, and your intuition. We have access to all of it at any moment.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Remembering how to use your intuition as a change leader by using curiosity and asking yourself questions to make better decisions

☑️ Managing resistance in yourself and others when teaching intuitive decision-making by building new neural pathways

☑️ How to lean into your intuition in moments of conflict (and why conflict – especially amidst change - isn’t a bad thing)

If you want to learn more about listening to and leveraging your intuition as a change leader, be sure to tune in and hear what Shoshanna has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Kerry Siggins, the CEO of StoneAge and its subsidiary, Breadware, about the ownership mindset and taking responsibility for your life and career.

Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge, an employee-owned company and manufacturer of tools and equipment for the industrial cleaning industry, as well as its subsidiary, Breadware, an Internet of Things product development company. She’s a sought-after speaker, the author of the “Ownership Mindset, a Handbook for Transforming Your Life and Leadership,” a blogger and contributor to several publications, and the host of Reflect Forward, a popular leadership podcast.

During the conversation, Jessica and Kerry discussed what it takes to cultivate the ownership mindset and how this way of thinking can help people enhance how they lead, collaborate, and innovate, and execute strategic change.

Says Kerry, “As a leader, it all starts with trust. That is where the ownership mindset starts. You are not going to create that type of thinking within your organization if you do not trust your team to make decisions and implement their ideas.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ How to use the ownership mindset at work (with examples from Kerry and what she has seen at StoneAge)

☑️ The importance of collaboratively defining a vision and strategy for the company (or change) versus it being a siloed, individual team-driven effort

☑️ Why self-care is a critical component of the ownership mindset and imperative for effective change leadership

If you want to learn more about the ownership mindset as it relates to building an adaptable, thriving, change-ready business, be sure to tune in and hear what Kerry has to say!

In this episode of Apogy’s Change Leader Insights podcast, host Jessica Crow speaks with Richard Pharro, founder and CEO of APMG International, about how he started his career as a civil engineer and served on the board of the Association of Project Management before starting APMG International, how he’s used transparent communication to lead through change and Richard’s passion for professional certifications and development.

Richard is the founder and CEO of APMG, one of the few privately owned international accreditation and certification bodies.  Started in 1993, APMG has expanded its portfolio to nearly 100 schemes across the management spectrum on behalf of many National and International organizations and has representation in 14 countries.

During the conversation, Jessica asked Richard to share advice for change or project professionals who aren’t new to the field but want to develop in their profession. Richard explains that, ultimately, it’s all about the people. Says Richard, “Someone [once] said, ‘You manage the process but lead people.’ If you can’t take the people with you, whether it’s a change program or a project, it’s not going to happen.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Hearing how Richard and APMG International navigated the changes that resulted from the pandemic

☑️ Strategies for motivating people when they’re experiencing disruptions and fear, including sharing the pain and providing transparent communication throughout the process

☑️ The value of continuous learning and accredited training services in understanding and developing new skills

If you want to learn more about being a vulnerable and transparent leader at the C-Suite level (or any high-level leadership role) and the power of training and professional development, be sure to tune in and hear what Richard has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Dr. Jen Frahm, the co-founder of The Agile Change Leadership Institute, speaker, and three-time author, about her career journey and passion for change, the value (and importance) of change leadership, and how to lean into courage to move beyond feeling stuck.

Jen has over 30 years of experience in change management and builds change capability in organizations through The Agile Change Leadership Institute. She is a global expert on organizational change, communication, and transformation, a tamer of ambiguity, a speaker of truths, and a solver of problems. She’s the author of Change. Leader: The changes you need to make first (2021) and Conversations of Change: A guide to workplace change (2017), and co-author of The Agile Change Playbook (2020).

During the conversation, Jessica and Jen discussed the critical significance of change leadership in leading successful change. Change managers alone can’t implement and sustain effective change, and Jen emphasized the role leaders play and the changes they need to make to become fit to lead change. Says Jen, “You can have the best change manager in the world. You can have the best change plan, and communications [can be] absolutely brilliant. And [the change] will only succeed or fail based on the quality and caliber of the leader who is in front of you.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Understanding change leadership and the pivotal role it plays in leading successful change

☑️ How courage (to try new things and be uncomfortable) and self-compassion can propel leaders forward

☑️ Ways to feed your curiosity as a change leader to grow your knowledge and abilities