AI. Restructures. Burnout. Poor tech ROI. Reputation risk.

Organisations are overwhelmed.

In this episode of Change It, Eloise returns with a new series focused on staying relevant in change, transformation and organisation design amid accelerating AI adoption and relentless restructures.

She’s joined by Catia Davim and Amy O’Donohue, Chief Big Believer and Chief Empowerment Officer of Simplify Co.

Together, they explore:

• Why organisations feel stuck in fatigue and fear

• Why AI investments are underdelivering

• The reputational cost of poorly managed restructures

• Why leaders need stronger organisation design capability

• The risk of adopting new technology without redesigning work

• How HR can step into the role of OD coach

• Why slowing down can actually accelerate outcomes

They argue the real issue isn’t change fatigue it’s redesign avoidance.

AI won’t fix broken operating models.
Restructures won’t fix unclear strategy.
And tech won’t deliver ROI if the work itself hasn’t been rethought.

The opportunity?
Use AI to remove low-value admin.
Reinvolve the people who do the work.
Redesign for growth not scarcity.

This episode is for leaders, HR professionals, org design specialists and change practitioners who want to rethink how work gets done.

https://simplifyco.com.au/

https://events.humanitix.com/mastering-organisational-design-masterclass

Unforgettable Online: Nissi Ozigbu’s Guide to Building Your Digital Presence

In this episode, I sit down with Nissi Ozigbu, who has become an omnipresent voice in change, to unpack how she built her online presence with intention. From TikTok beginnings to becoming a standout on LinkedIn, Nissi shares the realities the wins, the failures, the fears and the strategies that helped her create a brand that delivers real opportunities.

What’s covered in this episode:

• How Nissi first found her voice

• Overcoming fears and failures while building confidence online

• Her strategic pivot from TikTok to LinkedIn

• Working with the algorithms and setting herself up to win each week

• Securing five-figure deals and building a healthy pipeline of work

• Staying consistent and authentic when building your brand

This conversation is generous, honest, and fun — Nissi’s energy lifted me on a rainy Sydney day, and I know it will do the same for you.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and host’s reflections
00:58 Welcome to the Change It Podcast
02:10 Meet Nissi Ozigbu: Building an authentic voice online
04:32 Starting out on TikTok: overcoming fears and finding her style
09:15 Transitioning to LinkedIn: strategies that work
15:27 Working with the algorithms (and setting yourself up each week)
20:48 Wins, failures, and lessons learned
26:02 Building consistency and staying authentic
30:12 Advice for change professionals building their brand
34:10 Closing reflections and golden nugget

In this episode of Change It, I’m joined by Hilary Scarlett leading workplace neuroscience expert and author of the just-released third edition of Neuroscience for Organizational Change. We explore how advances in neuroscience are changing the way we think about leadership, communication, and cognitive overload in today’s world of work.

We cover:

• Inter-brain synchronisation and what it means for teams

• The neuroscience of psychological safety

• The rising conversation around neurodivergence

• What technology is helping us now understand about the brain

• How to translate brain science into change strategy that lands

It’s a rich, human conversation and a timely one.

📢 A personal update: This is also a very special episode of Scarlett's for me. I share the news of our baby girl Scarlet’s arrival. Thank you for bearing with the slower release schedule, I’m back and couldn’t think of a better way to return.

🎁 Listener bonus: Hilary has kindly offered a 25% discount for Change It listeners details at the end of the episode.

🔗 Links:

📘 Neuroscience for Organizational Change – Third Edition

Get 25% off at www.koganpage.com/NFOC3 using code AEHR25

Change with a Conscience: Ethics, Red Flags & Real Talk with Myah Rom & Gilbert Kruidenier

In this very human episode of the Change It podcast, I sit down with change practitioners Myah Rom and Gilbert Kruidenier to talk about something we don’t explore nearly enough ethics in change.

We unpack the tricky dual loyalties between business outcomes and employee wellbeing, share personal stories from the field, and reflect on those uncomfortable moments where doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest thing.

From the misuse of behavioural science to the subtle red flags we brush past, this conversation shines a light on the real work of navigating change with integrity.

We cover:
🔹 The ethics of influence, power, and behavioural nudges
🔹 What psychosocial safety legislation means for change
🔹 When to raise a red flag (and how to do it with grace)
🔹 How AI and tech challenge ethical boundaries
🔹 Why listening, not persuading, is the ultimate leadership skill

This isn’t about perfection; it’s about being present, curious, and honest in the face of complexity.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kruidenierconsulting?originalSubdomain=au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/myah-rom-285b5426?originalSubdomain=au

https://www.amazon.com.au/Bad-Change-doesnt-things-better/dp/B0B1BL78GV

In this episode of the Change It Podcast, I welcome back the brilliant Edwina Pike whose last episode remains one of our most listened to and loved. And she’s back with a bang.

We tackle the uncomfortable, often unspoken truth: leaders get the outcomes they deserve.

At a time when change practitioners are being told that sponsorship and leadership alignment are the deciding factors of success, this episode is for anyone leading change, working alongside leaders, or feeling frustrated by the gap between intent and impact.

Ed breaks down six powerful keys to leadership from what gets measured, to how leaders respond in a crisis, to the subtle cues of approval and disapproval and shows how each of these shapes team performance more than any slide deck or town hall ever could.

With her signature mix of neuroscience, behavioural science, and straight-talking wisdom, Ed offers a practical playbook to elevate leadership capability and impact. No fluff. Just tools, truth, and transformation.

In this episode:
🔹 The six key behaviours that define effective leadership
🔹 Why most leadership development is outdated—and what to do instead
🔹 How to create a vivid, emotionally engaging vision for your team
🔹 Why resource allocation is the ultimate indicator of priorities
🔹 Practical tips for improving leadership presence and impact
🔹 How change managers can better support (or challenge) leadership

Whether you’re in the C-suite or coaching someone who is, this conversation is a must-listen.

Links:

https://www.irrationalchange.com/

https://www.irrationalchange.com/planner

https://www.irrationalchange.com/listen/cmr-leaders-are-humans-first

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/edwina-pike_irrationalchange-leadership-canyoufixit-activity-7303689695207575552-bGMv/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwina-pike/

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/edwina-pike-im-here-for-your-success-not-your-comfort/id1553420644?i=1000645479382

In this episode of the Change It Podcast, host Eloise is joined by globally recognised change leader Melanie Franklin to explore how neuroscience is transforming modern change management.

Together they unpack:
🔹 Why traditional change models are no longer fit for purpose
🔹 How understanding the brain’s need for certainty, autonomy and energy conservation helps us design better change experiences
🔹 The practical application of current neuroscience literature in today’s fast-paced organisations
🔹 The rising role of AI and why human-centred skills like behavioural insight and relationship-building are more important than ever
🔹 How to make change easier to absorb by aligning it with how the brain actually works

Melanie brings clarity, warmth and forward-thinking wisdom to a conversation that feels timely and necessary.

This one’s for anyone leading, delivering or living through change.

In this episode, Eloise is joined by Chelsea Pottenger, founder of EQ Minds and one of Australia’s leading voices in mental wellbeing, to explore the very real impact of burnout in high-performance environments—especially in the world of transformation.

From her own journey through postnatal depression to becoming a global mental fitness advocate, Chelsea brings warmth, wisdom, and deeply practical tools to help us reset our expectations and protect our energy.

Together, we unpack:

• 🔥 How to spot burnout before it takes over

• 🧠 Mental fitness habits to support sustainable high performance

• 🛑 Why breaks aren’t a luxury—they’re essential

• 🧭 How leaders can set the tone for a mentally healthy culture

• 💡 Tactical advice for transformation professionals navigating constant demand

Whether you’re feeling the stretch or leading others through it, this episode offers grounded insight to help you lead well and live well.

⏱ Episode Breakdown
01:32 – Chelsea’s Personal Journey to Mental Fitness
03:51 – Understanding Burnout and Its Early Signs
09:22 – Practical Tools for Sustainable Work
16:10 – Creating a Culture of Wellbeing
21:02 – Implementing Breaks and Recovery Strategies
26:59 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Links:

https://www.eqminds.com/

https://www.amazon.com.au/Mindful-High-Performer-powerful-recharge/dp/1922351946

In part two of this AI special series, Eloise continues the conversation with Paul Gibbons and James Healy, authors of Adopting AI: The People First Approach.

This episode moves from theory to practice: unpacking the key principles and mindsets that enable ethical, effective, and human-led AI adoption in the workplace.

From complexity to behaviour, democracy to ethics, this is a must-listen for change professionals wanting to stay equipped and enabled to shape what comes next.

🔹 Embracing complexity: why neat frameworks won’t cut it🔹 The case for bottom-up adoption and organisational democracy🔹 Why behaviour change, not just tech change, is the game-changer🔹 Creating a culture of experimentation and curiosity🔹 The role of ethics and risk in scaling AI responsibly🔹 What change practitioners must start doing now to stay relevant🔹 Reflections on the global AI landscape and what’s coming downstream

If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and listen to part one: Rethinking Change for the Age of AI with Paul Gibbons and James Healey

And don’t forget to grab a copy of the book Adopting AI and connect with Paul and James on LinkedIn.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-healy-7ba629167/?originalSubdomain=au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulggibbons

https://thebehaviourboutique.com/

https://paulgibbons.net/

https://www.amazon.com/Adopting-AI-People-first-Paul-Gibbons/dp/B0F18ZXHKP

In this first episode of a two-part series, Eloise speaks with Paul Gibbons and James Healy, authors of Adopting AI: The People First Approach. Together, they explore why AI demands a radical shift in how we think about change—beyond models, beyond methods, and deep into mindset.

This isn’t about tools—it’s about trust, ethics, risk, and readiness in a world where AI is reshaping everything.

What we cover:

🔹 Why AI is fundamentally different from traditional technology🔹 The flaws in classic change management when it comes to AI🔹 The ethical and accountability challenges leaders can’t ignore🔹 How unpredictability demands new thinking, not just new tools🔹 The personal journey behind writing Adopting AI🔹 Why continuous learning and experimentation are now non-negotiable

This episode sets the stage. Part two dives into the practical principles—so be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss it.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-healy-7ba629167/?originalSubdomain=au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulggibbons

https://thebehaviourboutique.com/

https://paulgibbons.net/

https://www.amazon.com/Adopting-AI-People-first-Paul-Gibbons/dp/B0F18ZXHKP

In this episode of the Change It Podcast, Eloise is joined by Esther De la Cruz—thought leader, strategist, and advocate for simplifying the complex. Together, they explore how reducing noise and sharpening focus can drive better outcomes in change.

From cutting through cluttered communication to aligning strategy with narrative, this conversation is a breath of fresh air for anyone feeling overwhelmed by transformation fatigue.

You’ll hear:

• Why simplicity isn’t basic—it’s bold

• How neuroscience supports a simpler approach

• What curiosity has to do with clear thinking

• The role of AI in making change more human

• Practical tips to declutter your change plans and unlock team momentum

If you’ve ever felt bogged down in too many workstreams or buried under buzzwords, this one’s for you.

Links:

https://estherdlc.com/clients/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherdelacruz/?originalSubdomain=au

https://www.instagram.com/estherdlc_com/

https://www.amazon.com.au/Leading-Technology-Driven-Transformation-Financial/dp/0994415524