Change Leader Insights

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Minette Norman, an award-winning author, speaker, leadership consultant, and former Silicon Valley software executive, about how psychological safety and strong listening skills create inclusive change leaders.

Minette knows that when groups embrace diversity in all forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Before starting her consultancy, she was responsible for influencing over 3,500 engineers around the globe at Autodesk, focusing on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture. As the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook, Minette helps leaders unleash the full potential of the people in their organizations.

During the conversation, Jessica and Minette discussed what change leaders can do to create more psychologically safe environments. Says Minette, “If you are leading change, one of the first things you are going to have to do if you want to create an environment where people will speak up and share what’s on their mind is you have to ask them to explicitly share their ideas. Ask the question, ‘What am I missing?’”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Practical tips for leaders to become better active listeners and support their team members effectively

☑️ Signs and symptoms of psychologically unsafe environments and tips for improving psychological safety in your environment

☑️ Examples of how low psychological safety during change leads to a cascade of negative consequences

If you want to learn more about psychological safety and listening, be sure to tune in and hear what Minette has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Edwina Pike, co-founder of Irrational Change and disruptor of organizational behavior change, about the behavioral science behind change and its impact on workplace cultures (including toxic ones).

Edwina and her team are on a mission to change the way you think about change, to work smarter, not harder. With a unique blend of behavioral sciences, practical application, and irreverence, Edwina simplifies complex dynamics into practical, simple-to-use 'brain hacks.' Her energetic style promises an insightful conversation where you'll discover easy-to-adopt tactics to become the change agent or leader you want to be.

During the conversation, Jessica and Edwina discuss the significance of ensuring people feel included to improve team psychological safety and how many organizations (for-profit in particular) struggle to provide psychologically safe environments where change and innovation – which requires risk – thrive.

Says Edwina, “We hate to be excluded…It’s important that we feel included and that we are a part of the group…One of the most powerful punishments you give to anyone is a micro exclusion, and people do it all the time without even realizing.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ The importance of psychological safety in organizations today and why leaders should prioritize it

☑️ Small actions leaders can take to address the root causes of workplace environments lacking psychologically safe spaces

☑️ Why leadership development training is a necessity for improving leadership skills and leading effectively

If you want to learn more about behavioral science and change, be sure to tune in and hear what Edwina has to say! Connect with Edwina Pike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwina-pike/ Visit Irrational Change: https://www.irrationalchange.com/

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Apogy founder Jessica Crow kicks off 2025 with a brief introduction and the 2025 Change Leader Insights topics lineup!

Jessica started the Change Leader Insights podcast in 2022 to emphasize the importance of building change capability, help leaders consider their impact on the people they work with, and offer advice for creating work environments where people and change thrive.

Change Leader Insights is Apogy’s way of sharing the collective wisdom and experience of change leaders everywhere to help individuals and teams find strategies and tools that work for them.

In 2025, expect two monthly episodes with guests from varying experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We’ll continue to cover change management, change leadership, self-leadership, ways to prevent change fatigue and burnout, and new this year: artificial intelligence and the ethics of change.

If you know someone who would be a good fit for the show or want to hear more about a topic, reach out to Jessica at [email protected].

Happy New Year from Apogy! We look forward to another incredible year with you!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Puja Mehta, an independent consultant and leadership coach, about engaging people in the workplace and how engagement complements effective change management.

Puja Mehta provides talent management and HR solutions to firms of all sizes. Her background is rooted in process and operations improvement, people advisory services, and management consulting. She has experience across various industries, including financial services, insurance, and healthcare, and has supported the design, execution, and scaling of programs at various Fortune 500 firms.

During the conversation, Jessica and Puja discussed prioritizing people during process changes and why it’s critical for long-term success. Says Puja, “When I think about how prioritizing people and process comes together, it’s the same in that if you want people to be engaged, you have to give them a loose leash to allow them to explore different alternatives and feel like they are contributing and not just being told what to do.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ The value in reflecting on the language we use to refer to employees and why thinking about them as “people” over “resources” is critical for success

☑️ Why inclusion in process design creates engagement, buy-in, and behavioral change

☑️ Ensuring the right people are in the right roles to support organizational success

If you want to learn more about prioritizing and engaging people in the workplace to equip them for change better, be sure to tune in and hear what Puja has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Kristen Olson, an entrepreneur, athlete, podcaster, and speaker, about the concept of “Grateful Disruption” and the power of genuine influence in the workplace, especially during times of change.

Kristen Olson is a founder, host, human, lifelong athlete, and business creative with over 25 years of experience in marketing and branding within the fitness and lifestyle industry. She is a highly-skilled, passionate, driven, and proven leader with deep success in tactical, high-end strategic partnerships, large-scale team/brand building, and creative strategy. You can find her and her guests at https://turmericandtequila.com/.

During the conversation, Jessica and Kristen discussed the future of leadership in the workplace and what will matter most for our next generation of change leaders. Says Kristen, "What's the one thing you can't replicate? Your humanness, your authenticity, and your being you. Make yourself irreplaceable, and if the only way to do that is to be authentic, that's what it is."

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ A dive into why authenticity will drive the success of future workplace leaders

☑️ How changes like artificial intelligence (AI) are causing shifts in the types of skills people will need in leadership roles

☑️ The idea that we need both leaders and followers at work and understanding when a leadership role might not be the best fit for you

If you want to learn more about "Grateful Disruption” and influence, be sure to tune in and hear what Kristen has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Maria Ross, a speaker, facilitator, author, and empathy advocate, about the power of empathy in the workplace (and life).

Maria Ross believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. She is the founder of Red Slice and advises organizations on how to leverage empathy to engage and connect. Maria has authored multiple books and hosts The Empathy Edge  podcast. Maria’s most recent book is The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries. A dynamic speaker, Maria has delighted audiences at leading conferences and organizations such as TEDx, The 3% Conference, The New York Times Small Business Summit, and Salesforce, and her insights have appeared in many media outlets, including MSNBC, NPR, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Newsweek, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global.

During the conversation, Jessica and Maria discussed how to work with leaders who lack self-awareness, especially when partnering with them to create change. Says Maria, “You can’t change anyone else, but what you can do is show up in the interaction. You can show up in the conversation with your empathy. It’s not your job to make others empathetic, but you can show up by asking questions, staying emotionally regulated, and sharing common ground.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ How leading through empathy can help manage resistance to change

☑️ Practical tips for showing up more empathetically in conversations with team members and colleagues

☑️ A deep dive into Maria’s five pillars of effective but empathetic leadership: self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and joy

If you want to learn more about empathy, leadership, and change, be sure to tune in and hear what Maria has to say!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Melanie Franklin, a Chartered Management Consultant, founder of the Change Capability Community, author of 10 books, and Chief Examiner for the Neuroscience for Change and Agile Change qualifications at APMG International, about neuroscience and the impact of change on the brain.

Melanie is passionate about helping people cope with change at work. She is a globally recognized thought leader in change and transformation, driving the change profession forward, encouraging practitioners to develop their skills. At the same time, she is at the forefront of building a broader capability for change for everyone affected by change at work. Melanie passionately believes that an ability to cope with high volumes of continuous change reduces stress and improves working lives.

During the conversation, Jessica and Melanie discussed how to equip people with the information they need to navigate change when their brains are working to protect them. Says Melanie, “A very simple question to ask whenever you’re trying to get people to change is: How much can you empower them? Because as soon as they are in the driving seat of their lives, you’ve gotten rid of the threat.”

Highlights from the conversation include:

☑️ Understanding why change feels threatening when the brain’s job is to protect us

☑️ An emphasis on the value of human intelligence, particularly in the world of artificial intelligence

☑️ Tips for building and connection to create psychologically safe spaces in virtual and in-person environments

If you want to learn more about neuroscience and change, be sure to tune in and hear what Melanie has to say!

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.