Welcome back to another enlightening episode of the Efficiency Equation Podcast! In today’s conversation, host Konstantin Paradizov sits down with Julie Whitten of Julie Whitten Consulting to dive deep into the complex world of change management—especially within U.S. manufacturing. Drawing on real-world anecdotes from industry conferences, failed technology rollouts, and even policy missteps, Julie Whitten and Konstantin Paradizov dissect why so many change initiatives struggle to deliver real impact at the front lines.

You'll hear candid stories about digital solutions that went unused, the challenge of aligning leadership goals with employee concerns, and the perennial importance of building trust at every organizational level. Julie Whitten shares her practical frameworks—including the memorable Zoo Personas model—for understanding resistance, engaging stakeholders, and customizing solutions for lasting transformation. The episode also explores timely challenges like the introduction of AI in the workplace and how leaders can move teams beyond fear toward acceptance and opportunity.

Whether you’re leading a big tech implementation, managing cultural transformation, or just trying to get your team on board with a new process, this episode is full of actionable insights and relatable moments. Settle in as we unpack what really makes change “stick”—and why the real work often begins after “go live.”

00:00 Change Management Lessons Illustrated
03:30 Unused Automation and Job Fear
08:23 Challenges in ERP Implementation
10:34 ERP Deployment: Whose Problem?
13:47 Student Phone Restrictions Workarounds
18:05 Frustration with Lack of Communication
20:25 Embracing Open Dialogue in Chang
24:25 Effective Communication and Trust
27:57 Rebuilding Trust in Business
34:22 David Marquet's Leadership Success
35:22 Empowering Experts Drives Change
42:06 AI and Broken Processes
43:47 AI Utopia or Controlled Divide?
46:56 Life, Leadership, and Change Insights
50:08 Understanding Personas During Change
53:17 Ensuring Effective Solution Usage

Listen to this episode on Spotify:
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Follow Konstantin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konstantin-paradizov/
Follow Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewhitten/
How we help manufacturers: https://eukodyne.com/
Julie Whitten Consulting: https://www.juliewhittenconsulting.com/

Julie's Articles –

Big Girl Panties Diaries – Entry #117: Trust Is the New Currency — But Every Generation Spends It Differently
https://bit.ly/4kkSJbR

Big Girl Panties Diaries – Entry #115: Stability in the Spin Cycle — Leading Yourself (and Everyone Else) Through Change
https://bit.ly/3NQV4iz

Big Girl Panties Diaries – Entry 99: Resistance Is Normal (And Yes, It Sometimes Looks Like a Zoo)
https://bit.ly/4bAbANX

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