Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox

Can AI Make Change Management More Human? A Conversation with Vincent Marsicano

In this episode of Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox, Jim talks with Vincent Marsicano from South Africa about the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and change management. They explore how AI and data science can accelerate the technical work of change while giving practitioners more time for what humans do best: building relationships, engaging people, listening, and helping leaders turn strategy into reality. The conversation challenges traditional approaches to change management and asks whether AI might help the field become more human—not less.

Together, Jim and Vincent explore:

The Physics of Change: How Kurt Lewin’s classic change models mirror physics principles, and why "unfreezing" an organization requires an active injection of energy.

Speeding Up Strategy: How pairing data science with AI can reduce the time it takes to move from analysis to a structured change plan from weeks down to a few hours—freeing practitioners to focus on the human art of change.

Measuring Human Capacity: The tension between rapid technology deployment and human cognitive/emotional bandwidth, including how to identify when change saturation exceeds 25% of an employee's time.

Moving Beyond Prompt Engineering: Why specialized, purpose-built AI tools will replace manual prompting and give senior leaders a clear "ETA" on strategic goals.

The Future of Work Isn't Human vs. AI—It's Human + AI: A Conversation with Eric Zenor

What happens when AI stops being a tool we use and becomes a partner we work alongside?

In this episode of Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox, Jim talks with Eric Zenor about the rapidly changing landscape of artificial intelligence and what it means for organizations, leaders, and the future of work. They explore the emergence of agentic AI, human–AI "super teams," digital assistants, and the idea of AI as a "second mind."

But this isn't simply a conversation about what AI can do. Jim and Eric dig into the harder questions: How do we establish trust and accountability in human–AI teams? What happens when AI begins making decisions or acting on our behalf? And how do organizations adopt these technologies while keeping human needs and judgment at the center?

The conversation ultimately challenges leaders and HRD professionals to stay curious, keep learning, and think beyond today's technology toward the organizational systems and human relationships that will shape tomorrow's workplace.

Stop Fixing People: Start Understanding the System:  A Conversation with Dustin Snyder, Author & Consultant

What if the problem isn't your people—but the system you've created around them?

In this episode of Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox, Jim talks with consultant, business owner, and author Dustin Snyder, drawing on Dustin's experience leading a 600-person manufacturing turnaround and his work with human systems. They explore why leaders often try to change behavior without understanding what drives it, why fear and urgency can undermine change, and how leaders can identify the "high-leverage points" that make meaningful change possible.

The conversation also challenges some familiar assumptions about organizational change—including the idea that creating urgency is always the best place to start. Instead, Jim and Dustin discuss hope, trust, relationships, systems thinking, emotional intelligence, and the unintended consequences of organizational decisions. For a deeper dive, check out Dustin’s book, “Sink or Swim, Stop Managing Employee Behavior, Design Systems That Drive It”.

What if organizational change didn't have to feel like something being done to people?

In this episode of Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox, Jim talks with Dr. Michelle Pipes, Chief Adaptation Officer and self-described Modern Change Provocateur, about rethinking how organizations approach change. Michelle argues that change is more art than science and that successful change requires more than following a prescribed framework. It requires understanding people, context, emotion, culture, and the conditions that allow individuals and organizations to adapt.

Jim and Michelle explore why traditional change-management approaches often fall short, why leaders need to take greater responsibility for creating the conditions for change, and how joy, hope, participation, and learning can transform the experience of organizational change. They also challenge the familiar practice of announcing decisions after they've already been made and then attempting to "sell" employees on the change.

In this episode of Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox, Dr. Maddox reconnects with leadership coach and facilitator Georgia Ellis from Australia for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, identity, and personal growth. Georgia shares her philosophy of "walking people home," explaining how effective leaders serve as guides who help others reach their potential. Together, they explore the role of identity in change, why new leaders must redefine how they see themselves, the power of self-reflection and accountability, and how coaching can accelerate meaningful growth. The discussion offers practical insights for leaders, managers, coaches, and anyone navigating personal or professional change.

Together, Jim and Georgia explore:

The "Walking Each Other Home" Philosophy: How viewing facilitation and coaching as holding space and guiding others transforms how leaders connect with their teams.

Identity as a Catalyst for Change: Why shift in performance requires moving beyond titles to reshape core mindsets and unlearn old habits.

The Power of Self-Reflection: Simple daily habits—like asking what went well and what could be done differently—that drive self-awareness and sustainable growth.

Creating a Bigger Ripple: The importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing accountability, and leading with empathy to elevate entire organizations.

In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Riley Smith, Senior Director at Propeller Consulting, about his nontraditional path from teaching high school biology with Teach for America to leading large-scale change initiatives in consulting. Riley shares how experiences in building new functions, engaging stakeholders, and driving outcomes led him naturally into the field of change management. He offers an inside look at Propeller’s approach across industries—from retail and technology to healthcare and public sector—and discusses how curiosity, adaptability, and a methodology-agnostic mindset shape their client partnerships. This conversation highlights both the art and discipline of leading change in complex organizations.

 In this episode, I chatted with Cody Smith of Virginia Tech to reflect on his experience at the recent IODA conference in Ghana. This was Cody’s first time attending the International Organization Development Association conference (IODA).  Cody shares how the highlight of his trip wasn’t just the presentations, but the opportunity to engage in pro bono consulting with the Department of Rural Housing. From working alongside seasoned OD practitioners from around the world to adapting in real time with no pre-work—what Cody describes as “improv comedy in consulting”—the experience offered powerful lessons in collaboration, agility, and applied learning. Together, Cody and I explore how giving back to the host community not only enriches the conference experience, but also strengthens the practice of OD through action and reflection.

In this episode, we explore a human-centered, neuroscience-based approach to Organization Development consulting that places people at the heart of organizational success. Sasha Farley introduces the powerful idea of moving beyond survival into human flourishing—a shift in mindset that encourages growth, thriving, and well-being not just in business, but across society. Using the metaphor of houseplants to illustrate the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving, Sasha highlights how organization development principles like participation, listening, and systems thinking can foster environments where individuals and communities flourish.

Sasha and I discuss how leaders can design environments that foster growth, resilience, and collective well-being. This conversation invites practitioners and leaders to reimagine development not only in business contexts but also in broader societal systems, where flourishing becomes a central goal.

My guest this episode is Noble Kumawu from Accra, Ghana.  Noble is the current president of the International Organization Development Association (IODA). Noble shares with us some of the exciting details about the upcoming Organization Development World Summit. This conference is held every four years and will be held next September 2025, in Accra, Ghana. 

The conference will be an opportunity to explore how the field of Organization Development (OD) is rapidly evolving to help organizations meet the demands of constant change and innovation. Emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, hybrid work, and the gig economy are reshaping how organizations operate, learn, and grow. According to the World Economic Forum, AI and automation are expected to create 97 million new jobs by 2025, introducing new business models and fundamentally changing many roles. While these advancements present exciting opportunities, they also raise uncertainty and resistance among employees navigating a tech-driven future.

In this shifting landscape, OD plays a critical role in guiding organizations through digital transformation while maintaining a human-centered approach. 

Key themes of the conference include:

• OD in the Digital Age – Examine how trends like remote work and automation are shaping OD practice and the future of work.
• Fostering an OD Digital Culture – Learn how to build cultures of innovation, adaptability, and continuous learning.
• Human-Centeredness & OD in Digitalization – Discover how to design digital tools that support meaningful, effective OD interventions.
• Overcoming Resistance to Digital OD – Explore strategies to manage change and engage employees in digital transformation.

Noble is the President of the Organization Development Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Organization Development (OD) Consultancy firm, Organization Capacity Improvement Consultants (OCIC).  Noble established the first African educational graduate program in Organization Development.  He is the author of two books, “Global OD: A Model for Africa and the World” (2007) and “The Father of Organization Development in Africa: The Journey, The Struggles and The Career” (2020).   

https://www.iodanet.org/2025-ioda-conference/

Join us in Ghana, and together, we’ll explore how OD can thrive in a world driven by rapid technological change.

What happens when high-pressure environments, global expansion, and organizational change bring unspoken team tensions to the surface? In this episode, I sit down with Willie Marais, an organizational psychologist and Organization development consultant from Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the complexities of leadership, team dynamics, and organizational psychology.

Willie shares his insights on hidden conflicts, trust issues, and behavioral shifts that emerge in uncertain times. Through experiential learning and adventure-based facilitation, he helps teams uncover the real challenges they face—beyond just aligning on strategy.

Join us as Willie and I discuss the unspoken fears, expectations, and motivations shaping workplace culture and discover how teams can move from underlying tensions to true alignment and collaboration.