Ivey Impact Podcast

Digital transformation often begins with optimism. A new technology promises exciting possibilities, a compelling business case wins support, and expectations for change run high. Yet time and again, organizations encounter the same challenge: the technology arrives, but the transformation doesn't.

So where does technology transformation go wrong?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, recorded February 2026, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Nicole Haggerty, Associate Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of Digital Innovation and Information Systems at Ivey, to explore what it really takes to drive meaningful digital change. And no, the answer isn’t investing in better technology. It’s understanding that lasting transformation is ultimately a human challenge, not a technological one.

Drawing on her extensive research in Canadian healthcare organizations, Nicole reveals how organizational “ruptures” – moments of tension, disagreement, and uncertainty that emerge during periods of change – can become powerful catalysts for transformation. Together, she and Julian examine how leaders can use these moments to foster learning, navigate complexity, and create lasting value. They also explore what these insights mean for organizations seeking to transform amid ongoing disruption.

At a moment when organizations everywhere are racing to adopt AI, this timely conversation offers a grounded and compelling reminder: technology may enable change, but people determine whether it succeeds.

In this episode: 

1:23: From industry challenges to research discoveries
 3:24: Understanding the role of ruptures
 11:24: How do people learn their way into the future they are trying to create?
 15:02: Why transformation thrives – or dies
 16:51: The strategy behind AI integration
 18:46: Is AI the answer to workplace productivity?
 22:06: The high cost of moving too fast
 24:24: The ruptures emerging in AI adoption
 27:53: Teaching the art of digital transformation

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Generative mechanisms of IT-enabled transformation of a hospital laboratory: A critical realist evaluation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963868725000381?via%3Dihub

Ruptures during IT-enabled change: A sensemaking and imbrication analysis
https://misq.umn.edu/misq/article-abstract/49/1/61/87/Ruptures-During-IT-enabled-Change-A-Sensemaking?redirectedFrom=fulltext 

Strategies and Tools for Electronic Health Records and Physician Workflow Alignment: Protocol for a Scoping Review
https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e60464  

Sustainability is rising to the top of boardroom and policy agendas around the world. But are the supply chains businesses rely on actually compatible with a sustainable future, or are we simply hoping they will be?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Jury Gualandris, Associate Professor of Operations Management and Sustainability and Abell Hodgson Chair in Regenerative Agriculture at Ivey, and Academic Director of Ivey's Building Sustainable Value Centre. Drawing on his latest research, Gualandris unpacks three widely held myths about sustainable supply chains and explains what it really takes to build supply chains that don't just reduce harm, but actively regenerate the social and ecological systems we all depend on.

The conversation explores the complexity behind well-intentioned business decisions, the hidden costs of chasing efficiency at all costs, and why the way businesses think about their resources may need to be fundamentally rethought. The episode also explores insights from his Collective Action Program, a ground-level research initiative working with farmers across Southwestern Ontario to build the kinds of coalitions that make systemic change possible.

This podcast is essential listening for business leaders, sustainability practitioners, and anyone who wants to move beyond good intentions and start making better decisions for people, planet, and profit.

In this episode:

0:00   Nesting business inside society and ecology

3:37   Exploring upcycling

13:10 Challenging the Toyota model and pushing efficiency to far

24:42 Searching for the customer for wasted resources

29:12 The Collective Action Program for Southwestern Ontario farmers

Canada's government-owned corporations control assets worth billions of dollars and deliver essential services, from electricity to water, to millions of Canadians. But who is actually overseeing them? And are the right people in the room?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Guy Holburn, Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy at Ivey and former Director of the Ivey Energy and Policy Management Centre, to explore the state of governance in Canada's public utilities. One of Canada's leading experts on energy policy and corporate governance, Holburn brings both rigorous research and real boardroom experience as a director of London Hydro.

The conversation digs into a striking and underexamined finding: roughly a quarter of directors on Ontario's electricity distribution boards are elected politicians such as municipal councillors and mayors, rather than independent industry experts. Holburn explores what this means in practice: how political and independent directors may bring different priorities to the table, what questions this raises about expertise and accountability, and examples where good governance has led to mega-project success.

This episode is essential listening for policymakers, business leaders, and anyone who cares about how public assets are managed, and by whom.

In this episode:

0:00 Essential ingredients for a board

7:18 How elected politicians approach board work

13:18 What does bad governance look like vs. good governance

19:46 Personal experience on the London Hydro Board

24:53 Students understanding role of government

From sustainable packaging to net-zero pledges, environmental branding is everywhere. But how much of it is real? And how much falls under what experts call greenwashing, or claims that mislead us into thinking companies are more environmentally responsible than they really are?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Wren Montgomery, Associate Professor of Sustainability at Ivey, to explore one of the most pressing and pervasive challenges in the sustainability space. A globally recognized expert on greenwashing, Montgomery has spent years examining how and why companies misrepresent their environmental performance, and what it costs us when they do.

The conversation also ventures into a newer and more subtle phenomenon: greenhushing. This is where companies choose to downplay or stay silent about their environmental actions altogether. Montgomery argues that silence is far from neutral, and that greenhushing carries its own risks for climate progress, public trust, and accountability.

This episode offers essential insights for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone who wants to separate genuine sustainability from spin.

In this episode:

:00 Wren Montgomery’s research background

5:14 Defining corporate greenwashing and its evolution

10:38 Greenwashing 3.0 and the explosion of greenwashing

18:07 Examining the concept of greenhushing

24:33 Lying to your stakeholders is not a good way to do business

We often describe entrepreneurship as the great equalizer – a space where anyone, regardless of background, can succeed if they have a great idea. But is it really that simple? 

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Janice Byrne, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Corus Entertainment Chair in Women in Management at Ivey, for a candid and insightful conversation about the gendered dynamics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Drawing on three of Janice’s pivotal studies, they explore how leaders “do gender” to establish legitimacy, why well-intentioned role model campaigns can sometimes backfire, and what the rise and fall of the “girlboss” phenomenon reveals about media hype and shifting social expectations.

Timely and sharply relevant, this episode challenges us to reconsider the narratives that shape who thrives in business – and what it will take to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable entrepreneurial future.

In this episode: 

1:20: A scholar without borders
 2:22: What does it mean to “do” gender?
 6:22: Do leadership standards privilege certain gendered traits?
 11:18: When “Superwoman” becomes a trap
 14:28: Who earns the label of “role model” for women?
 16:57: The girlboss, defined
 18:59: The double edge sword of hype
 23:24: Changing the entrepreneurial tide

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Gender Gymnastics in CEO succession: Masculinities, Femininities and Legitimacy https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0170840619879184

Role models and women entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurial superwoman has her say.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-66233-009 

The rise and fall of the girlboss: Gender, social expectations and entrepreneurial hype https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088390262500014X?via%3Dihub 

Disruption and innovation dominate today’s business conversations. But when the stakes include climate change and artificial intelligence, what do these ideas truly demand of leaders?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Michael Raynor, MBA ’94 – Ivey Associate Professor, bestselling author, and respected authority on strategy and innovation – for a candid and thought-provoking discussion on how disruption must be understood and led in this moment.

Together, they revisit the promise – and limitations – of disruptive innovation and reflect on Raynor’s collaboration with the late Clayton Christensen. The conversation then turns to two powerful forces reshaping business: greenhouse gas emissions and artificial intelligence. Raynor urges leaders to approach decarbonization not as a talking point but as a strategic reality, and to move beyond experimentation with AI toward focused, high-impact applications, particularly in medicine.

Provocative and pragmatic, this episode challenges leaders to rethink strategy in an era where disruption isn’t theoretical – it’s already underway.

In this episode:

1:15: The 25-Year Internship
 2:10: From Christensen to ChatGPT 
 7:17: Net zero is dead. Long live net zero
 9:25: The problem hidden in plain sight
 14:32: A “credit” to the system
 19:38: Hope isn’t a climate strategy
 21:00: The Decarbonizer's Dilemma
 23:08: When algorithms meet medicine
 30:27: Why cases beat codes

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

Using Early Gait Data From a Smart-Enabled Total Knee Arthroplasty to Identify Patient Function and Activity at 90 Days Postoperative https://www.arthroplastyjournal.org/article/S0883-5403(26)00089-6/fulltext

Scope 3 decarbonization through environmental attribute certificates
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17583004.2025.2486624

Net Zero Is Dead. Long Live Net Zero
https://iveybusinessjournal.com/net-zero-is-dead-long-live-net-zero/ 

What Is Disruptive Innovation?
https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation 

Conversations about equity and inclusion are increasingly common in today’s workplaces. But allyship is often misunderstood and treated as a label rather than a set of ongoing actions shaped by power, identity, and accountability.

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Barnini Bhattacharyya, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey Business School, to explore what effective allyship actually looks like in practice. Drawing on her research, Bhattacharyya examines how women of colour experience allyship at work, why good intentions can still miss the mark, and how power dynamics shape whether support is meaningful or performative.

The conversation also explores the idea of invisibility in the workplace, including how being overlooked or unheard affects belonging, performance, and career progression, and what leaders and colleagues can do to create environments where people feel genuinely seen and supported.

Thoughtful and practical, this episode offers clear insights for leaders, managers, and teams seeking to move beyond rhetoric and build more inclusive workplaces.

In this episode:

:00: Not all allies are created equal

12:38: Do you see me – exploring invisibility in the workplace

19:36: How can workplaces make informed decisions

25:16: Applying research to the classroom

As Canada enters a pivotal year, economic uncertainty is rising. Trade tensions with the United States, the upcoming review of CUSMA, and persistent productivity challenges are forcing difficult questions about Canada’s economic future.

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Romel Mostafa, Ivey Assistant Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy and Director of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, to explore what lies ahead for Canada in 2026.

Their conversation examines the outlook for Canada-U.S. trade relations, the implications of renewed tariffs, and how Canada can position itself more effectively in a fragmented global economy. They also discuss why productivity growth is so critical, where Canada continues to lag, and what governments and businesses can do to improve competitiveness and scale innovation.

Timely and grounded in policy and practice, this episode offers insight into the choices Canada faces and the actions needed to build a stronger economic foundation for the years ahead.

In this episode:

0:00: Setting the stage for 2026

4:51: State of affairs between Canada and the United States

14:58: Productivity stagnation and future solutions

26:42: Finding optimism 

We talk a lot about the “future of work,” but few leaders are prepared for just how radically work is changing beneath their feet.

Today, creativity and critical thinking drive results – yet they remain the hardest kinds of work to see, measure, or manage. That’s why modern leaders must rethink traditional management models. Stick with outdated approaches, and you risk slowing innovation, misreading performance, and overlooking standout talent hiding in plain sight.

So where should leaders start?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Rob Austin, Professor of Information Systems and Ivey’s Evolution of Work Chair, for a thought-provoking conversation about what leaders need to understand about modern work. Together, they explore why knowledge work resists measurement, how creative breakthroughs often stem from “productive accidents,” what AI can and can’t replace, and why neuroinclusion is emerging as a powerful catalyst for capability building.

Insightful, candid, and deeply relevant for anyone navigating rapid technological and cultural change, this episode offers clear and compelling insights for building workplaces where people – and ideas – can truly thrive.

In this episode: 

1:20: Origins of a modern work visionary
 2:07: What really is knowledge work?
 3:22: Evaluating the work you can’t see
 8:05: Human vs. AI: Who’s really doing the thinking?
 12:05: Things that make you go hmmm
 16:39: Finding the sweet spot between home and office
 20:07: Redesigning work for every brain
 27:52: The power of people who give a damn

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

How Neuroinclusion Builds Organizational Capabilities
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-neuroinclusion-builds-organizational-capabilities/

Computers as Creative Collaborators for Businesses?
https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2023/09/computers-as-creative-collaborators-for-businesses/ 

The advantages and challenges of neurodiversity employment in organizations
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-management-and-organization/article/advantages-and-challenges-of-neurodiversity-employment-in-organizations/E00D823A30F04CA4EA502014329C1CE9 

Accidental innovation: Supporting valuable unpredictability in the creative process
https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.1110.0681

Performance-based incentives in knowledge work: are agency models relevant?
https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJBPM.2000.66 

Knowledge Work
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394911987_Knowledge_work

Technological disruption has become the defining challenge for modern business. And perhaps no one understands this better than legacy firms. Too often, they’re cast as casualties of change, bound by old strategies and outdated thinking. But what if that narrative is wrong? What if established companies aren’t victims of disruption at all? In this thought-provoking episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Tima Bansal, Ivey Professor of Sustainability and Strategy, interviews Julian Birkinshaw about his new book Resurgent, coauthored with John Fallon, former CEO of Pearson.

Together, they unpack the surprising finding that over 95 per cent of pre-internet Fortune 500 firms still exist today, and explore why resilience, not reinvention, may be the true hallmark of enduring success.

Their conversation also looks closely at why some firms falter in the face of digital change while others embrace disruption, pivot successfully, and emerge stronger. From the evolution of companies like Fujifilm and the New York Times to the rise of AI, Birkinshaw reflects on what it takes for leaders – including those in business schools – to guide their organizations through uncertainty.

Engaging, personal and relevant, this episode reveals how businesses, and business leaders, can face disruption head-on – and come out stronger.

In this episode:

0000 – Digging into Resurgent

0838 – Is there something fundamentally different with artificial intelligence

1457 – What do business schools need to do to cope with digital disruption

2223 – How is Julian so productive?

To learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, please visit:

Inside Resurgent: How legacy companies stay in the game

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/read/2025/07/inside-resurgent-how-legacy-companies-stay-in-the-game/

Julian Birkinshaw | Resurgent

https://www.julianbirkinshaw.com/resurgent.html