Leading Change

Leading Change

By Ema RoloffBusiness
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Leading Change episodes

  • The 4 Types of ‘Asks’ That Unlock What You Really Want with Dia Bondi

    Ema is joined by executive coach and author Dia Bondi, who shares her proven framework for making powerful asks in your career and leadership journey. Based on her book Ask Like an Auctioneer, Dia breaks down the four essential types of asks—money, authority, influence, and balance—and how mastering them can unlock real progress for you and your team. 

    19 min
  • Privacy Nightmare: 72,000 Photos Leaked from Women’s Safety App

    In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, we break down the recent data breach at the viral women’s-only dating app, Tea. Marketed as a platform to help women vet potential matches and stay safe, the app is now facing serious backlash after hackers accessed over 72,000 images, including photo IDs and selfies submitted for account verification.

    What we cover in this episode:

    - What the Tea App promised—and how it failed its users
    - Why this breach has sparked fear, outrage, and safety concerns
    - Whether "vibe coding" (AI-generated software development) played a role
    - How legacy systems and poor security practices left data vulnerable
    - The bigger questions this raises about trust, digital safety, and ethics in app development

    For anyone building, buying, or using technology: this is a cautionary tale.

    8 min
  • Delta’s AI Knows What You’ll Pay, And Charges It
    Delta Airlines just made a bold AI move, and it could cost you. Literally.
    In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I break down Delta’s controversial announcement: using AI to individually price airfare based on how much you’re personally willing to pay. That’s right...your seat price could soon be set by an algorithm that knows just how badly you need that flight.

    What does this mean for the future of customer experience, digital trust, and responsible AI adoption?

    In this episode, we explore:
    • What Delta’s CEO actually said during the earnings call
    • How this takes dynamic pricing to a whole new (creepy?) level
    • The backlash from senators and Reddit alike
    • What we can learn from other brands like United, American Airlines, and even Duolingo
    • Why this is a textbook example of just because you can doesn’t mean you should
    • As AI adoption accelerates, businesses need to ask: are we using technology to help people, or just to squeeze more out of them?
      12 min
    • Middle Managers Are the Real Heroes of Change with Cody Pavlat

      Ema is joined by Cody Pavlat, a seasoned trainer and change leader, to explore the often-overlooked role of middle managers in driving successful transformation. They unpack how these “unsung heroes” bridge the gap between executive vision and day-to-day execution, the importance of psychological safety in leading change, and why you can’t just outsource adoption to the training team.

      17 min
    • 99 to 1: What Congress Told Big Tech About AI Regulation with the Big Beautiful Bill
      Should states be allowed to regulate AI, or are we risking innovation with death by a thousand cuts?

      In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I dive into the now-infamous “Big Beautiful Bill,” the 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation that was overwhelmingly struck down in the Senate.

      What’s at stake?
      A lot. From who gets to decide what’s ethical AI to how fast innovation can move, this debate is shaping the future of artificial intelligence in the U.S.

      What you'll learn in this episode:
      • Why lawmakers pushed to block states from regulating AI for 10 years
      • Why was that proposal rejected 99–1 in the Senate
      • What leaders like Anthropic’s CEO are suggesting instead
      • How this mirrors the 1990s internet boom and Section 230
      • What Colorado’s new AI law reveals about where we’re headed
      • What leaders and organizations should do now to stay resilient amid regulatory uncertainty
      • Whether you're building with AI, buying AI, or trying to understand how it will be governed, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
        13 min
      • When AI Crosses the Line: The Lawsuits Defining AI Ethics
        Grab your (digital) cowboy hats, because we are officially in the Wild West of AI.

        In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I’m breaking down the most important legal battles unfolding right now over artificial intelligence, ethics, and data privacy. These lawsuits aren’t just headlines. They could redefine how AI is built, used, and trusted.

        What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
        • Why The New York Times vs. OpenAI could change what’s considered “fair use” in AI training
        • How Reddit is taking Anthropic to court for scraping user data and what it means for social media platforms
        • What happens when AI hiring tools are accused of bias and discrimination (Workday lawsuit)
        • The serious risks when AI chatbots hallucinate or cross ethical lines (Air Canada and Character AI cases)
        • The critical questions every leader needs to ask about AI accountability, bias, and consent

        • Why It Matters:
          Artificial intelligence isn’t just a tech trend, it’s reshaping how decisions are made, how content is created, and how people are treated. These real-world cases show exactly what happens when innovation moves faster than ethics.

          If you lead teams, work in digital transformation, or just want to better understand the risks and responsibilities of AI, this is for you!
          15 min
        • Taylor Swift Just Gave a Masterclass in Change Management
          What if I told you Taylor Swift is a change management mastermind, not just a mastermind of planting Easter Eggs?

          In this episode of Leading Change - Change in the Wild, I break down how Taylor (and her comms team) executed one of the clearest, boldest change communication strategies we’ve seen in years.

          From buying back her masters to not re-recording Reputation, Swift didn’t just pivot. She brought her fans with her. I’ll show you how her announcement mirrors my 4P Vision Framework (Purpose, People, Process, Participation) and what leaders can learn from her messaging strategy.

          Are you managing a team through change? Hit play and let Taylor Swift show you how it's done.
          14 min

        About Leading Change

        From the publisher's feed

        Welcome to Leading Change, where we dive into the real conversations shaping the future of work. Hosted by Ema Roloff, this series brings together business leaders, change-makers, and innovators to explore the intersection of technology, change management, and leadership in today’s evolving workplace.