OrgDev with Distinction

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In this episode of the Org Dev Podcast, we're joined by Gbonju Akintola,  Senior Organization Development Business Partner at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), an organisation best known for its two zoos  - London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo -   but also a science-driven conservation charity, creating a future where wildlife can thrive . 

Gbonju shares her journey, from transitioning into OD from L&D roles and shares what it is like to work in truly global organisation - from Thames Estuary to West Africa. Nepal, Indian ocean  and Mauritius where she supports diverse teams, from zookeepers to international policy teams.

Listeners will gain insights into how Gbonju applies OD principles, such as systems thinking and cultural change, in an organisation that combines the complexities of scientific research, policy, and conservation. She discusses the challenges and successes of embedding leadership development and fostering a "one ZSL" culture across global teams. The episode dives into the importance of humanizing organisations, balancing tradition with innovation, and finding creative solutions in resource-limited environments.

Tune in to learn how Gbonju's experiences highlight the power of building relationships, understanding organizational culture, and driving meaningful change through OD.

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💼 About our Guest

Gbonju Akintola
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbonjuakintola/

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How does leadership, followership, authority, structures emerge in groups? Where do leaders, change agents, group and system practitioners, go to get the very best development on how to deepen their capacity to survive - and thrive in difficult systems. Where do they go to hone the craft of acting in the face of uncertainty, directly from their own experience. They go to the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations! Since 1947, the Tavi has been one of the worlds pioneering organisations exploring how group dynamics and relations form.  We've invited Rachel Kelly, principal  from the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations to share her insights and experiences

💼 About our Guest
Rachel Kelly
Principal, Organisation Development & Change & Group Relations Consultant, Alexander Technique practitioner

Connect with Rachel here:

  / rachel-kelly-71b7278 

Rachel Kelly is a Principal at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, where she specializes in Organisation Development, Change, and Group Relations Consultancy. With a deep commitment to fostering dialogue around innovative theories and methodologies, Rachel's work focuses on enhancing organisational and cultural life. She promotes life-long learning, professional development, and embodies these principles through her consultancy and practice.

In addition to her role at the Tavistock Institute, Rachel is an experienced Alexander Technique practitioner, helping individuals rediscover their psycho-physical balance through conscious awareness. She has led the Leicester conference's Yoga Event and continues to teach yoga at the Institute, integrating ancient wisdom into her practice.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How do you help an organisation reimagine new ways of working in order to achieve aggressive strategic goals? How do you create greater  accountability in organisations? That is a difficult task in itself but even more challenging in an with over 350,000 employees. We're joined from Seattle by Roger Kastner, Organisation Design Strategy Lead at Starbucks and also Host of the "What Do you know to be true" podcast. It's a fascinating conversation as Roger shares his experiences, insights and stories from 25 years as a leading edge Organisation Development consultant

💼 About our Guest
Roger Kastner

Connect with Roger here:   / roger-kastner 
Follow the "What Do You Know To Be True" podcast here:
https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/
Subscribe to the podcast here:   / @wdyktbt   

Roger Kastner is the Organization Development / Organization Design Strategy Lead at Starbucks, where he collaborates with leaders and teams to create innovative, high-performing work environments that support business success and employee well-being. With over 25 years of experience, Roger is known for his research-based approach that blends systems thinking, human-centered design, and co-creation to deliver impactful solutions in areas like strategy activation, leadership development, team effectiveness, and culture transformation.

In addition to his role at Starbucks, Roger is a skilled leadership coach, working with clients to help them overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. He is also the host of the What Do You Know to Be True? podcast, where he engages with everyday people who possess extraordinary talent and make meaningful contributions to the world.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How do you build an exceptional leadership team? How do you create enough psychological safety for teams to perform at their best? We tackled this and many other important questions in our fascinating conversation with practitioner Martijn Sjoorda, from System2

💼 About our Guest
Martijn Sjoorda, Founder, System2
https://system2group.com/

Connect with Martijn here:
  / martijnsjoorda 

Email Martijn here: 
[email protected]

Martijn Sjoorda is the founder and driving force behind System2, a pioneering consultancy that partners with progressive organizations to develop their leadership teams and deliver real transformation. With over two decades of experience, Martijn has built a reputation for helping executive committees and leadership groups tackle complex challenges through a unique approach that combines strategy and psychology.

Martijn's expertise is rooted in creating environments where psychological safety, productive failure, and productive conflict drive high performance. His philosophy rejects one-size-fits-all solutions, opting instead for highly tailored interventions that respect the specific context of each organization. He is known for facilitating difficult conversations, recognizing that addressing issues head-on is the only way to overcome the common frustrations of leadership teams: insufficient speed, lack of value delivery, and resistance to true transformation.

Martijn extensive experience and training allows to deeply understand the interplay of system, team, and personal dynamics, he identifies the smallest, most effective changes that yield the largest results.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

10 Pro Tips to Getting Started in Organization Development and Design
Welcome to our latest video where we dive into the essential tips for anyone starting their journey in Organization Development and Design! 🌟

After conducting 33 in-depth interviews with leading practitioners, authors, and academics, Dani and Garin have distilled the top 10 tips that will set you up for success. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, these expert insights are invaluable. We've spoken to OD experts from House of Commons, Amazon, Netflix, Intel, Google, Accenture, KPMG and many more. 

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Why is effective organization design essential for your business's success? In our latest podcast, we explore how aligning the key elements of your organization can create a seamless, efficient operation that drives your strategic goals. We sit down with Jonathan Edwards, co-founder of Kanso Design, to discuss how thoughtful organization design can simplify work, unleash your team's potential, and deliver tangible business outcomes.

💼 About our Guest
Jonathan Edwards, Co-Founder & Partner
Kanso Design https://www.kansodesign.org/
Connect with Jonathan here:   / jonathankanso 
You can follow Kanso Design here:   / kanso-design-ltd 

Jonathan is a seasoned organization design leader with over 20 years of experience in driving business change, delivering complex programs, and enhancing organizational effectiveness. His expertise spans multiple sectors, where he has supported global businesses and teams through organization redesign, operating model development, performance improvement, cost reduction, and large-scale change initiatives.

Jonathan has contributed his skills to renowned companies such as Burberry, John Lewis, Expedia, London Heathrow, and the British Council.  He excels in combining strategic vision with detailed analysis, adeptly handling complex and sensitive issues while fostering consensus around solutions.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How do you lead a revolution in management thinking? How do you develop better solutions to solve the most complex customer and organisational problems?

We are thrilled to have Dr. Ronald Skea from Aviva, who is at the forefront of transforming management practices join.

Inspired by the concept that organizations should be managed as systems and the belief that changing thought patterns is crucial, Dr. Skea explores innovative approaches to solve both customer and organizational problems. Recognising that every service operates in a unique context, he identifies specific opportunities and challenges within each environment.

With extensive experience across various private sector industries and people-centered services, Dr. Skea provides a fresh perspective on management. He offers practical and straightforward solutions that lead to remarkable results.

💼 About our Guest
Dr. Ronald Skea FCIPD
Author and Systems Thinking Lead Consultant @Allianz

Connect with Dr. Ronald here:
  / ronskea 

You can buy his book here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-O...

Dr. Ronald Skea is a distinguished Leadership Coach, Organisation Culture Change specialist, and HR professional with extensive experience in utilizing systems thinking and Agile methodologies to inspire leaders to rethink their approaches to leadership and organizational structure. Currently, he serves as the Systems Thinking Lead Consultant at Allianz Insurance, where he continues to make significant contributions to the field.

Dr. Skea's expertise encompasses Systems Thinking Leadership, Critical Chain, Kanban, Scrum, and Scaled Agile, demonstrating his proficiency in contemporary frameworks and methodologies. He is also well-versed in the Vanguard Method, pioneered by John Seddon. 

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What is great leadership built on? Our guest Dr Graham Curtis believes that great leadership is founded on developing our flexibility in response to the situations we find ourselves in and  growing our curiosity, and our capability to reflect. Graham’s focus is on supporting people and organisations to be the best they can possibly be through maximising their potential.
 
He has designed and led the delivery of global leadership and management development programmes in the UK, Nigeria, Kenya and Columbia aimed at supporting and challenging participants to reflect on their practice and their relationships with their teams.

💼 About our Guest
Dr. Graham Curtis Chartered FCIPD MSc.
  / dr-graham-curtis-6b931911 

Connect with Dr. graham here: 
[email protected]

Dr Graham Curtis is an accomplished complexity and relational consultant. A leader in his field. Born and raised in Sunderland, he initially entered the workforce after leaving school. He later decided to further his education and completed his A levels.

Graham began his professional career as an Immigration Officer at Heathrow Airport, eventually becoming a Senior Manager in the Immigration Department of the Home Office. He pursued an MSc in People and Organisational Development at Roffey Park, which led to his role as Head of Organisational Development at the UK Border Agency.

He earned a Doctorate of Management from the University of Hertfordshire in 2018. In 2020, Graham joined Roffey Park Institute as an associate, contributing to the MSc programme, and later became the MSc Programme Director and Director of Roffey Park Academy.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How do you unlock the full potential of your workforce through effective culture change? We dive deep into the world of culture change and its vital role in organizational success. Discover how to systematically identify and refine your company's culture to boost productivity and profitability. We explore the importance of understanding your existing culture, patterns of behaviour, how it impacts organizational effectiveness, and practical strategies for aligning culture with business goals. Learn from real-world examples and gain valuable insights into the transformative power of culture change in building thriving, future-ready organizations. 

💼 About our Guest
Dr. Martin Egan
Co-founder, NDC
https://www.ndculture.com/

Follow NDC here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-...

Connect with Dr. Martin or follow his work here:
  / martinegan 

Dr. Martin Egan, co-founder of NDC, is a distinguished business psychologist and development consultant with a profound expertise in transforming organizational cultures to enhance business performance. His career is dedicated to systematically identifying and refining company cultures to support and drive organizational effectiveness, productivity, and profitability. Dr. Egan's approach centers on the belief that employees often adopt existing company cultures without questioning their impact on organizational success, almost as if these cultures are inherent and unchangeable.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

In this week's interview, we're looking at Organisation Design. How do you do it in way that helps build healthier organisations and ultimately a society that works for all?

We're joined by the excellent Julian Chender, Principal for Operating Model and Organisation Design for the global consulting firm Accenture. Julian was a pleasure to interview and is passionate about creating ways in which people can learn about and advance in the field of OD.

Editors Footnote:
In the podcast we discussed the Zeigarnik effect theory, named after Bluma Zeigarnik. Rather than Olga has mentioned in the video.

💼 About our Guest
Julian Chender MSOD, ACC
Principal, Operating Model & Organization Design
Accenture | Kates Kessler

Connect with Julian or follow his work here:
  / julianchender 

Julian Chender is a dedicated consultant  at Accenture, driven by a lifelong commitment to fostering a healthier society that benefits everyone. This mission has been a guiding force for Julian since childhood, influenced by a unique upbringing that embraced two rich traditions: the Jewish principle of "tikkun olam," meaning to repair the world, and the Buddhist aspiration of creating "a good human society."

Julian's professional journey led him to specialize in organization design, development, and coaching, where he collaborates with human systems—encompassing individuals, teams, organizations, and communities—to cultivate optimal conditions for success. His extensive consulting career spans a diverse range of environments, from Fortune 10 companies to the smallest nonprofits, and from intergovernmental European organizations to political offices in New York City.

Central to Julian's work is the belief in the profound impact of human connection and the power of shaping behavior for the better. His approach is grounded in creating meaningful change and fostering environments where individuals and organizations can thrive. 

Previously Julian held Consultancy and OD roles at Veldhoen and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NAIDS)

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch