In the first episode of 2026, Shonna Dorsey sits down with Jenna Smith, founder of ThinkFree Consulting and co-founder of The Commonwealth, for a candid conversation about disruption, innovation, and the future of work.

With more than 15 years of experience leading transformation inside organizations, Jenna shares why incremental growth and traditional long-range planning are being tested as the pace of change accelerates. Together, they explore how organizations can build the capacity to adapt by developing people who think critically, act with ownership, and innovate from within.

This episode covers:

• Why change today is compounding, not linear

• How organizations can encourage innovation without abandoning stability

• What established companies can learn from founders and startups

• The role of psychological safety and learning from failure

• How to identify and empower intrapreneurs inside existing teams

• Why understanding your “genius zone” matters as work continues to evolve

The conversation also connects directly to themes from the Nebraska Women in Tech Summit, particularly innovation within corporate environments and the skills leaders need to cultivate for what’s next.

This episode is especially relevant for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals navigating change across industries like banking, manufacturing, construction, and technology.

If you’re thinking about how to strengthen your organization’s ability to adapt and how to stay relevant as the future of work unfolds, this conversation offers timely insight and practical perspective.