Today is a little different.

To mark Episode one hundred, I decided not to bring in a guest. Instead, I wanted to pause and reflect on the ninety nine conversations that shaped The Inner Game of Change.

This episode is a quiet look back at how the podcast began during COVID, how the name was inspired by Tim Gallwey’s Inner Game work, and why Dr Michael Canic’s first yes helped set the tone for everything that followed.

Across these episodes, a few ideas kept showing up.

I also talk about what happens when we stay in change long enough for it to work on us, why elite athletes taught me as much about consistency as any leadership book, and how this podcast has become a place for curiosity rather than certainty.

No expectations. No hype. Just a reflection.
If one person learns one useful thing, it is a win.
If one person manages change a little better, it is a win.

Thank you to the guests who generously offered their time, and to the listeners across more than one hundred countries. I am deeply grateful.

More conversations, more experiments, and more learning will continue in the new year through The Inner Game of Change and through the Inner Game of Change Institute.

For now… a pause.

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to A Change Question — a special mini-series from The Inner Game of Change.

In each short, solo episode, I bring you one question worth sitting with — the kind that can gently shape how we think, work, and move through our lives.

As change unfolds, our attention often becomes scattered.
We try to notice everything.
The risks. The effort. The expectations.
But each stage of a change has its own centre of gravity.
Something new begins to rise.
Something quieter, but more essential, asks for our attention.

In this short, reflective episode, Ali explores the question:
What deserves attention at this stage of the change?

Drawing on The Little Prince, Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the writings of Marcus Aurelius and Simone Weil, and examples from Jane Eyre and The Lord of the Rings, this episode looks at how attention shifts as we move through different stages of a change.

This is not advice.
 It is a gentle pause.
 A moment to consider what truly matters now, what no longer needs to be held so tightly, and what might open if we offered our attention with more intention.

A short episode for anyone sensing that the next stage of their change might require a different kind of focus.

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change. where we explore the thinking behind the doing of change.

Today I sit down with the thoughtful and very grounded Meg Smith, co author of the practical and timely book Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption. It is a clear and generous guide for leaders and consultants who want to understand what real adoption looks like inside organisations.

Meg brings that same clarity into our conversation. We speak about courage, curiosity, learning, and the real experience people are having as artificial intelligence moves into their daily work. One idea she raises that really stayed with me is this invitation to return to the purpose of our work. Instead of asking how to control or block new tools, ask whether we are still fulfilling the reason we show up to serve others. It is a powerful shift and it opens the door to much better conversations about change.

This is a warm and very human exchange about change, self agency, leadership, and the future we are shaping together.

I am grateful to have Meg chatting with me today. 

Oh..  And stay with us after the conversation for a short ChatGPT reflection. 

About Meg

I've been fortunate to have an interesting and rewarding career in tech, and I believe the benefits of technology should be available for everyone. I develop programmes and content to teach AI adoption and skills so that people can use it to advance their careers, organisations and communities. 

I have learned that being humble enough to ask questions will get you further than thinking you have all the answers. I have seen countless examples of how technology can be used to save time, make money, and create memorable experiences.

I have also seen how easy it is to miss out on those benefits when there is a disconnect - be that between the people buying the tech and those who are meant to be using it, confusing tools and processes, and inequitable access. 

My mahi (work) with Cloverbase is focused on creating AIenablement programs. Projects include:

-Bespoke training for Microsoft's global teams in Design Thinking & AI sales patterns
-90 Day Mentoring Challenge career acceleration program
-AI Fundamentals for business leaders and professionals
-AI Governance and Strategy

I'm available to speak at events, run workshops, or design bespoke AI enablement programs.

Send me a message to set up a time to chat.

Contact

Meg’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/megsmithnz

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to A Change Question — a special mini-series from The Inner Game of Change.
In each short, solo episode, I bring you one question worth sitting with — the kind that can spark both personal and professional shifts.  

There are moments in life when a change that once felt right begins to feel small.
 It has shaped us, stretched us, and carried us for a while.
 Then, almost quietly, we realise we have moved beyond it.

In this short, reflective episode, Ali explores the question:
 How do I know when I have outgrown this change?

Drawing on Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, the words of Leonard Cohen, the insight of Toni Morrison, and examples from The Lord of the Rings and Little Women, this episode looks at the deeper layers of growth and the quiet signals that tell us we are ready for something different.

This is not advice.
 It is a gentle pause.
 A moment to think about the changes that have served us, the ones we may be carrying out of habit, and the possibilities that open when we release what no longer fits.

A short episode for anyone sensing that they have outgrown a chapter of their life, their work, or their identity.

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change. where we explore the thinking behind the doing of change.

In this episode, I am joined by Ross Dawson—futurist, keynote speaker, and author of five influential books, including Thriving on Overload and Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships. Ross is known globally for his work at the intersection of foresight, networked systems, and human–AI collaboration.

We unpack what it really means to lead in a world where AI is no longer just a tool, but a thinking partner. Ross shares his five-part framework—purpose, framing, filtering, attention, synthesis—for building clarity in the face of information overload. Together, we explore what trust looks like in human–AI teams, how to reimagine organisational design, and why every leader today needs to become their own futurist.

If you are navigating change, designing future-fit teams, or rethinking how humans and machines work together—this episode offers both depth and direction.
I am grateful to have Ross chatting with me today.

Ross Dawson

In demand worldwide as a futurist, keynote speaker and board advisor:
- Has delivered keynotes and strategy sessions in over 30 countries across 6 continents
- Works with boards and leadership teams of major organizations globally 
- Has run executive education programs and lectured at top academic institutions around the world
- Frequently in global media and author of compelling futurist content for PR campaigns 

Parallel entrepreneur
- Founding Chairman, Advanced Human Technologies Group
- Founder, Informivity
- Founder, Bondi Innovation Alliance
 
Bestselling author of 5 books on the future of business: 
- Thriving on Overload, a guide to success in a world of unlimited information
- Living Networks, now out in its 20th anniversary edition, anticipated the rise of social media
- Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships, a reference text for professional services firms, out in its second edition
- Getting Results From Crowds, a seminal guide to crowdsourcing, out in its second edition
- Implementing Enterprise 2.0, a landmark book on applying web technologies inside companies
 
Expertise: Future thinking and long-term strategy, Entrepreneurship, Scenario planning, Network economy, Future of business, Future of work and education, Future of organizations, Future of media, Future of marketing and PR, Future of retail, Future of healthcare, Future of government, Financial services, Professional services, Corporate innovation, Parallel entrepreneurship, Crowdsourcing, Social media, High-value relationships, Influence networks, Social network analysis, Shared value creation, Concept visualization.

Contacts

Ross’ Profile

linkedin.com/in/futuristkeynotespeaker

Websites

rossdawson.com/ (Personal)

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Ali Juma
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Welcome to A Change Question — a special mini-series from The Inner Game of Change.
In each short, solo episode, I bring you one question worth sitting with — the kind that can spark both personal and professional shifts. 

Who am I becoming through this change?

From Pip’s awakening in Great Expectations, to David Bowie’s reinvention, to Maya Angelou’s reminder that becoming is rarely glamorous, this episode looks at how change does not just happen around us — it happens through us.

Ali unpacks how our brains reshape our experience during change, how resistance is often the first sign that something inside us is trying to shift, and how even small personal changes ripple outward into our work, families, and communities.

He also offers a simple reflection framework — Look Back, Look Around, Look Ahead — to help you sense how much change has already shaped who you are today.

If you are navigating uncertainty, evolving in your role, or simply noticing shifts inside yourself, this episode might meet you exactly where you are.

The question for you this week:
Who are you becoming through the changes in your life — and is that the person you want to become?

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change. where we explore the thinking behind the doing of change.

In this episode, we turn our attention to something that is reshaping every part of our work — artificial intelligence. Not as a headline or a fear, but as a companion in how we learn, decide, and lead.

My guest, Joanne Rinaldi, brings a wealth of experience leading enterprise transformation and building centres of excellence that help people think and perform differently. She has spent years helping teams grow through change — not just manage it.

Together, we explore what happens when AI moves from being a tool we use to a collaborator in our practice. What it means for judgement, empathy, and the human craft of change.

I am grateful to have Joanne chating with me today.

About 

Career experience in leading strategic transformational change initiatives. Establish and operationalise centres of excellence to enable new & improved ways of thinking and performing. Lead a client portfolio of strategic advisory services; enterprise transformation, business optimisation, innovative and contemporary learning design and delivery. Leadership and capability frameworks.

Lead and inspire 'right' performing teams while nurturing a growth mindset, promoting health & wellbeing and a creating a fun-filled learning environment. 

Passionate photographer and sports coach/player for fun and fitness!

Contact

Joanne’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/joanne-rinaldi-67b85012

Email

[email protected]

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to A Change Question — a special mini-series from The Inner Game of Change.
In each short, solo episode, I bring you one question worth sitting with — the kind that can spark both personal and professional shifts. 

In this episode, I explore what it means to face change when everything feels chaotic. From buffalo walking into storms to Lou Gerstner steering IBM through crisis, to Shakespeare’s King Lear and Viktor Frankl’s quiet wisdom — we’ll look at how clarity can exist even without calm.

I’ll share four small, practical steps that help turn overwhelm into movement and uncertainty into agency — because sometimes, having control means embracing the chaos rather than fighting it.

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to The Inner Game of Change,  where we explore the invisible forces that shape the way we lead, live, and learn, because real change, as you and I know, always starts on the inside. 

In this episode of The Inner Game of Change, I speak with Soraya Espejo — a global transformation strategist, MIT-certified AI and Future of Work advisor, and Founder of Changics. Soraya has worked across more than fifty countries helping leaders and organisations prepare for what’s next.

Our conversation moves through some of the most pressing questions facing leaders today. How do we lead in a world reshaped by artificial intelligence? What skills matter most in times of uncertainty? And how can we build cultures that adapt rather than resist?

Soraya walks us through two powerful frameworks — MIT’s Four-Cap Leadership Model and the 5M Transformation Model — both designed to help leaders strengthen credibility, readiness, and execution.

We also explore what happens when change meets complexity, especially during mergers and acquisitions, where culture, communication, and trust can make or break success.

This episode is a thoughtful guide for anyone navigating transformation — from CEOs and change professionals to those simply curious about the future of leadership.

About Soraya

What defines me

My experience has shaped me into a strategic architect of transformation — not just a witness to change, but a designer of it

🔹 Executive Advisor to C-Suite & Senior Leadership Teams
🔹 AI & Future of Work Strategist (certified by MIT)
🔹 I design and co-create Future-Ready Organizations
🔹 +25 years of experience across 50+ countries and multiple industries
🔹 Strategic partner to CEOs in unlocking culture-driven growth leadership
🔹 Executive Coach for C-Suite & Senior Leadership
🔹 Transformation leader in M&A, culture, and people strategy
🔹 Private Equity & M&A Expertise: from pitch to sale
🔹 Architect of leadership and performance models that scale
🔹 Passionate about aligning Purpose, People & Performance
🔹 Founder of Changics, a strategic boutique for human-led transformation

Contact

LinknedIn

linkedin.com/in/sorayaespejogonzalez

Email

[email protected]

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to A Change Question — a special mini-series from The Inner Game of Change.
In each short, solo episode, I bring you one question worth sitting with — the kind that can spark both personal and professional shifts. 

Most of us believe change starts the moment we make a decision.
But the truth is, a decision is only the promise — the act is the proof.

In this episode, I explore the gap between deciding and doing — that shadowy space where many of our best intentions quietly stall.

Through the stories of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, and Malala Yousafzai, who turned conviction into courage, I unpack what it really takes to turn resolution into motion.

We’ll also look at what neuroscience tells us about why our brains reward decision-making — but not follow-through — and how to build the bridge from intent to impact.

Because decisions without steps become drift.
But decisions with steps become movement.
And movement is what changes everything.

Send us a text

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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