Twisting Paradigms IRL

In this episode, Dr. Kate McCaffrey speaks with Kevin Corcoran, Assistant Vice Provost for the Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida, about fostering innovation in higher education.

We explore the role of culture, collaboration, curiosity, and leadership in creating environments where innovation can grow and remain relevant as technology and learning continue to evolve.

Key Topics

• The evolution of online education at UCF
• Creating a culture of innovation and collaboration
• The importance of curiosity and continuous learning
• Maintaining relevance as technology and pedagogy evolve
• Supporting faculty and students through digital learning
• Breaking down silos through cross functional collaboration
• Learning analytics and institutional capacity
• Responsible uses of artificial intelligence

Takeaways

Innovation is deeply connected to organizational culture and how teams work together.

Cross functional collaboration can help institutions move beyond silos and address complex challenges.

Curiosity and a willingness to keep learning are important qualities in a rapidly changing technology environment.

Higher education leaders need to continually adapt as technology, pedagogy, and learner needs change.

Responsible approaches to emerging technologies, are increasingly important to digital learning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to UCF's Innovation Culture
39:12 Supporting Faculty and Students in Online Education
1:19:12 Maintaining Collaboration Across Teams
1:59:15 UCF's Legacy as an Online Education Trailblazer
2:39:22 Strategies for Sustaining Innovation Culture
3:19:26 Pushing Boundaries and Hiring for Curiosity

Resources: UCF Division of Digital Learning: Read more about the UCF Guiding Principles for Artificial Intelligence. A resource discussed in the episode on responsible AI, human oversight, accessibility, safety, and collaboration. 

About Kevin Corcoran

Kevin Corcoran is Assistant Vice Provost for the Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida, where he leads initiatives advancing the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of digital learning.

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education and digital learning, his work spans online education, faculty development, learning technology, accessibility, open education, learning analytics, artificial intelligence, and immersive learning.

Kevin is also the founder of the Learning Analytics Builders Coalition and has held leadership roles in statewide and national educational innovation initiatives.

https://cdl.ucf.edu/teach/resources/open-ed-mic/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjcorcoran/

About Kate McCaffrey

Dr. Kate McCaffrey is the CEO and Founder of Paradigm Twist, LLC.

Connect with Kate

Website
https://www.twistyourparadigm.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccaff/

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Kate McCaffrey speaks with Dr. Jenny Robinson and Dr. Phil Renshaw about Coaching on the Go, an approach that brings coaching skills into everyday leadership rather than formal one-to-ones. They explore how small behavioral shifts can strengthen relationships, build team agency, and support better conversations, collaboration, morale, and leadership.

Key topics

• Moving beyond the “superhero leader” mindset
• Using coaching skills in everyday leadership
• The Gizmo leadership and coaching profile
• Building stronger relationships and team agency
• Improving collaboration and cross-functional understanding
• Supporting morale, burnout, resistance, and conflict

Resources:

www.coachingonthego.co.uk

Jenny Robinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershiponthego/

Phil Renshaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renshawphil/

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90842961

Private Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90842961/

Our Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Pearson

About Dr. Phil Renshaw

Phil is a leadership and coaching expert with a background in international banking, treasury, and IT finance. After 20 years focused on “the numbers,” he realized that people are at the heart of business success. He now helps leaders develop practical coaching skills for everyday leadership.

About Dr. Jenny Robinson

Jenny is a Kiwi entrepreneur and global business leader with more than 30 years of experience across media, entertainment, consulting, and social enterprise. She has worked with teams across Asia, Europe, America, and Africa.

About Dr. Kate McCaffrey

Dr. Kate McCaffrey is CEO and Founder of Paradigm Twist, LLC. She works with leaders and organizations to strengthen leadership capacity, communication, and organizational effectiveness through facilitation, coaching, and strategic development.

Kate is a certified Coaching on the Go partner and can help teams access the Gizmo and understand their results.

Connect with Kate

Website: https://www.twistyourparadigm.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccaff/

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The episode explores the concept of morale in the workplace, discussing ownership, fostering, individual responsibility, and creating morale through strategies and rituals. It also delves into the idea of shifting morale through stewardship and accountability.

Takeaways

• Morale ownership is a collective responsibility
• Individual responsibility meets collective support
• Creating morale involves small rituals and stewardship

Chapters

• 00:00 The Ownership of Morale
• 02:09 Fostering Morale in an Organization
• 03:34 Individual Responsibility and Collective Support
• 04:59 Creating Morale: Strategies and Rituals
• 08:14 Shifting Morale: Stewardship and Accountability

Dr. Kate McCaffrey reflects on her journey with Paradigm Twist and the shift in her focus from asking the wrong question to exploring the concept of momentum in organizations. She emphasizes the importance of asking better questions and creating conditions for momentum.

Takeaways

• Asking better questions can lead to a deeper understanding of organizational challenges.
• Creating conditions for momentum is crucial for moving important work forward.

Chapters

• 00:00 Exploring Momentum

Dr. Kate McCaffrey reflects on the lessons of history and their relevance to leadership and change. She draws insights from the battlefield of Gettysburg to explore the conditions necessary for lasting success in leadership and the importance of caring for people. Dr. McCaffrey encourages asking the right questions and creating the conditions for trust, clarity, and commitment.

Takeaways

• Lessons of history inform leadership
• Creating conditions for trust, clarity, and commitment

Chapters

• 00:00 Reflections on History
• 02:07 Leadership and Change
• 03:04 Recognizing Reality
• 04:09 The High Ground of Leadership
• 05:08 The Terrain of Leadership
• 06:05 Constant Change and Uncertainty
• 07:03 Creating Momentum
• 08:28 Caring for People
• 09:29 Understanding History
• 10:34 Creating Conditions for Success

The conversation explores the critical role of middle managers and their ability to create trust, clarity, capacity, alignment, stability, and momentum within their organizations. Each chapter delves into the specific ways middle managers can achieve these objectives, providing valuable insights and strategies for effective leadership.

Takeaways

• Middle managers live in the space between strategy and execution
• Creating trust through conflict
• Creating clarity before certainty
• Creating capacity through technology
• Creating alignment in every direction
• Creating stability during uncertainty
• Creating momentum for lasting change

Chapters

• 00:00 The Role of Middle Managers
• 02:38 Creating Trust Through Conflict
• 04:10 Creating Clarity Before Certainty
• 05:37 Creating Capacity Through Technology
• 08:07 Creating Alignment in Every Direction
• 10:01 Creating Stability During Uncertainty
• 12:41 Creating Momentum for Lasting Change

Curious about how to make conditions better for you or your team? Let's talk - schedule a time here.

In this episode, Kate McCaffrey welcomes Dr. Barbara Trautlein, organizational psychologist, executive coach, and creator of the CQ® (Change Intelligence®) System, to discuss what it takes to lead through change.

They explore why people naturally resist change, how neuroscience influences our response to uncertainty, and why effective change leadership starts with self-awareness. Barbara shares practical insights from more than 35 years of helping leaders build resilience, strengthen collaboration, and lead lasting organizational change.

Whether you're leading a team, guiding organizational transformation, or working in higher education, this conversation offers practical strategies for leading with confidence, empathy, and adaptability.

• What Change Intelligence (CQ®) is and why it matters
• The neuroscience behind resistance to change
• The role of self-awareness in leading change
• Strategies for building trust and reducing resistance
• Change management vs. change leadership
• Creating cultures that embrace change

• "We are all change leaders, regardless of our role."
• "Change equals pain in the brain."
• "Resistance is normal and natural."

00:00 Introduction to Change Intelligence
01:02 Barbara's Journey
04:06 Higher Education Challenges
06:07 The CQ® Framework
10:18 Applying Change Intelligence
16:08 Building CQ Across Teams
20:33 Change Management vs. Leadership
22:42 The Human Side of Change
26:43 Reframing Resistance
28:33 Communication & "Soak Time"
32:26 Building Capacity for Change

Change Intelligence® by Barbara A. Trautlein, PhD

Case Study: A Community College Finds New Power and Direction in the CQ® System

Find out more about Change Catalysts® here. 

Website: https://changecatalysts.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaratrautlein/

Barbara A. Trautlein, PhD is an expert in change leadership, speaker, founder of Change Catalysts, bestselling author of Change Intelligence, and creator of the CQ® System. For more than 35 years, she has helped organizations including Abbott, BP, Cisco, Deloitte, Northwestern University, and the United Nations lead successful change initiatives.

Dr. Kate McCaffrey is CEO and Founder of Paradigm Twist, LLC, partnering with leaders and organizations to strengthen leadership, communication, and organizational effectiveness.

Connect with Kate
Website: https://www.twistyourparadigm.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccaff/

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The conversation explores the impact of change on relationships, the role of voice and tone in communication, creating emotional safety, inviting healthy conflict, building trust, modeling the desired tone as a leader, and reflection for personal growth.

Takeaways

• Voice and tone play a crucial role in communication and can impact relationships.
• Creating emotional safety and inviting healthy conflict are essential for effective communication and relationship-building.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Change Management

In this episode of Twisting Paradigms IRL, Dr. Kate McCaffrey talks with Dr. Amy Climer to explore the relationship between creativity, innovation, & leadership. Amy shares practical strategies for building creative teams, fostering trust, & creating environments where innovation can thrive.

Together, they discuss how leaders can intentionally cultivate creativity within their organizations and rethink traditional approaches to team dynamics, and problem-solving.

• Difference between creativity and innovation
• Elements needed for team creativity
• Creative problem solving process
• Building trust and psychological safety
• Designing intentional team spaces and meetings

"Creativity is a novelty that is valuable."

"Small process changes can reduce stress."

"Make space for creativity in your schedule."

00:00 Introduction to Creativity and Innovation in Organizations

02:20 Defining Creativity and Innovation

05:30 The Role of Leadership in Fostering Creativity

09:44 Creative Problem Solving Process

12:08 Team Dynamics and Trust in Creative Environments

16:18 Cooperation vs. Collaboration in Teams

20:18 The Purpose of Collaboration vs. Cooperation

22:49 Rethinking Meeting Structures for Productivity

29:13 Creating Inclusive and Innovative Team Environments

33:00 Intentionality in Team Dynamics and Space

35:19 Deliberate Creativity in Team Meetings

Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results
https://climerconsulting.com/book

Climer Cards
https://climercards.com

The Deliberate Creative Podcast
https://climerconsulting.com

Website
https://climerconsulting.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclimer/

Dr. Amy Climer teaches teams and organizations how to increase their creativity so they can maximize innovation. She is a speaker, trainer, consultant, and author of the award-winning book Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results. Amy is also the host of The Deliberate Creative Podcast and the creator of Climer Cards, a creativity and team-building tool. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change and works with organizations to build stronger, more innovative teams.

Dr. Kate McCaffrey is the CEO and Founder of Paradigm Twist, LLC. She partners with leaders and organizations to strengthen leadership capacity, communication, and organizational effectiveness through facilitation, coaching, and strategic development.

Website
https://www.twistyourparadigm.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccaff/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share it with a colleague, and join us for future conversations that challenge assumptions, expand perspectives, and inspire leadership growth.

This episode explores the advocacy and leadership in women's sports, tracing the legacy of Title IX and the impact of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It discusses the role of women in leadership, challenges and gaps in women's sports, myths and misunderstandings, the influence of athletics on leadership, and lessons from women's sports for other leaders. The conversation covers the importance of collaboration and support in sports, the need for a cultural shift and intentional support for girls in sports, the power of messaging and representation, the impact of post-game traditions and rituals, and advice for young women in sport and leadership.

Takeaways

• Advocacy and leadership in women's sports
• The impact of Title IX on women's sports Collaboration and support are essential for overcoming challenges and advancing in sports.
• Cultural shift and intentional support are crucial for encouraging girls to continue in sports.

Chapters

• 00:00 Twisting Paradigms in Real Life
• 05:31 Challenges and Gaps in Women's Sports
• 17:16 Lessons from Women's Sports for Other Leaders
• 24:54 The Value of Collaboration and Support
• 36:18 The Impact of Post-Game Traditions and Rituals