Summary:

This episode is a masterclass in leading transformation without gutting the soul of the organization. Elizabeth unpacks how to honor identity, bring stakeholders along early, and make smart, reversible bets (pilots!)—all while balancing business outcomes with human realities.

Elizabeth Lepkowski is a Chief Learning Officer operating at the intersection of strategy, learning, and culture. She oversees education programs, clinical standards and guidelines, and publications—translating complex, stakeholder-heavy work into real-world impact.

Chapters:

00:00 – When change feels like an identity loss

04:00 – The messy middle of transformation (and why it’s worth it)

08:00 – Balancing business decisions with relationships that matter

12:00 – Onboarding into a storm: listening tours and context gathering

16:00 – Mapping stakeholders and sequencing engagement

20:00 – The inner circle: finding trusted truth-tellers

24:00 – Rethinking “how things have always been done”

28:00 – Culture as a constraint—and an accelerant

32:00 – Pilots, reversibility, and creating safety for change

36:00 – Lessons learned: courage, feedback, and the long game

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Elizabeth Lepkowski : linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-ball-lepkowski

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka