Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being for people in aid

Melissa Pitotti
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A podcast for humanitarians who want to work in closer alignment to core values like compassion, accountability, solidarity and equity. Born in 2020 in collaboration with CHS Alliance and Mary Ann Clements, the podcast is now entering its next evolution and is hosted by Melissa Pitotti.

  1. 67. Learning how to carry what happened with Silvia Risi

    FEB 18

    67. Learning how to carry what happened with Silvia Risi

    What do you do when your professional world turns upside down?   Maybe it’s burnout, harassment, a role abolished, or something else.    An identity shaken.   Humanitarian workers are trained to carry other people’s suffering.   But what happens when we are the ones carrying something heavy?   In Episode 67 of Embodying Change, Melissa Pitotti sits down with Silvia Risi, former humanitarian aid worker turned mental health peer supporter, to explore one powerful idea: recovery is learning how to carry what happened without letting it define or disable your life.   After more than 16 years working in conflict and post-conflict contexts, Silvia reached a breaking point that led her to step away from the field. What followed was not an immediate reinvention. It was grief. Identity loss. Slowness. Reconstruction.   This conversation explores what it means to pivot, not by erasing what happened, but by integrating it. In this episode, we explore: • Why losing a job can feel like losing yourself• The difference between therapy, coaching, and mental health peer support• What “Nothing about us without us” means in recovery work• Why peer support is horizontal and rooted in lived experience• How hope can be practiced, not just promised• Why "Pivoting Well" starts with grieving well• How humanitarian skills translate into unexpected new chapters Silvia shares how reconnecting with her values, practicing daily self-kindness, and finding peers who understood the humanitarian context became central to her healing. Because sometimes the goal is not to "move on." Sometimes the goal is to learn how to carry what happened with strength, dignity, and support. About Silvia Risi Silvia Risi worked for over 16 years in humanitarian operations, primarily in conflict and post-conflict settings. Following burnout and workplace psychological harassment, she began a recovery journey that led her toward coaching, professional training in mental health peer support, and a new way of serving the humanitarian workforce. She is currently completing a university diploma in mental health peer support, and neurodiversity at Lyon University. Silvia now serves as a humanitarian mental health peer supporter with CoCreate Humanity, a Swiss association founded in 2019 to strengthen the psychosocial wellbeing of humanitarian workers and their families. About CoCreate Humanity CoCreate Humanity provides: • Multilingual, confidential humanitarian peer support (primarily online)• Advocacy and awareness through art and community events• Working toward professionalization and training in humanitarian peer support Peer support at CoCreate Humanity is grounded in lived experience, structured training, and ongoing supervision from mental health professionals. It complements, but does not replace, professional mental health care. Learn more about their work or request support: www.cocreatehumanity.org  Additional resources mentioned: ●      WHO Europe Roadmap (2025): Transforming Mental Health Through Lived Experience https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2025-12307-52079-79927 ●      Sarah Verrier’s dissertation: Humanitarian Peer Support in Mental Health - A Link in the Chain of Psychosocial Support for Humanitarian Workers (available via CoCreate Humanity website) https://www.cocreatehumanity.org/memoires-final-dissertations    If this episode resonates…   If you are navigating mental health challenges, burnout, restructuring, identity shifts, or a career pivot you do not have to carry it alone.   Find a peer.  Start a conversation.  Give yourself permission to grieve what changed.   And if this episode felt meaningful, consider sharing it with a colleague who might need to hear it.   Because embodying change isn’t about pretending nothing happened.   It’s about learning how to carry what happened together.

    52 min
  2. 66. AI adoption as a human story with Maude Pittet Nazareno

    JAN 26

    66. AI adoption as a human story with Maude Pittet Nazareno

    What if AI adoption isn’t a tech problem, but a trust-and-teams problem? In this conversation, Maude Pittet Nazareno shares what she’s learned from training frontline negotiators on pressure management and supporting organizations with AI-enabled workflow transformation. We explore why “prompt hygiene” matters, how AI can amplify (worsen) existing team tensions, and what it looks like to adopt AI in ways that support (not erode) human connection. In this episode, we cover: What “embodying change” looks like when you’re under pressure (head, heart, and body)Why coping strategies can be “partial,” and how to expand your internal and external resourcesWhat NLP is (in plain language) and why it shows up in pressure management workThe surprising result from a pilot: why self-paced AI training lowered trust and team coaching raised itWhy AI adoption often amplifies existing organizational problems (data mess, team tension, outdated processes)What AI-enabled workflows actually mean (beyond “ChatGPT for emails”)Practical AI literacy: how LLMs work, how to prompt, and how to avoid bias in prompts“Prompt hygiene” for shared team threads (and how to ask AI what assumptions it’s making)How Colaborix’s AI Café creates a space for teams to learn from each otherDetails on the AI Champion Accelerator + how to join with a listener discountResources and links Maude on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maude-pittet-nazareno/Maude’s website: https://www.maudepnazareno.com/Colaborix Programs (including Coffee & Champion Accelerator): https://www.colaborix.ai/ai-programsColaborix all upcoming dates & enrolment links: https://www.colaborix.ai/upcoming-ai-eventsOpportunity 25% off Colaborix cohort programs (including the AI Champion Accelerator)Use coupon code: ACCESSNOW About Maude Pittet Nazareno Maude Pittet Nazareno is a coach and facilitator who helps leaders and teams build clarity, presence, and influence in high-pressure environments, from humanitarian negotiation to organizational transformation. Through her work with CCHN, she supports frontline negotiators to access, assist, and protect communities under extreme stress. At Colaborix, she brings a human-centered approach to AI adoption and workflow transformation, focusing on trust, capability-building, and how teams actually change.

    42 min
  3. 65. Reclaiming humanity in the age of AI with Silva Ferretti

    JAN 9

    65. Reclaiming humanity in the age of AI with Silva Ferretti

    AI is already reshaping humanitarian work, evaluation, and decision-making, whether we’re ready or not. The real question isn’t whether to use AI, but how. In this episode of Embodying Change, host Melissa Pitotti is joined by evaluator and systems thinker Silva Ferretti for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about what’s at stake as AI accelerates across the humanitarian sector. Silva challenges the idea that evaluation is about compliance and box-ticking, and reframes it as a space for learning, truth-telling, and transformation. She explains why “best practices” often fail in complex contexts, how power quietly shapes what gets summarized and what gets ignored, and why AI is not neutral (especially when used uncritically). You’ll also hear how Silva uses AI in participatory ways: to conduct interviews, surface patterns, validate findings with communities, and even co-create a song that captures her thinking about AI ethics and fluency. This is not a tools episode. It’s a conversation about principles, power, trust, and reclaiming humanity with AI as both the risk and the opportunity. And if you stay until the very end, you’ll hear the full song Silva co-created with AI, bringing the conversation into a different register entirely. Today’s guest: Silva Ferretti Silva Ferretti is a humanitarian evaluator with a background in architecture and planning, known for her work on learning-oriented, complexity-aware evaluation. Rather than treating evaluation as a compliance exercise, Silva focuses on sensemaking, power, relationships, and context, and on creating space for people to talk honestly about what isn’t working, not just what looks good on paper. She is also an early and thoughtful adopter of AI in evaluation, experimenting with its use for pattern recognition, rapid synthesis, participatory validation, and creative communication, while remaining deeply attentive to ethics, bias and human agency. Silva regularly shares reflections and provocations on LinkedIn and collaborates with peers through initiatives such as the International Evaluation Academy. You’ll learn The 5 Levels of AI Fluency for Values-Led Professionals, from “just try it” to collective ethical useWhat Silva means when she says she’s “not a rebel,” just aligned with humanitarian principlesWhy “best practices” often fail in complex systems (and what works better)A simple, memorable distinction between complicated systems (like rockets) and complex systems (like human relationships)Why AI is not neutral, and how it can quietly amplify power and biasA practical method you can borrow immediately: record → transcribe → summarize → validate togetherThe uncomfortable question facing the sector: are we becoming a logistics and reporting machine, or a principled humanitarian practice?Bonus: You’ll hear how Silva used AI to run 60+ interviews in just days, why the first analysis echoed the manager’s worldview, and how re-running the analysis helped surface the voices (and tensions) that were missing. Resources & links Connect with Silva Ferretti on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sferretti/ Silva’s article: AI in Evaluation (International Evaluation Academy Week) https://aea365.org/blog/ai-in-evaluation-by-silva-ferretti/Silva’s song: It starts with trying (Silva’s lyrics, AI-made music) https://peertube.uno/w/6QopXJaTkgGZERs4DTmzJUConcepts referenced: Appreciative Inquiry, complexity vs. complication, humanitarian principles, participatory evaluation

    1h 27m
  4. 64. From loss to renewal with Jennifer Lentfer and Hasangani (Hasi) Edema-Reynolds

    11/17/2025

    64. From loss to renewal with Jennifer Lentfer and Hasangani (Hasi) Edema-Reynolds

    When the structure, pace, and purpose of humanitarian life suddenly fall away, what fills the space that’s left? In this Embodying Change special, host Melissa Pitotti brings together Jennifer Lentfer and Hasangani (Hasi) Edema-Reynolds to explore the eight themes that come up again and again in peer support groups for humanitarians navigating change: identity, commitment, rhythm, balance, boundaries, resonance, joy, and connection. Through storytelling and deep reflection, they trace a path from loss to renewal, asking what it means to stay true to your purpose while rebuilding your life beyond your job title. If you’ve ever questioned who you are outside of your work, this conversation will help you find language, hope, and solidarity for the road ahead. Today’s guests Jennifer LentferFarm girl turned aid worker turned writer, coach, and communications strategist. Jennifer runs EE Consulting, curates the blog How Matters, and shares poetry and collage at JenniferLentfer.com. Formerly named one of Foreign Policy Magazine’s “100 Women to Follow on Twitter,” she supports people to usher in political courage, cultural humility, and an ethic of care within social change organizations. She recently became the Director of Communications for The Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska, USA. → Connect with her on Linkedin.  Hasangani (Hasi) Edema-ReynoldsA humanitarian professional and researcher bridging the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Over nine years, particularly in fragile and post-conflict contexts, Hasi has built expertise in multi-sector response, recovery and resilience programming, humanitarian advocacy, program management/implementation, and fundraising.  Currently with CDA Collaborative Learning, she supports action research on accountability, conflict sensitivity, and shifting power, and advises on responsible transitions and organizational change.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a Master’s in Humanitarian Assistance from Tufts University. Outside work, Hasi finds joy in singing, piano, painting, and travel. → Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You’ll learn Why grieving the loss of a professional identity is a vital first stepHow to honor commitment to communities while pivotingRhythms and boundaries that sustain life after intense rolesWays to translate humanitarian experience so it resonates beyond the sectorWhy joy and connection are essential, not luxuries, for renewalSimple practices to keep peer support alive between meetingsResources recommended ConnexUs Stopping As SuccessCDA Collaborative Learning ProjectsReimagining Research Course offered by Pause and EffectWhy Resisting Urgency is the First Step in Transforming Organizational Cultures, Bridge of Hope Summit (2025)Donor Transformation Challenge, CIVICUS, 2024Visiter Genève, guided tours by Catherine Hubert-GirodPoem: The Death of the Change Maker By Jennifer Lentfer Shared with permission. Originally published on How Matters: https://www.how-matters.org/2020/05/04/the-death-of-the-changemaker/ I gaze deep into the rectangle below.There, at the bottom of the six feetlays the changemaker.The creator of grand, heroic strategy and ideasto change everything, at once,to change minds and behaviors and alignment,magically. Oh changemaker, how close you lived toconquer and capture and control and contract,how tightly you gripped, fixed,how you wrestled your longing forcertainty, comfort, convenience,how you constructed causation,how you were only taught/thought one way. How you relied on fanciful linearity,determinate, ambitious, utilitarianforce of will plodding, plotting, spent, alone!How you thought you had to carry it all… Now changemaker, laying there in this plot,unable to influence…anythingamidst the falling shovelfuls of soil.There, there, I lay — the irony of former self-elevationno longer lost on me. The earth will fill in my body,its softness, loaminess reclaimed —dismantled and expanded without all the effort.Need, renewal, security looms.It is already welded-ly woven. The maker will be rebirthed.We don't know when,but up through the dirt,the small, incremental, devoted changer may arrive. ----------------------- Join the conversation If this episode sparked something in you, share your reflections on LinkedIn and tag us!

    1h 39m
  5. 63. Seasons of change with Kelsi Kriitmaa, PhD

    11/05/2025

    63. Seasons of change with Kelsi Kriitmaa, PhD

    When the work that once defined you no longer fits, what comes next? In this heartfelt conversation, strategist and executive coach Kelsi Kriitmaa, PhD joins Melissa to explore what it means to embody change, especially for those in the social-impact and humanitarian worlds. Together, they talk about: Living your values through different seasons of life and careerThe difference between having to pivot and wanting toHow to reframe a “career gap” into a story of growthFinding community and accountability when work feels uncertainWhy sustainable leadership matters more than ever in 2025Whether you’re navigating a career transition, feeling unmoored by sector-wide changes, or simply wondering what’s next, this episode reminds you: you’re allowed to change, and you don’t have to do it alone. Today’s GuestKelsi Kriitmaa, PhD is a strategic advisor, executive coach, and former Chief Operating Officer who helps social-impact leaders and organizations work, lead, and grow, sustainably. After more than ten years living and working across humanitarian emergencies in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, she moved to Geneva and joined the leadership of a social-impact consulting firm, later serving as COO. With 20+ years spanning multilateral institutions, non-profits, foundations, CSR teams, and mission-driven companies, Kelsi blends sharp strategy with a human-centered lens. She supports leaders and teams on organizational strategy and transitions, and coaches mid- to senior-level professionals and consultants on values-aligned careers and portfolio paths. Kelsi holds a BA in Psychology, an MPH, a PhD in Epidemiology, a CSR certificate, and accredited coaching credentials. She’s been featured in Forbes, Devex, and The Bloom. You’ll Learn How to test the question: Do I have to pivot, or do I want to?A values-first way to navigate career seasons (and why “having it all” is a myth of timing).The “panic → pause → plan” sequence for layoffs and funding shocks.How to reframe résumé gaps with honesty, clarity, and credibility.Why portfolio careers (multiple revenue streams, multiple identities) are rising in social impact.A simple Top-10 targeting method for focused job search.How to network without feeling salesy, and why “give before you get” works.Accountability pods and co-working rhythms that create momentum.Sustainable leadership trends: psychological safety, realistic workloads, and localized decision-making.First steps if consulting might be for you (and signs it isn’t).Key Quotes by Kelsi  “We’re not one identity. We’re allowed to change, and our careers should change with us.” “Change doesn’t mean starting over; it means realigning.” “Quality over quantity: ten intentional targets beat a hundred blind applications.”Resources & Mentions Kelsi’s website: https://www.kriitmaa.com/ Kelsi’s take on LinkedIn: The good, bad and ugly: (coming soon)Kelsi’s Group Coaching Programs (including wait list for January 2026 programs): https://www.kriitmaa.com/group-coaching  Devex: https://www.devex.com/ The Bloom: https://readtobloom.com/ Dr. Rebecca Dempster, trained on Internal Family Systems (IFS) - https://resileo.net/   “The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever” by Neha Ruch - link“Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and (Actually) Love What You Have” by Amanda Goetz - link Show Editor  Ziada Abeid is a communications consultant with over a decade of experience spanning media relations, PR, marketing, fundraising, and digital media strategy. She specializes in crafting compelling narratives and data-driven campaigns that amplify brand visibility and engagement. To learn more, visit: linkedin.com/in/ziadaabeid

    46 min
  6. 62. When chaos meets order with Jeanne Briggs

    08/29/2025

    62. When chaos meets order with Jeanne Briggs

    What does it take to stay calm when everything is falling apart? In this episode, Jeanne Briggs, an international development professional who thrives on bringing order to chaos, shares lessons from 24 years with USAID that are relevant to our situation today. We explore how to widen your window of opportunity, take a trauma-informed approach to crisis, find clarity in transition, and use peer support as an anchor in turbulent times. Introduction When everything feels like it’s falling apart, who do you want by your side? For many humanitarians and development professionals navigating sudden layoffs, political upheaval, and uncertainty, that person has been Jeanne Briggs. She’s a steady hand in the storm: the one who sees the bigger picture, brings calm to the chaos, and helps people make sense of their options without telling them what to choose. In today’s episode, Jeanne shares her most recent journey from directing a $94M USAID portfolio in the Democratic Republic of Congo to co-founding with other women leaders the Aid Transition Alliance, supporting people in aid through one of the sector’s biggest crises in decades. What you’ll learn  What embodying change looks like in times of personal and political upheavalThe concept of “windows of opportunity” in transitions, and how to widen them for yourselfWhy peer support groups can be an anchor in chaotic timesThe difference between “order Muppets” and “chaos Muppets” Practical steps you can take if you’re feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unsure of what’s nextAbout our guest Jeanne Briggs describes herself as an international development professional who thrives on bringing order to chaos. For 24 years, she served with USAID, most recently as Director of Democracy, Rights & Governance in the DRC, where she oversaw a $94M portfolio. Her career spans crisis responses from Ebola containment to Afghan evacuations. Jeanne is known as a thoughtful listener who gives honest, gentle feedback, a catalyst for change who specializes in helping people understand their options without dictating their choices. Her superpower? Staying up all night to create frameworks that help others find the clarity they need to make well-informed decisions for themselves. Today, she co-leads the Aid Transition Alliance, providing support, career guidance, and knowledge preservation for a humanitarian and development workforce in flux. Resources and links mentioned Organization: Aid Transition Alliance [LINK]Organization: OneAID Community [LINK]Book: “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk [LINK]Book: “Widen the Window” by Elizabeth Stanley [LINK]Organization: Green String Network (trauma-informed peacebuilding) [LINK]Resource: EMU/STAR Model for Breaking the Cycles of Violence [LINK]Organization: KonTerra Group [LINK]Article: Chaos Theory: A Unified Theory of Muppet Types [LINK] Resource: Georgetown University’s Pivot With Purpose Program [LINK]Episode 59: The power of structured peer support with Carrie Santos [LINK]Episode 37: Get in the “growth zone” with Cindy Rocha [LINK]Article: “You are not alone: Preventing Suicide in a Time of Crisis” [LINK]Join the conversation What kind of Muppet are you?  Order or Chaos?  Share your thoughts with us on LinkedIn.  Support the show If you found this conversation helpful, please follow the podcast and leave a quick rating or review.  It helps more people like you to consider Embodying Change.

    47 min
  7. 61. “Career Pivot” with Wayan Vota

    05/22/2025

    61. “Career Pivot” with Wayan Vota

    It can feel overwhelming navigating a career pivot, especially in times of uncertainty. But it doesn’t have to be.  In today’s episode of Embodying Change, we’re joined by Wayan Vota, founder of Career Pivot, to explore how humanitarian and development professionals can use these very principles to make meaningful career transitions. Wayan shares his personal journey of shifting careers after being laid off and discusses how his platform, Career Pivot, helps people embrace change, find new opportunities, and use their skills in new places, all while staying true to their core values.  He walks through his seven-step methodology for job searching and pivoting careers, showing how you can align your professional path with your commitment to improving lives globally. Wayan also highlights how technology, networking, and peer support systems can powerfully support job seekers in their transitions, helping them find new roles that uphold their values and continue their impact. If you're a humanitarian looking to pivot or even redefine your professional journey, this episode will give you tools, inspiration, and insights to take the next step, without compromising on your values. Today’s guest:Wayan Vota is the founder of Career Pivot, a 12,000-member community dedicated to helping professionals find a new job. With over 25 years of experience using technology to improve lives around the world, Wayan has seen firsthand how difficult it can be to pivot, especially when you're deeply committed to humanitarian values. After being laid off in January, Wayan channeled his own experience into creating Career Pivot, a platform designed to help people align their values with their career transitions. Through Career Pivot, Wayan supports job seekers with a 7-step methodology and guides to use Generative AI to accelerate the job search process. You’ll learn: How we can use our core values to guide a successful career pivotThe seven-step process for transitioning careers with clarity and confidenceWhy networking and informational interviews are essential for seeking new rolesHow to leverage LinkedIn and AI tools to streamline your job searchThe power of peer support systems during career transitionsHow Wayan’s personal journey led him to create Career Pivot to help others navigate career changesHow to maintain a commitment to solidarity while transitioning out of international development or the humanitarian sectorResources:Learn more about Career Pivot and get involved at mypivot.substack.com.Career Pivot offers webinars, peer support groups, and guides to help you through every step of your career transition Mentioned in today’s episode: Wayan’s personal blog and resources: mypivot.substack.comThe book Never Search Alone“Welcome to USAID Hunger Games! Worst Game No One Wanted, by Friends of USAID” https://mypivot.substack.com/p/welcome-to-whose-career-is-it-anyway Subscribe and connect: Check out Wayan’s Career Pivot platform for job seekers at mypivot.substack.comConnect with Wayan on LinkedIn: Wayan Vota’s LinkedIn

    39 min
  8. 60. "The Big Humanitarian Rethink" with Lydia Poole

    04/21/2025

    60. "The Big Humanitarian Rethink" with Lydia Poole

    Lydia Poole discusses "The Big Humanitarian Rethink," a digital consultation she launched with Ben Parker to capture diverse perspectives on reforming the humanitarian system during a period of unprecedented funding cuts. The consultation revealed two distinct camps: "reimaginers" who advocate for radical transformation addressing power imbalances, and "improvers" who prefer incremental change while preserving humanitarian principles. Despite these differences, both groups agree on the need to maintain some international crisis response capabilities. As the humanitarian sector navigates this watershed moment, Lydia emphasizes the urgent need to make difficult choices about what to preserve while avoiding a disorderly collapse of vital services. This conversation offers rare insight into a sector at a crossroads, balancing immediate operational demands with the opportunity for meaningful, long-overdue reform. Today's Guest Lydia Poole is a humanitarian financing expert with over 15 years of experience. Along with Ben Parker, Lydia co-created "The Big Humanitarian Rethink" citizen consultation, an initiative to collect diverse perspectives on humanitarian system reform following recent funding cuts. Lydia previously wrote an article published by The New Humanitarian addressing the risks of leaving key decisions about humanitarian system reform to a small group of leaders with vested interests. You'll Learn How Lydia and Ben launched a digital consultation to give voice to diverse perspectives on humanitarian reformThe major divide between "reimaginers" and "improvers" in approaches to humanitarian reformWhat both camps agree on despite their different visions for the futureHow the humanitarian system is responding to the current funding crisisWhy traditional humanitarian financing models may be at odds with localization effortsThe common ground that could unite different perspectives on reformResources The Big Humanitarian Rethink citizen consultation Find Lydia Poole on LinkedIn"Improving or Reimagining? Mapping key narratives on the Future of Development Cooperation," by Prof. dr. Sara Kinsbergen & Dr. Zunera Rana, Radboud University, April 2025.

    36 min
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About

A podcast for humanitarians who want to work in closer alignment to core values like compassion, accountability, solidarity and equity. Born in 2020 in collaboration with CHS Alliance and Mary Ann Clements, the podcast is now entering its next evolution and is hosted by Melissa Pitotti.

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