DECODING AQ - Adaptability For The Future Of Work With Ross Thornley

Ross Thornley + Special Guests
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship

DEVELOPING A NEW PLATFORM FOR CHANGE IN AN EXPONENTIAL WORLD.   Conversations with special guests on their stories of adaptability. From resilience, grit and motivation, to stress, mindset and support from those around us. We explore the science and real-life experiences of adaption. Helping HR leaders, coaches and consultants learn the tools, mindsets, and actions to thrive in an ever-changing world.  **New Episode Every Second Tuesday**

  1. 5d ago

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Emily Court & Fred Schoon - Organizational Change

    Emily Kaur and Fred Schoon are co-founders of Seasons Consulting, who bring a contemporary view on how to lead for change within your organisation. Focusing on relationship dynamics, conversations, group patterns and ingrained mindsets and beliefs. They believe the biggest challenge for businesses today is to deliver results against a defined strategy AND remain open, aware and agile enough to respond to rapidly changing environments.  The answer lies in developing leaders and building high-performing teams that are expectant of change, open to it and strong and confident enough to perform to their highest potential within this volatile and uncertain climate.  They want to partner with leaders who are seeking change, pushing boundaries and operating at the edge of what is possible. These possibilities bring excitement and opportunity but also uncertainty, ambiguity and discomfort. At Seasons Consulting, we make a difference to leaders by partnering with them as they take the bold, brave steps needed in today’s business. Ross, Emily and Fred talk about their work in organizational change and leadership development. The conversation explored why the pair chose to partner rather than work independently, with Emily explaining they wanted to bring allies together and recruit both experienced and younger consultants. Fred shared key transitions they experienced over seven years, including the challenge of developing new consultants who took longer to train than expected and the increasing complexity of bespoke change work versus their initial off-the-shelf models. The discussion addressed how people analytics has evolved, with Emily noting that while knowledge and methods have become more widely shared, organizations still need expertise in behavioral change and psychological aspects of transformation. Fred acknowledged they don't frequently encounter dedicated HR analytics teams in their work, though they do see analytics integrated into engagement surveys. The conversation touched on the challenge of organizations being overwhelmed by data and technology, with Fred describing a recent project helping a German fashion company address organizational paradoxes. The episode concluded with a reflection on unlearning, where Emily shared saying yes to the podcast as a recent first-time experience, and Fred described taking on a challenging project to develop critical thinking skills in a global strategy team. Timecodes: 00:20 Intro to Emily and Fred02:17 Emily and Fred's business partnership04:02 The companies key transitions and organizational evolution07:45 People analytics and workplace changes 14:02 Dealing with technology crossover, re-skilling and the unknown19:54 Lasting impressions for the upcoming event21:37 Overwhelm and exhaustion26:20 The last time Emily did something for the first time26:54 The last time Fred did something for the first timeConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Emily: LinkedInSeasons ConsultingConnect with Fred: LinkedIn

  2. Oct 13

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Ian Pinkett - People Analytics

    Ian builds people analytics into a strategic capability — the kind that leaders actually use to make better decisions. Over the last decade he's led global workforce intelligence, demand/capacity planning and analytics functions across complex, high‑scale environments. Today Ian is accountable for establishing consistent people metrics, insight and governance across a 30+ country footprint — turning fragmented reporting into trusted, decision‑ready intelligence that links talent, capability, cost, productivity and organisational health.  Ian sits at the intersection of People, Finance, Strategy and Technology: integrating multi‑source data, raising data integrity and privacy standards, and translating analytics into clear narratives that land with executives. Ross and Ian talk about the evolution and challenges of people analytics as a strategic capability. How data quality perceptions often serve as a barrier to stakeholder buy-in, emphasizing the importance of starting with clear hypotheses from stakeholders rather than presenting open-ended questions. He shared strategies for building trust with senior leaders, including avoiding surprises in public meetings and framing data as enablers rather than barriers to decision-making. The conversation explored the impact of AI and agentic AI on people analytics, with Ian noting the need to control analytics standards while enabling more complex modelling capabilities. Ian concluded by highlighting organizational health monitoring and ensuring people analytics ties into strategic agendas as key focus areas for the coming year, emphasizing the importance of embracing change as a career principle. Timecodes:  00:10 Intro to the new mini series - People Analytics00:26 Intro to Ian01:57 Getting involved with People Analytics03:26 Challenges with perception around data quality06:48 Aligning with stakeholders and communication strategy10:03 Stakeholder buy-in 12:09 Initiatives that have worked16:08 Data-Driven Decision Making20:11 Blending AI-Powered and People Analytics23:00 What a great next year for Ian would look like - Reimagining Arcadis24:20 Impacts on Ian's career - embrace changeConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Ian LinkedInArcadis

  3. Feb 3

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Dr. Frank Gonzalez - Cultural Architect

    Dr. Frank Gonzalez is a culture and talent leader known for turning people strategy into business strategy. With over 20 years of cross-industry leadership, he has shaped large-scale learning ecosystems, redesigned organizational culture, and delivered thousands of learning experiences worldwide.  A Chief Culture Officer, and deeply human-centered leader, Frank blends data, empathy, and design to build organizations where people and performance grow together. Ross and Dr Frank talk about 4 day work week, nurturing your time, caring about people, human behaviour, what push and pulls us, building capability, cultural architecture, leadership, how you show up, guiding words, fun building, coaching with fun, aligning, one word for a business, framing, feeling words, filtering decisions, mindset, fears,  C.A.R. & C.A.B. - Competency Autonomy Relationships/ Belonging. The pair also discuss resistance to change, routine seeking, trust in organisations, simplification, AQ before  AI, pre-hiring, thought leadership, capability building, behavioural models,  friction between functions, bicultural, human connection,  people being left behind, efficiency , ethics, influences, AI workflows, AI assistance, clapping & enthusiasm, coaching youngsters, workshops and energy. Timecodes: 00:18 Intro to Dr Frank 02:43 The definition of love05:03 Frank's new role09:53 Culture anchors17:14 Adapting to ensure relevance27:34 Merging humans and AI34:43 Different operating systems collaborating39:51 Healthcare and humanoid robots47:18 Exciting things Dr Frank is currently working on48:22 AI simplifier - www.ai-simplifier.com49:34 The last time Dr Frank did something for the first time Connect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Dr Frank LinkedInTikTokInstagram

  4. 12/30/2025

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Anthony Kenneth Spark - Serial Entrepreneur, Money Coach, Philanthropist, Author, and Personal Development Specialist

    Anthony Kenneth Spark is a life and business strategist known for helping people break financial ceilings, rewrite limiting beliefs, and build a life aligned with their God-given purpose.  With nearly two decades of coaching individuals and families toward financial independence and personal transformation, he blends values, discipline, and proven earning strategies to create real, lasting change. Ross and Anthony talk about working young, working long hours, chance meetings, entrepreneurship, retiring young, finding what's important, coaching, overcoming limiting beliefs, evolving, ethics, being authentic, honesty, integrity,  fighting for people, prisoners of lifestyle, financial prisoners and positions of strength. The pair also talk about flexibility, identity, off-boarding, nothing to gain, limiting beliefs, relationship with money, vision, accountability, family first, priorities, mechanisms for timekeeping, being selective, efficiency, Book - The Middle Passage, purpose, relentless intentionality, Tony Robins, Joe Polish, Building environments for optimal performance, compassion, no limitations, challenging yourself, mindset, fear and singular focus.  Book mentioned in podcast: James Hollis - The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife Timecodes: 00:15 Intro to Anthony01:47 Anthony's shift to finding purpose07:07 Compassionate capitalism13:12 Testing ethics and difficult circumstances24:12 What is Anthony passionate about27:47 Day to day and managing schedules35:32 The last time Anthony did something for the first time Connect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Anthony: LinkedInSpark a Change CoachingTel - 6313272241

  5. 12/23/2025

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Hannah Louise Shelton - Global Commercial Engagement & Knowledge Lead - dentsu

    Hannah Shelton is a global people operations and learning-development leader, expert at turning disengagement into driving force. With deep experience shaping talent strategy, employee experience, and organizational learning for multinational firms, she influences how companies design workforces that learn, adapt, and thrive. Ross and Hannah talk about thirst for curiosity, negotiating, everyday approaches, thinking differently, approaching things differently, personal transformation, The Strengths Profile, better appreciation, leadership, curiosity, doubt, potential, judgment, value, change management, elevating, personalised knowledge scaling, coaching, supporting the community, building trust, learning from other people, new phases, self service, learning, adaptability, the future of work, variety, engagement, redundancy, advocacy, DIY and Chat GPT. Timecodes: 00:17 Intro to Hannah 01:05 Chris Voss03:30 Learning and self development06:26 Triggers to evolving and leadership10:43 How Hannah designs and adapts programmes14:39 What's exciting Hannah at the moment with dentsu19:38 Transformation and developing in real time 22:33 Next years plan for Hannah25:16 Supporting agents with AI and evolution29:18 Coaching when data is uncertain34:20 Challenging people and management37:57 Upcoming challenges42:01 Sustainability44:21 The last time Hannah did something for the first timeConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation  Connect with Hannah LinkedIn

  6. 11/25/2025

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Louise Shipway - Founder & CEO, of CareerMovers

    Louise has two and a half decades of experience across the HR, coaching, consulting and training space. A deeply passionate person, Louise loves helping global leaders navigate career transitions, role reinvention, and agile workforce mobility. In her happy place when empowering professionals to imagine, align, believe and create next-chapter careers. Her skills involve Confidence | Empathy | Adaptability | Active Listening | Authenticity | Audience Research | Storytelling Ross and Louise talk about HR, training, career transitions, playing in a orchestra, great experiences, music, choirs, change, executive change, strong foundations, hiring, brand new roles, creating new teams, positive change, good people practices, new programmes, growth, economy, helping people individually, AI layoffs, jobs no longer existing, big shifts, letting go and acceptance. The pair also discuss helping people career change, severance pay, offboarding, upskilling, reskilling,  taking our own responsibility, contracts, values, standards,  complete change in career, transformations, human elements, putting people first, making people feel better, imagination economy, identity change, collaborations, identity crisis, having value, youth unemployment, gamifying change, unlearning and hope. Timecodes:  00:18 Intro to Louise01:21 Being a backing violinist for Lisa Stansfield04:37 Louise's typical clients06:24 Support Louise received during her own company transitions10:57 Significant moments during emigrating15:21 How Louise adapts and navigates  17:08 Tips for employers laying off people due to AI19:46 The worst way organisations lay people of and how to avoid23:04 Help for people who have be sacked27:34 The main problem Louise is trying to solve in companies32:43 Louie's phrase and framework - Imagine, Align, Believe Create38:14 A picture of Louise's best year going forward to 202642:11 Ideal candidates to collaborate with Louise43:44 Volunteering48:40 The last time Louise did something for the first timeConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Louise: LinkedinCareerMoversEmail -  louis.shipway@careermovers.ca

  7. 09/16/2025

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Shelley Winner - Restorative Justice

    International Keynote | Restorative-Justice, D&I Speaker | TEDx Storyteller | Ex-Microsoft Shelley Winner’s life is proof that second chances create world-class talent. Today she leads Winner’s Circle, a movement equipping justice-impacted people with the skills, mindset, and job placements they need to build thriving careers—while convincing employers that fair-chance hiring is a competitive advantage. Her mission is threefold: Empower with career-focused training and mindset coachingBridge the gap between talent and companies willing to invest in second chancesShift the narrative around fair chance hiring and drive systemic policy changeDuring her eight-year tenure at Microsoft, Shelley excelled in B2B sales, earning top honours  in performance and demonstrating what’s possible when companies bet on potential over the past. Shelley’s powerful message has resonated with audiences across sectors, challenging leaders to move beyond token opportunities and build truly inclusive workplaces. Her work continues to inspire change, helping employers transform hiring mindsets and justice-impacted individuals transform their futures. Ross and Shelley talk about prison, incarceration, rehab, interviews, mastering sales, rewiring, rethinking, success, sales reps, teaching, mindset, turning your life around, prison programmes, fear, forgiveness, outside comfort zone, turning life around, mistakes, digital programmes, personal development, the law off attraction and attracting opportunities. The pair also discuss operating at a higher frequency, energy changing, getting into tech, job readiness programmes, criminal records, proof of rehabilitation, hitting walls, sense of hopelessness, shame, society, trust, new laws, hard interviews, fair chance employment, gratitude, work ethic, loyalty, company policies, scaling, manifesting, doing important work and improv classes improving confidence. Timecodes: 00:16 Intro to Shelley01:19 Shelley's 'Winner's Circle' Rehabilitation 04:40 Becoming 'categorically whole'10:17 How rare is recovery and rehab from prison12:27 Differences in prisons and some being unique14:58 From prison to Microsoft19:36 Background checks26:11 Having job offers rescinded27:05 Fighting back discrimination & battling Microsoft35:02 Winning a case and manifestation39:15 How can companies unlock their potential45:36 Legacy mindset46:46 Ways to get involved with 'Winners Circle'50:12 What would make it Shelley's best year ever54:50 The last time Shelley did something for the first timeConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Shelley: LinkedInWebsiteWebsite 2Email - info@winnerscircleus.comFacebookInstagram

  8. 09/09/2025

    Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley & Mike Raven Feat. Jason Desentz - Chief Human Resource Officer

    Jason Desentz - Chief Human Resources Officer @ Toshiba | Human Capital Advisor | Keynote Speaker Jason has honed his craft turning under-dog divisions into high-performance powerhouses. From towing-tech at Horizon Global to private-equity turnarounds at Glacier Advisory Partners. Today, as CHRO of Toshiba’s North-American operations, he’s steering a century-old brand through AI-driven transformation while championing people-first growth. An analytical coach at heart, Jason brings board-level rigor and shop-floor empathy to every culture he rebuilds. Ross, Mike and Jason talk about guidance, not being alone, everyone is figuring things out, challenges with tech, de-centralisation, auditing, compliance, consultancy, influencing people, building trust, understanding, asking key questions, buying in, pulling solutions from people, un-programming, taking care of employees, leading by example, practice what you preach, employment loyalty changing, pivoting core values, shifting values, building strong connections, incentive programmes, creating value and building purpose. The pair also discuss how we are perceived, support, enabling mistakes, rewards, jobs being offset, shifting  learning, readying mindset, dealing with ambiguity, project management skill sets, agility, AI capabilities, curriculum building, learning environments, success, never stop moving forward, pro active teams, safe spaces to work, building trust, influencing people, curiosity, supporting youngsters and don't sweat the small stuff. Timecodes: 00:22 Introducing Jason01:08 Intro to Mike01:40 The upcoming Oasis concert03:18 UNLEASH (HR leaders) conference05:58 Things which have startled Jason this year07:35 Jason's 'Listen, Learn & Lead'13:03 Jason's thoughts on Unlearning16:34 Unlearning against your values and challenges20:02 How Jason is preparing the new generation23:32 Mentoring and coaching27:46 Humanoid robots and replacement31:25 Jason's Toshiba University's impact and human skills34:10 Getting access to Jason's university37:38 What would make this Jason's best year ever41:46 Jason's top three fixes (reaffirming values)44:57 Challenges with buying in and ROI's47:31 The last time Jason did something for the first time49:08 Mike's closing thoughts50:14 Jason's final adviceConnect with Jason: LinkedInConnect with Ross: WebsiteLinkedInMoonshot Innovation Connect with Mike: LinkedIn

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DEVELOPING A NEW PLATFORM FOR CHANGE IN AN EXPONENTIAL WORLD.   Conversations with special guests on their stories of adaptability. From resilience, grit and motivation, to stress, mindset and support from those around us. We explore the science and real-life experiences of adaption. Helping HR leaders, coaches and consultants learn the tools, mindsets, and actions to thrive in an ever-changing world.  **New Episode Every Second Tuesday**

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