The Inner Game of Change

Ali Juma
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

 Welcome to The Inner Game of Change podcast, where we dive deep into the complexities of managing organisational change. Tailored for leaders, change practitioners, and anyone driving transformation, our episodes explore key topics like leadership, communication, change capability, and process design. Expert guests share practical strategies and insights to help you navigate and lead successful change initiatives. Listen in to learn fresh ideas and perspectives from a variety of industries, and gain the tools and knowledge you need to lead transformation with confidence. Explore our episodes at www.theinnergameofchange.com.au, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or anywhere you listen to your podcasts. 

  1. Stories Of Change - Why Lecturers Did Not Disappear

    4d ago

    Stories Of Change - Why Lecturers Did Not Disappear

    Why didn't lecturers disappear? For more than 700 years, the role of the lecturer has survived books, the printing press, libraries, the internet, and now artificial intelligence. In this episode of Stories of Change, we explore a fascinating question. How did one of the world's oldest professions keep evolving while the technologies around it kept changing? The story is not really about lecturers. It is about what happens when the thing that once made us valuable becomes easy to access. Perhaps the question is not whether AI will replace us. Perhaps the better question is: what becomes valuable next?  Grab a coffee and join me for this 10 minute story.  Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    12 min
  2. E109 - Co-Creation and The Ownership Effect - Podcast With Terri Block & Susan Bartlett

    Jun 19

    E109 - Co-Creation and The Ownership Effect - Podcast With Terri Block & Susan Bartlett

    Welcome to The Inner Game of Change.  where we explore the thinking that shapes how change really happens.  Why is it that people can sit in a room, agree with a strategy, support a transformation and nod enthusiastically at a presentation, only to struggle when the change finally arrives? Today's guests suggest the answer may lie in a concept called psychological distance. Terri Block and Susan Bartlett from Workomics spend their days helping organisations bring customers, stakeholders and teams together to solve complex problems through co creation. In this conversation we explore Construal Level Theory, why humans think differently about things that feel distant versus things that feel immediate, and why co creation may be one of the most powerful ways of helping people move from abstract ideas to tangible action. Along the way we discuss ownership, expertise, accountability, skin in the game, whether facilitators can ever truly be neutral, and even whether artificial intelligence can become a co creator. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I think you will too. I am grateful to have Susan and Terri chatting with me today.  About The Guests Susan Bartlett I am a principal at Workomics, where we help biotechs bring life-changing therapies to patients. I contribute to projects from the perspectives of go-to-market strategy, operational effectiveness, human-centred design, and strategic communications. I treasure my colleagues and my clients, and feel fortunate to be able to work with them every day.  I write a monthly Substack newsletter (please subscribe!). Through the newsletter, I explore how we make work and workplaces better for people — customer-centric, inclusive and equitable, focused on employee well-being, meaningfully integrated with emerging technology.  In the past, I have been a Rhodes Scholar, a CEO, and a licensed propane dispenser, only one of which involved an objective assessment of my abilities. I love to solve specific, pragmatic problems by drawing on a variety of disciplines and traditions — my university degrees span English literature, software design, philosophy, politics, and economics, and computer science. At various points in my career, I have devoted myself to:  — Communicating complex medical concepts to patients.  — Architecting the data, software, technology, and IT governance structures of large enterprises.  — Embedding human-centred design capabilities to enable customer experience.  — Applying machine learning techniques to natural language problems. Terri Block I co-lead Workomics where we help biotechs and pharma bring life-changing medications to patients who need it. We focus on patient experience including go-to-market strategies and campaigns, creating impactful educational experiences for patients and their care teams, and empowering internal teams to champion patient-centricity across their organization.  My career in human-centered design in the life sciences industry spans 10 years and is underpinned by a whole other career in theatre and teaching. The red thread is bringing the best out in people and imagining better possibilities for our work-at-hand.  I am a creative at heart and author of Words of Wonder www.wordsofwonderbook.com. Contact workomics.com Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    57 min
  3. Stories Of Change - Why Elevators Needed Humans First

    Jun 11

    Stories Of Change - Why Elevators Needed Humans First

    Stories of Change is a special series from The Inner Game of Change. In this series, I explore stories from history, business, science, education, and sometimes from unexpected places. Some stories are famous. Many are not. Together, we will uncover the lessons hidden inside them and what they can teach us about change, leadership, human behaviour, innovation, trust, learning, and adaptation.  In this first episode of Stories of Change, we explore what elevators, trust, adoption, and artificial intelligence might have in common, and why every generation has its own version of the rope.  Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    9 min
  4. Inside The Messy Middle - The Gravity of the Old Way

    May 18

    Inside The Messy Middle - The Gravity of the Old Way

    Inside the Messy Middle is a special series from The Inner Game of Change This fortnightly short series is for people who carry responsibility inside complexity.  Between strategy and delivery. Between intent and impact. Between what was imagined and what must now be made real. In this episode of Inside the Messy Middle, I explore a salient idea: What if organisations are not resisting change… but being pulled back by the gravity of the current way of working? As AI enters workplaces, many organisations are introducing new capabilities while still operating inside environments designed for older workflows, behaviours, incentives, and assumptions. Through stories from business and history, including the arrival of electricity in factories and the persistence of the QWERTY keyboard, Ali explores why transformation often stalls even when people are willing to move. This episode is about: • behavioural gravity • environmental design • AI adoption versus workflow redesign • why old systems keep pulling people back • and the hidden tension between movement and stability inside organisations Because sometimes the challenge is not the future itself. It is the environment still rewarding the past. Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    7 min
  5. E108 - Good Change in a Tired System - Podcast With Gilbert Kruidenier

    May 16

    E108 - Good Change in a Tired System - Podcast With Gilbert Kruidenier

    Welcome to The Inner Game of Change.  where we explore the thinking that shapes how change really happens.  Today’s conversation is less about technology and more about people. Four years after our first discussion around bad change, I reconnect with Gilbert Kruidenier to explore the current state of change in a world shaped by AI, overload, constant adaptation, and growing pressure on organisations and people alike. We discuss learning, leadership, redesign, burnout, human capacity, and why the real challenge may no longer be technology adoption, but how humans absorb continuous change. I am grateful to have Gilbert chatting with me today.  About Gilbert With 20 years of experience in change, communication, and project management, I know exactly how to help organisations navigate complex and transformative change with purpose, clarity, and empathy. I combine the best of change, communication, and project management practices to support large and medium sized change programs, design and deliver workshops and training, and advise boards on strategic topics. I am also an author, independent business owner, a visiting lecturer at Deakin University and even tried my hand at being a cabinet making apprentice, pursuing my diverse interests and skills in consulting, education, and creating beautiful things with my hands. I have a master's degree in culture and change management, multiple certifications in ADKAR, Digital Transformation, Lean Six Sigma and PRINCE2, and a strong background in public and private sector change and (digital) transformation. My core competencies include change analysis, process improvement, coaching and mentoring, and problem solving. My life goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of others, especially the most disadvantaged in society. Contact info Gilbert’s LinknedIn profile linkedin.com/in/kruidenierconsulting Email gilbert@kruidenierconsulting.com.au Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    44 min
  6. Inside The Messy Middle - AI And The Organisational Immune System

    May 7

    Inside The Messy Middle - AI And The Organisational Immune System

    Inside the Messy Middle is a special series from The Inner Game of Change This fortnightly short series is for people who carry responsibility inside complexity.  Between strategy and delivery. Between intent and impact. Between what was imagined and what must now be made real. In this episode of Inside the Messy Middle, I explore a powerful idea: What if organisations behave like immune systems? As AI enters the workplace, many organisations are not simply reacting to new technology. They are responding to perceived threats to identity, expertise, workflows, control, and certainty. Through stories from medicine, business, and lived organisational experience, I explore why good ideas are sometimes rejected, why thoughtful people hesitate during change, and why resistance is often more complex than it first appears. This episode examines: • the hidden defence mechanisms inside organisations • why AI triggers different reactions across legal, IT, policy, and leadership teams • the psychological side of resistance and uncertainty • the role of leadership and change management in creating safe movement during disruption • what business history can teach us about adaptation and survival Featuring reflections on Semmelweis, Kodak, Nokia, and modern AI adoption dynamics, this episode is a deeper look into the invisible tensions shaping organisational change today. Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    10 min
  7. E107 - You Cannot Change What You Cannot See - Podcast with Jill Macauley

    May 2

    E107 - You Cannot Change What You Cannot See - Podcast with Jill Macauley

    Welcome to The Inner Game of Change.  where we explore the thinking that shapes how change really happens.  Today’s conversation sits at the heart of something we do not talk about enough when it comes to change. We talk about strategy. We talk about tools. We talk about capability and execution. But very rarely do we stop and ask a simpler question. What if the real challenge is not the change itself… but what we cannot see about ourselves as we go through it? In this episode, I sit down with Jill McCauley. Jill is the COO at Behavioral Essentials, and her work focuses on one thing that sits beneath performance, culture, and leadership. Self awareness. She has spent years working alongside leaders and teams, helping them see themselves more clearly, especially in environments that look successful on the outside, but feel very different on the inside. In this conversation, we explore the idea of blind spots in the workplace. Not as abstract concepts… but as real forces that shape how leaders show up, how teams operate, and ultimately how change either moves forward… or quietly stalls. We talk about the hidden cost of leadership without self awareness. Why capable leaders unintentionally create friction. And how the strengths that got us here… can sometimes be the very things that get in the way. There is a simple but powerful idea that runs through this conversation. You cannot change what you cannot see. And the moment you start seeing yourself more clearly… everything else begins to shift. I am grateful to have Jill chatting with me today.  About Jill I’ve spent my career working alongside leaders — in boardrooms, executive meetings, and organizations that look successful on paper but feel different on the inside. I’ve learned that this feeling is rarely a strategy problem or a skills gap.  It’s a self-awareness problem. Capable leaders unintentionally create friction. Teams spend time managing dynamics instead of doing the work. Meetings become more painful than they need to be. Energy and efforts get wasted. And no one can quite name why things feel harder than they should. This is the hidden cost of leadership without self-awareness. Over time, I stopped seeing these challenges as individual failures and started seeing them as systemic issues. As organizations grow, roles evolve, pressure increases, and identities lag behind reality. Leaders keep relying on the same strengths that got them here, without realizing those strengths may now be creating blindspots, tension, or misalignment downstream. Self-awareness isn’t soft. And it isn’t intuitive for everyone. It’s a discipline, practice, and a leadership responsibility. That can’t be ignored. At Behavioral Essentials, we work with leaders, teams, and organizations to build awareness where it actually matters — in how people show up, make decisions, communicate under pressure, and impact the systems around them. This work sits at the intersection of psychology, behavior, and real-world leadership demands. It’s not about labeling people or fixing personalities. It’s about creating clarity, reducing unnecessary suffering, and helping organizations function with more ease, accountability, and effectiveness. I’ve seen what happens when leaders are willing to look honestly at themselves, and when organizations create space for that work. Conflict becomes more productive. Roles align more cleanly. Teams stop compensating for leadership gaps. And people get back to doing the work they were actually hired to do.This work applies across industries and career stages — from founders navigating growth, to CEOs leading complex systems, t Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    49 min
  8. Inside The Messy Middle - The Weight of the Middle Feels Heavier Than the Authority

    Apr 20

    Inside The Messy Middle - The Weight of the Middle Feels Heavier Than the Authority

    Inside the Messy Middle is a special series from The Inner Game of Change This fortnightly short series is for people who carry responsibility inside complexity. Between strategy and delivery. Between intent and impact. Between what was imagined and what must now be made real. These episodes are not about tools or frameworks. They are reflections on judgement, dignity, and the human cost of change as it is actually lived. The Weight of the Middle Feels Heavier Than the Authority. This episode explores a reality many middle managers and change makers quietly carry. Seeing what needs to change.  Feeling responsible for making it work.  But not always having the authority to fully shape it. Drawing on history, from Roman centurions to naval captains, and modern organisations like Toyota, this episode reflects on a pattern that has always existed. Responsibility does not always come with full control. And in the messy middle, leadership is often less about authority… and more about judgement. Send us Fan Mail Ali Juma  @The Inner Game of Change podcast Follow me on LinkedIn

    6 min
See All (145)

About

 Welcome to The Inner Game of Change podcast, where we dive deep into the complexities of managing organisational change. Tailored for leaders, change practitioners, and anyone driving transformation, our episodes explore key topics like leadership, communication, change capability, and process design. Expert guests share practical strategies and insights to help you navigate and lead successful change initiatives. Listen in to learn fresh ideas and perspectives from a variety of industries, and gain the tools and knowledge you need to lead transformation with confidence. Explore our episodes at www.theinnergameofchange.com.au, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube or anywhere you listen to your podcasts. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ali Juma
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Inner Game of Change
  • Show Website
    The Inner Game of Change

You Might Also Like