The Change Agent

The Change Agent
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The Change Agent, hosted by Eric, is a practical leadership and project management podcast for people who lead in the real world—not textbooks. Each episode explores the challenges of building, coaching, and sustaining high-performing teams across both in-person and remote environments. Through thoughtful conversations and grounded insights, the show tackles motivation, collaboration, and the realities of modern management. You’ll hear honest discussions on what works, what fails, and how empathetic, disciplined leadership drives results—especially under pressure. Whether you’re an experienced project manager, a people leader, or stepping into leadership for the first time, The Change Agent delivers actionable ideas you can apply immediately. If you believe leadership is about people first—and results that last—subscribe and start leading with purpose.

  1. The Courage to Realign with Myrna King

    4D AGO

    The Courage to Realign with Myrna King

    What happens when the life you worked hard to build no longer fits? In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Myrna King—business and life coach, former tech consultant, and founder of A Life Aligned—to explore what it really means to make YOURSELF the priority. Myrna shares how high-performing professionals often reach the goals they fought for, only to discover burnout, misalignment, or a quiet loss of purpose. Together, they unpack why accountability feels threatening, how courage shows up in personal leadership, and why alignment isn’t about doing more—but doing what actually restores you. This conversation bridges practical leadership execution with inner work, showing how tools like structured project thinking, Socratic questioning, and emotional release practices help leaders move from feeling stuck to living deliberately. If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but unfulfilled in reality, this episode will help you rethink progress, redefine leadership, and take your next step with clarity. Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    43 min
  2. The Science of Leadership - Dr. Valentina Schneider

    JAN 26

    The Science of Leadership - Dr. Valentina Schneider

    Leadership advice is everywhere—but leadership that actually works is rare. In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Dr. Valentina Schneider, a leadership advisor and organizational behavior researcher, to unpack what most leaders misunderstand about empathy, assertiveness, and effectiveness. Drawing from years of academic research and real-world advisory work, Dr. Schneider challenges the false binary that leaders must choose between being nice or being effective. Through evidence-based insight, she explains why that belief is not only wrong—but actively damaging to teams, performance, and careers. Together, they explore: Why conflict is still mostly destructive—and how leaders can make it productiveThe critical difference between cognitive empathy and emotional contagionHow over-assertiveness quietly erodes trust, safety, and performanceWhy leadership effectiveness lives in a narrow “middle ground” most leaders missHow gender norms rig the leadership game—and what leaders can do about itWhy data, when misused, reinforces bias instead of truthHow cross-functional teams fail without emotional intelligence at the centreThis is not a conversation about soft skills. It’s about leadership under pressure, where decisions carry consequences and behaviour sets the emotional temperature of entire organisations. If you lead people, manage conflict, or operate in high-stakes environments where clarity is rare and responsibility is heavy—this episode will change how you think about leadership. 🎧 Listen closely. The science is clear—but the work is yours. Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    1h 1m
  3. Strategy Hits Reality - With Mr. Mike Jones

    JAN 19

    Strategy Hits Reality - With Mr. Mike Jones

    Most organisations don’t fail because they lack strategy. They fail because reality changes faster than their plans. In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Mike Jones, Founder and Director of LBI Consulting, to unpack what leadership and strategy actually look like when certainty disappears and complexity takes over. Drawing on his experience as a former British Army officer and leadership instructor at Sandhurst, as well as his work advising organisations across rail, healthcare, infrastructure, and large-scale enterprises, Mike challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in modern leadership: that more clarity is always better. Instead, he introduces a more uncomfortable — and more effective — idea: strategic ambiguity. This conversation explores why over-specified strategies create fragility, how leaders can set clear intent without strangling execution, and why trust, decentralised decision-making, and freedom of action are essential in complex environments. Together, Eric and Mike discuss: Why strategy should be treated as a practice, not a static planHow mission command enables adaptability without chaosWhen clarity helps leaders — and when it quietly makes things worseThe role of trust and mistake-making in high-performing teamsHow organisational structure drives behaviour, not slogans or culture decksWhy psychometrics and cognitive diversity matter more than personality labelsHow leaders can re-orient in uncertainty instead of clinging to controlWhat to do when leadership climate above you is misaligned or corrosiveThis is not a conversation about frameworks, buzzwords, or leadership theatre. It’s about how strategy actually gets executed by real people under pressure. If you’re a senior leader, programme manager, executive, or anyone navigating complexity where the stakes are real and the answers are incomplete, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, control, and responsibility. 🎙️ Listen now — and learn why the ability to hold intent firmly, plans loosely, and ego lightly may be the most important leadership capability of our time. Learn More About: LBI Consulting Mike Jones on LinkedIn Mike's podcast - "Strategy Meets Reality" Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    53 min
  4. Chaos in Leadership - with Dr. Kevin Mays

    JAN 12

    Chaos in Leadership - with Dr. Kevin Mays

    In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down once again with Dr. Kevin Mays to explore one of the most uncomfortable—and defining—realities of leadership: chaos. When certainty collapses, plans fail, and people look to you for answers you don’t yet have, how you show up matters more than what you know. Together, Eric and Dr. Mays unpack why our obsession with clarity can actually undermine leadership, how expertise can quietly become a liability, and why the most effective leaders learn to stand calmly in uncertainty rather than rush to control it. This conversation dives deep into: Why leaders must learn to be okay with not knowingHow emotional reactivity spreads through teams—and how calm does the sameThe hidden ways identity and ego block growth and innovationWhy leadership is less about answers and more about presenceHow great leaders create other leaders, not followersDrawing on real-world leadership experience—from military command to executive coaching—this episode challenges the idea that leadership is about certainty, authority, or control. Instead, it reframes leadership as an internal discipline: leading yourself first, so others can follow with confidence. If you lead people in complex, high-pressure environments—or if you aspire to—this episode offers practical insight into navigating chaos without losing yourself or your team. Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    56 min
  5. Olga Rudnieva - Leadership, War, and Human Resilience

    JAN 5

    Olga Rudnieva - Leadership, War, and Human Resilience

    In this powerful episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Olga Rudnieva, CEO of the Superhumans Center, to explore what leadership looks like when everything familiar has been taken away. Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, Olga shares her lived experience leading a national effort to restore dignity, purpose, and hope to those who have sacrificed the most. This is not a conversation about titles or theory — it is about responsibility, courage, and humanity under pressure. Together, we examine how leadership emerges in crisis, how moral clarity is forged through adversity, and why rebuilding lives is as important as rebuilding nations. This episode is a reminder that real change is driven by people who act when comfort disappears. 🎧 A conversation about resilience, purpose, and leadership when it matters most. Support The Superhumans Center in Ukraine!  Follow Olga and her work on Facebook! Follow Olga on Instagram! Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!  Support Our Show On Spotify! Support Our Show via Donations below :)  Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    55 min
  6. Leading Yourself First: How Self-Leadership Shapes Stronger Teams with Dr. Kevin Mays

    12/15/2025

    Leading Yourself First: How Self-Leadership Shapes Stronger Teams with Dr. Kevin Mays

    Leadership doesn’t fail because of a lack of strategy — it fails when leaders lose clarity, ownership, and focus. In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Dr. Kevin Mays, a transformative leadership coach, speaker, and author whose work centres on one core belief: true leadership begins with self-leadership. Dr. Mays shares what he sees behind the scenes when business owners and leaders feel stuck, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin — and why the real problems are often internal before they’re organisational. Drawing from his 5-Step Business Ascent process and personal leadership journey, Dr. Mays breaks down what effective leadership actually looks like in day-to-day life, not just in theory. This conversation challenges leaders to stop managing symptoms and start leading with intention — building clarity, accountability, and healthier team cultures from the inside out. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The most common leadership problem holding organisations back todayWhy feeling “overwhelmed” is often a symptom — not the root causeWhich step of the 5-Step Business Ascent process leaders struggle with mostWhat self-leadership looks like in real, everyday decisionsA pivotal lesson from Dr. Mays’ own leadership journeyHow leaders can regain focus when pulled in too many directionsA common mistake leaders make when trying to grow their business or teamWhat separates coachable leaders from those who stay stuckOne small change that can have an immediate impact on your leadershipWhere leaders often go wrong when building team culture — and how to fix itKey Takeaway Leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about leading better. When leaders take responsibility for their own clarity, behaviour, and growth, teams and organisations follow. About the Guest: Dr. Kevin Mays Dr. Kevin Mays is a leadership coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping leaders and organisations move beyond survival and into sustainable growth. Through his coaching and frameworks, including the 5-Step Business Ascent process, Dr. Mays helps leaders strengthen self-leadership, build clarity, and create environments where people and businesses can thrive. About the Podcast The Change Agent is a podcast for leaders who refuse to stay comfortable. Each episode challenges how leadership is practiced — focusing on accountability, motivation, professional growth, and leading when it actually matters. Links https://www.upgradeyourleadership.com https://www.maysleadership.com https://www.kalyna-vision.com Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    54 min
  7. Crisis Management - Interview with Sophia Klewer of Prevency

    11/11/2025

    Crisis Management - Interview with Sophia Klewer of Prevency

    In this episode of The Change Agent, host Eric Adams sits down with Sophia Klewer, Chief Operating Officer of PREVENCY®, a fast-growing European startup specialising in digital resilience and crisis management. Sophia shares her deep expertise from working with international businesses, defence clients, and public sector organisations, helping them navigate cyber threats, disinformation, and organisational crises. Together, Eric and Sophia explore how to define a crisis, why effective management is essential, and how leaders can adapt their strategies to different stakeholders’ needs when chaos strikes. From decision-making under pressure to lessons learned through real-world challenges, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders who want to build resilience in their teams and organisations. 🎯 Key Topics: Why crisis management is vital to leadership and organisational successTailoring response strategies for different stakeholdersTools and techniques for effective crisis handlingLessons learned from mistakes and real-world experiencesAdvice for leaders preparing for their next crisis📚 About Sophia: Sophia Klewer is COO of PREVENCY® and a lecturer in Digital Crisis Management at the Leipzig School of Media. She is also the author of “From Chaos to Clarity: Effective Decision-Making During Crises.” 🎧 Available on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Please don't forget to support the show and be a part of the Change Agent Family! Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    52 min
  8. Closing with a Purpose

    10/28/2025

    Closing with a Purpose

    Closing with Purpose: Finishing Well and Delivering Lasting Value Every project begins with energy and ambition — but how it ends defines its true success. In this season finale, we explore the often-overlooked art of project closure through the lens of the PMI framework and real-world leadership practice. From validating deliverables and celebrating achievements to applying lessons learned and sustaining value long after the final report, this episode dives deep into what it means to finish well. You’ll learn how great leaders turn closure into transformation — ensuring that every project leaves behind not just results, but resilience, culture, and continuity. Whether you’re a project manager, a team lead, or simply someone guiding change, this conversation will help you close your next chapter with purpose — and prepare for the next one with clarity. 🎧 A conversation about thriving with mastery of emotional intelligence.  Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-change-agent/id1799999172 Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing!  - https://www.youtube.com/@TheChangeAgentPodcast Support Our Show On Spotify! - https://open.spotify.com/show/7JsZOGwhH213aRoYRYnb1A?si=e96df1021c4c4b3b Support Our Show via Donations below :) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support Send us a message and let’s connect! Email: engage@thechangeagent.com Thanks for listening and let's go out there and lead! Send us a message and let’s connect! Support the show Support Our Show On Apple Podcasts! Support Us On YouTube by Subscribing! Support Our Show On Spotify! Learn More On Our Website! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the show to help us continue! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449509/support

    53 min
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About

The Change Agent, hosted by Eric, is a practical leadership and project management podcast for people who lead in the real world—not textbooks. Each episode explores the challenges of building, coaching, and sustaining high-performing teams across both in-person and remote environments. Through thoughtful conversations and grounded insights, the show tackles motivation, collaboration, and the realities of modern management. You’ll hear honest discussions on what works, what fails, and how empathetic, disciplined leadership drives results—especially under pressure. Whether you’re an experienced project manager, a people leader, or stepping into leadership for the first time, The Change Agent delivers actionable ideas you can apply immediately. If you believe leadership is about people first—and results that last—subscribe and start leading with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    The Change Agent
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Change Agent Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Change Agent