Change Leadership Conversations

Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta
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Change Leadership Conversations podcast explores the insights and practical experiences of thought leaders, change management practitioners, and industry change leaders on what it takes to lead and respond to change in today’s disruptive and fast-evolving world of work. Hosted by Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, Change Leadership Advisor, Workshop Facilitator, and Founder of The Change Leadership, each episode brings grounded conversations and practical perspectives shaped by real-world experience. This podcast also goes hand in hand with the Change Leadership Conference held every spring in Toronto.

  1. Sep 16

    AI Adoption Isn't a Technology Challenge | Ep 31

    AI is changing how organizations work, but technology alone doesn't create transformation. As Dr. Wendy Cukier explains, successful AI adoption is ultimately a people and change leadership challenge.  In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Dr. Wendy Cukier to explore how AI is reshaping the workforce, why every job will be affected by AI, and what leaders need to do today to build organizations that are ready to adapt, learn, and thrive.  In this conversation:  Why curiosity may be one of the most valuable skills for thriving in an AI-enabled future  The capabilities organizations need to build to prepare for an AI-enabled future  How leaders can build trust, encourage responsible AI adoption, and navigate uncertainty with confidence  About Our Guest  Dr. Wendy Cukier is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Founder and Academic Director of the Diversity Institute, and Academic Research Director of the Future Skills Centre. She leads nationally recognized research on AI, workforce transformation, future skills, innovation, and inclusion. Dr. Cukier has authored more than 200 publications, co-authored the bestseller Innovation Nation, and is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross, one of Canada's highest civilian honours.  Resources & Links  Connect with Dr. Wendy Cukier on LinkedIn  Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn  Learn more about The Change Leadership

    AI Adoption Isn't a Technology Challenge | Ep 31

  2. Aug 27

    Becoming an Adaptive Change Leader | Ep 30

    In this episode, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with K. Brian Dorval and Samantha Stead from Better Change Tools to explore why adaptive change leadership begins with understanding people.  Together, they discuss how different thinking preferences shape communication, decision-making, collaboration, and responses to change. They also share practical insights into why self-awareness is one of the most important leadership capabilities in today's rapidly changing world, and how leaders can build greater trust, buy-in, and adaptability across their teams.  In this episode, we discuss:  How different thinking styles influence communication and decision-making.  The role of Creative Problem Solving in navigating complex change.  Practical ways to build trust, collaboration, and organizational buy-in.  Why understanding people may be your greatest leadership advantage in an AI-driven world.    About Our Guests K. Brian Dorval is the co-developer of the Creative Problem Solving method, a practitioner and trainer of VIEW and SOQ, and the author of more than 70 publications on creativity and innovation. He has delivered innovation programs, training courses, and performance workshops in 21 countries worldwide and is also a tennis player and sports performance coach.  Samantha Stead is a former Vice President of Product Development and Consumer Insight in international direct-to-consumer publishing. She is a practitioner and trainer of Creative Problem Solving, VIEW, and SOQ, specializing in creative approaches to consumer insight, with extensive experience leading organizational change and transforming business performance.  Resources & Links  Connect with Samantha Stead and K. Brian Dorval on LinkedIn  Learn more about VIEW  Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn  Learn more about The Change Leadership

    Becoming an Adaptive Change Leader | Ep 30

  3. Aug 13

    Reimagining Change Leadership - Building Organizational Buy-in | Ep 29

    What if the job of a change leader was never to drive change? In this conversation from the  Change Leadership Conference, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta challenges traditional approaches to leading change and explores why building organizational buy-in isn't about better communication or managing resistance. It's about creating the conditions where people discover, own, and lead change themselves. In this episode, you'll learn: Why organizations often ask for buy-in too lateHow to move from telling people to engaging themWhy resistance is valuable insight, not something to eliminateHow building change capability helps organizations thrive in a world of constant change  Guest Bio Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is an Executive Change Advisor and the Founder of The Change Leadership, a global platform dedicated to equipping leaders and organizations with the mindset, skills, and practical tools to lead change in today’s disruptive world. She works with leaders, teams, and organizations globally to help them lead and respond to change. She is also the creator of the Change Leadership Conference, and host of Change Leadership Conversations. Resources & Links • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn • Learn more about our work The Change Leadership • Explore Change Leadership Training and Workshops

    Reimagining Change Leadership - Building Organizational Buy-in | Ep 29

  4. Jul 2

    Leading Change Across Systems: Boardroom, Government and Education | Ep 28

    In this episode, I sit with Dr. Akolisa Ufodike to explore what it really takes to lead change across very different systems.  From boardrooms and corporate leadership to government, education, and public service, change does not behave the same way everywhere.  So what happens when leaders try to apply one approach across all of them?  Dr. Ufodike shares insights from a career spanning CFO and COO roles, academia, entrepreneurship, and serving as Deputy Minister in Alberta.  Together, we explore why change in some systems is fast and adaptive, while in others it is structured, political, and slow to move.  We also unpack why real change is not something you simply “roll out,” but something that is built from within systems through trust, relationships, and networks.  Guest Bio  Dr. Akolisa Ufodike is an Associate Professor, former Deputy Minister in Alberta, and former CFO and COO across multiple industries. He has held senior leadership roles in corporate, academic, and public sector systems. He is also the founder of the John Ware Institute, which has supported the placement and development of Black Canadian leaders on boards across the country.    Resources & Links  • Connect with Dr. Akolisa Ufodike on LinkedIn  • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn  • Learn more about The Change Leadership  • Explore Change Leadership Training and Workshops

    Leading Change Across Systems: Boardroom, Government and Education | Ep 28

  5. Jun 18

    Why Traditional Change Management Fails in a Complex World | Ep 27

    In this episode, we discuss systems thinking, chaos theory, and the complexity of leading change.  Traditional change management assumes a level of predictability that simply does not exist in many modern organizations.  In this conversation, Rick Nason breaks down why leaders often struggle when they apply structured, linear thinking to environments that are fundamentally complex, adaptive, and unpredictable.  Using systems thinking and chaos theory, Rick explains the difference between simple, complicated, and complex systems, and why this distinction is critical for anyone responsible for leading transformation.  This conversation is a reminder that not all change can be managed the same way. Some change can be structured. Some can be planned. But much of what leaders face today must be understood through the lens of complexity, adaptation, and human behaviour.  In this episode, we explore:  • Why “solving” thinking breaks down in adaptive human systems • What chaos theory and systems thinking reveal about unpredictability in organizations • Why AI can handle complicated work but struggles with true complexity  Guest Bio  Rick Nason, PhD, CFA, is an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Nason held senior roles in capital markets as well as roles in corporate training and development.  He is the author / co-author of nine books and textbooks, including It’s Not Complicated: The Art and Science of Complexity in Business, published by University of Toronto Press, and Rethinking Risk Management, by Business Experts Press.  Resources & Links  • Connect with Rick Nason on LinkedIn  • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn  • Learn more about The Change Leadership  • Explore Change Leadership Training and Workshops

    Why Traditional Change Management Fails in a Complex World | Ep 27

  6. May 14

    Getting to Yes: Building Organizational Buy-in For Change Management | Ep 26

    In today’s episode of Change Leadership Conversations, we bring you a practical panel discussion recorded live at the Change Leadership Conference on a challenge many change managers know well: how do you get to yes for change management?  I’m joined by Silvia Fraser, Blake Bell and Esther Akinrinlola for a rich conversation on building organizational buy-in, showing value early, and embedding change capability across the organization.  This episode explores what it takes to move change management beyond a checkbox activity and position it as a strategic enabler. The conversation gets into the work behind buy-in: understanding what matters to executives, activating informal influencers, creating shared language, and helping teams see change as part of how the organization works, not something that happens off to the side.  Together, we explore:  • How to build buy-in for change management  • Why showing value early is often more powerful than trying to sell the function • How to use data, business outcomes, and case studies to influence senior leaders • Why change capability must be built across the organization, not held by one team  Panel Guests  • Silvia Fraser: Director, Workplace Strategy & Transformation, Metrolinx  • Blake Bell: Head, Global Change Enablement, Manulife  • Esther Akinrinlola: Director, Change Management & Communications  Resources & Links  • Connect with Silvia Fraser, Blake Bell and Esther Akinrinlola on LinkedIn • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn • Learn more about Change Leadership Training• Explore the Change Leadership Conference

    Getting to Yes: Building Organizational Buy-in For Change Management | Ep 26

  7. Apr 30

    The Future of Change Management | Ep 25

    In today’s episode of Change Leadership Conversations, we bring you a powerful panel discussion recorded live at the Change Leadership Conference on the future of change management.  I’m joined by Manisha Paliwal, Jason Little, Myles Bartlett, and Rich Batchelor for a rich and thought-provoking conversation on how the role of change leaders is evolving in today’s fast-changing world.  From AI and adaptive organizations to coaching, curiosity, and change enablement, this discussion explores what it means to lead change in an environment shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and accelerating technological advancement.  Together, we unpack how change management is moving beyond traditional frameworks into a more people-centered, enablement-driven, and experimental practice. If you are thinking about the future of your role, your skills, and how to stay relevant as a change leader, this conversation is for you. We also explore:  • How AI and emerging technologies are reshaping the role of change leaders • Why curiosity and experimentation are becoming critical future skills • How VR, empathy, and immersive technologies are influencing change adoption • Why change leaders must become more agile, people-centered, and collaborative  Panel Guests  • Manisha Paliwal – VP, Enterprise Change Enablement • Jason Little – CTO, author, and founder • Myles Bartlett – Associate Dean at Sheridan • Rich Batchelor – Global ACMP President and Chief Change Agent   Resources & Links • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn • Learn more about Change Leadership Training • Explore the Change Leadership Conference

    The Future of Change Management | Ep 25

  8. Apr 16

    Navigating Change, and Disrupting Status Quo | Ep 24

    In today’s episode of Change Leadership Conversations, the tables turn as Cher Jones sits down with me, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation recorded live at the Change Leadership Conference.  Together, we discuss what it truly means to disrupt the status quo, not just in organizations, but in how we lead and respond to change. We also take listeners behind the scenes of the Change Leadership Conference, the thinking behind the theme, and the evolution of The Change Leadership as a platform, community, and movement.  In this episode, we explore:  • What disrupting the status quo really means in today’s world of work  • The human and neuroscience-based approach to leading change  • How empathy and bold leadership coexist in difficult decisions  • The 6Cs behind The Change Leadership ecosystem  • Why change leadership is bigger than one conference and must become a collective movement    Guest Bio  Cher Jones is a personal branding strategist, speaker, and corporate trainer known for helping leaders and professionals build magnetic personal brands that create visibility, credibility, and opportunity. In this special conference conversation, Cher brings her signature warmth and strategic insight to unpack the deeper “why” behind change leadership, brand, and impact.  Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is the Founder of The Change Leadership, a global platform dedicated to equipping leaders and organizations with the mindset, skills, and practical tools to lead change in today’s disruptive world. She works with professionals, teams, and organizations globally to help them lead and respond to change with confidence, empathy, and impact. She is also the creator of the Change Leadership Conference, host of Change Leadership Conversations, and a recognized thought leader in practical, human-centered change leadership.    Resources & Links  • Connect with Cher Jones on LinkedIn  • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn  • Learn more about The Change Leadership  • Explore Change Leadership Training and Workshops

    Navigating Change, and Disrupting Status Quo | Ep 24
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Change Leadership Conversations podcast explores the insights and practical experiences of thought leaders, change management practitioners, and industry change leaders on what it takes to lead and respond to change in today’s disruptive and fast-evolving world of work. Hosted by Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, Change Leadership Advisor, Workshop Facilitator, and Founder of The Change Leadership, each episode brings grounded conversations and practical perspectives shaped by real-world experience. This podcast also goes hand in hand with the Change Leadership Conference held every spring in Toronto.

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