Wired for Change

Amy Yee
  • 5.0 (2)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In a world that's evolving faster than ever, the key to staying ahead lies in understanding the intricate dance between people, process and technology - and the impact they create for humans, organizations and society. This dance is critical for moving forward and yet, more than 70% of these initiatives fail. This show is meant to help leaders and teams with the many decisions and shifts that are required to drive successful innovation, transformation and change.

  1. Preview: Episode 38 - When Tech Stopped Being "Safe"

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Preview: Episode 38 - When Tech Stopped Being "Safe"

    Watch this two-minute preview of Wired For Change podcast episode 38: When Tech Stopped Being "Safe". Host Amy Yee is joined by Cate Huston, author of The Engineering Leader, for a thoughtful conversation about how engineering leadership is changing — and what that means for careers, teams, and judgment in today’s tech landscape.

    2 min
  2. When Tech Stopped Being "Safe"

    JAN 27

    When Tech Stopped Being "Safe"

    For a long time — especially in software engineering — there was an unspoken promise: if you were smart enough, fast enough, or technical enough, the rest would work itself out. That promise no longer feels reliable. In this episode of Wired for Change, host Amy Yee is joined by Cate Huston, author of The Engineering Leader, to explore what’s changed — and what engineering leadership demands now. Cate brings lived experience from across the tech landscape, including working as a software engineer at Google, leading distributed teams at Automattic, and navigating trust, privacy, and accountability at DuckDuckGo. This conversation isn’t about all tech roles equally. Many parts of the tech ecosystem — hardware, infrastructure, safety-critical systems — have long operated under different constraints. What we examine here is a pattern that emerged most strongly in software engineering, particularly in Big Tech and high-growth environments. We talk about: Why technical excellence is no longer a safety net How engineering identity shifts when “writing code” stops being the differentiator AI as a multiplier of judgment — not a replacement for it Leadership as force multiplication rather than individual output Why careers are bigger than any one job or organization This isn’t a doom-and-gloom episode. It’s a reframing — about judgment, agency, and leadership when the old assumptions no longer hold. Chapters: 00:00 – When tech stopped being “safe” 03:10 – The broken career contract in software engineering 07:20 – Identity: “I write code” vs “I build things that matter” 11:45 – From pampered engineers to scrappy reality 16:40 – Layoffs, uncertainty, and the end of the safety net 21:30 – Careers vs jobs: letting go of “up and to the right” 26:50 – AI as a multiplier (and when it backfires) 33:40 – Judgment over answers in modern leadership 39:30 – Scaling teams by scaling judgment 45:20 – Leadership without authority or abundance 52:10 – Self-management before managing others 58:45 – Feedback, growth, and readiness for responsibility 1:04:10 – Values, privacy, and real trade-offs in tech 1:10:20 – Letting go of old career beliefs 1:13:00 – Working with reality as it is

    1h 16m
  3. Patriotism Over Profit: Cyber Leadership, Judgement, and the Path Ahead

    12/23/2025

    Patriotism Over Profit: Cyber Leadership, Judgement, and the Path Ahead

    What does patriotism mean in a cyber context — and how should leaders balance mission, judgment, and profit in a rapidly changing world? In this episode of Wired for Change, host Amy Yee is joined by George Al-Koura — CISO, former Canadian Armed Forces Signals Intelligence Specialist, and co-host of Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks. This reflective conversation goes beyond tools and trends to explore cyber leadership as a values-driven practice. Amy and George discuss patriotism over profit, the real constraints leaders face, trust and intuition as decision-making skills, and how to navigate responsibility in an era shaped by AI, misinformation, and geopolitical tension. They also touch on ethical data use, entrepreneurship, and what it means to choose the path ahead — personally, professionally, and nationally. A thoughtful end-of-year episode for leaders in cybersecurity, technology, public service, and beyond.

    1h 38m
  4. Canada Under Pressure: Navigating the Hybrid Threat Landscape

    12/16/2025

    Canada Under Pressure: Navigating the Hybrid Threat Landscape

    Canada is navigating an evolving threat landscape where cyber risks, physical security, disinformation, geopolitics, and human behavior increasingly converge. In this episode of Wired for Change, host Amy Yee is joined by Lina Dabit, former Unit Commander of the RCMP Cybercrime Investigative Team and former Field Unit Commander with the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program, for a wide-ranging conversation on trust, leadership, and resilience in a hybrid threat world. Drawing on decades of frontline and executive experience, Lina shares how security challenges have evolved — and why siloed approaches no longer work. Together, Amy and Lina explore what hybrid threats really mean in practice, how misinformation erodes trust, and why culture, instinct, and collaboration are as critical as technology. They discuss: How hybrid threats combine cyber, physical, information, and human risks Why misinformation doesn’t need to be true to be effective Lessons from global events and the road to FIFA 2026 The importance of unified command and public-private collaboration Why psychological safety and culture are essential to resilience The role communities can play in strengthening national readiness This isn’t a checklist or a playbook. It’s a clear-eyed conversation about the pressures Canada faces — and how leaders, institutions, and communities can navigate them together. Subscribe to Wired for Change for thoughtful, independent Canadian conversations on technology, leadership, security, and the systems shaping our future.

    1h 8m
  5. Small Hospital, Big Impact: Inside Kemptville District Hospital

    12/09/2025

    Small Hospital, Big Impact: Inside Kemptville District Hospital

    What does it take for a small hospital to deliver big results? In this special Wired for Change episode, host Amy Yee sits down with the senior leadership team of Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) — Frank Vassallo (CEO), Katie Hogue (VP Nursing & Clinical, and Chief Nursing Executive), and Brittany Rivard (CFO & VP Operations) — for a rare inside look at how a 40-bed community hospital is reshaping care in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions. Together, they explore how KDH blends compassionate patient care with innovative partnerships, strong culture, and system-level collaboration. From powerful patient stories to the realities of rural hospital funding, the team shares how they keep care close to home while navigating rising complexity and demand. This episode shines a light on the people, processes, and leadership practices that allow a small hospital to punch far above its weight — and offers insights for anyone working to strengthen community-based care. In this conversation: The realities and opportunities of rural healthcare How culture, psychological safety, and frontline leadership drive performance Patient stories that reveal the heart of KDH Partnerships that expand access and capacity The importance of “care closer to home” in a growing region Why systems thinking is essential for healthcare transformation A thoughtful, human-centred episode about leadership, resilience, and the future of community care. Find out more about Kemptville District Hospital: https://www.kdh.on.ca/Wired for Change: https://www.wired-for-change.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wired-for-change-podcast/Amy Yee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyyee/

    2h 2m
  6. Strengthening Board Leadership in a Fast-Changing Tech Landscape

    12/02/2025

    Strengthening Board Leadership in a Fast-Changing Tech Landscape

    Guest: Matt Davies — Former CTO, Shared Services Canada | Board Member | Senior Advisor, StrategyCorp Technology has shifted the centre of gravity in the boardroom. Once focused primarily on risk and budgets, today's boards must understand AI, data, cybersecurity, cloud, and the culture shifts that accompany them. In this episode, Amy Yee and Matt Davies explore how boards can build fluency in emerging technologies, support leadership teams through uncertainty, and provide forward-looking stewardship rather than reactive oversight. Together, they unpack: How directors can move from oversight to foresight What AI, cyber, and data governance mean for modern governance The rising importance of culture, tone at the top, and talent readiness How board composition and committee structures are evolving Practical ways boards can accelerate learning (tabletops, outside expertise, briefings) Why continuous learning is now essential for every director Whether you sit on a board, advise one, or aspire to join one, this episode offers clear insight into what leadership looks like in a fast-changing technological era.

    52 min
  7. The Cavalry is Us: How Cyber Leaders are Rewriting the Future

    11/25/2025

    The Cavalry is Us: How Cyber Leaders are Rewriting the Future

    Episode 33 — The Cavalry is Us: How Cyber Leaders are Rewriting the Future Recorded live at BSides Ottawa 2025, this episode brings together leaders from across Canada’s cybersecurity, policy, and critical infrastructure communities to explore a message that resonated throughout the conference:The cavalry isn’t coming. The cavalry is us. Host Amy Yee speaks with keynote speakers, policy advocates, engineers, researchers, and organizers who are helping shape Canada’s digital resilience. Through candid conversations, they unpack: Why Canada struggles with cohesion in cyber defence How policy and legislation shape national readiness The real fragility of critical infrastructure The widening gap between retiring experts and new talent The power of grassroots communities like BSides Why cyber practitioners must help inform public policy How trust, mentorship, and collaboration strengthen resilience Whether you work in cybersecurity, public policy, critical infrastructure, defence, or digital leadership, this episode offers grounded insight into what it takes to build a stronger and more resilient Canada. Featuring (In order of appearance): George Al-Koura, CD — CISO @ ruby | Principal Advisor @ Ceiba Law | Co-Host @ BKBT Podcast | Canadian CISO of the Year (2025) David Shipley — CEO & Field CISO, Beauceron Security James Troutman — Co-Founder & Director, NNENIX IXP | Chief of Staff, Skytalks Cheryl Biswas — Cybersecurity Analyst & Researcher | Speaker | Mentor Katie Noble — Organizer, Hackers on the Hill (Washington, DC) Julien Richard — Canadian organizer, Policy Village & Hackers on the Hill

    48 min
  8. Beyond the Blueprint: Inside the Practice of Public Service Design

    11/18/2025

    Beyond the Blueprint: Inside the Practice of Public Service Design

    What does service design look like inside government?In this episode, Amy Yee talks with Shannah Segal, Experience Design Lead at the Ontario Digital Service, about the craft behind designing public services that work for people. Shannah shares honest, grounded insights from her work across government and the private sector — from the role of user research and contextual inquiry, to the realities of navigating policy, silos, and organizational culture. Together, they explore why traditional approaches often fall short, how design teams build trust inside complex systems, and what it takes to balance innovation with accountability. Topics include:• Why service design is uniquely suited to the public sector• The difference between policy consultations and true user research• Designing for diverse populations when “everyone is the user”• Lessons from the Verify App during the pandemic• The human and emotional context behind public services• Working with executives and overcoming silos• The risks of over-valuing deliverables (and why blueprints aren’t the whole answer)• Trauma-informed research and ethical design• The future of service design and the skills that matter most Whether you work in government, UX, public-sector innovation, digital transformation, or policy, this episode offers a realistic and human perspective on the practice of public service design. https://www.wired-for-change.com

    58 min
See All (41)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In a world that's evolving faster than ever, the key to staying ahead lies in understanding the intricate dance between people, process and technology - and the impact they create for humans, organizations and society. This dance is critical for moving forward and yet, more than 70% of these initiatives fail. This show is meant to help leaders and teams with the many decisions and shifts that are required to drive successful innovation, transformation and change.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Yee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amy Yee
  • Show Website
    Wired for Change