Curiosity, AI & the Future of Change with Allie Hartman In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm sits down with Allie Hartman—founder of the Change Curiosity Lab, Agile Change Manager alum, and one of the most generous voices in the global change community. Allie shares her journey from aspiring engineer to human-centred change leader, unpacking how curiosity, community, and continuous learning have shaped her career. Together, Jen and Allie explore why AI is provoking so much fear among change practitioners, how to work with emerging tools without losing our human strengths, and where agentic AI may take the profession next. Allie offers practical, grounded examples of how she uses AI to accelerate sensemaking, creativity, and collaboration—while keeping critical thinking and human connection firmly at the centre of her practice. Listeners will walk away with new language, new confidence, and a new mindset for partnering with AI in 2026 and beyond. 🎧 A must-listen for change practitioners who want to stay relevant, work smarter, and unlock fresh possibilities for their role.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm sits down with long-time Agile Change All-Star Sue Danner — a change leader who’s applied agile principles in some of the most unexpected places: regulatory bodies, compliance-heavy environments, and the nonprofit sector. Sue shares how empathy, experimentation, and courageous kindness can transform even the most risk-averse workplaces. From reframing “resistance” as “response” to bringing agility into social impact work, this conversation proves that agile isn’t just for tech — it’s for anyone brave enough to lead with heart.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm chats with Dijana Marjanovic Alispahic, Marco Di Santis, and Leah Makin from UniSuper — a powerhouse trio redefining agile change in a highly regulated industry. They unpack their accidental journeys into change, the human side of agile, what brain-friendly practice means for neurodivergent professionals, and the leadership practices that foster psychological safety and creativity. Expect candor, laughter, and a few truth bombs that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm sits down with M&A expert and ACLI alum Amy Leighton to unpack the just-released ACMP White Paper on the future of change management. Together, they explore why agile change is a natural fit for the high-pressure world of mergers and acquisitions. Amy shares practical insights from her frontline experience—highlighting how speed, cultural alignment, and agile mindset matter most during integration. Expect advice on what to retire in M&A playbooks, tools to add, and how to engage rather than just communicate.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm sits down with Elizabeth Beattie, Program Change Lead for AI and Innovation at UNSW, to explore what it really takes to lead change in the age of AI. Elizabeth shares how she's applying agile, human-centered change techniques to foster curiosity, build capability, and create safe spaces for experimentation at a research-intensive university. They dive into lessons on leadership vulnerability, why co-creation beats top-down control, and how AI transformations are fundamentally different (and not so different) from past changes. Whether you're a change leader, innovator, or AI-curious, this conversation will spark fresh ideas for your own practice.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Dr. Jen Frahm reconnects with David Arnold—change leader, creative thinker, and the brains behind the award-worthy “Change Bees” initiative. From building a cardboard city to visualize strategic goals, to launching a grassroots podcast from a local café, David brings to life what it means to practice agile change in the real world—with limited resources, high ambition, and a whole lot of heart. Tune in to hear how curiosity, creativity, and community spirit can fuel powerful, pragmatic change.

What happens when agile change meets cutting-edge neuroscience? In this powerful episode, Dr Jen Frahm reconnects with Anton de Weger—tech innovator and AI strategist—now leading transformative work in the Australian Epilepsy Project. From building agile teams to navigating complex stakeholder environments in medical research, Anton shares how rapid iteration, transparency, and purpose-driven design are redefining what’s possible in healthcare innovation. This is a masterclass in bringing agile change to life—far beyond IT.

In this episode of "Conversations of Agile Change," Dr. Jen sits down with Brynn Shader, an experienced organizational change consultant and advisor. Brynn shares her journey into the world of change management and agility, which began with solo travels across Europe in her teenage years. This early experience with navigating unfamiliar environments sparked her love for agility and later shaped her career in HR and organizational change. Brynn discusses her current work advising a large hospital network through an ERP implementation and how she balances the excitement and challenges of such significant changes. The conversation delves into the relationship between HR (or People and Culture, as it's known in Australia) and change management, exploring how HR can shift from a reactive role to an architect of change. Brynn emphasizes the importance of moving from a "victim to architect" mentality, encouraging individuals and organizations to embrace agency and empowerment in the face of change. The discussion also touches on building change capabilities within HR, the impact of COVID-19 and AI on HR practices, and the concept of "change craft" as an artisanal approach to managing change. Brynn advocates for embracing discomfort and developing a mindful relationship with uncertainty to thrive in an agile environment. She concludes with practical advice for change and HR practitioners looking to become more agile, highlighting the importance of mindfulness, visualization, storytelling, and influencing without formal authority. Listeners can connect with Bryn Shader via her website, brynshader.com, or find her on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, host Lena Ross from the Agile Change Leadership Institute sits down with Kathy Piestrzynski, an accomplished leader in organizational change and program management. Kathy shares her journey into the world of change management, discussing how her curiosity and project-oriented mindset led her to become a head of change. The conversation explores her transition from traditional change practices to more agile methodologies, including the innovative use of journey maps over heat maps to better navigate change experiences. Kathy offers valuable insights on the importance of engaging stakeholders through visual management and the power of reflective practice within teams. She also shares practical advice for change practitioners on how to experiment with and apply agile principles effectively in their organizations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning how to lead change with agility and resilience.

In this episode of "Conversations of Agile Change," Dr. Jen is joined by two remarkable guests from Ontario, Canada, Zara Thurgood and Candace Trapp. Both leading change management professionals with extensive experience, Zara and Candace share their journeys of over two decades each in the field of change management within a large retail organization. The discussion delves into the evolving nature of change management and the importance of change agility in today's fast-paced business environment. Zara and Candace highlight their experiences in integrating agile practices into their organization's change management processes, emphasizing collaboration, continuous improvement, and co-creation. They also share insights on how they have cultivated a culture of trust and psychological safety within their team, enabling vulnerability and fostering a learning environment. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the practical application of agile change practices, the significance of leadership support, and the enablers and barriers to successful change and agility. Tune in to learn how Zara and Candace have navigated the challenges of weaving agility into their change management practices and discover actionable tips to drive value through change and agility in your organization.

In this episode of Conversations of Agile Change, Lena Ross is joined by Michelle Teunis, a trusted change advisor with over 25 years of experience. Michelle's work bridges the gap between what science knows and what business does, particularly in the areas of neuroscience, behavior, and successful change realization. The conversation delves into Michelle's journey and her passion for integrating brain-friendly change practices. Michelle shares insights from her experiences with various organizations and highlights the importance of understanding how our brains fundamentally process and respond to change.

Agile Change Leadership Certificate Alumni Natasha Redman shares her insights from the recent World Agility Forum in Lisbon, we then explore the evolving landscape of change management, highlighting the critical role of agile methodologies in driving organizational transformation. From unpacking common challenges in agile adoption to contrasting agile approaches with traditional waterfall methodologies, our discussion delves into the key themes shaping the future of change management.

In this episode of "Conversations of Agile Change," Kylie Browne speaks with Lena Ross and discusses her role as a director of organizational change, focusing on digital transformation and organizational agility post-COVID-19. She highlights the accelerated pace of change projects, emphasizing the need for quicker execution with less planning time. Kylie advocates for visual communication in change management, explaining how it simplifies complex information and facilitates effective communication. She also details the development of a community of practice within her organization to deepen change management capabilities at multiple levels. Listeners will learn about implementing agile change management and the benefits of continuous improvement. This episode is essential for anyone looking to understand agile methodologies in contemporary organizational contexts.

In this episode of "Conversations of Agile Change," Dr. Jen Frahm and Enterprise Change Lead Melissa Bialoruski delve into the transformative power of agility and change management. Together, they explore the profound shift from hierarchical control to collaborative co-creation, highlighting the importance of embracing vulnerability and purpose-driven approaches in navigating the complexities of modern organizational change.

And we're back! Conversations of Change has had a lovely long nap and has woken up most refreshed and wanting to chat about Agile Change! Your co-hosts are Lena Ross and Dr Jen Frahm. We tell you what's coming up.

I speak with Aurecon's Digital Futures Leader to understand how leaders can use data to lead change in our organisations.

In a mini series on the Hardest Changes You Will Lead I speak with Michelle Redfern on the drive towards Gender Equality in organisations

We talk exploratory leadership with the ULTIMATE exploratory leader, and change agent extraordinaire Celine Schillinger of We Need Social and my partner in BigBounds, SmallSteps - Jillian Reilly of Antacara Frontiers

The org psych, the communicator and the innovations expert revisit the bar and talk about how their recommendations were received from the last time, and what they think the state of leadership is today. They also share what comes next.

I share 5 tips on how to lead change when you are personally up against your limits.