Leading Through Change: Real Talk & Lessons from Those Who’ve Been There (with Suzanne Knight)

Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast

Change is hard. Why do people resist change in organizations, and how can leaders effectively overcome this resistance? Join us in this real talk with lessons from a leader who has been there. Our guest, Suzanne Knight, CEO & Founder, mBolden Ltd., discusses strategies for leading through transformational change and dealing with resistance.

She shares the importance of executive buy-in, clear communication of the vision, and understanding the human impact of change. Suzanne highlights the challenges of initiating change from within the organization and how external consultants can often be more effective due to their neutrality.

She also discusses the role of KPIs and the importance of balancing different stakeholder interests. Lastly, she provides advice for employees navigating change, focusing on constructive resistance and up-skilling to adapt to the future of work.

Tune in to this episode to discover:

✔️ The emotional landscape of change and its profound impact on organizations.

✔️ Vital strategies for overcoming resistance to change by engaging vision and clear communication.

✔️ The importance of external consultants in providing neutral perspectives for effective change management.

✔️ How pilot programs and testing phases are pivotal in the successful implementation of change initiatives.

✔️ Empowering strategies for employees to constructively embrace and adapt to change, enhancing their future work prospects.

✅ About Suzanne Knight:

Suzanne Knight is an award-winning expert and keynote speaker on transformational change and the future of work. CEO and Founder of mBolden consulting firm, Suzanne works with clients around the world helping them anticipate and adapt to change so they can thrive, rather than just survive. Through her own firm and nearly a decade at Deloitte, Suzanne worked with over 40 clients in 12 countries. Beyond her consulting work, Suzanne is an active angel investor with The Firehood, start-up advisor, and tech founder. She previously spent 5 years with Walmart Canada as Vice President, Transformation Services and Philip Morris International as National Director of Organizational Effectiveness, leading organization transformation and change in both roles.

Suzanne volunteers as a SickKids Innovator, mentor with Urban Squash Toronto, and is on the HR Committee of JIAS. She has served as head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a Consumer Goods company, on the Executive Advisory Council for Walmart Canada's Women in Retail program, and on the Foundation Board of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Suzanne has an MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and MBA in Finance and Strategy. In 2023, she was recognized on The Peak’s Emerging (under age 40) Leaders List and The DMZ’s Women of the Year.

✅ Connect with Suzanne Knight:

www.mbolden.co - Human capital consulting firm focused on helping clients understand and prepare for the future of work. LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/skknight/

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