Episodes

Why do some change initiatives struggle despite strong execution? Sometimes, the problem starts long before implementation. In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta speaks with Patrice Njoh, Partner in Deloitte Canada's Human Capital and Technology & Transformation Consulting practice, about why leading change requires more than delivering a project. It requires bringing people into the conversation early, designing change with them in mind, and building organiza...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Amanda Bernardo. Together, they explore what makes leading change in government unique, why building organizational change capability matters, and how leaders can prepare their people for a future where change is constant. Whether you work in government, the broader public sector, or any organization navigating ongoing transformation, this conversation offers practical insights to help you lead change. In t...

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 ...

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 g...

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 late How to move from telling p...

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 explor...

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 s...

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 manageme...

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 ...

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 o...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Michelle Joliat, Senior Vice President at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, for a powerful and practical conversation on what it really means to build your brand as a change leader. Michelle’s journey spans management consulting, digital transformation, and enterprise leadership across organizations like RBC, BMO, and Ontario Teachers’. But what stands out is not just what she has done, it is how she has shown...

What does it really mean to influence change, even when you don’t have a formal title? In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by Jeremy Schmidt, VP and Senior Manager of Organizational Change Management at RBC’s U.S. Wealth Management Division. Jeremy shares how he went from financial advisor to change leader, and how anyone, regardless of job title, can play a meaningful role in shaping change. This conversation is full of grounded insights on influe...

In this powerful episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by Lori-Ann Beausoleil, trailblazer, change champion, and former Senior Partner at PwC with over 35 years of experience. Lori-Ann’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and relevance. From being one of the few racially diverse women in the Canadian corporate world in the 1980s, to building an extraordinary legacy, she’s now using her voice and influence to shape the future of boardroom le...

In today’s episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by trailblazer Jahanzaib Ansari, for a powerful conversation on the intersection of HR, AI, and innovation. Jahanzaib has been leading in the ethical AI space long before it became a buzzword, bringing a grounded and deeply personal lens to how organizations use technology to drive fair and inclusive change. His lived experience fuels a mission to reduce bias in hiring and help organizations integrate AI respo...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by David Donaldson for a wide-ranging conversation on courageous leadership, the evolving nature of change, and how to lead when the path isn’t yet visible. With decades of experience leading leadership development and transformation initiatives across sectors, David shares powerful stories, from his early entrepreneurial days to his work in national safety, aviation, and leadership training to explore what it re...

In this episode, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by Rehana Rajwani, a transformation leader who brings a unique blend of science, systems thinking, and soul to how we lead change. Rehana, who currently leads Agile Learning and Transformation at BMO, shares how her background in engineering and agile coaching inspired her to develop the concept of Organizational Physics, a powerful framework that applies feedback loops, momentum, and systems thinking to drive meaningful change at scale. Together...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by Blake Bell for a grounded and practical conversation on what it really takes to get buy-in for change at scale. Blake shares insights from over two decades of leading enterprise-wide change in complex organizations including Rogers, RBC, and now Manulife - where he’s helping to build a change-capable workforce of over 40,000 employees. Together, they explore the shift from change management to change enableme...

In this episode, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits with Etonia Collier, a dynamic and deeply insightful change management leader and Director, with over a decade of experience across fintech, financial services, and education. Etonia brings a refreshingly honest and practical lens to what it really means to lead change, especially in today’s chaotic and fast-paced world. From building a change career without formal credentials to using AI to be more human, Etonia walks us through the real-life strategi...

In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, Adam Kahane joins Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta to explore what it truly means to collaborate in today’s divided, complex, and fast-changing world. Adam is one of the world’s most respected voices on systems transformation and collaboration. He is the Co-Founder of Reos Partners, and author of multiple influential books including Solving Tough Problems, Power and Love, Transformative Scenario Planning, and Collaborating with the Enemy, which is the fo...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Elizabeth McSavaney, Head of HR for Zurich Canada and leader of HR Transformation for North America. With over 25 years of experience across insurance, tech, government, and consumer goods, Elizabeth shares wisdom from the frontlines of leading transformation, and how HR, leadership, and change are evolving in today’s high-pressure, high-disruption world. This isn’t your typical HR conversation. We explore...

In this powerful episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with one of Canada’s foremost experts on the intersection of AI and healthcare, Dr. Muhammad Mamdani. With over 600 published studies and leadership roles across Unity Health Toronto, Ontario Health, and the University of Toronto, Dr. Mamdani brings real-world insight into how AI can be responsibly developed and deployed to improve outcomes in life-and-death scenarios. We explore: • The practical realiti...

In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, host Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Jeff Fraser, global change executive, to discuss what it truly takes to lead enterprise-wide change across large organizations. Jeff takes us behind the scenes of some of the most complex change initiatives, from driving large-scale digital and facilities transformation to aligning hundreds of workstreams across global markets.We also talk candidly about what it really takes to earn influence at the exe...

In this powerful episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta sits down with Carl Oxholm, former Senior Partner at PwC Canada, and author of The Biology of Leadership to explore how leaders can harness their biology, energy, and emotional intelligence to lead change more effectively. Carl shares practical insights on aligning energy with intention, how to stay grounded in chaotic environments, and why understanding our instincts and emotions is essential for high-performance...

In this engaging and fun conversation, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta has a frank discussion with Joel Emuan about her book, "The Change You Want! Change Your Mindset, and Change Your Life" We dive into the crucial role mindset plays in personal and professional development. Sharing simple and practical strategies on how to overcome the daily challenges we face in our personal and professional lives, this conversation is packed with insights on how the right mindset can drive incredible change and help us...