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Change Leadership Conversations

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by Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta

5.0(3 reviews)

29 episodes

Updated Weekly

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Podcast Overview

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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Publishing Since

3/22/2024

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Recent Episodes

July 2, 2026

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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ufodike/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a> • Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneakpoveta/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a> • Learn more about <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Change Leadership</a> • Explore <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/corporate-change-leadership-workshops" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Change Leadership Training and Workshops</a>

June 18, 2026

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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-nason-b494815/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn </a>• Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneakpoveta/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn </a>• Learn more about <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Change Leadership </a>• Explore <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/corporate-change-leadership-workshops" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Change Leadership Training and Workshops </a>

May 14, 2026

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 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviafraser/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Silvia Fraser</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-bell-231ab45/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Blake Bell</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-akinrinlola-b3956b97/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Esther Akinrinlola</a> on LinkedIn• Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneakpoveta/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a> • Learn more about <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/changeleadershiptraining" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Change Leadership Training</a> • Explore the <a href="https://thechangeleadership.com/change-leadership-conference-2026" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Change Leadership Conference </a>

29 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Change Leadership Conversations?: 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.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates weekly.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Information about guest appearances is not available.

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