Change That Works is a podcast about change, leadership and innovation by Integrated Consulting Group (ICG). It takes you behind the scenes of our consulting practice and shares insights on how change in organizations can actually work, informed by 40 years of experience as change consultants. We are aiming to inspire a different way to transform organizations and in every episode we will look at different change phenomena and methods that come from practice directly into your podcast feed.
Reach out to us to keep the conversation going at changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)!
Your „one ESG manager” can’t save your company, your leadership and culture will
We talk about ESG as if it were mainly about emissions, reports, and ticking the right boxes. But in practice, the biggest sustainability risk is often much closer to home.
In this episode of Change That Works, we explore the uncomfortable truth most ESG discussions avoid: culture and leadership practices can make or break sustainability long before carbon targets do. Today's host, György Péczely with sustainability leader and consultant Kristiina Kiviharju, together challenge the idea that hiring one ESG manager can “handle” sustainability for the organization. We discuss why sustainability is fundamentally about future business viability, why aiming for the “legal minimum” is a dangerous strategy, and how toxic work cultures quietly undermine even the best ESG ambitions.
Drawing parallels between ESG and lean thinking, the conversation reframes poor leadership and emotional overload as real waste — the kind that drains performance, drives burnout, and destroys trust. This is a candid discussion for leaders who suspect that the real ESG work doesn’t start in dashboards, but in how people are led every day.
If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com).
9 Apr 2026
Serve Everyone, Reach No One: The Segmentation Wake‑Up Call
In this episode of Change That Works, host Alexandra Popescu sits down with strategy and market-centricity expert Carina Christian-Kradischnig to unpack what it really takes to turn customer insights into strategic decisions. They explore why many companies are “data rich but decision poor,” how smart segmentation creates a shared language across teams, and why integrating segmentation into your CRM is the key to making it actionable. If your CRM feels like a database instead of a decision system, this conversation will help you move from dashboards and reports to focus, priorities, and measurable business impact.
If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com).
23 Feb 2026
Middle Managers Who Make It Work
Middle managers sit right at the core of organizational life, they are the beating heart of change — but their reality is often far more complex than it appears. In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the unique pressures and enormous potential of this role: from balancing strategic expectations with day‑to‑day realities, to navigating identity shifts, stress, and the lonely middle. How can middle managers make the most of their sandwich position?
Together with our guests Hannah Flachberger and Kinga Illyés, you’ll learn what truly helps middle managers stay effective, empowered, and energized — and how leaders can support them in doing so. Packed with practical tools, personal insights, and fresh perspectives, this conversation sheds new light on a role that keeps organizations running.
If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com).
30 Jan 2026
Inside Cultural Change
Culture isn’t a soft topic; it’s the operating system of your strategy.
In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with Manfred Höfler about how leaders can transform their organisational culture from a barrier into a competitive advantage. Forget surveys and slogans — this is about real behaviour, real decisions and real business impact. We delve into the patterns that silently shape performance, going behind the scenes of cultural change — beyond talk and campaigns. If you want to understand why your organisation behaves the way it does, start here. Essential listening for executives navigating transformation.
If you have any questions for György or Manfred or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
23 Dec 2025
6 Change Myths We’re Leaving Behind in the old year
In this special Christmas edition, all the Change That Works hosts – Carola, Alexandra, and Gyuri – sit down together to bust some of the biggest myths they hear in their work as change consultants. From the seductive illusion of big transformation plans to the false comfort of “just doing a training,” they challenge the assumptions that block real change from happening.
Expect personal stories, sharp insights, a few laughs, and a look behind the curtain of what actually works when it comes to leading transformation.
For this episode we will be welcoming all of our hosts – Alexandra, Carola and György – who will be busting the change myths and sharing their personal experiences with you.
If you have any questions for our hosts or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
10 Dec 2025
The Human Company Reset
Every CEO wants results: improved efficiency, shorter lead times, and streamlined processes.
However, few dare to admit that the real bottleneck is leadership behaviour, rather than a lack of tools or the knowledge how to use them.
In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with Josef Procházka, revealing the uncomfortable truths about leadership that companies often fail to recognise to be essential for any transformation.
If you have any questions for György or Josef or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
28 Oct 2025
The Second Operating System with OKRs: Turning Strategy into Results
In this episode of Change That Works, Alexandra Popescu-Zorica talks with Michael Sarnitz, Managing Partner at ICG, about how organizations can turn strategy from a PowerPoint promise into daily reality. They explore why even the best strategies fail in execution, what “second operating systems” can do to bridge that gap, and how OKRs can shift teams from activity-based to results-based work. This conversation is a deep dive into the real work of strategy — ownership, mindset, and rhythm — and how to make strategic plans survive first contact with the calendar.
Main insights and topics covered:
The Strategy–Execution Gap
What Strategy Really Means
Ownership in Strategy Development
The “Second Operating System”
Time as a Critical Resource
From Activities to Results
OKRs vs KPIs Explained
If you have any questions for Alexandraor Michael or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
4 Oct 2025
When Comfort Crumbles, Courage Speaks
Change is always challenging, and sometimes frightening. In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with István Kosztolányi about the experiences of successful, and less successful change processes. We discuss what makes change work, and how leaders step up to the task. István shares some of the most memorable cases he has witnessed during his 30+ years of consultant career. We discuss the underlying principles and draw pragmatic conclusions, showing how the courage and openness of leaders can help organisations through the most difficult periods of change.
If you have any questions for György or István or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
2 Sept 2025
The One Skill That Will Decide Which Leaders Rise in the Next 5 Years — with Dan Palmer
What will define the executives of the future? In this episode of Change That Works, host Alexandra Popescu-Zorica speaks with Dan Palmer about why innovation management — not just efficiency — will set tomorrow’s leaders apart.
Through the story of John and Alex, an their own experiences they explore how corporate culture, education, and fear of failure often stifle creativity, and why nurturing small-scale experimentation is just as vital as chasing disruptive breakthroughs. Tune in to learn how leaders can balance short-term performance with long-term innovation and build organizations ready for the future.
If you have any questions for Alexandra or Dan or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
30 Jun 2025
Leadership is a Marathon, but let’s sprint
Host Carola Gasser-Trinkl and Kurt Meyer, Managing Partner at ICG Austria, discuss embedding leadership development into busy professionals' daily routines through focused formats, behavioral hacks, and support systems in this interview.
23 May 2025
Agile or fragile: From buzz word to superpower
Host Carola Gasser-Trinkl interviews Maria Cenusa, Managing Partner at ICG Romania, about agile methodologies, exploring misconceptions and successful transformations in large organizations, emphasizing that agile is a means to an end.
25 Apr 2025
Comfortably Stuck. The Sleeping Duck Syndrome.
Why do big companies—with all their money, people, and power—struggle to truly innovate? In this fun and no-nonsense episode, Alexandra chats with Richard Roolvink, consultant and coach in ICG Rijnconsult in the Netherlands, who drops some spicy truths. He compares big firms to fat cats and calls them sleeping ducks - easy targets for faster, leaner players.
Richard unpacks the difference between renovation (aka polishing the old stuff) and real innovation (creating something genuinely new). He says it straight: old roads won’t take you to new places. So why do companies keep walking them?
We dive into the three big blockers he sees in corporate leadership:
😴 Complacency – the comfort zone is killing progress
🌫️ Lack of clarity – when no one knows the true destination
🪫 Lack of commitment – big talk, small action
If you work in or with large organizations, this one will hit home. It’s packed with sharp metaphors, honest takes, and ideas that might just wake the duck.
25 Mar 2025
The meeting you’ll enjoy
Imagine you've just finished one of your meetings. And just like your other meetings, it went amazingly well! People were energetic, you've learned a lot and the team has made great progress! This is not a dream, such a world can be a reality. You'd have to change, but not much. Forget the strict meeting rules you've heard and start thinking about what makes people happy and energised in a meeting. Learn about how to build meaningful collaboration in your meetings, how to keep participants emotionally connected and how to use 100% of people's brains.
Our guest for this episode is the ambassador for energetic and value-creating meetings: Julia Achatz, Managing Partner of ICG Austria.
21 Feb 2025
The Blame Game
Why do some teams thrive on creativity and innovation while others are stuck in a cycle of fear and blame? In this episode, we dive into the critical role of psychological safety in fostering a culture where ideas flourish and intelligent failures lead to growth. Join us as we explore the fine line between mistakes and intelligent failures, inspired by the groundbreaking work of Amy Edmondson.
Our guest, Alexandra Gruicin, introduces The Blame Game – a powerful tool designed to spark open conversations about blame, mistakes, failures, and psychological safety. Curious to learn how this tool can transform your team's dynamics? Tune in now to discover more about The Blame Game and how to create a culture of trust and innovation!
If you have any questions for either Alexandra or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
24 Jan 2025
Operation Healthcare Merger: Stitching together systems, people and mindsets
When two things merge each one brings along baggage - some good, some maybe not so good. This holds true for private mergers - like families or people merging - but even more so in a business context. It becomes especially tricky when not everyone thinks it’s a good idea - resistance and conflicts are natural consequences. Stakes become even higher when human lives come into play as is the case in the health care sector. In this highly inspirational episode we will take a closer look at challenges and success factors when it comes to such mergers. We’ll especially focus on how to design processes that involve all stakeholders and take people along for the ride .
Our guest for this episode has been involved in many such undertakings: Marit Ubachs, Partner & Director at ICG Partner Rijnconsult in the Netherlands.
If you have any questions for Carola or Marit or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
12 Dec 2024
The Gift that keeps on giving: Failures
Join hosts Alexandra, Carola, and György as they share their personal experiences with failure and reveal the valuable lessons they've learned from their own mistakes.
21 Nov 2024
Business Process Management
György Péczely and Matti Perttula, Managing Partner at ICG Innotiimi Finland, reveal how Business Process Management methodologies can revolutionize organizational performance by shaking up leadership and behaviors.
25 Oct 2024
Effectuation
In this episode, we explore the concept of effectuation, the science of entrepreneurial thinking that equips individuals and organizations with the tools to navigate an unpredictable and unplannable future. Rooted in principles that emphasize leveraging resources at hand, embracing uncertainty, and co-creating with stakeholders, effectuation offers a transformative mindset shift, especially relevant for leaders and teams facing constant change. We dive into how adopting effectual thinking helps organizations innovate resiliently, make informed decisions under uncertainty, and harness creativity by focusing on achievable goals rather than rigid plans. Whether you're an entrepreneur or an established business leader, this episode will inspire a fresh approach to problem-solving and adaptability.
For this episode our host Alexandra Popescu-Zorica will be joined by Michael Faschingbauer, Partner at ICG Austria and expert on the topic.
If you have any questions for Carola or Markus or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
19 Sept 2024
Rapid Results for an Impatient World
To create real impact and to do so fast is often times a big challenge in change endeavours. This is where Rapid Results comes in: It's all about short term initiaitves driven by small teams, that focus on a very clear, ambitious goal. In our first episode of the new ICG “Change That Works” Podcast learn how you can unleash this powerful method in your organization and create real forward momentum for large scale change. Because as Bob Schaffer used to say: “The best driver for better performance is better performance itself”.
For this episode our host Carola Gasser-Trinkl will be joined by Markus Spiegel, Partner at ICG Austria and expert on the topic.
If you have any questions for Carola or Markus or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com (mailto:changethatworks@icg.eu.com)
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Questions about Change that works
Who hosts Change that works?
Carola Gasser-Trinkl host the show. Published by ICG.
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The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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