Inside Reinvention

About Inside Reinvention

Reinvention is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. For individuals. For businesses. For entire systems. In a world defined by disruption, the ability to adapt—deliberately and courageously—has become the most important skill of all. Hosted by Andrew Wrobel, it looks at how people and organisations navigate meaningful change. Through honest conversations, we uncover the questions, turning points, and bold decisions behind real transformation. For anyone rethinking what’s next—this is your starting point. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Publisher

Reinvantage

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Dec 2020

Latest episode

16 Sept 2025

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2025

   Toomas Hendrik Ilves: From Borders to Bytes

   How a future president spotted a level playing field—and rewired a country around it. My guest today is Toomas Hendrik Ilves. A former President of Estonia, he’s widely credited with shaping one of the world’s most ambitious digital societies. But that’s the outcome. We dig into the thinking that led there—the doubts, the decisions, and the moments of clarity that changed not just a country, but how we talk about digital futures. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s a masterclass in starting differently, staying deliberate, and building trust into the system. What you’ll get: Pick the winnable wedge: choose plays where you’re on a global level playing field. Design the trust layer: unique digital ID and a distributed exchange—no single honeypot. Drive adoption without perfect teachers: seed youth first, co-fund for “skin in the game,” and let social proof do the work. Turn geopolitics into sequence and leverage: how criteria-driven EU entry unlocked NATO. Govern with AI + law: proactive public services, privacy by design. Conversation map: 00:00 Why this conversation, why now 03:05 Early sparks: BASIC in 1971, a PDP-8, and learning that “language is irrelevant—programming is thinking” 10:40 Poverty as strategy: spotting the web as Estonia’s level playing field 17:20 Wiring the schools: co-funding, envy, and a generation that learned by doing 25:10 Architecture, not apps: unique IDs, chips, and a distributed exchange layer (no single honeypot) 33:45 Copying Estonia? What travels—and what absolutely shouldn’t 39:20 EU before NATO: controlling the criteria when politics says “no” 46:10 Beyond “transition”: flipping old stereotypes and what the data actually shows 51:00 What’s next: AI in public services, proactive tax/health, and why law must lead 55:10 The resistance playbook: when critics don’t code, start with kids and parents 57:00 Quickfire On his nightstand: Homer — The Odyssey: A New Translation by Daniel Mendelsohn (Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Odyssey-New-Translation-Daniel-Mendelsohn/dp/0241733588)) The question he leaves us with: Why are we turning away from rational, evidence-based thinking after centuries of progress? Guest links X/Twitter: @IlvesToomas (https://x.com/ilvestoomas/?lang=eu) LinkedIn: Toomas Hendrik Ilves (https://www.linkedin.com/in/toomas-hendrik-ilves-623489/) Stay connected Subscribe to Inside Reinvention. Follow Andrew Wrobel (website (https://andrewwrobel.com/), Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwrob/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andrew_wrob/)) and Reinvantage (website (https://reinvantage.org/), Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/reinvantage/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_reinvantage/)) for new episodes, tools, and research. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

2. 

   5 Mar 2024

   Rafael de Hoyos: “Reinvention is not about repairing a fridge.”

   What if the biggest inequality of the future isn't about income—but about who gets to adapt? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Rafael de Hoyos, Human Development Programme Leader at the World Bank and co-author of The Future of Work: Implications for Equity and Growth in Europe. Drawing from decades of data, Rafael lays out a stark reality: technology accelerates productivity but also deepens disparities—between large and small firms, urban and rural populations, and especially between those with foundational skills and those without. They explore why vocational education, once seen as a fast track to employment, now risks leaving millions unprepared in a world of shifting tasks and shortening job tenures. Rafael explains why teaching people to learn, relearn, and unlearn is no longer optional—and how we’ve arrived at a moment where basic skills are not just a social issue, but a structural economic risk. From rising market concentration to the hidden cost of neglecting literacy and numeracy, this episode connects the future of education to the future of equity itself. With sharp insights on AI, social skills, and why Europe’s digital transition needs a human strategy, Rafael argues for a reinvention of both policy and purpose. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

3. 

   3 Jan 2024

   Sayasat Nurbek: “The most difficult thing is to unlearn what you think you’ve mastered.”

   What if education wasn’t just about knowledge, but about equipping people to face the unknown? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, about redesigning education in an age of relentless change. From pioneering digital universities to embedding adaptability, resilience, and unlearning into the core curriculum, Kazakhstan is reimagining what higher education is for—and who it serves. Minister Nurbek draws on lessons from martial arts, neuroscience, and global labour market shifts to explain why future-proof education means more than skills—it requires mindset. He shares how Kazakhstan is personalising the student experience, reinventing the role of teachers, and turning university diplomas into startup launchpads. And why, in a world that is brittle, anxious, nonlinear and incomprehensible, reinvention must start at school. Together, they explore Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a middle power through science, innovation, and strategic partnerships—betting not just on infrastructure, but on people. This episode is a sweeping, personal, and deeply practical vision of transformation. Because in a world where the rules keep changing, the true test of education is this: will it still matter after your first punch in the face? Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

4. 

   12 Sept 2023

   Dumitru Alaiba: “We respect our people too much to keep them in queues.”

   What does it take to reinvent a nation—not just in structure, but in mindset? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Dumitru Alaiba, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Digitalisation, about his country’s bold digital ambition. From launching the first electric bus made in Moldova to overhauling the bureaucracy that held citizens back, the goal is clear: a government that works at the speed—and with the clarity—of its people. Alaiba shares Moldova’s journey toward becoming a fully digital nation by 2030, including the rapid expansion of its IT sector, the creation of a government super app, and the drive to eliminate outdated processes that breed inefficiency and corruption. But more than technology, it’s a cultural shift—a belief that citizens deserve more than just promises. They deserve results. Together, they explore how Moldova is modelling a new kind of leadership in the region: agile, transparent, and unapologetically people-first. This episode is a reminder that transformation isn’t just possible—it’s urgent. And it starts by asking a simple question: what are we still making people queue for? Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

5. 

   4 Jul 2023

   Shajjad Rizvi: “We all want a clean planet. We all want to be little Greta Thunbergs.”

   What if the air we breathe could be cleaned not by machines, but by the walls and surfaces that surround us? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Shajjad Rizvi, CEO of Resysten, a Hungary-based company whose protective coating began as a breakthrough in hygiene—and evolved into a powerful tool for air purification. What started as a product designed to disinfect surfaces with a single application per year has now become a climate-positive innovation that neutralises harmful emissions through light-activated chemistry. From reducing hospital infections to offsetting car emissions around drive-thrus, Resysten’s pivot is a reminder that some of the best solutions emerge not from grand design—but from curious observation and scientific humility. Shajjad shares the journey from scepticism to validation, the difficulty of selling simplicity in a market addicted to complexity, and why multinationals—not governments—are often the first to move on sustainable innovation in Central and Eastern Europe. Together, they explore the region’s cautious relationship with green tech, the barriers to local leadership in sustainability, and how awareness, education, and everyday practicality can shift behaviours—one coated surface at a time. This is a conversation about audacity, adaptation, and making the invisible visible. A breath of fresh air, quite literally. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

6. 

   6 Jun 2023

   Petra Čičik: “The only successful business in the future is going to be a sustainable business.”

   What if digital transformation wasn’t just an economic imperative—but the missing accelerant for real environmental progress? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel is joined by Petra Čičik, the sustainability lead at Microsoft for Central and Eastern Europe, to explore how the region’s future competitiveness hinges on the fusion of digitalisation and sustainability. Drawing on Microsoft’s Digital Futures Index and the company’s own carbon commitments, Petra explains why digital skills, data visibility, and cloud infrastructure are not only smart business choices—they’re critical enablers of carbon reduction, energy efficiency, and long-term viability. But this conversation goes beyond strategy. Petra reflects on the cultural shifts needed within companies that are still at the very beginning of their sustainability journey. She shares how Microsoft is closing the sustainability skills gap, why transparency is key to accountability, and what it really takes to turn pledges into performance. Together, they unpack the practical first steps—from data collection to mindset shifts—that any organisation, no matter its size or sector, can take today to stay relevant tomorrow. This is a conversation about purpose and pragmatism, about how to move from buzzwords to baselines. For leaders in Central and Eastern Europe—and anyone grappling with where to begin—this episode offers a clear, actionable starting point. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

7. 

   25 Apr 2023

   Alexander Sobolenko: “We take what others throw away—and turn it into something valuable.”

   What if the future of sustainable packaging lay not in high-tech labs, but beneath our feet—in the leaves we rake and forget? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Alexander Sobolenko, co-founder of Relief Paper, a Ukrainian-French startup turning an unlikely idea into a global solution: making paper from fallen leaves. What began as a 16-year-old’s school experiment is now a fully-fledged circular economy venture backed by the European Commission, challenging the status quo of the paper and packaging industries. But this is more than a sustainability story—it’s a case study in perseverance, reinvention, and the complexity of driving systemic change in markets that say they want innovation but hesitate when it arrives. Alex shares how Relief navigates scepticism from large-scale partners, the education gap between end users and producers, and the logistical realities of scaling a climate-positive product. He speaks candidly about the startup’s roots in Ukraine, the decision to build in France, and the long-term vision that still includes Kyiv—where trees shed hundreds of thousands of tonnes of leaves each year. Together, they explore the disconnect between sustainability commitments and supply chain risk aversion, and why customers—ordinary people—might be the quiet force that finally tips the balance. This is a conversation about resilience, resourcefulness, and redesigning systems from the ground up—literally. For anyone building something new in a world still clinging to the old, this episode is a reminder: your greatest challenge may also be your greatest edge. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

8. 

   28 Mar 2023

   Kostas Loukas: “Digital perseverance is a mindset, not a project.”

   In an era shaped by relentless disruption, digital transformation is no longer a strategy—it’s a survival instinct. But what happens when the pace of change outstrips an organisation’s ability to adapt? What does resilience look like when built on shifting ground? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel is joined by Kostas Loukas, General Manager of Enterprise for Microsoft in Central and Eastern Europe, for a deeply relevant conversation on digital perseverance—a concept that goes beyond cloud adoption or cybersecurity. It’s about mindset. Culture. Long-term adaptability. They explore how businesses can build systems that not only withstand shocks, but learn from them—how hybrid work redefined the nature of productivity, why security must be embedded rather than added on, and how data, once just a by-product, has become the new foundation for innovation and continuity. Kostas speaks candidly about the divide between employers and employees, the rise of “productivity paranoia,” and the need for clarity, purpose, and re-recruitment inside every organisation. He unpacks how companies across the region are rethinking the role of technology—not as a support function, but as the core of competitive advantage and cultural cohesion. This episode is a call to reframe digital transformation not as a to-do list, but as a way of showing up—resiliently, responsibly, and with an eye on what truly matters. If your organisation is navigating uncertainty, lagging behind the change it knows is necessary, or searching for the language to align its people around a new future, this conversation is your entry point. Because in a world of headwinds, digital thinking may be the strongest tailwind we have. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

9. 

   14 Mar 2023

   Adam Krasoń: “If we don’t transform, we won’t survive.”

   When disruption becomes constant, the question is no longer if we should change—but how quickly we’re willing to. In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Adam Krasoń, CEO of PwC Central and Eastern Europe, about the stark realities CEOs are facing across the region—and the mindset shifts required to navigate them. Against a backdrop of war, inflation, supply chain instability, and regulatory pressure, Adam reflects on this year’s PwC Global CEO Survey and what it reveals about the changing priorities of business leaders. While macroeconomic forecasts are increasingly grim, many CEOs remain confident in their own companies’ ability to adapt. But confidence without reinvention, he warns, is not enough. The conversation explores why long-term thinking is so often postponed in favour of short-term crisis management, and what it will take for companies in Central and Eastern Europe to build resilience that’s more than reactive. Adam shares insights on the growing importance of regional expansion, the urgency of upskilling and talent retention, and why sustainability, once treated as optional, is now an operational imperative. This episode is a candid look at the shifting logic of leadership in an age of polycrisis—where transformation is no longer an innovation project, but a condition for survival. If you're leading through uncertainty, rethinking your business model, or wondering how to future-proof without losing your footing, this episode will meet you where you are—and challenge you to go further. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

10. 

    14 Jun 2022

    Andreea Baciu: “Automation begins with a choice to value human time.”

    Automation is often described in numbers—hours saved, costs reduced, processes accelerated. But what if we measured its true value by the time it returns to people? The energy it unlocks? The meaning it restores? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel speaks with Andreea Baciu, Chief Culture Officer at UiPath, about a deeper and more human story behind automation. One that centres on dignity, creativity, and the power to redesign the way we work. Andreea shares why automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about releasing them from tasks that drain purpose and potential. She reflects on how UiPath has helped thousands of organisations not just transform their processes, but reshape their culture. From healthcare and public services to sustainability and refugee support, automation emerges not as a threat, but as an opportunity to align work with what truly matters. Their conversation moves across the pressures of modern business, the legacy of burnout, and the urgency to build more humane systems. They explore how the pandemic forced a collective re-evaluation, and why companies that embrace intelligent change are not only more efficient, but more alive. This episode is an invitation to rethink what we mean by progress—and to recognise that meaningful work doesn't begin with technology. It begins with the decision to value time, talent, and trust. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

11. 

    8 Dec 2020

    Olga Grygier-Siddons: “Leadership isn't about power—it's about perspective"

    What makes leadership fit for today’s world? Is it experience? Diversity? Or the courage to challenge long-standing assumptions? In this episode of Inside Reinvention, Andrew Wrobel sits down with Olga Grygier-Siddons—former CEO of PwC Central and Eastern Europe and the first woman to join PwC’s Global Strategy Council—for a conversation that goes far beyond titles. They explore what responsible leadership really looks like, why diverse perspectives aren't just a fairness issue but a business imperative, and how unconscious bias still holds back progress—especially for women in strategy, tech, and boardrooms. Olga shares candid reflections on gender representation, the double burden faced by women in leadership, and the quiet power of empathy in polarised times. She also explains why women supporting women—and men choosing to understand and sponsor them—remains a critical part of the change equation. This is a conversation about leadership as reinvention: of systems, cultures, and the stories we tell ourselves about who belongs where. If you're interested in leading better, listening deeper, or simply seeing leadership through a wiser lens, this episode is for you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.

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