Feedback is part of every manager's job, but the way it is delivered can have a lasting effect on performance, trust and engagement.

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, Ondrej Papanek speaks with Lisa Sansom, owner of LVS Consulting, about what makes feedback useful and how leaders can handle difficult conversations without damaging relationships.

Lisa brings more than 25 years of consulting and business experience across multiple industries. She holds an MBA and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) and is currently working toward her Doctor of Business Administration, where her research focuses on feedback in the workplace.

Her research shows that feedback can do more than help someone improve their work. When handled well, it can also strengthen trust between managers and employees and create a more engaged working environment.

In this conversation, Lisa and Ondrej discuss:

• What makes feedback timely, specific and useful
• The difference between positive, negative and constructive feedback
• Why many managers avoid difficult feedback conversations
• How poorly handled feedback can affect trust and engagement
• Why generic praise can lose its meaning
• How to discuss poor performance without attacking the person
• What employees need in order to leave a difficult conversation knowing what to do next
• How trust and psychological safety affect the way feedback is received
• Why feedback should happen throughout the year, not only during performance reviews
• How managers can use coaching questions instead of always providing the answer
• Why employees should also learn to ask for feedback
• How 360-degree feedback can support leadership development
• Why focusing on one area of improvement at a time can make development more manageable

Lisa also explains why constructive feedback should give people something they can work with. Pointing out what went wrong is only part of the conversation. Employees also need clarity, support and an opportunity to think through what they can do differently next time.

For managers and leaders, feedback is closely connected to leadership, organizational trust and organizational development. Getting it right can help people grow, improve performance and address everyday business challenges before they become bigger problems.

Lisa Sansom

Website: https://lvsconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasansom/

Book a call with Lisa: https://lisasansom.as.me/

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development, organizational trust and the challenges leaders face when turning strategy into action. Ondrej works with leaders and organizations to improve collaboration, strengthen leadership capability and turn transformation into practical, measurable results.

Philip shares how leaders can use AI to challenge their assumptions, consider different scenarios and make better-informed decisions. They also discuss AI leadership, business strategy, governance, and why responsibility for the final decision must stay with people.

Key topics: AI-driven business transformation, AI leadership, AI decision-making, AI governance, business challenges, business strategy, leadership, organizational development, SavionAI.

About Philip Topham

Philip advises private-company boards and senior leaders on using AI while keeping human judgment, accountability and control in place. He has held senior roles in healthcare and IT, has two patents in social network analytics, and has worked with analytical platforms deployed to major pharmaceutical companies.

He co-chairs the Private Directors Association's National AI Special Interest Group and has written more than 225 articles on AI governance, decision-making and thinking with AI.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why bringing AI into an organization involves more than introducing new technology or making existing processes faster.
• What makes AI different from earlier technologies, especially its growing influence on leadership, business strategy and decision-making.
• How to move from AI-assisted search to finding insights, exploring possible futures and thinking through unintended consequences.
• What an AI-native organization might look like if leaders could rethink its processes, organizational development and ways of working from the ground up.
• Why curiosity matters when familiar assumptions no longer hold, and how AI can change roles and collaboration across teams.
• How to involve employees and stakeholders in business transformation, with clear communication throughout the process.
• How prompting is developing into ongoing conversations, AI agents, feedback loops and continuous improvement.
• Why changing AI models make evaluations, safeguards and clear governance necessary.
• How AI can introduce different perspectives into business strategy discussions while leaving room for human intuition, emotion and judgment.

Philip sees AI as a useful thinking partner. It can help leaders work through complex business challenges and see options they may have missed. But someone still needs to weigh the consequences and take responsibility for the decision.

If you're an executive, board member or transformation leader, this conversation offers ideas for connecting AI with business strategy, strengthening leadership and driving organizational development without giving up human judgment or trust.

Connect with Philip Topham

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiptopham

CRAFT Thinking™: https://craftthinking.ai

About the podcast

The Business Transformation Journey is hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach. The podcast explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development, trust and the business challenges organizations face. In his work with organizations, Ondrej helps leaders break down silos, improve collaboration and transparency, and turn transformation plans into measurable results.

Have you ever been so focused on doing your current job well that you stopped thinking about where your career is heading?

In Episode 14 of The Business Transformation Journey, Ondrej Papanek speaks with Kim Sawyer, executive and business coach, entrepreneur, speaker and founder of The Wealth Source, about career development, leadership and the business challenges professionals face when planning their future.

Kim has spent almost 25 years coaching executives, entrepreneurs and leadership teams. He believes people often leave their career decisions to employers, recruiters or circumstances. In this conversation, he explains what changes when you start thinking of yourself as the CEO of your own career.

They discuss how to work out what you offer, communicate the business results you've created and develop a long-term career strategy. Kim also shares why the relationships you build today may matter more than the contacts you make when you're already looking for a new job.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why your career is bigger than your current job
• How to take ownership of your career development and plan two, five and ten years ahead
• Ways to describe your professional value through the business impact you create
• How Kim's 3x3 Value Survey helps you understand how other people see your strengths
• The difference between building social capital and networking only when you need something
• Why professional associations and staying in touch can lead to opportunities over time
• How to approach a move into another leadership role or industry as a transition
• What employers need to see in your CV
• Habits that keep career planning on your radar, even when you're happy in your current role
• How AI can help with career development while you stay responsible for your decisions

If you're considering a new leadership role, thinking about a career change or simply wondering what comes next, Kim offers practical ideas for taking a more active role in your career management. His approach encourages professionals to think strategically about their careers, recognize the business value they create and prepare for future opportunities.

Duration: 47:37

About Kim Sawyer

Kim is the founder of The Wealth Source. His coaching covers performance, communication, time management, leadership development and long-term career success.

Website: https://thewealthsource.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkimsawyer/

Listener offer

Kim is offering his $300 Career Mastery Session to the first three listeners who sign up.

Check availability and book here: https://calendly.com/thewealthsource

About the podcast

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and the business challenges organizations face when turning strategy into measurable results.

In his work with organizations, Ondrej helps leaders break down silos, improve collaboration and transparency, and turn transformation plans into measurable results.

Connect with Ondrej: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-ondrej-papanek/

Nikki is a business futures architect, founder of YQ, author and board advisor. She has spent more than 20 years in media, advertising, commerce and technology, including senior roles at WPP and Publicis. She was CEO of Wavemaker Canada and Chief Commerce Officer at GroupM Canada, and has helped lead businesses representing over $600 million in client billings.

Today, she works with founders, CEOs and executive teams on sustainable growth, business strategy, responsible AI, leadership, culture and commerce.

As companies grow, it's easy to keep adding things: another meeting, another layer of approval, another tool. Nikki encourages leaders to ask, "What does this replace?" It's a useful way to notice where complexity is getting in the way of good work, organizational development and faster decisions.

In this episode, Nikki and Ondrej talk about:

• How to recognize processes, approvals and meetings that no longer serve a purpose
• Why every new hire, tool or process deserves the question, "What does this replace?"
• How healthy skepticism differs from resistance that holds a team back
• Why effective leadership means looking at both someone's behavior and the environment they're working in
• Nikki's approach to hiring: "100% of the person and 80% of the skills"
• How honest feedback, recognition and consistency help build trust
• Using pre-mortems to spot risks before starting something new
• What overloaded calendars do to decision-making, and how to give teams more independence
• Why ownership and accountability make business transformation easier to manage
• How to remove what isn't working without damaging relationships
• Why growth isn't always worth pursuing, especially when focusing on a clear niche might be a better business strategy

For CEOs, executives and transformation leaders dealing with business challenges such as packed calendars, slow decisions or growing complexity, this conversation offers practical ideas for simplifying work, strengthening leadership and supporting sustainable organizational development while protecting the people and culture behind it.

About Nikki Stone

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkistone1/

Website: https://www.thinkyq.com/

Book, Architecting Resilience: https://www.amazon.ca/Architecting-Resilience-Innovation-Growth-Constant-ebook/dp/B0HLBHC6MF/

About the podcast

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey covers leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and trust, with a focus on helping leaders address business challenges and turn plans into lasting change.

Connect with Ondrej: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-ondrej-papanek/

In Episode 12 of The Business Transformation Journey, Ondrej Papanek talks with Steve Barton, founder of Steve Barton Coaching and creator of The Game of Ten®, about the thoughts and emotions that shape leadership, decision-making and the way leaders respond to challenges in business and life.

Steve has more than 47 years of business experience. He grew his family's floral business from $200,000 to over $2 million in annual revenue before moving into executive coaching. He now works with entrepreneurs, executives and high achievers who want to lead with more awareness, confidence and purpose.

Through The Game of Ten®, Steve encourages people to pay attention to the patterns behind their choices. He also describes the "game often played," where fear, guilt, shame and the need for approval can take over, often without us realizing it. These patterns can influence leadership behavior, relationships and how people approach difficult decisions.

In this conversation, Steve and Ondrej discuss:

• The difference between The Game of Ten® and the "game often played"
• How fear and self-doubt can affect leadership decisions
• Why overthinking and past experiences sometimes keep us from being present
• What it means to treat thoughts as tools instead of defining yourself by them
• How "I am enough, I do enough, I have enough" can challenge the pressure we put on ourselves
• Why personal responsibility matters in leadership and how leaders respond to business challenges
• How curiosity changes difficult conversations, especially when we're tempted to judge
• Why consistency and authenticity help build trust
• How to care about people while accepting that you can't be liked by everyone
• Why awareness and presence take practice
• How to set healthier boundaries and let go of thought patterns that no longer help
• Why business transformation and organizational development often begin with the way leaders think, make decisions and respond to change

If you tend to replay decisions in your head or feel responsible for keeping everyone happy, you'll recognize some of the situations Steve describes. The episode offers ways to notice those habits and respond with more intention when challenges arise. For executives and business leaders, these insights can also support better judgment, stronger relationships and more thoughtful decisions when developing business strategy or leading change.

Duration: 53:19

About Steve Barton

Website: https://www.stevebartoncoaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coach-steve-barton/

Book: The Father, the Son, and the AHA Moment: Tools for Helping You and Your Child Develop a Path to Happiness

https://thegameof10.com/

About the podcast

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey covers leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and organizational trust. The conversations explore the everyday business challenges leaders face, from making difficult decisions and building stronger teams to turning ideas into meaningful, lasting change.

Connect with Ondrej: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-ondrej-papanek/

A title and a mandate only tell you so much. Are the sponsors genuinely committed? Do senior leaders agree on what needs to change? If they have competing priorities or different views on business strategy, the transformation may be difficult before the work even begins. Janylène and Ondrej look at these red flags and how to assess leadership alignment, sponsor readiness and the business challenges that can affect successful organizational change.

Janylène is an ICF-certified executive coach and clinical hypnotherapist. She spent 25 years in corporate HR, supporting major transitions and post-merger integrations at Deloitte, HSBC and McMillan. She later founded Hypnocoach, where she combines executive coaching, Rapid Transformational Therapy and somatic practices to explore the beliefs and habits that can hold people back.

They also talk about a very personal kind of change: what happens after a founder sells a business or steps away from the leadership role that has defined so much of their life. The deal may be done, but adjusting to a different routine, family dynamic or sense of purpose can take much longer.

In the episode, you'll hear about:

• How to recognize a business transformation that lacks genuine leadership commitment
• Why competing agendas and misaligned business strategy matter, and what to ask before accepting the role
• Why external consultants are sometimes brought in only after organizational problems have grown
• The identity shift founders can experience after leaving a successful business
• Why planning for life after an exit should start before the sale is complete
• How work and family relationships can change when the old routine disappears
• Making space through better boundaries, saying no and delegating
• Why even experienced leaders can find delegation uncomfortable
• How fear of failure and unconscious beliefs can affect leadership decisions
• What changes when leaders question the stories they tell themselves
• Why personal change and organizational development can be gradual, sudden or clear only in hindsight
• How to navigate the space between an old identity and a new one, with progress as the goal instead of a perfect 10 out of 10

Whether you're considering a business transformation mandate or preparing for a major change in your own career, this conversation covers both the organizational conditions and the personal questions that deserve attention. For executives and transformation leaders, it offers perspectives on navigating business challenges, assessing leadership readiness and understanding why lasting change requires more than a clear strategy.

About Janylène Turcotte

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janylene/

Website: https://www.hypnocoach.ca/

Book a free 30-minute strategy call:

https://link.hypnocoach.ca/widget/bookings/janylene-turcotte-personal-calendar-yqnwtklhsshegli

About the podcast

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development, organizational trust and the practical business challenges leaders face when turning ideas into lasting organizational change.

Connect with Ondrej: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-ondrej-papanek/

Have you ever wondered how much your organization reflects the way you lead?

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, Nader draws on more than 30 years of working with founders, CEOs and leadership teams to explore how self-awareness, executive coaching and everyday leadership behaviors influence trust, relationships and the culture people experience at work. They also discuss why understanding ourselves matters when navigating business challenges and leading organizational change.

Key topics: Conscious leadership, executive coaching, organizational culture, leadership behaviors, self-awareness, organizational trust, business challenges, business strategy, organizational development, business transformation.

ABOUT NADER VASSEGHI

Nader has spent more than three decades helping founders, executives and leadership teams navigate growth, complexity and business transformation.

His book, Conscious Creation: Leadership at the Source of the Future, explores how our beliefs, emotions and intentions influence our actions and the people around us, often without us realizing it.

IN THIS EPISODE

Nader and Ondrej discuss:

• Why organizations often reflect the inner state of their leaders, even when those leaders are unaware of their influence.
• How everyday leadership behaviors shape organizational culture, sometimes more than the values written on the wall.
• Why having good intentions doesn't always mean your actions have a positive impact on others.
• What happens when leaders face business challenges and pressure, and begin relying on control, judgment or reactive decisions.
• How greater self-awareness and presence can help leaders recognize their reactions and respond more thoughtfully.
• Why we often stop listening when we've already formed an opinion, and what this means for communication and trust.
• How different communication styles influence relationships, collaboration and organizational development.

WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS

As leaders, we spend a lot of time thinking about business strategy, performance and how to improve our organizations. But how often do we stop to consider the impact we have on the people around us?

Nader invites us to look at our own behavior and question the assumptions that influence how we lead.

If you're an executive, HR leader, manager or someone responsible for business transformation, this conversation offers practical insights into becoming more self-aware, strengthening organizational trust and creating an environment where people feel supported and can do their best work. It also explores why conscious leadership matters when addressing business challenges and supporting lasting organizational development.

CONNECT WITH NADER VASSEGHI

Website: https://www.cnergist.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadervasseghi/

Book — Conscious Creation: Leadership at the Source of the Future: https://cnergist.com/conscious-creation/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development, trust and the business challenges leaders face.

Through his work with leaders and organizations, Ondrej helps break down silos, improve collaboration and transparency, and turn transformation strategy into meaningful, measurable results.

Have you ever found that an approach which worked with one team suddenly doesn't work in another country? The words may be the same, but people hear them differently. Decisions take a different path. And trust needs to be earned in ways you might not expect.

Eva brings more than 20 years of experience leading people, operations, PMOs and business transformation in global organizations. She's lived in eight countries and progressed from manager to executive in Canada, despite having no previous North American work experience.

In our conversation, we explore what this means for leaders working across borders, how cultural intelligence can help them connect with people without losing their own style, and why understanding cultural differences matters for leadership, business strategy and organizational development.

Key topics: Cross-cultural leadership, global leadership, cross-cultural communication, cultural intelligence, credibility, influence, organizational trust, business challenges, business strategy, organizational development and business transformation.

IN THIS EPISODE

Eva and Ondrej discuss:

• Why leadership expectations change across cultures and what happens when we assume everyone sees things the same way.
• How a business strategy can lose its meaning as it moves between countries and teams.
• What it takes to adjust your communication so people understand your message.
• How to build credibility when you're new to a country, organization or leadership role.
• Why the people with the most influence aren't always those with the most senior titles.
• How trust and psychological safety are experienced differently across cultures.
• Why self-advocacy, visibility and showing your impact matter as your career grows.
• How delegation helps people take responsibility and develop as leaders.
• What curiosity and adaptability look like when international teams face uncertainty, complex business challenges and AI-driven change.

Eva also shares her Global Leaders Compass, which looks at four areas: credibility, cultural intelligence, influence and impact. It's a way to reflect on how you lead today and where you want to develop, especially when working across cultures and navigating organizational change.

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR

If you're managing international teams, stepping into a leadership role in a new country or leading business transformation across borders, you'll find useful ideas for communicating with people, earning their trust and bringing them into decisions.

The conversation also explores how cross-cultural leadership can strengthen collaboration, help organizations align people around business strategy and support organizational development across different countries and cultures.

CONNECT WITH EVA AIMABLE-KOLOSKO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-aimable-kolosko

Website: https://www.evaaimable.com

Global Leaders Compass™ Scorecard (free 5-minute self-assessment): https://eva-aimable.involve.me/globalleaderscompass

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and trust, with a focus on the business challenges leaders face when turning plans into meaningful, lasting change.

When you're the person everyone turns to for answers, it's tempting to step in and take control. But what happens when you stop asking questions? What important information might you be missing?

Craig shares how leaders can stay curious under pressure, make better decisions and build trust by taking the time to understand people before offering solutions. They also explore why curiosity matters for effective leadership, collaboration and organizational development.

Key topics: Leadership curiosity, ask before you tell, leading teams, powerful questions, decision-making, organizational trust, leadership development, business challenges, business strategy, organizational development, business transformation.

ABOUT CRAIG WAHL

Craig has experienced what it means to lead through difficult times. He helped grow an organization from 8 to 300 employees in less than two years and has faced lawsuits, bankruptcies and major business disruption.

These experiences have shaped how he approaches leadership today. His work focuses on helping leaders develop the curiosity and endurance needed to remain effective under pressure, especially as AI brings new business challenges and changes how organizations work.

IN THIS EPISODE

Craig and Ondrej discuss:

• Why leaders often become more controlling under pressure, and how slowing down can help them make better decisions.
• How asking questions can reveal things leaders might otherwise overlook.
• Why asking "why?" can sometimes put people on the defensive, and how "Help me understand" can open a better conversation.
• How to develop a practical set of questions for meetings, one-to-ones and difficult conversations.
• Why the second or third question can sometimes reveal more than the first.
• How curiosity helps leaders understand what motivates people and adapt their communication.
• How to build trust with quieter or more introverted team members and make room for their perspectives.
• Why asking for feedback also means being prepared to act on what you hear.
• How curiosity can help leaders avoid promoting someone into a management role they may not want.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

If you're a manager, executive or transformation leader, this conversation offers practical ways to bring more curiosity into your everyday leadership.

You'll hear how asking better questions can help you understand your team, improve decision-making and create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing what they think. These skills can also help leaders address business challenges, challenge assumptions behind business strategy and build stronger relationships during business transformation.

Sometimes, the most useful thing a leader can do is ask one more question before giving an answer.

CONNECT WITH CRAIG WAHL

Pre-order The Walk: Leadership When There Is No Finish Line: http://www.craigawahl.com/preorder

Website: https://www.craigawahl.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigawahl/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigawahl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ca.wahlsy

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and trust, with a focus on the practical business challenges leaders face when turning ideas into meaningful organizational change.

If you're the person everyone turns to for answers, moving into leadership can be a challenge. The expertise that helped you succeed won't necessarily help others do their best work. How do you build credibility, influence your peers and let people make decisions without always stepping in?

Noel shares lessons from more than 20 years in operations leadership and business transformation. She's an executive operations leader, university professor and author who currently leads a team of more than 150 people. She's also helped technical experts, project managers and operations professionals develop as leaders and navigate organizational change.

Key topics: Leadership without authority, expert to leader, influence, executive communication, leadership development, business challenges, business strategy, organizational development, business transformation.

IN THIS EPISODE

Noel and Ondrej discuss:

• Why being excellent at your job doesn't automatically prepare you to lead others.
• How expertise, influence and leadership differ, and why your team's achievements matter more than your individual output.
• How to earn trust and influence peers without formal authority, especially across teams.
• Why stepping back from solving every problem helps other people learn to make decisions.
• How to make your work visible and explain its impact on business strategy and organizational results to senior executives without getting lost in technical details.
• Why emotional intelligence and curiosity matter as AI changes the workplace.
• How trust, consistency and clear communication help people work together and address everyday business challenges.
• Why involving people is essential to successful business transformation and organizational development, even when technology is driving the change.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

If you're a technical specialist, project manager, team lead or new manager, this conversation looks at the shift from proving what you know to helping others succeed. You'll hear practical ways to build credibility as a leader, communicate with executives and support your team without needing to have every answer.

The conversation also explores how developing leadership capabilities can help organizations improve collaboration, overcome business challenges and create an environment where people take greater ownership of their work.

CONNECT WITH NOEL NICOLE RANSOM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelransom2324/

Websites: https://www.noelnicole.com and https://www.sigmacertify.com

Speaking: https://www.noelnicole.com

FREE 5-DAY LEADERSHIP FOCUS PROGRAM

If you're a manager or leader who wants to increase your impact, join my free 5-Day Leadership Focus Program. In five 45-minute sessions, we'll look at what's happening in your leadership, identify patterns affecting your impact and create your personalized Leadership Impact Map with three practical experiments to try right away.

Join here: https://dreamcoachmatch.com/ondrejpapanek/offer/3b5730dc-7b55-47ef-a302-989d702898df

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and the practical business challenges leaders face when turning transformation strategy into meaningful, measurable results.

Lisette van de Sandt was running a change leadership session when a global data director started talking about this project. He kept circling back to efficiency and effectiveness. So Lisette asked him a simple question: "But why? What is the purpose? What difference does it make?"

He paused. Then he said: "Lisette, you are the first person to ask me this. I do not know. But I will be in a call later with the US and I will ask the project director."

The next day he came back and said: "You will not believe this. I asked the project director. This person does not have a clue either."

That was the moment it clicked. The reason the project was not working, the reason everyone was frustrated, was because no one had ever stopped to ask why they were doing it in the first place.

I think about this story a lot. Not because it is unusual, but because it is not. I see this pattern in almost every organization I work with. Teams are moving fast, budgets are approved, timelines are set. But the purpose behind the work was never made clear, or it was clear once and then got lost along the way.

This is what I explored with Lisette van de Sandt in the latest episode of Business Transformation Journey. We talked about what happens when leaders skip the "why" and jump straight into execution, and what it takes to bring that clarity back before it is too late.

If that story felt familiar, the full conversation is worth a listen.

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, Ondrej Papanek speaks with Lisette van de Sandt, an internationally recognised expert in change management and leadership, about business transformation, overcoming resistance to change, and how leaders can turn resistance into motivation while navigating complex business challenges.

Lisette shares a story from a change leadership session that raises an important question about purpose-driven change and the connection between business strategy and execution.

A global data director was discussing a $3 million project. He talked about improving efficiency and effectiveness. But when Lisette asked, "But why? What is the purpose? What difference does it make?" he struggled to explain what the project was actually meant to achieve.

If leaders cannot explain why a change matters, how can they expect their people to get behind it?

ABOUT LISETTE VAN DE SANDT

Lisette is a former General Manager of a technical-industrial company in Germany. She has worked with more than 60 organisations across 12 countries, including Haskoning, Arvato Bertelsmann, Radboud University and BCG.

Throughout her career, she has trained over 2,000 managers and 3,500 employees, helping them understand change, involve people in the process and build stronger commitment.

IN THIS EPISODE

Lisette and Ondrej discuss:

• Why people naturally resist change, even when the reasons behind it seem logical.
• Why understanding the purpose of a business transformation matters as much as having a strong business case and clear business strategy.
• How leaders can turn resistance into motivation by involving employees early in the change process.
• Why co-creation helps people feel ownership of change and improves employee engagement.
• Why so many business transformations struggle during execution, despite careful planning.
• How leadership credibility and everyday behaviour influence whether people embrace change.
• Why improving efficiency and effectiveness means little if the organisation loses sight of its purpose.
• How small pilots, quick wins and regular feedback help teams build momentum and support organizational development.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

Leading business transformation involves more than developing a business strategy and communicating what needs to change.

People want to understand why the change matters, how it affects them and whether they have a voice in shaping what comes next.

In this conversation, Lisette shares practical ways to approach change management, build employee motivation and create an environment where people feel involved rather than simply being told what to do.

For executives, managers and transformation leaders, this episode offers useful perspectives on addressing business challenges, improving change adoption, strengthening leadership, building trust and supporting organizational development during uncertainty.

CONNECT WITH LISETTE VAN DE SANDT

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisettevandesandt/

Website: https://lisettevandesandt.com/

Book, Zo krijg je iedereen mee: https://lisettevandesandt.com/book/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, change management, business strategy, organizational development and the practical business challenges organizations face through conversations with leaders who share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned.

When a business grows quickly, the ways people communicate and make decisions start to change. What worked when everyone knew each other may no longer work when teams expand and responsibilities become less clear. How do you keep people moving in the same direction, align them around business strategy and avoid losing what made the company successful?

Jessica works with CEOs, founders and leadership teams on leadership development, organizational development and business transformation. We talk about the pressure growth puts on leaders, what happens when management practices don't keep up, and why trust and autonomy matter as organizations become more complex.

Key topics: Scaling leadership, rapid business growth, company culture, organizational trust, decision-making, communication, organizational alignment, business challenges, business strategy, organizational development, business transformation.

IN THIS EPISODE

Jessica and Ondrej discuss:

• How rapid growth can expose leadership gaps that went unnoticed in smaller teams.
• Why decision-making and leadership responsibilities need to change as organizations expand.
• What happens to company culture when leaders assume it will take care of itself.
• How founders and executives can maintain clarity, align teams with business strategy and stay connected to their people as the business grows.
• Why giving people more autonomy requires trust and open communication.
• Why managers need support too, especially when they're helping others navigate business challenges and organizational change.
• What courage and emotional intelligence look like in everyday leadership.
• Why human connection matters as AI becomes a bigger part of work.
• How investing in leadership and organizational development supports sustainable growth and successful business transformation.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

If you're a founder, CEO, executive or manager in a growing organization, you'll hear ideas for adapting how you lead, keeping teams aligned and making room for people to take ownership. As the business changes, leaders also need to rethink when to step in and when to let others lead.

The conversation explores how stronger leadership, trust and clear communication can help organizations navigate the business challenges of rapid growth while maintaining their culture and focus on long-term success.

CONNECT WITH JESSICA HILLHOLM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahillholm/

FREE 5-DAY LEADERSHIP FOCUS PROGRAM

If you're a manager or leader looking to increase your impact, join my free 5-Day Leadership Focus Program. In five 45-minute sessions, we'll look at what's happening in your leadership, identify patterns affecting your impact and build your personalized Leadership Impact Map, with three practical experiments you can try right away.

Join here: https://dreamcoachmatch.com/ondrejpapanek/offer/3b5730dc-7b55-47ef-a302-989d702898df

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, Business Transformation and Leadership Coach, The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and the practical business challenges leaders face when turning strategy into meaningful, lasting change.

Ondrej on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-ondrej-papanek/

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, I speak with Eva Wikmark Walin, a senior HR executive with over 25 years of experience in people strategy, business transformation, organizational development, employee experience, and culture change.

We explore what it takes to lead people through continuous change, why leadership strategy matters when introducing AI, and how organisations can align business strategy with people's needs without losing sight of the human side of transformation.

ABOUT EVA WIKMARK WALIN

Eva has spent more than 25 years working with people, leadership, and organizational change in global businesses.

As Chief People Officer at Transcom Worldwide, she supported 30,000 employees across 26 countries. At Sandvik, she served as VP & Global Head of Employee Experience, with responsibility for 45,000 people in 170 countries.

Before that, she spent 17 years at IBM, working across HR, M&A integration, and management consulting.

Having worked with organisations of this size, Eva brings valuable experience in how leadership decisions affect employees, how people strategy connects with business performance, and what it takes to support people through major changes.

IN THIS EPISODE

Eva and Ondrej discuss:

• Why change management has become part of everyday leadership and what this means for managers.
• How leaders can help people move from crisis and uncertainty toward greater clarity.
• Why trust and transparency matter, especially when leaders don't have all the answers.
• How involving employees in business transformation helps build engagement, ownership, and commitment.
• Why AI transformation needs to start with leadership strategy and an understanding of how it affects people.
• How middle managers can help employees navigate business challenges and turn business strategy into everyday actions.
• Why psychological safety is becoming increasingly important for both employees and business performance.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

Organisations are constantly adapting to new technologies, changing business priorities, and growing expectations from employees. For leaders, this means navigating complex business challenges, helping people understand what's happening, and continuing to deliver results.

Throughout our conversation, Eva shares perspectives from her experience leading HR and employee experience across large international organisations.

We discuss how leaders can communicate more openly, involve people in decisions that affect them, and create an environment where employees feel supported during change.

If you're an executive, HR leader, transformation leader, or manager, this episode offers practical perspectives on change management, leadership, business transformation, and organizational development. You'll hear why connecting business strategy with employee experience matters when building organisations where people can navigate change with greater confidence.

CONNECT WITH EVA WIKMARK WALIN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-wikmark-walin-2859894/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, an ICF PCC-certified executive and business transformation coach with experience supporting leaders and teams in global organisations.

The Business Transformation Journey explores business transformation, change management, executive leadership, business strategy, organizational development, and the practical business challenges leaders face through conversations with experienced leaders who share the challenges they've faced, what they've learned, and what has worked in practice.

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, I speak with Amir Elion, founder of Think Big Leaders, about AI leadership, decision-making and business transformation.

As AI becomes part of everyday work, leaders face new business challenges. How can nontechnical managers get started? Which roles and processes need to change? And how can AI improve collaboration rather than add complexity?

ABOUT AMIR ELION

Amir has worked in product innovation, startups and large enterprises, including leading innovation programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the Nordics.

Through Think Big Leaders, he helps organisations understand AI, encourage innovation and rethink how they create business value.

IN THIS EPISODE

Amir and Ondrej discuss:

• Why AI leadership matters for every manager, not just technology specialists.
• How to start with small AI experiments and learn through practice.
• Why curiosity and questioning existing practices matter.
• How AI may reshape middle management and leadership responsibilities.
• Why team structures, roles and decision-making may need to change.
• How AI can simplify processes, reduce silos and improve collaboration.
• What AI-driven business transformation means for organizational development and the future of work.
• How leaders can help teams experiment and connect AI initiatives to business strategy.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

AI offers opportunities to improve business performance, but also raises questions about people, responsibility and the future of management.

Amir shares practical perspectives for leaders without technical backgrounds, including where to begin, how to support experimentation and how to prepare teams for change.

If you're an executive, director, HR leader, innovation leader or transformation manager, this conversation offers ideas for addressing business challenges while keeping people and business value at the centre.

CONNECT WITH AMIR ELION

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirelion/

Website: https://amirelion.com/

Newsletter: https://amirelion.substack.com/

Think Big Leaders: https://www.thinkbigleaders.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, a Business Transformation Coach and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who helps leaders and teams in international organisations improve productivity, collaboration and how they lead change.

The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, business strategy, organizational development and the business challenges organisations face through conversations with experienced leaders.

In this episode of The Business Transformation Journey, I speak with Francesco Bianchi, founder of Gen Zen, about managing Gen Z, empathy in leadership, and the shift from micromanagement to trust and coaching.

We explore the business challenges created by different workplace expectations, why managers fear giving people more freedom, and how AI-driven business transformation is changing the way organisations develop future talent.

ABOUT FRANCESCO BIANCHI

Francesco founded Gen Zen to explore generational differences in the workplace. He challenges the idea that Gen Z is unwilling to work, encouraging leaders to understand what younger employees find meaningful and reflect on their own management habits.

IN THIS EPISODE

Francesco and Ondrej discuss:

• Why managers struggle with Gen Z and what may be behind their fear of losing control.
• How to replace micromanagement with trust, empathy, and greater employee autonomy.
• Why authentic leadership and honest conversations matter across generations.
• How leadership frameworks can create an illusion of progress when underlying human challenges remain.
• Why supervision, reflection, and coaching help managers become better leaders.
• How Gen Z's expectations around purpose and meaningful work differ from those of previous generations.
• Why AI is changing entry-level roles and what that means for developing future leaders.
• How organisations can rethink team structures, business strategy, and organizational development to prepare people for AI-enabled work.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

When younger employees question established ways of working, managers may see it as resistance. But it can also be an opportunity to reconsider how they lead.

Francesco shares perspectives on leading autonomous teams, building trust, and developing people in a workplace shaped by AI.

For executives, HR leaders, transformation leaders, and managers, this conversation offers practical insights into addressing business challenges, engaging Gen Z, and strengthening leadership while navigating organizational change.

CONNECT WITH FRANCESCO BIANCHI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-bianchi-alchemist/

Gen Zen: https://www.linkedin.com/company/begenzen/about/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, a Business Transformation Coach and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with over 1,000 coaching hours. With a background in engineering, product management, and business transformation, Ondrej has worked with organisations including Scania, H&M Group, and Goldman Sachs. He helps leaders empower their teams, improve collaboration, and deliver better business outcomes.

The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, change management, business strategy, organizational development, and the practical business challenges organisations face through conversations with experienced leaders.

In Episode 1 of The Business Transformation Journey, Ondrej Papanek speaks with Dr. Tarek Omran, Ph.D. scientist and co-founder of Science Pitchers, about storytelling for business leaders, pitching strategies, and how effective leadership communication can help innovators gain support and funding.

Since 2018, Tarek has helped more than 1,750 innovators raise over €800,000. He's seen how even strong ideas can get lost when people focus on technical details instead of explaining why their work matters.

ABOUT DR. TAREK OMRAN

Tarek combines a background in science with a passion for helping people communicate their ideas. Through Science Pitchers, he works with innovators and entrepreneurs on telling stories that audiences can understand and connect with. His mental health advocacy platform, Help Yourself, has also reached more than 700,000 lives.

IN THIS EPISODE

Tarek and Ondrej discuss:

• Why stories are easier to remember than technical explanations alone.
• How to build a stronger pitch and explain the business value of an idea.
• Why emotions shape the way people connect with a message.
• What leaders can learn from Apple's approach to storytelling.
• How AI can help with storytelling without losing the human touch.
• Why you need to adapt your message to investors, executives, employees, or other audiences.
• How visualisation makes a story more memorable.
• Why stepping outside your comfort zone helps you communicate with confidence.
• How storytelling helps leaders communicate business strategy, explain their vision, and build support for innovation and business transformation.

WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

Many leaders know their subject inside out, yet struggle to get others excited about their ideas. One of the biggest business challenges is communicating that knowledge in a way people understand and care about.

Tarek shares practical perspectives on making complex ideas understandable, connecting with your audience, and using business storytelling to improve pitches, leadership communication, and decision-making.

Whether you're a founder seeking funding, an executive presenting a business strategy, or a transformation leader explaining organizational change, this conversation offers ideas you can apply to your next presentation.

CONNECT WITH DR. TAREK OMRAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarekomran/

Science Pitchers: https://www.sciencepitchers.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciencepitchers/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Hosted by Ondrej Papanek, a Business Transformation Coach and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with over 1,000 coaching hours. With a background in engineering, product management, and business transformation, Ondrej has worked with international organisations including Scania, H&M Group, and Goldman Sachs. He helps leaders empower their teams, improve collaboration, and achieve better business results.

The Business Transformation Journey explores leadership, business transformation, change management, business strategy, organizational development, and the practical business challenges organisations face through conversations with experienced leaders.