#19 - Annie Faulkner: Why Change Programs Fail, Staying in the Conversation, and Grounded Leadership

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Dr. Annie Faulkner about why many organisational change programs struggle to deliver their promised outcomes, and what leaders can do instead.Annie has spent over two decades working in organisational transformation across Europe, Australia, and South Africa. After leading large-scale change programs for global organisations, she began questioning why many traditional approaches repeatedly fail. This curiosity led her into complexity thinking and ultimately to completing a doctorate exploring how organisations attempt change and what is really happening beneath the surface.Now working as an executive coach and leadership advisor in Berlin, Annie supports senior leaders transitioning into board and executive roles. Her work focuses on helping leaders navigate complexity, power dynamics, and uncertainty while staying grounded in their humanity.This conversation explores the realities of organisational change, the courage required to stay in difficult conversations, and how leaders can remain balanced while carrying significant responsibility.This episode explores:• Why many traditional change programs struggle to achieve lasting impact• Complexity thinking and questioning the assumptions behind transformation programs• The transition from expert to executive when stepping into board-level leadership• Staying in difficult conversations rather than resolving conflict too quickly• Power, politics, and whose voices are missing in leadership decisions• Grounded leadership: taking the work seriously without taking yourself too seriously• The role of coaching in helping leaders navigate uncertainty and complexity• Work, life, and balance: recognising that leadership choices shape the whole systemGuest Links• Dr Annie Faulkner https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniefaulkner/• The Transitionists https://www.the-transitionists.deChapters00:00 Introduction and Annie’s journey from Australia to Berlin05:18 Why many organisational change programs fail09:01 Complexity thinking and questioning traditional change models10:03 Coaching leaders transitioning to board-level roles11:06 Staying in difficult conversations instead of resolving conflict too quickly16:00 Experimenting with relational conversations with AI21:41 Bringing overlooked voices and perspectives into leadership decisions29:42 What grounded leadership really looks like33:14 Why “work–life balance” doesn’t exist34:12 Training the body and mind as a leadership practiceExplore furtherBook a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.auLearn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.auSubscribe to hear future episodes.CreditsHosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in North Melbourne and Berlin, 11 February, 2026Produced at the Violet Town, Benalla and Peregian Beach offices, 11 February - 10 March, 2026Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au