Brynn Shader: From Victim to Architect in Change

What this episode covers

In this episode of "Conversations of Agile Change," Dr. Jen sits down with Brynn Shader, an experienced organizational change consultant and advisor. Brynn shares her journey into the world of change management and agility, which began with solo travels across Europe in her teenage years. This early experience with navigating unfamiliar environments sparked her love for agility and later shaped her career in HR and organizational change. Brynn discusses her current work advising a large hospital network through an ERP implementation and how she balances the excitement and challenges of such significant changes. The conversation delves into the relationship between HR (or People and Culture, as it's known in Australia) and change management, exploring how HR can shift from a reactive role to an architect of change. Brynn emphasizes the importance of moving from a "victim to architect" mentality, encouraging individuals and organizations to embrace agency and empowerment in the face of change. The discussion also touches on building change capabilities within HR, the impact of COVID-19 and AI on HR practices, and the concept of "change craft" as an artisanal approach to managing change. Brynn advocates for embracing discomfort and developing a mindful relationship with uncertainty to thrive in an agile environment. She concludes with practical advice for change and HR practitioners looking to become more agile, highlighting the importance of mindfulness, visualization, storytelling, and influencing without formal authority. Listeners can connect with Bryn Shader via her website, brynshader.com, or find her on LinkedIn.