The Agile Diaries

Join Niamh Trundle and Dawn Constance Newman as they explore the power of curiosity in shaping a unique career.   From music and theatre to agile workplaces, Dawn's journey is a testament to resilience and embracing individuality. Discover how her hyper-mobility disorder led to revolutionary self-care strategies and how being told she'd "never get paid to talk" fuelled her drive for change.   Perfect for lifelong learners and change-makers, this episode is a masterclass in authenticity and finding joy in imperfection. Embrace your weird and shape your future with Dawn's inspiring insights.

In this conversation, John discusses his journey in family learning, the importance of finding fulfilment in work, and the privilege of being able to choose a career that aligns with personal values. He shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the significance of mentorship, and the role of feedback in professional growth. John emphasises the need for a culture of trust and transparency in the workplace and explains the concept of employee ownership as a model that benefits both employees and businesses. ----more---- John Beattie is the Director of Membership and Operations at the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), where he champions people‑powered business, and helps businesses unlock the benefits of employee ownership. With a career spanning education, culture, community learning and digital transformation, John brings a consistent passion for curiosity, communication and creating opportunities for others. Born and raised in the North East of England, he is known for his warm, human approach, his talent for making complex ideas accessible, and the joyful stories that follow him through his work, from widening participation to advocating for the power of employee‑owned businesses. Links to include: https://employeeownership.co.uk/ Campaign for Learning: www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk National Centre for Family Learning: https://nationalcentreforfamilylearning.org/ Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books: www.sevenstories.org.uk

In this episode of The Agile Diaries, Niamh Trundle speaks with Ket Patel, founder of Change Agitators and co-creator of The Change Chair. Ket shares insights from two decades in transformation, unpacking why organisations often misdiagnose “resistance” and how reframing it as sense-making creates healthier, more successful change.   They explore the relationship between agility and change, the importance of psychological safety, and how leaders can cultivate space, framing, and accountability for productive conflict. Ket also reflects on learning culture, the future of change professionals, and how scepticism, humility, humour, and collaboration will define effective change leadership in the years ahead.  ----more---- Ket is the founder of Change Agitators, an organisational change and coaching consultancy that helps remove the friction senior leaders often feel when implementing change. He is a Change Management Institute Accredited Master Practitioner with a specialism in building internal organisational capability and is also an Agile Change Management coach. He has over 20 years' experience leading operating model redesign, technology enabled transformation and leadership development programmes focused on culture and change capability. Ket along with his team of Agitators bring their pragmatic and honest mindset and their years of hands-on experience to shape the behaviours and process that will help your organisation to become truly adaptable to change.  https://www.change-agitators.com/  [email protected] 

In this episode of The Agile Diaries, host Niamh Trundle speaks with Belinda Waldock about how agility extends far beyond technology. Belinda shares her journey into agility, discussing how its principles can support personal growth, education, and wellbeing. Together, they explore the intersection of mental health and Agile, reflecting on experiences with burnout, long COVID, and the importance of creating adaptive, compassionate workplaces. The conversation highlights how Agile thinking can benefit neurodiverse individuals and foster resilience in an AI-driven world. This episode offers an inspiring look at agility as a mindset for both professional and personal transformation. Interested in speaking with Belinda further? Reach out to her on her socials below: [email protected]  https://www.beingagile.co.uk   https://uk.linkedin.com/in/belindawaldock  https://www.facebook.com/beingagile 

In this episode of the Agile Diaries, Andrew Burrows shares his journey from working on a farm to becoming a co-founder of Hidden Matter.  He discusses his early experiences in the gaming industry, the importance of mentorship, and the challenges of navigating corporate culture at IBM. Andrew emphasises the significance of purpose in both personal and professional growth, the role of AI in marketing, and his aspirations for the future.

In this episode of the Agile Diaries podcast, Niamh Trundle speaks with James Dwan, CEO of Catalyst Consulting, about his journey into business agility. They discuss the influence of James's formative years, the importance of resilience and perspective in business, and how the pandemic has reshaped the landscape of work. James shares insights on the role of AI in the future of work, the significance of neurodiversity, and the necessity of fostering a positive organisational culture. The conversation also touches on the impact of Latin studies on James's thinking and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in the tech landscape. 

In this engaging people-centric conversation, John Botting shares his journey from architecture to becoming an Agile practitioner. He discusses the importance of mindset, resilience, and leadership in navigating career challenges, including redundancy.   John emphasises the significance of understanding the 'why' and 'what' in Agile practices and the role of change management in project management. He also reflects on personal growth through adversity and the need for mental health awareness in professional settings. The discussion concludes with insights on the future of contracting and the importance of building connections and authenticity in leadership. 

In this episode of Agile Diaries, host Fallon Taylor interviews Karen McAllen, the Managing Director of the Agile Business Consortium. Karen, shares her journey into the world of business agility, discussing her experiences, the importance of trust and transparency, and how her childhood shaped her independence and confidence. She reflects on her unexpected career twists, including her time in the film industry, and emphasises the significance of effective communication in leadership. In this engaging conversation, Karen shares her experiences navigating parenthood, career challenges, and personal growth; reflecting on the lessons learned from her journey, Karen also discusses her interests outside of work, including her passion for true crime and the significance of addressing the impact of personal experiences such as navigating perimenopause. Her insights highlight the importance of authenticity, personal development, and giving back to the community.

In this episode, we welcome Giles Lindsey, executive coach and technology leader who brings a unique blend of expertise to the table.  We delve into the dynamics of agile transformation, discussing the critical role of people as the primary success drivers in any organisation. With generative AI reshaping the future of work, Giles provides his perspective on how emerging technologies are set to meet the expectations of new school leavers entering the workforce. 

In this episode, we dive into the story of former civil servant turned agile coach, Lyn Girvan. With over 25 years in the public sector, Lyn highlights her experiences; from managing a coffee shop at a young age to mentoring in the Chartered Institute of IT.  Join us as we explore Lyn’s reflections on leadership, collaboration and her vision for 'giving back' through coaching, alongside insights from her personal and professional milestones that led her to learn that “having the right answer isn’t always enough”. 

This week we dive into the intriguing world of contrarian thinker Alan Furlong, who has journeyed from recruitment to banking in Australia, only to discover a passion for agile upon returning to the UK - with a focus on supporting tech start-ups and leveraging big data and machine learning.  In this episode Alan discusses the power of creativity on AI advancement, his personal hardships and the importance of self-care in the face of burnout.  Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma and contains explicit language, listener discretion advised. 

In episode 6 of The Agile Diaries we speak with Mwaka Lungu, Managing Director and Head of Finance at the Agile Business Consortium.  With more than 15 years of experience in finance, Mwaka tells us that agile is not just in IT and she is always keen to learn more about blending agility and finance to enhance business operations. She also discusses growing up in Zambia, losing her mother at a young age, building resilience and knowing "...you have to make it; you don't have a choice.".

In this episode of The Agile Diaries, we speak with Dave White who talks about how being a 'latchkey kid' fostered his independence and ability to embrace change. He also discusses psychopaths in the C-Suite and the importance of trust in leadership. The Agile Business Awards 2024: https://www.agilebusiness.org/agile-business-awards-conference.html      

In this episode we speak with Vlatka Hlupic, the 'Renaissance Woman' and 'Volcano of Ideas'. Vlatka has dedicated her life's work to supporting world leaders starting her agile journey at the age of seven!  Endorsed by the Dalai Lama, Vlatka discusses the future of leadership and management in the agile world, how command and control just will not work and what really matters is the "purity of someone's heart". The Agile Business Awards 2024: https://www.agilebusiness.org/agile-business-awards-conference.html

In this episode of The Agile Diaries, we speak with Anthony Coppedge. From starting out in college radio to now working with IBM in global agile digital sales, Anthony openly discusses how his early years fed into his career in business agility. In Anthony's view, "Leadership is a choice, not a role. Management is a role".  Trigger Warning: Mentions sensitive topics such as abuse that some listeners may find distressing, listener discretion advised. 

In this second episode of The Agile Diaries, we speak with Katie Taylor. From horses to courses, Katie takes us through her agile journey so far. She discusses the impact of agile culture, leadership and her 'squiggly career' going from horses, to manufacturing, to computers and now a not-for-profit organisation. 

In this first instalment of The Agile Diaries, Ed Ward speaks with Professional Executive Coach and Assentire Ltd founder, Rod Willis. Starting with anecdotes from his younger-self travelling in Yemen, right through to current perceptions on the use of Artificial intelligence (AI), Rod illustrates his journey within business agility.