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What does it take to build Organisation Development (OD) capability at the heart of Central Government? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Susanne Søndergaard Gidda, the Civil Service Operating Lead in the Cabinet Office, to explore this fascinating question.

With a wealth of experience spanning multiple UK government departments, Susanne brings a unique perspective to the complexities of OD in high-stakes environments.

We delve into what it means to embed OD practices within large, complex organisations, how to nurture OD capability, and the lessons Susanne has learned from her time leading OD initiatives in Central Government. Whether you’re an experienced OD practitioner or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration to elevate OD capability in your own organisation.

💼 About our Guest
Dr. Susanne Søndergaard-Gidda

Connect with Susanne here:
/ susanne-gidda-1939b7

Dr. Susanne Søndergaard Gidda is a leader in Civil Service Organisation Development and Design capability in her role at the Cabinet Office. With a master’s degree in occupational psychology, a PhD in organisational psychology, and recognition as a Chartered Fellow of CIPD, Susanne brings a wealth of expertise to her work.

Her career spans several UK government departments, where she has honed her skills in organisational development. Susanne has also worked as a knowledge management specialist at Rolls-Royce, leading on communities of practice, and as a senior policy analyst with RAND Europe, further enriching her experience in fostering effective organisational strategies and practices.

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
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Where is the real value created in your organisation? Is it a specific team, a critical process, or perhaps a unique capability that sets you apart? And just as importantly, how does the organisation make money, generate surplus, or deliver value to its clients—whoever they may be? Understanding these drivers is the key to focusing your efforts where they’ll have the greatest impact. This is the holy grail for HR and OD. To help us unpack this and explore how to identify and leverage these value points, we’re joined by Mark Doughty.

💼 About our Guest
Mark Doughty

Connect with Mark here:
/ marktdoughty

Mark Doughty is a seasoned Director of Learning & Organisation Development, celebrated for blending seminal research with critical business insights to drive impactful organisational transformation. With a career spanning diverse industries and top-tier, multicultural global companies, Mark is commercially sharp, operationally astute, and adept at curating "best in class" innovative, award-winning solutions.

Renowned for spearheading programs in High-Performing Teams, Strategic Account Management, and Executive Development, Mark has consistently delivered initiatives that future-proof key strategic capabilities while achieving significant business improvements, including multimillion-pound outcomes.

Academically distinguished with an M.Ed. and M.A., and a proud member of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants, Mark brings a deep understanding of leadership, strategy, and organisational culture to the table.

Mark is on a mission to redefine leadership excellence in a rapidly evolving world. Despite leadership development being a $30 billion industry—predicted to more than double by 2032—the lack of tangible leadership impact is stark. Outdated models and misaligned approaches have left many businesses struggling to connect with their people, resulting in widespread disengagement, stress, and lost value.

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What’s the secret ingredient that strengthens trust, fosters psychological safety, and drives better decision-making in organizations? How can it boost staff loyalty, adaptability, engagement, and ultimately lead to greater productivity and profitability? According to leading author Graham Allcott, the answer lies in a simple yet powerful quality: kindness.

In this episode of the OrgDev Podcast, we dive into the insights from Graham’s latest book, KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work. Together, we unpack how kindness—when approached thoughtfully and strategically—can break myths, reshape workplace culture, and transform teams, leaders, and organizations. Discover the 8 key principles that make kindness a game-changing force for better business outcomes. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!

Graham’s LinkedIn:
/ grahamallcott

Graham Allcott is a bestselling author, best known for How to Be a Productivity Ninja, a global success. His latest book, KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, explores how kinder, more human-focused workplace cultures lead to greater organisational success.

As the founder of Think Productive, a leading training and consultancy firm with offices in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, Graham has helped individuals and organisations transform the way they work.

Renowned for his engaging and motivational talks, Graham blends practical insights with humor, offering actionable strategies that inspire audiences worldwide.

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
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Why don't leaders seem to be making progress on the things that truly matter? Why does it feel like everyone needs to be involved in everything? As organizations designed for predictability clash with an increasingly unpredictable world, the cracks are starting to show.

In this episode, we dive into why the "sense and respond" approach is overtaking the traditional "plan and predict" model as the blueprint for thriving in the future. Joining us is Jurriaan Kamer, a renowned speaker, author, organizational designer, and change agent, who brings cutting-edge insights into how leaders can unblock their organizations and create environments primed for agility, autonomy, and remarkable results.

💼 About our Guest

Find his book on Amazon
https://locally.link/pAYt

Unblock book website:
https://www.unblock.works/book

Jurriaan’s newsletter:
https://newsletter.jurriaankamer.com/

Jurriaan’s LinkedIn:
/ jurriaankamer

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

The latest OrgDev podcast with the excellent Mark Stringer was a joy to record. Mark is a dedicated academic with a passion for exploring the evolving nature of work. He leads the People, Work, and Organisational Psychology (PWOP) subject group at Birkbeck Business School.

In this episode we cover:

• The key mindsets for leading organisational change
• Why self-awareness is crucial in complex systems
• Practical tools and frameworks for facilitating transformation
• How resilience plays a pivotal role in managing change
• Real-world insights from Mark's career and research

💼 About our Guest
Mark Stringer MSc FRSA AFHEA CBP Chartered MCIPD
Subject Group Lead - People, Work and Organizational Psychology (PWOP), Senior Lecturer

Connect with Mark here:
/ mark-stringer-msc-frsa-afhea-cbp-chartered...

Birkbeck Business School, University of London
https://www.bbk.ac.uk/school/business...

Mark Stringer is a dedicated academic with a passion for exploring the evolving nature of work and its significance in society.

With a career spanning public and private sectors, Mark has held operational and HRM/HRD roles in industries including banking, retail, and the arts, before transitioning into academia. His research focuses on psychoanalytic practice and theory, as well as the role of language and semiotics in understanding work and organizations. He is deeply committed to inter-disciplinary, emancipatory, and pluralistic research, using psychoanalytic, structural, and poststructuralist discursive approaches to challenge conventional perspectives on work and organ

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Who are the real drivers of value in your organisation? Often, it’s just a few key teams—software engineers, R&D scientists, portfolio managers—who shoulder the lion’s share of impact and growth. These elite teams are the cornerstone of organizational success, but how can leaders ensure they’re fully supported and operating at their highest potential?

In this episode, we dive into what it takes to optimize these high-stakes teams, exploring how to provide the right environment, resources, and leadership to help them thrive under immense pressure.

Joining us is Meir Adler, Managing Partner at Adler Advisory and a seasoned expert in HR, Organizational Development, and Transformation. Meir shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience driving high-impact outcomes across industries, helping leaders unlock the full potential of their most critical teams.

💼 About our Guest
Meir Adler
Managing Partner, Adler Advisory

Connect with Meir here:
/ meiradler

With over 15 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in HR, Organizational Development, and Transformation, Meir Adler brings deep expertise across operating model and organization design, agile practices, talent management, change leadership, team effectiveness, and leadership development.

As the former Head of Organizational Development for International at Novartis, Meir led a team in a 27,000-strong organization spanning ~100 geographies, contributing to 55% of Novartis’s revenue. Prior to this, he worked across diverse industries, including retail, technology, banking, gaming, and pharmaceuticals, driving high-impact organizational transformations.

Now Managing Partner at Adler Advisory, Meir has delivered over 40 large-scale projects, from acute interventions to enterprise-wide transformations, utilizing innovative methods like zero-based design and agile models. He is passionate about creating value through talent and organizational development and thrives in navigating complex, high-stakes transformations that redefine ways of working, technology, and

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

In this episode, we dive into the hidden dynamics of power, voice, and silence that shape everything from who gets recognition to who remains in the shadows.

Join us as we speak with the insightful Dr. Mark Cole—author, practitioner, and researcher—who challenges us to rethink these critical dynamics and offers fresh perspectives on creating more equitable and effective workplaces. Don't miss this eye-opening conversation!

Connect with Mark here: www.markcole.org
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn / mark-cole-18a2633

The Great Unheard at Work: Understanding Voice and Silence in Organisations
https://www.routledge.com/The-Great-U...
Leadership Unravelled https://www.routledge.com/Leadership-...
Radical Organisation Development https:

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What does it take to elevate leadership to truly impact not just a leader’s own performance but also that of their team, stakeholders, and entire organization? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Arlene Egan, CEO of Roffey Park, a global center of excellence in leadership and organization development.

For over 75 years, Roffey Park has been at the forefront of equipping leaders with the skills to navigate complex organizational challenges. Dr. Egan shares powerful insights into transforming leadership behaviours and mindsets, including how to foster critical thinking, build resilience, and drive meaningful change that resonates across an organization.

👉How to challenge and expand the way leaders think, behave, and act
👉Practical strategies for aligning leader performance with organizational impact
👉Key techniques for enhancing team dynamics and stakeholder relationships
👉Roffey Park’s latest approaches to developing resilient, high-impact leaders

💼 About our Guest
Dr. Arlene Egan, CEO, Roffey Park Institute
Connect with Arlene here:
/ drarleneegan

Visit the Roffey Park website
https://www.roffeypark.com/

Dr. Arlene Egan, Chief Executive of Roffey Park, brings over 25 years of expertise in leadership and management development across sectors like executive education, higher education, sports, and local government. With a PhD in Psychology from University College Dublin, Arlene’s research on enhancing critical thinking gives her a unique perspective on the link between focused thinking and high performance.

Thanks for listening!

Distinction is an evidence-based Organisation Development & Design Consultancy designed to support modern, progressive organisations to bring out the best in their people and their teams through training, consulting, and coaching.

Our professional and highly skilled consultants focus on delivering engaging, results-focused and flexible solutions that help our clients achieve their business objectives.

Find out more at https://distinction.live/how-we-can-help/

💡 Stay Connected:
Looking for a consistent source of leadership & OD tips? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by clicking the link below and receive valuable leadership tips directly in your inbox:
https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch/