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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I am delighted to host Dr. Jess Tayel, a top LinkedIn voice and a distinguished leader in global change and transformation. Dr. Tayel has over 25 years of experience in leading global change and transformation programs in senior leadership roles, guiding and leading large-scale change programs across 15 countries.

She has worked with companies like Google, Boeing, Apple, Emirates, World Cup, ABN Amro, Barclays and more.

Jess is also the founder of the People of Transformation Program and Community. People of Transformation aims to attain the next level of mastery of change and transformation practice and leadership.

In this episode, Jess and I dive into understanding the transformation journey for professionals, discussing the challenges and rewards, and tracing the growth continuum from early development to mastery.

We discuss what it truly takes to overcome personal growth hurdles and how achieving mastery can bring profound rewards—not just for individuals, but for businesses and even society as a whole

Contact Jess
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/business-transformation-change-coach-mentor

Websites

• peopleoftransformation.com (Other)
• peopleoftransformation.com (Company)

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, uncovering the layers of complexity of organisational change with some of the bright minds in the field.

Today, I am joined by Kavita Ganesan; an AI advisor, strategist, and founder of Opinosis Analytics. Kavita has led numerous AI projects, from recommendation engines to advanced sentiment analysis systems, impacting millions of users and shaping strategic AI initiatives for major organizations like McKesson, Verizon, and the University of Sydney.

In today’s episode, we will explore the transformative power of AI and its wide-reaching impacts. Drawing from her book The Business Case for AI, Kavita will help us understand how AI is reshaping organizations and discuss how leaders, managers, and change professionals can navigate this shift to tackle both challenges and opportunities.

I am grateful to have Kavita chatting with me today.


About Kavita (In her words)
As an AI advisor, strategist, and founder of Opinosis Analytics, I help business leaders and tech teams in two key areas. The first involves architecting complex AI (and GenAI/LLM) systems. I’ve designed and managed over two dozen projects from a vague idea through productionization of these solutions.

This includes problems such as:
» Recommendation engines (people, product, jobs, topics, content)
» E-commerce search improvements
» Organization-specific question-answering systems (RAG-Based Q&A)
» Chatbots
» Sentiment analysis
» Categorization engines
» Unstructured data integration

The solutions I’ve managed scale to millions of products and users and some of these initiatives have led to successful funding events for the clients supported.

My second area of focus is in helping companies with strategic AI integration. Whether it’s to spot low-hanging but high-impact AI opportunities, teach teams how to plan their AI strategy, develop a truly executable roadmap, or get started with individual initiatives--I’ve helped put teams on the path to achieving tangible results.

I’ve supported/am supporting the following companies through my work: McKesson, McMaster-Carr, The University of Sydney (Australia), Brown-Forman Corporation, The Odevo Group (Sweden), Verizon, NRC (US Government), and Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (US Government).

Contact
LinknedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavita-ganesan/

Websites

• kavita-ganesan.com/blog/ (Other)
• opinosis-analytics.com (Company)
• amazon.aibusinesscasebook.com (Other)

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Send us a text

Welcome to a special episode ; The Outer Game of Change. In these unique episodes, I am joined by leaders and executives who drive change and shape the future of their organizations. We listen to their unique insights, explore how they perceive change, and uncover what is simmering in their minds.

Today, I am thrilled to have with me Professor Theo Farrell, the 7th Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University here in Australia. Professor Farrell has a distinguished career in academia and research, having held leadership positions at top universities around the world. He is an author, and renowned advocate for academic excellence, inclusivity, and transformative change. Most importanly, I find Theo to be a great human.

In this episode, we will dive into the dynamics of change leadership, exploring how transformative forces like AI are reshaping higher education. We discuss the evolving nature of academia, the challenges and opportunities of integrating advanced technologies, and what it takes to lead an institution through such significant transformation.

With his extensive background in both strategic leadership and research, Professor Farrell offers unique insights into the future of higher education and how universities can adapt to and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

I am grateful to have Professor Farrell chatting with me today.

About Theo Farrell
Professor Theo Farrell commenced as the 7th Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University in February 2024. He brings a deep commitment to advancing academic excellence, building inclusive communities, forging external partnerships, and leading transformative change.

Prior to joining La Trobe, Professor Farrell held a number of leadership roles including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Students), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), and Executive Dean of Law, Humanities and the Arts, all at the University of Wollongong, and Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at City, University of London. From 2006 to 2016, he held a chair in online learning at King’s College London. At UOW, City and King’s, Professor Farrell led numerous initiatives to develop research capacities, innovate learning and teaching, and enhance student experience.

Professor Farrell has held ten UK research council awards. His most recent book, Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan (Vintage 2021), was shortlisted for three national book awards and selected book of the year by The Sunday Times. Professor Farrell is a champion of real-world impact from academic research. A leading expert on the conflict in Afghanistan, he acted as strategic advisor to the UK government and the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, and participated in track II talks with the Taliban.

Professor Farrell is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK), Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Visiting Professor at King’s College London, and past President of the British International Studies Association.


Contact Info
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/theo-farrell-35698b1b3

Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast