Shows
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 3: The Final Episode with AK & IvannaSend us a textIn this final episode of Maneuvering Monday the podcast, AK and Ivanna wrap up everything and share the next steps for our book project.There is a bit of heavy breathing (sorry!) as we discuss Natalie and her trajectory, and how she ends up finally connecting with her purpose and passion after having suffered from 'The Peter Principle' throughout the story in her role as CEO at Zebra Apps. We talk about Anne and how she started off a bit arrogant, but ended up with good self-reflections (and a b...2024-11-0746 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 3: The New MissionSend us a textThe fate of Zebra Apps is finally decided, and all the characters' stories are wrapped up. What will be next for Marie? Tune in and listen to this final episode of the entire story to find out!What do you think Marie should do? Join the conversation on our LinkedIn pageReach out to us:Anne Katrine & Ivanna2024-11-0432 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 2: Cecil 'Gary' RuppSend us a textOur very last guest on the podcast, Cecil 'Gary' Rupp, is an expert in leadership, business transformation, and Lean-Agile frameworks. With both executive management and management consulting experience, Gary brings a unique perspective to what our friends in Zebra Apps need to be doing to save their own future. Value stream mapping is the name of the game in this episode. Gary takes us through the concept, which is covered in his newest book, The Lean-Agile Way, co-authored by several other experts (Richard Knaster, Steve Pereira, Al Shalloway).As...2024-10-3154 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 2: If We All Stand TogetherSend us a textRichard himself makes an appearance in the meeting, where a group of Zebra employees investigate scenarios for the company's survival. The tension builds as it becomes clear that Zebra Apps will not make it for much longer with its current setup. But then what?What do you think Marie should do? Join the conversation on our LinkedIn pageReach out to us:Anne Katrine & Ivanna2024-10-2827 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 1: Sofie HenriksenSend us a textTo kick off the final chapter of Marie's story, we are lucky to be accompanied by Sofie Henriksen, who is a leader within strategy in a digital innovation agency. Sofie brings her insightful perspectives to the table as we intersect how personalities, actions, and behaviors are understood and worked with in the context of Zebra Apps.As the end of the story is approaching, all things are escalating and new challenges are coming up. Marie is scrambling to fix the issues, both the visible and invisible ones. And suddenly, the...2024-10-2455 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 6 Episode 1: The Second ComingSend us a textMarie and the engineers talk to an advisory board of parents and teachers to get feedback on ASLO, and share the concerning results with Natalie and the leadership team, who finally seem to listen. Natalie, who used to be a teacher herself, decides to take things into her own hands.The engineers start setting shared objectives for each sprint based on a company value. Marie meets her HR contact Todd from competitor ConvoSystems, who shares a surprising truth about life with Richard as CTO. And finally, Shaine has a suggestion for what...2024-10-2133 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 3: Katja SchipperheijnSend us a textIn the final commentary episode of chapter 5, we are happy to welcome Katja Schipperheijn, internationally awarded author, learning influencer, futurist and keynote speaker on learning, innovation and being human in a digital world. With years of experience from the EdTech company, Katja is the perfect match to guide Zebra Apps at this chaotic point in the story.Katja sums up this story episode as "a mess". Zebra Apps is struggling to survive as a company, and Marie is managing everyone in separate groups, not seeming to understand the power of bringing...2024-08-281h 05
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 3: The Whole ProductSend us a textIn the final part of chapter 5, things start to get real when Marie learns from Willie that Natalie purchased spare parts from Russia for Zebra Apps' physical data center, and that she likely traveled there together with Frank and Andrea. She also learns that every time the engineers create new features for ASLO, they increase their physical footprint in the data center.Jenni and Marie explains to Jaque why Zebra Apps is bleeding money, and suggest him to create a better way to charge their customers for the products. They collect f...2024-08-2637 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 2: Paul HargreavesSend us a textIn this commentary episode, we are pleased to talk to Paul Hargreaves, CEO of Cotswold Fayre & Flourish and renowned author of the books Forces For Good and The Fourth Bottom Line about purpose-driven and compassionate leadership.We wish Zebra Apps had a CEO like Paul. And not just as Chief Executive Officer, but Chief Empowerment Officer, who makes sure that everyone in the organization is working to their full potential.We discuss how Zebra Apps' customer-led strategy is out of control, and there is an absence of leadership and...2024-08-2142 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 2: Is it a Zebra?Send us a textMarie interviews the engineers to map out who work on the different aspects of ASLO. She learns that they belong to two teams, and uses an animal metaphor to convince Jenni to reorganize the engineering department to fix the quality issues, and to start funding the teams in a way that ensures continuous improvement.Marie meets up with Anne, and learns that she is secretly conspiring with Jason and Jaque to save Zebra Apps. Jaque shares that Zebra App’s financial situation is problematic due to the subscription structure, and that he...2024-08-1932 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 1: Michelle LeedySend us a textIn the first part of chapter 5, we have invited guest expert Michelle Leedy, who is an organization effectiveness, design and transformation business leader, passionate about creating value and positive impact through authentic leadership. Michelle brings more than 20 years experience in consulting and leadership roles across multiple business industries and functions to the table.As Marie makes a CLM (career limiting move) and decides to join the engineering department to help fix ASLO, she seems to be so caught up in her own orbit that she misses what's going on in the...2024-08-1458 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 5 Episode 1: Hooded Man-childrenSend us a textIn this first section of chapter 5, the UX Designer Jason makes a comeback at Zebra Apps. A mysterious meeting is taking place with attendance by the full leadership team and a white-bearded man. And Marie's colleague and employee Erik once again urges her to use her informal power and influence to help the engineers fix their dysfunctions and save Zebra's star product ASLO. Will she accept and join the hooded man-children in the engineering department?Thank you to Katie Christensen for reading this episode.What do you think Marie...2024-08-1228 min
Maneuvering MondaySpecial Edition: Chapter 4 Debrief with David BillouzSend us a textIn this special edition episode, we talk to IT Service Management specialist and value stream thinker David Billouz about the fourth chapter of Marie's journey in Zebra Apps.What do you think Marie should do? Join the conversation on our LinkedIn pageReach out to us:Anne Katrine & Ivanna2023-12-0459 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 3: Mary LemmerSend us a textIn the last commentary episode of chapter 4, we talk to Mary Lemmer, who is not only the founder of the company Improve, but also a keynote speaker, conference session facilitator, longtime entrepreneur, writer/author, and improv comedian. The story episode is full of attempts to solve the team communication and culture problems that have been identified earlier, and to disclose the key lessons from the commentary episode up front: The way you approach a situation makes a differenceYou need to acknowledge the root of a problem before you can fix it...2023-11-3056 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 3: Laurels & PedigreeSend us a textMarie and Mark are interviewing for the CFO position, and Marie learns from the employees in the Finance department that they are not wishing for a specialist manager, but a leader to represent them in the management team. Natalie suggests the VP of Sales, Jaque, which disappoints Mark. Jason returns to Zebra Apps, and Paul bakes cinnamon buns for an extended HR breakfast. Joseph makes assumptions about Marie's health, and Erik suggests that Marie takes a break from her job in HR to become a full-time coach in the Engineering department.2023-11-2626 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 2: Laurence PaquetteSend us a textIn the second part of chapter 4, we are lucky to get hands-on advice from queer millennial expat leader Laurence Paquette who works as Vice President of Marketing for the large renewable energy company Vestas.The story episode is full of drama, and the conflict avoidance reaches a new high when Zebra Apps' management fails at setting boundaries when it comes to physical aggression. And suddenly, everybody is calling everybody on a Sunday. We talk about how to be a female leader. How you can assert credibility and authority while...2023-11-2050 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 2: MutinySend us a textMarie gets closer to Jenni and starts to understand the pressure she is facing from Natalie. Shaine accepts a pay cut to make up for the salary disparity, but it is too late to avoid mass mutiny. After a dramatic incident in the office, Marie is sent home on sick leave. During her time off, Marie is approached by the previous employee, UX Designer Jason, who wants to re-join Zebra Apps because he believes there is hope after Marie has started working on the retention issue. VP of Sales Jaque manages to get M...2023-11-2033 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 1: Joe AuslanderSend us a textIn the first commentary episode of chapter 4, we are lucky to have "post transformation dude" Joe Auslander in the studio to share his great perspectives from his work which he describes as 'physical therapy of the delivery world and organizational transformation'. We talk about how to avoid getting lost in trying to fix 'people problems', how holding people accountable is not about staring at them with a mean face, and the actual value of whiteboards compared to virtual tools. We discuss "backlog literacy", the idea that backlog management is not just...2023-10-301h 07
Maneuvering MondayChapter 4 Episode 1: Skeletons and Some CorpsesSend us a textMark, Marie and Paul spend a full day offsite to share and celebrate failures, with the purpose of starting to solve their department’s dysfunctions. Marie and Paul learn that Mark has been fighting Natalie to focus on culture since he started in Zebra Apps. Mark also admits that he has not been doing his job as a leader and investing in the HR department as a team. Paul agrees to join Marie’s arranged HR breakfasts if he gets to bake cinnamon buns. Marie joins the Engineering department’s stand up meet...2023-10-2836 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 3: Vivek MenonSend us a textIn the last commentary episode of chapter 3, we talk to global business leader Vivek Menon about the challenges Marie faces as this chapter comes to an end.Based on many years of leadership experience, Vivek shares his thoughts on the topics of the episode, which all revolve around organizational dysfunction. We talk about equal pay for equal work, professionally educated versus self-taught employees, and intelligent jerks. We talk about lack of accountability, and what role the gender of the VP of Engineering plays (or doesn’t play). Models an...2023-09-1948 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 3: It's Either You or MeSend us a textThe identity of the corporate rebel is revealed. Will he get away with it?Marie aggressively confronts Paul about the salary disparities in the engineering department. Later, she learns from Mark that Paul is under a lot of pressure because of a legal dispute with the ex-CFO Frank.Marie and her team facilitates a townhall meeting where the employees in Zebra Apps work through the company values and what they mean. During the meeting, one of the engineers from Willie’s department makes a scene and leaves the room. The...2023-09-1739 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 2: Marc-Peter PijperSend us a textIs purpose your boss? In the second commentary episode of chapter 3, we have an interesting talk with Marc-Peter Pijper about holocracy, purpose, how to succeed and learn together as a team, equal pay for equal work, motivation, and not least the many metaphors of Marie's story. Is the pile of junk in the basement a metaphor for all the problems of the company - and Marie's way of dealing with them? Learn how Marc-Peter thinks Zebra Apps could benefit from using their basement as a space to enable the organization to...2023-09-1337 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 2: Sweet LoyaltySend us a textGoing to get the cinnamon buns from the pile of junk in the basement, Marie finds a hidden sugar stash and meets the datacenter technician Willie. During lunch hour in the canteen that day, a dramatic happening occurs, involving sugar and a banner falling from the stairwell.Marie and Erik learn from Shaine, who was recently headhunted from ConvoSystems, that he has told Willie about his salary in Zebra Apps, which is twice the amount that Willie gets paid. Marie confronts Mark about the salary difference, and Mark indicates that this...2023-09-0931 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 1: Dr. Cherry Vu & Rob EnglandSend us a textIn this first commentary episode of chapter 3, we are delighted to talk to Rob England and Dr. Cherry Vu, partners in life and in their company Teal Unicorn. Together as a team, they transform organizations to New Ways of Working and Managing by being 'midwifes to the solution' for their customers (listen to the episode to find out what we mean).Hear real-life examples from Teal Unicorn about how other companies have introduced rituals to cope with and learn from failure. Why is it a problem that there is a lack...2023-09-0652 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 3 Episode 1: SugarSend us a textIn this first episode of chapter 3, all the sugar packets mysteriously disappear from the tables in the canteen. Sheila feels bad about her experience with Frank, and Marie and her team members get together for a structured exercise to cope with failure, each sharing a mistake and celebrating the learnings. Will this exercise help Sheila feel better? And what happens when Marie reluctantly admits to having dropped the bag of cinnamon buns down the stairwell into the heap of junk in the basement of Zebra Apps?Thank you to K...2023-09-0325 minManeuvering MondaySpecial Edition: Chapter 1 & 2 Debrief with Christian Feldbech NissenSend us a textIn this special edition episode, international thought leader, author, lecturer and practitioner Christian Nissen interviews Ivanna and AK about the first two chapters of Marie's journey in Zebra Apps. What do you think Marie should do? Join the conversation on our LinkedIn pageReach out to us:Anne Katrine & Ivanna2023-08-2752 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 3: Dr. Ross WirthSend us a textIn this final commentary episode of chapter 2, Futocracy Network host Dr. Ross Wirth joins us to provide some constructive criticism to Marie and her approaches.What are some of the missed opportunities and facilitation basics that Marie failed to get right at the leadership offsite? How could the five levels of involvement help Zebra Appa succeed with their culture program? And are we naive when we build organizations for stability and expect change readiness?Frameworks and conceptsFive levels of involvement Kurt Lewin’s change management mode...2023-07-0448 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 3: New AlliancesSend us a textThe culture program is approved at the leadership meeting. Marie meets with Todd from HR in ConvoSystems to get the scoop on Jaque, and Todd shares some unsettling news about Anne and Zebra Apps co-founder Richard.Marie and her team facilitates the leadership offsite meeting. Marie’s team member Sheila has an uncomfortable facilitation session with the CFO Frank. Later that same week, Frank retires from Zebra Apps and Marie is so startled that she drops a bag of cinnamon buns down the stairwell to the basement floor.Thanks to...2023-07-0234 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 2: Heidi HelfandSend us a textAuthor and coach Heidi Helfand helps us dissect the second episode in chapter 2 of Marie's journey. While Marie learns more about Mark and his background, an unknown company rebel hangs post-its on the recently installed soda fridges. Heidi Helfand shares her insights on how Marie and Mark's relationship could be improved using Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching's methodologies. Is Marie unknowingly violating international coaching etiquette? Tune in to learn more about how to coach organizational entities! Coaching & working with teamsOrganization and Relationship Systems Coaching ...2023-06-2840 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 2: Whose Values Are They Anyway?Send us a textWhile Marie gets closer to understanding Mark and his background, an unknown company rebel hangs post-its with insults on all the soda fridges. The HR Development team members plan the culture program, and Mark and Marie presents it to Natalie. But how will she react to the resurfaced company values? And is she even ready to approve a culture program that will require time and effort in the leadership team and among employees? Thank you to Tiffany Lam for reading this episode.What do you think Marie should do? J...2023-06-2619 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 1: Sam McAfeeSend us a textSilicon Valley veteran Sam McAfee from Startup Patterns helps us kick off chapter 2 of Marie's journey in this episode. What does it say about a company when it takes an archeological process to uncover previous work done to define and distribute company values? What can we learn from 20th century literature about mind games in the office? And what would Sam do if he had to help Zebra Apps with their dysfunctions?Mind games in organizations Sam refers to the book Games People Play written by Eri...2023-06-1540 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 2 Episode 1: The Original MissionSend us a textChapter 2 kicks off with a member of the leadership team testing Marie's patience - and Marie learning something new about why Anne left Zebra Apps. Marie also discovers that Natalie did define a mission statement and company values when she founded the company. So how will Marie tackle the culture program presentation for the leadership team? And what's with the big fridges being installed in all corners of Zebra Apps?Thanks to Tiffany Lam for reading this episode.What do you think Marie should do? Join...2023-06-1134 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 4: Benoit HurelSend us a textThis week Benoit Hurel, a partner at The Ready, helps Marie maneuver Zebra Apps. Benoit advices Marie to try radical change at a non-radical scale and to dance with the system instead of fighting it. Guest:Benoit Hurel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoit-hurel/The Ready: https://www.theready.com/Methodologies and tools mentioned: OS canvas: https://medium.com/the-ready/the-operating-system-canvas-420b8b4df062Human element practitioner: https://www.thehumanelement.com/Janusian Thinking: https://www.creativitypost.com/article/janusian_thinking 2023-05-0442 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 4: A Culture ProgramSend us a textMarie is attending a flower party at her child Ally’s kindergarten, but is late and distracted by her meeting with Anne and the challenges at work. At night, she talks to her husband Thomas about how making the technology work is the easy part - making the team collaborate is much harder. Marie reads a LinkedIn post about games people play in organizations, realizing that Mark is playing ‘the game of obfuscation’: Keeping everyone on their toes and guessing. During her next day at work, she finds out that Mark has to...2023-05-0417 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 3: Anne Weber CarlsenSend us a textWhat is the ecosystem at Zebra Apps? Can you truly act on your own when you are part of a system? This week Anne Weber Carlsen advises Marie on how she should maneuver. Anne is the Co-founder of Human by Nature and one of the founding facilitators of the discipline in Denmark. Tools & topicsRegenerative leadership and looking at organizations as living systemsEcosystemic analysis Guest: Anne Weber Carlsen Do you want to jump straight into this episode? You can wat...2023-05-0137 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 3: Too Many MeetingsSend us a textMarie finally calls Anne and they arrange to meet. When Anne and Marie meet, it is awkward and tense. Anne explains that she left Zebra Apps because she could not keep the engineering department together as a single person. The system itself was flawed. What does Marie do when she is pushed by Anne? Could Zebra Apps have done more for the children displaced by conflict? Thank you to Tiffany Lam for reading this episode. Are you jumping in from this episode? Watch what has happened in episo...2023-05-0134 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 2: Patrick SheridanSend us a textWhy is the HR department in Zebra Apps oh so dysfunctional? How do you achieve credible insights into the temperature amongst the employees when there are glass walls between HR, the leadership team, and the rest of the company? And what are the best strategies to follow up when you finally get these insights? Patrick Sheridan answers these questions and shares his real life experiences from daily work with HR in his role as a Transformation Lead in FLSmidth. Listen to the story part for the episode here:https://www.b...2023-04-2432 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 2: Peace Over PacifismSend us a textMarie presents the results of her benchmark to Natalie and Mark. Mark takes note of the free soda missing from their package. During the meeting, Marie understands that Mark has been conducting exit interviews with employees, but never shared the results with her. He promised to share the results. Esther, the benefits manager, shares the results in a stack of printed paper on Marie’s desk. What is in the exit interviews? And what has happened in the past year, that changed everything?Thank you to Tiffany Lam for rea...2023-04-2427 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 1: Puk Falkenberg & Claus VagnerSend us a textWhat does it say about a company when employees start leaving for jobs with less pay? Can soda really be a differentiating factor for employee retention? And can you buy one unit of trust and two buns of collaboration at the baker's? Our two guest commentators Puk and Claus pose and answer these and more questions in this commentary episode.Listen to Marie's story that is commented on here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2104440/12213283 Guests:Puk Falkenberghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pukfalkenberg/ ...2023-04-1734 min
Maneuvering MondayChapter 1 Episode 1: It's probably not the sodaSend us a textIt's the end of the month. Another employee resigns from Zebra Apps, an EdTech company. Marie, the head of development HR, is tasked with getting to the bottom of the wave of resignations. Could it be that the company does not offer free soda? Or is there something else at play? Listen to our guest experts commenting on this episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2104440/12153692 Thank you to Tiffany Lam for reading this episode. What do you think Marie should do? Join the conversation on our LinkedIn page2023-02-0827 min