Shows
Arkaro InsightsWhy Teams Pick the Wrong Ideas — and What Leaders Can Do About It | Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon45% of teams select a suboptimal solution — even when a better one is right in front of them. Creativity researcher Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon explains why, and what leaders can do to fix it.Most teams jump straight to solutions. It feels productive. It looks like progress. But according to Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon, that instinct is costing organisations their best ideas — before they ever get off the whiteboard.Roni is the John Lewis Holland Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Director of Innovation for the Centre of Collaboration Science, and President of Division 10 of the...
2026-02-2342 minArkaro InsightsWhy Your Five-Year Plan Is Obsolete: The Case for Emergent Strategy in a Complex World | Pete CompoWhy do sophisticated five-year plans so often fail the moment they hit real-world complexity? In this conversation, Pete Compo—author of The Emergent Approach to Strategy and former corporate director at DuPont—argues that traditional planning isn't just ineffective in today's world, it's actively dangerous.Most leadership teams operate with LAMO tools (linear, anthropocentric, mechanistic, ordered) whilst the world demands VUCA fluency (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). The arrival of AI has made this mismatch impossible to ignore.In this episode, Pete and Mark explore:Why five-year plans were never useful—but we can sa...
2026-02-1656 minArkaro InsightsFrom Dance Floor to Boardroom: Human-Centric Supply Chain Leadership | Karen-Marie KatholmFormer Akzo Nobel supply chain chief Karen-Marie Katholm on leading 14,000 people through transformation—why soft skills beat technical expertise when navigating complexity.How do you transform 13 separate supply chains into one integrated operation across 130 manufacturing sites and 14,000 employees?Karen-Marie Katholm has done exactly that. As former Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer at Akzo Nobel—and now Chief Supply Chain Officer at Orkla Foods—she's learned that technical expertise is merely the price of entry. The real differentiator is human-centric leadership.In this episode, Karen-Marie and Mark Blackwell explore:The Balcony and th...
2026-02-1137 minArkaro InsightsWhy Constraints Make You More Creative, Not Less | Dr. Catrinel TrompWe're told to think outside the box. But what if the box is your greatest creative asset? Dr. Catrinel Tromp explains the cognitive science behind why constraints drive innovation — and why the most dangerous barriers are the ones you've stopped questioning.Think outside the box. Blue sky thinking. Start with a blank canvas. It's advice we hear constantly — but what if it's wrong?Dr. Catrinel Tromp, professor of psychology at Rider University and specialist in the cognitive science of creativity, argues that creativity doesn't flourish despite constraints — it flourishes because of them. Her research, which began...
2026-02-0241 min
The Confidence Podcast Archives - Trish Blackwell#688: Intimidated By Some People? Do This To Stay ConfidentIn this episode, confidence coach Trish Blackwell breaks down how to be confident around intimidating people without feeling small, awkward, or self-conscious. You’ll learn why intimidation is usually an internal story (not a personality flaw), how to stop comparing yourself in high-pressure interactions, and how to stay grounded in your identity even when someone else has strong presence.
✅ FREE CLASS! LEARN HOW TO STOP CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK
Don’t forget to sign up for our free “How to Stop Caring What People Think” webinar masterclass at https://www.trishblackwell.com/stopcaring
✅ GET ACCELERATED RESU...
2026-01-2723 minThe Confidence Podcast Archives - Trish Blackwell#688: Intimidated By Some People? Do This To Stay ConfidentIn this episode, confidence coach Trish Blackwell breaks down how to be confident around intimidating people without feeling small, awkward, or self-conscious. You’ll learn why intimidation is usually an internal story (not a personality flaw), how to stop comparing yourself in high-pressure interactions, and how to stay grounded in your identity even when someone else has strong presence.
✅ FREE CLASS! LEARN HOW TO STOP CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK
Don’t forget to sign up for our free “How to Stop Caring What People Think” webinar masterclass at https://www.trishblackwell.com/stopcaring
✅ GET ACCELERATED RESU...
2026-01-2723 minArkaro InsightsThe Mother Rule: Why Your Strategy Should Be Simple Enough for Mum | James Michael LaffertyJim Lafferty spent 30 years leading in some of the world's most volatile markets. His secret weapon? A test so simple your mother could apply it.What if the smartest person to pressure-test your strategy isn't a consultant or an MBA — but your mum?Jim Lafferty didn't follow the traditional path to Fortune 500 leadership. He started as a fitness instructor, built his career across Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland and beyond, and learned that in volatile, uncertain markets, simplicity beats sophistication every time.In this conversation, Jim shares:The Mother Rule — If y...
2026-01-1644 minArkaro InsightsRewire or Retire: Why AI is a Leadership Issue, Not a Technology Problem | Marco RyanYou cannot just be a leader that takes a can of digital paint and paints over the analogue cracks of your business. It will not survive the disruption that's coming.In this episode, Marco Ryan, former Chief Digital Officer at BP and co-author of Rewire or Retire: AI for Leaders, challenges us to rethink how we lead in an AI-driven world. Marco argues that AI isn't fundamentally a technology issue—it's a leadership issue. And the choice facing every leader is clear: rewire your approach or retire gracefully to let others lead.We explore why mo...
2026-01-1446 minArkaro InsightsNiels van Hove on Human-AI Collaboration in S&OE, S&OP & IBPNiels van Hove joins Mark Blackwell to explore how AI is transforming S&OP and IBP from bureaucratic box-ticking to decision-centric planning. Discover why planners waste 50% of their time on low-value tasks, how automation and augmentation differ, and Niels's bold vision for AI-powered "decision avatars" that could revolutionise executive decision-making.____Is your S&OP process more painful than productive — a "monthly trip to the dentist" as our guest puts it? Niels van Hove, globally recognised thought leader in integrated business planning and human-AI collaboration, joins Mark Blackwell to discuss how AI is res...
2026-01-0142 minArkaro InsightsHow to Use AI Without It Going Wrong | Ray Eitel-Porter, Author of Governing the MachineHow can your organisation use AI without it going wrong? With 95% of organisations failing to see a return on their AI investments, this question has never been more pressing for business leaders.In this episode of Arkaro Insights, I'm joined by Ray Eitel-Porter, co-author of "Governing the Machine: How to Navigate the Risks of AI and Unlock Its True Potential". Ray has spent over eight years helping companies implement AI responsibly. He previously led Accenture's global responsible AI practice and currently advises multinational companies and the public sector. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the...
2025-12-1945 minArkaro Insights70% of People Are Wrong About Creativity | Yale Researcher Dr Zorana Ivcevic Pringle ExplainsDo you believe creativity requires complete freedom? You're not alone — 70% of people think the same. But Yale research reveals the opposite: constraints actually enhance creative output.Dr Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of The Creativity Choice, joins Mark Blackwell to explore why creativity is a learnable process of decision-making, not a gift reserved for geniuses.In this episode, you'll discover:Why the most creative teams spend 53% of their time on problem framing, not idea generationHow to match your mood to different creative ta...
2025-12-1037 minArkaro InsightsConstraints, Playfulness & Ethics: 3 Lessons for Leading in the AI Age | Dr Vlad GlaveanuDr Vlad Glaveanu shares three essential lessons for executives navigating AI: embrace constraints, foster playfulness, and keep ethics at the centre.Read more on: https://arkaro.com/ai-leadership-creativity-constraints/_________________________How should leaders think about AI and creativity? In this episode, Mark Blackwell speaks with Dr Vlad Glaveanu, Professor of Psychology at Dublin City University, founder of the Possibility Studies Network, and editor of the Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible.Vlad introduces Possibility Studies — a new field exploring how individuals and societies engage with what could be — and explains why constraints are essential to c...
2025-12-0640 minArkaro InsightsFrom Inside Out to Outside In: Aligning Teams Around User Needs with Rich AllenMost organisations plan strategy with the outside world in mind, then implement it using unchanged internal structures. The result? Good teams with clear intentions still end up working at cross purposes.In this episode, Rich Allen, author of User Needs Mapping, shows us how to shift from "inside out" to "outside in" thinking—anchoring change on what users actually need, then designing teams to deliver value with less friction and greater flow.We explore why strategy so often stays trapped in slide decks, never translating into sustainable change. Rich introduces User Needs Mapping as a pr...
2025-11-2845 minArkaro InsightsWhy Smart Companies Miss Disruption: The 3 Ghosts Blocking Innovation | Scott AnthonyWhat if the best map for tomorrow’s chaos comes from a chef, a nappy, and a medieval wine press? We dive into epic disruptions—the kind that turn what’s complex and costly into something simple and affordable—and trace the repeatable patterns behind them. Scott Anthony, clinical professor at Tuck and longtime collaborator of Clayton Christensen, joins us to unpack the behaviours, structures and stories that help leaders steer into uncertainty instead of spinning out.We start with an unexpected icon: Julia Child. Long before streaming tutorials, she translated elite French technique into home‑kitchen clarity th...
2025-11-2331 minArkaro InsightsWhy AI Implementations Fail – and How PEOPLE Can Fix It | Barry Eustance & Mark BlackwellMost AI projects don’t stumble on models or math—they stumble on people. We unpack the research behind those eye‑watering failure rates and show how human needs predict whether AI turns into momentum or frustration. With Mark Blackwell of Arkaro back on the mic, we trace the biggest missteps to six essentials from Hilary Scarlett’s SPACES model: self‑esteem, purpose, autonomy, certainty, equity, and social connection. From job threat and thin training to “shadow AI” at the desk, pilot hell in the corner, and a tidal wave of change that erodes predictability, we connect the dots between psycho...
2025-11-1040 min
Midlife & Beyond with Jo BlackwellTuesday Podcast Drop: How to Be HappyWhat is happiness, really — and can we learn to be happier? In this week’s conversation, Jo talks to Christina Lenway, a Happiness Educator and author, about the science and practice of happiness. Christina shares how a personal crisis led her to study happiness academically and discover evidence-based ways to create more joy, meaning, and fulfillment in everyday life.They explore how happiness isn’t a destination but a skill — one we can strengthen through intention, awareness, and daily practice. From “dialing up the good” emotions to using breathwork and gratitude to shift perspective, Christina explains simple, practical to...
2025-11-0428 minMidlife & Beyond with Jo BlackwellTuesday Podcast Drop: How to Be HappyWhat is happiness, really — and can we learn to be happier? In this week’s conversation, Jo talks to Christina Lenway, a Happiness Educator and author, about the science and practice of happiness. Christina shares how a personal crisis led her to study happiness academically and discover evidence-based ways to create more joy, meaning, and fulfillment in everyday life.They explore how happiness isn’t a destination but a skill — one we can strengthen through intention, awareness, and daily practice. From “dialing up the good” emotions to using breathwork and gratitude to shift perspective, Christina explains simple, practical to...
2025-11-0428 minArkaro InsightsWhy Traditional Management Fails & How Adaptive Organisations Succeed with Erica EngelenVolatility is rising, complexity is everywhere, and the old playbook of adding people, tools, and process is slowing teams down. We sit down with Erica Engelen to unpack what an adaptive organisation really looks like and how leaders can move from control to flow without losing quality or momentum. The beehive is our metaphor: self-managing, high trust, clear signals, and decisions made close to the work.We trace the journey from purpose to practice. Starting with a meaningful purpose gives teams direction when markets shift. From there, we use systems mapping to bring diverse voices together and...
2025-10-3145 minArkaro InsightsThe Neuroscience of Collaboration: Understanding the SPACES Model with Hilary ScarlettYour brain wants to help you collaborate, but its first job is survival—which means threat detection often wins over clear thinking. We dig into how to design teams and projects that quiet the alarm bells and unlock focus, trust, and creativity, using practical neuroscience you can apply today.With Hilary Scarlett, author of Neuroscience for Organizational Change, we break down the SPACES model—self‑esteem, purpose, autonomy, certainty, equity, and social connection—and show how each lever measurably shifts performance. You’ll hear why clear boundaries act like a playground fence that invites exploration, how agendas reduce anx...
2025-10-2735 minArkaro InsightsAI & the Octopus Organization with Stephen WunkerWhat if the smartest way to lead through AI isn’t more tech, but a new anatomy for your organisation? We bring on innovation strategist and author Stephen Wunker to unpack a vivid blueprint inspired by an unlikely teacher: the octopus. Instead of sprinkling “AI fairy dust” on old processes, we dig into how distributed intelligence, clear guardrails, and human-centred leadership can turn a mass-disruption moment into a durable advantage.Stephen contrasts the adaptable octopus with the heavily armoured ammonite to show why resilience beats rigidity when the environment shifts. We explore nine brains (distributed decision-making connected by a n...
2025-10-1631 minArkaro InsightsInnovation Insights: How Jobs to Be Done Transforms Product Development with Scott BurlesonYour customers aren’t loyal to you; they’re loyal to the outcome after hiring your product. That single shift powers this deep dive with Scott Burleson, veteran product leader, author of The Jobs to Be Done Pyramid, and former John Deere innovator who helped turn a “don’t add anything” brief into a premium launch that outsold the economy model. We unpack how to find the real struggle in the work—like a mid‑mower deck change that wrecked knuckles and weekends—and design relief people will pay more for.We walk through the JTBD Pyramid in plain languag...
2025-10-0644 minArkaro InsightsFrom Technical Expert to Effective Leader: Navigating the Transition with Garrett ForsytheEmotional intelligence emerges as the critical foundation for effective leadership in this candid conversation with executive coach Garrett Forsythe. Drawing from decades of corporate experience, Garrett articulates why technically brilliant professionals often struggle when transitioning to leadership roles - they've been rewarded for knowing answers, not for drawing solutions from others.The discussion explores fundamental differences between managing (focusing on efficiency and predetermined outcomes) and leading (establishing vision, culture, and acceptable behaviors). Garrett introduces powerful concepts like the "amygdala hijack" - our tendency to react emotionally before thinking rationally - and provides practical strategies for leaders to...
2025-09-0829 minArkaro InsightsBeyond the Tyranny of the Mid-Case: Rethinking How We Design Strategy with Pete CompoWhat happens when we fundamentally misunderstand one of strategy's most powerful tools? In this thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Pete Compo, we tackle the frequently misunderstood concept of scenarios and their crucial role in strategic thinking.When uncertainty looms large, many organizations default to familiar approaches—creating low, medium, and high forecasts before averaging them into a comfortable middle ground. Pete calls this "the tyranny of the mid-case" and explains why it's fundamentally flawed. True scenario thinking isn't about prediction at all, but rather acknowledging the multiple futures that might unfold and considering how they would impact yo...
2025-09-0533 minArkaro InsightsFrom Parachutes to Profits with Adrian StrattaWhat if your business could adapt and thrive in chaos the way military units do? In this fascinating conversation, Adrian Stratta bridges two worlds that rarely intersect meaningfully - military operations and corporate leadership. As a retired officer from the British Parachute Regiment with 20 years of subsequent business transformation experience, Adrian offers unique insights into how military thinking can revolutionize corporate strategy.The discussion centers on "mission command" - a military approach that ensures everyone understands not just their immediate task but how it connects to the overall mission. This creates organizational resilience when plans inevitably falter...
2025-08-2631 minArkaro InsightsWhat flying a plane taught me about leading people with Barry EustanceWhat if the skills needed to navigate a commercial aircraft through crisis could transform how we lead organizations? Barry Eustance's remarkable journey from cockpit to corporate leadership reveals powerful parallels between aviation safety and organizational excellence.Barry's fascination with flying began at age five when a captain invited him onto the flight deck during his birthday flight. That moment sparked a lifelong passion culminating in a career that bridges aviation and leadership development. Through his experiences, Barry illuminates how the airline industry's evolution from authoritarian command structures to collaborative teamwork mirrors the transformation needed in modern organizations.
2025-08-2136 minArkaro InsightsAI and the Future of Consulting - Embedding Strategy in Organisations (Just Great People podcast)What if the greatest threat to AI-powered strategy isn’t technological limitation, but human implementation failure?Following the publication of our article “AI, Strategy Implementation, and Human Collaboration”, I had the opportunity to explore these themes in depth with Barry Eustance on the Just Great People podcast. The conversation revealed fascinating insights about why human-centred approaches become more crucial as AI capabilities advance, not less.Link here to the orignal podcast and show notes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316310/episodes/17521116Current Reality:Only 14% of employees can describe their company strate...
2025-07-2530 min
Midlife & Beyond with Jo BlackwellIs Self-Care Selfish?Is self-care selfish - or essential? In this honest and uplifting conversation, Jo Blackwell chats with Honor Marks, founder of Honestly with Honor and creator of Magical Midlife MEtreats, about why caring for yourself in midlife isn’t indulgent - it’s vital.Together, they explore guilt, boundaries, and the power of female friendship, along with the story behind Honor’s MEtreats - creative, connection-filled getaways for women who need a break that truly restores.If you’ve ever struggled to put yourself first, this episode will help you see self-care not as selfish, but as sacre...
2025-05-1224 minMidlife & Beyond with Jo BlackwellIs Self-Care Selfish?Is self-care selfish - or essential? In this honest and uplifting conversation, Jo Blackwell chats with Honor Marks, founder of Honestly with Honor and creator of Magical Midlife MEtreats, about why caring for yourself in midlife isn’t indulgent - it’s vital.Together, they explore guilt, boundaries, and the power of female friendship, along with the story behind Honor’s MEtreats - creative, connection-filled getaways for women who need a break that truly restores.If you’ve ever struggled to put yourself first, this episode will help you see self-care not as selfish, but as sacre...
2025-05-1224 min