Why do most organisational change programmes fail?
In this thought‑provoking episode of The Independent Minds, host Michael Millwardand Swedish technology and transformation leader Helena Hörnebrant unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of organisational development: the difference between change and transformation.
Drawing on her global career across CIO, CDO, MD and project leadership roles, Helena explains why organisations often focus on systems, processes, and structures; but overlook the only element that can truly transform a business: people.
Michael and Helena explore:
- Why traditional change programmes often “do change to people” rather than enabling them to transform for themselves
- How leaders must evolve their style as organisations mature, scale, and face the “never normal” pace of change
- The role of ego, curiosity, and psychological safety in helping teams adopt new ways of working
- Why transformation requires orchestration, not command‑and‑control management
- How cross‑functional collaboration and shared accountability create sustainable, self‑driven improvement
- The growing impact of AI on leadership, employee empowerment, and organisational adaptability
This conversation is rich with practical insight, reflective moments, and real‑world experience. Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, change practitioner, or simply curious about how work is evolving, this episode will challenge your assumptions and expand your thinking.
Discover more about Helena and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk
Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds
The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.
Travel – With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices.
Fit For Work We recommend The 39-health marker Annual Health Test from York Test; conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests.
A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance
Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.
Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.
Being a Guest
We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.
Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.
We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.
Thank you for listening.
Keywords
Organisational transformation, change management, leadership development, behavioural change, digital transformation, AI and leadership, cross‑functional teams, workplace culture, employee engagement, modern management, transformation strategy, continuous improvement, business transformation podcast.
