Digital Workplace Impact

What does it really take to make AI work at scale inside large organizations? In this episode of Digital Workplace Impact, DWG Chief Executive Nancy Goebel sits down with Melissa Reeve, author of Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the enterprise to become AI-native, to explore why so many AI initiatives stall – and what leaders must do differently to calm the hype and achieve lasting impact.

Drawing on her background in Lean, Agile and DevOps thought leadership, Melissa argues that AI is not just a technology shift but a fundamental rewiring of the operating model. She introduces the concept of the ‘hyperadaptive’ organization – one that can sense and respond in near real time by compressing decision-making, workflows and governance. Crucially, becoming AI-native is as much about people, culture and leadership as it is about tools.

The conversation unpacks the difference between being AI-enabled and AI-native, before examining why rushing to automate without strong foundations erodes trust. Melissa shares her practical five-stage Hyperadaptive Model, explains why dynamic governance and AI literacy matter more than pilots, and makes a compelling case for investing in new roles and learning systems such as AI activation hubs.

With encouraging job predictions from the World Economic Forum and a real-world example from Moderna, this episode challenges leaders to think systemically and take a deliberate, long-term approach to AI.

Guest speaker:
Melissa Reeve, Author of ‘Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the enterprise to become AI-native’
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital Workplace Group CEO and host of Digital Workplace Impact, Nancy Goebel, is joined by long-time community practitioner and author Chris Catania to explore why community is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ but a strategic advantage for modern organizations.

Drawing on his new book The Community-First Advantage, Chris makes a compelling case for treating community as a system – one that builds trust, drives growth, reduces cost and strengthens loyalty at a time when traditional command-and-control leadership is fast becoming obsolete. Based on 20 years of research and interviews with more than 100 leaders, he introduces two practical frameworks designed for leaders under pressure to deliver results while not contributing to the ‘loneliness epidemic’ that can too easily prevail if workplace change is not handled correctly.

The ADAPT model focuses on leadership mindset – authenticity, decision, agility, purpose and trust – and shows why leading with humanity and openness is essential in the age of hybrid work and AI. Chris then translates belief into action through the ‘three E’s’ of experience, enablement and evaluation, offering clear guidance on where to invest in community, how to bring stakeholders with you and how to connect community activity to ROI that stands up to CEO and CFO scrutiny.

Citing real examples – from LEGO’s transformation journey to lessons on measuring value beyond metrics alone – this episode is packed with insights for digital workplace leaders looking to build trust-based organizations that can adapt and thrive in the AI era.

Guest speaker:
Chris Catania, Author of ‘The Community-First Advantage’
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of Digital Workplace Impact, DWG consultant and researcher Shimrit Janes joins Nancy Goebel to explore why change agility has become a critical capability for digital workplace teams navigating constant disruption. Drawing on DWG’s latest research, the conversation reframes change from a series of planned events into an ongoing, human experience that requires sensing, responding and adapting in real time.

Shimrit introduces a powerful metaphor that runs throughout the episode – traditional change management as classical music, while change agility is jazz. While structured approaches still matter, today’s digital workplace demands the confidence to improvise, experiment and respond together when the pace of change accelerates. From generative AI and organizational restructuring to shifting ways of working, the episode explores how teams can move from reacting under pressure to building sustainable readiness.

Listeners are taken through the three dimensions of change agility – personal, relational and strategic – with practical insights into mindset, psychological safety, decisionmaking and governance. The discussion is grounded in realworld examples, including awardwinning case studies from organizations such as Vodafone and EY, showing what change agility looks like in practice at scale.
This is a thoughtful, inspiring listen for anyone leading or supporting the digital workplace in this era of constant change. If you are grappling with overlapping change, AI adoption or growing uncertainty, this episode will help you slow down just enough to go faster – and thrive in the process.

Guest speaker:
Shimrit Janes DWG Consultant and Researcher
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Digital Workplace Impact, host Nancy Goebel is joined by Suzy Dean, Microsoft MVP, and CEO and Co-Founder of Addin365, for a practical and insight-rich conversation on what it truly means to design and run an AI-ready digital workplace.

Drawing on extensive real-world experience across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Suzy reflects on how the accelerating pace of technological and organizational change is placing new demands on digital workplace teams. Together, Nancy and Suzy unpack why many digital workplaces struggle with adoption, pointing to familiar challenges such as technology-led rollouts, fragmented governance, outdated content and experiences that fail to support the tasks employees are actually trying to complete.

A central theme of the discussion is alignment – between business strategy, employee needs and technology capability. Suzy shares a playbook for success that starts with engaging senior leaders around business outcomes rather than tools, ensuring shared ownership of content and governance, and designing navigation and experiences around work tasks rather than org charts. The conversation reinforces why governance can no longer be deferred in an AI-enabled environment, where tools like Copilot surface everything – good, bad and contradictory.

The episode also explores how AI can become a genuine force multiplier for overstretched teams. It highlights emerging Copilot capabilities, such as Knowledge Agents and Researcher, that can automate content reviews, clean-up and research, freeing people from manual, low-value work and enabling greater focus on strategic impact.

This episode offers timely actionable guidance for digital workplace leaders navigating AI-enabled ways of working.

Guest speaker:
Suzy Dean, Microsoft MVP, CEO and Co-Founder, Addin365

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Digital Workplace Impact, host Nancy Goebel explores AI literacy – one of the hottest topics for organizations right now – with Elizabeth Marsh, DWG Director of Research, and author of DWG’s recent research report ‘Empowering employees for the AI era: A guide to AI upskilling’. As AI becomes increasingly integral to workplace innovation and productivity, understanding the readiness of employees to embrace this technology is paramount.

Drawing on her research, Elizabeth highlights the importance of fostering a culture of AI literacy to unlock new value and enhance decision-making capabilities. The discussion delves into the current state of AI readiness across organizations, revealing a significant gap between ambition and actual investment in upskilling employees.

Listeners will learn about a model for AI literacy that Elizabeth has developed, which emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to digital skills training. From foundational awareness to advanced application, the model progresses through a sequence of practical strategies for empowering employees and ensuring responsible AI use. Elizabeth also addresses the emotional landscape surrounding AI adoption, underscoring the necessity of building confidence and addressing any fears that may hinder progress.

With real‑world examples from Vodafone, Moderna, Danone and others, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of AI in the workplace. Whether you're shaping strategy or levelling up your own AI skills, this conversation will inspire fresh thinking about what it takes to create and be part of an AI‑ready workforce.

Guest speaker:
Elizabeth Marsh, Director of Research, DWG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.