Apogy

Kudos to FirstBank and the Women in Leadership employee resource group for offering valuable programming to their most valuable asset - their people! Apogy founder Jessica Crow was recently invited to share her story and the Conscious Change Leadership framework, with more than 100 FirstBankers participating in the event hosted by the Women in Leadership ERG. The world needs more leaders who understand the impacts of change on the brain and employee well-being and how to empower themselves and others to continue to power organizational change in a more balanced way - and still achieve success. Let's commit to creating workplaces where both people and change thrive!

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Apogy founder Jessica Crow kicks off 2025 with a brief introduction and the 2025 Change Leader Insights topics lineup! Jessica started the Change Leader Insights podcast in 2022 to emphasize the importance of building change capability, help leaders consider their impact on the people they work with, and offer advice for creating work environments where people and change thrive. Change Leader Insights is Apogy’s way of sharing the collective wisdom and experience of change leaders everywhere to help individuals and teams find strategies and tools that work for them. In 2025, expect two monthly episodes with guests from varying experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We’ll continue to cover change management, change leadership, self-leadership, ways to prevent change fatigue and burnout, and new this year: artificial intelligence and the ethics of change. If you know someone who would be a good fit for the show or want to hear more about a topic, reach out to Jessica at info@apogy.biz.  Happy New Year from Apogy! We look forward to another incredible year with you!   👀 To watch the video: https://lnkd.in/gAC7hhBS  👂 For streaming options: https://lnkd.in/gTcYStaE  Like this post? Follow Apogy on LinkedIn to get our weekly updates. 

Executive Sponsors play a critical role in change initiatives. Here's how you can effectively fill the role of (or communicate the needs of an) Executive Sponsor:  ➡ Executive Sponsors carry both influence and decision-making authority by actively advocating for the change and taking ownership of the outcomes of the initiative ➡ Change Leaders should partner with Executive Sponsors throughout the process, from pre-implementation through post-implementation, for the best results. This includes ensuring alignment with strategic goals, communicating regularly about the change progress to stakeholders, building buy-in across the leadership team, helping to resolve issues, and celebrating wins and lessons learned  ➡ The most effective Executive Sponsors help lay the vision and purpose, provide authentic advocacy, share the strategic direction, and acknowledge the social proof of success 👍 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭? Follow Apogy for more content about #changemanagement, #businessstrategy, #executiveleadership, #changeexecution, and #changeleadership! 

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Puja Mehta, SHRM-CP, MBA, an independent consultant and leadership coach, about engaging people in the workplace and how engagement complements effective change management.   Puja Mehta provides talent management and HR solutions to firms of all sizes. Her background is rooted in process and operations improvement, people advisory services, and management consulting. She has experience across various industries, including financial services, insurance, and healthcare, and has supported the design, execution, and scaling of programs at various Fortune 500 firms.   During the conversation, Jessica and Puja discussed prioritizing people during process changes and why it’s critical for long-term success. Says Puja, “When I think about how prioritizing people and process comes together, it’s the same in that if you want people to be engaged, you have to give them a loose leash to allow them to explore different alternatives and feel like they are contributing and not just being told what to do.”  Highlights from the conversation include:  ☑️  The value in reflecting on the language we use to refer to employees and why thinking about them as “people” over “resources” is critical for success ☑️  Why inclusion in process design creates engagement, buy-in, and behavioral change ☑️  Ensuring the right people are in the right roles to support organizational success  If you want to learn more about prioritizing and engaging people in the workplace to equip them for change better, be sure to tune in and hear what Puja has to say!     👀 To watch the video: https://lnkd.in/g4nYTzyf  👂 For streaming options: https://lnkd.in/gTcYStaE  Like this post? Follow Apogy on LinkedIn to get our weekly updates. 

Are you seeking an inspiring and engaging virtual speaker for your upcoming team meetings and town halls? Our founder, Jessica Crow, conducts virtual speaking engagements about Conscious Change Leadership to help individuals develop self-leadership skills to lead people, projects, and change effectively.  Equip your people with the skills they need to have a positive ripple effect on your workplace and teams with this talk!  Want to learn more? Please send us an email at info@apogy.biz for more information. #changemanagement #changeleadership #businessleaders #motivationalspeaker #organizationaldevelopment #coaching #virtualspeaker 

What does Coaching for Success look like in practice?  🔵 ALIGN on the reasons and expectations by planning ahead, asking questions to dig deep, checking for understanding, and following up with action 🔵 ASK open questions that invite others to share their perspectives and views 🔵 LISTEN actively to build trust 🔵 OFFER support by helping prioritize work, setting goals and deadlines (and tracking weekly progress against deadlines), providing regular updates, creating visual reminders, and offering creative (and fun) incentives 🔵 RECOGNIZE process and reward the right behaviors with plenty of celebrations along the way  Ready to become a change leader equipped to coach? Our training program will give you everything you need to succeed, including the skills to coach for success: https://lnkd.in/euC8YU4 #changemanagement #changeleadership #businessleaders #changeexecution #organizationaldevelopment #coaching #coachingintheworkplace 

Did you know? Apogy offers Change Leader Coaching to people who purchase our online training course or have completed change management training through another provider. We understand that acquiring information is only part of the equation. Having someone to coach and guide you through the process of applying what you've learned in your unique workplace and culture can not only accelerate your skill development but also help you build confidence in your newfound capabilities. Group coaching is also available for companies that purchase courses for their teams.  Would you be interested in learning more? Please email us at info@apogy.biz today! #changemanagement #changeleadership #businessleaders #changeexecution #organizationaldevelopment #coaching #coachingintheworkplace

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Kristen M. Olson, an entrepreneur, athlete, podcaster, and speaker, about the concept of “Grateful Disruption” and the power of genuine influence in the workplace, especially during times of change. Kristen Olson is a founder, host, human, lifelong athlete, and business creative with over 25 years of experience in marketing and branding within the fitness and lifestyle industry. She is a highly-skilled, passionate, driven, and proven leader with deep success in tactical, high-end strategic partnerships, large-scale team/brand building, and creative strategy. You can find her and her guests at https://lnkd.in/gYzzScmk.   During the conversation, Jessica and Kristen discussed the future of leadership in the workplace and what will matter most for our next generation of change leaders. Says Kristen, "What's the one thing you can't replicate? Your humanness, your authenticity, and your being you. Make yourself irreplaceable, and if the only way to do that is to be authentic, that's what it is."      Highlights from the conversation include:  ☑️  A dive into why authenticity will drive the success of future workplace leaders ☑️  How changes like artificial intelligence (AI) are causing shifts in the types of skills people will need in leadership roles  ☑️  The idea that we need both leaders and followers at work and understanding when a leadership role might not be the best fit for you  If you want to learn more about "Grateful Disruption” and influence, be sure to tune in and hear what Kristen has to say!      👀 To watch the video: https://lnkd.in/gG7J_PxM  👂 For streaming options: https://lnkd.in/gTcYStaE  Like this post? Follow Apogy on LinkedIn to get our weekly updates. 

There are four essential power skills for Change Leaders:  COMMUNICATION: Effective communication is critical for building trust, providing clarity, and strengthening connections. Change Leaders can improve their communication skills by nailing the 4 Cs of dynamic communication (clear, concise, compelling, and compassionate), practicing storytelling, choosing the right communication methods, and being active listeners. CONNECTION: Strong connections lead to better engagement, performance, agility, and innovation. You can improve connections through ongoing check-ins, conducting 1:1s, leveraging icebreakers, and asking how you can help others.  COLLABORATION: Navigating change requires multiple perspectives, and prioritizing collaboration is a driving factor in successful change. Change Leaders play a powerful role in helping to share the vision and purpose, involving others in decisions, and holding working and learning sessions to invite more voices into conversations.  COMPASSION: It’s no secret that compassion builds trust. Find joy in the change process, put yourself in others’ shoes, focus on resilience, and practice self-compassion.  Develop your power skills with us! 👍 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭? Follow Apogy for more content about #changemanagement, #businessstrategy, #changeexecution, and #changeleadership! 

In this episode of Change Leader Insights, Jessica Crow speaks with Maria Ross, a speaker, facilitator, author, and empathy advocate, about the power of empathy in the workplace (and life).   Maria Ross believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. She founded Red Slice, LLC, and advises organizations on leveraging empathy to engage and connect. Maria has authored multiple books and hosts The Empathy Edge  podcast.  Maria’s most recent book is The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries. A dynamic speaker, Maria has delighted audiences at leading conferences and organizations such as TEDx, The 3% Conference, The New York Times Small Business Summit, and Salesforce, and her insights have appeared in many media outlets, including MSNBC, NPR, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Newsweek, Huffington Post, and Thrive Global. During the conversation, Jessica and Maria discussed how to work with leaders who lack self-awareness, especially when partnering with them to create change. Says Maria, “You can’t change anyone else, but what you can do is show up in the interaction. You can show up in the conversation with your empathy. It’s not your job to make others empathetic, but you can show up by asking questions, staying emotionally regulated, and sharing common ground.”  Highlights from the conversation include:  ☑️  How leading through empathy can help manage resistance to change ☑️  Practical tips for showing up more empathetically in conversations with team members and colleagues  ☑️  A deep dive into Maria’s five pillars of effective but empathetic leadership: self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and joy If you want to learn more about empathy, leadership, and change, be sure to tune in and hear what Maria has to say!   👀 To watch the video: https://lnkd.in/gbrgUqF3 👂 For streaming options: https://lnkd.in/gTcYStaE  Like this post? Follow Apogy on LinkedIn to get our weekly updates.