Change management lessons for business transformation leaders

PEX Network’s All Access: Change Management for Business Transformation 2025 webinar series sparked several insightful conversations on thought-provoking topics.

The event attracted expert speakers from various aspects of change management and business transformation, with discussions covering employee resistance, technology integration and the role of culture and leadership in driving successful transformations. 

Presentations explored strategies for digital transformation, technology adoption and the importance of human-centered approaches while highlighting challenges such as organizational preparedness and the need for clear expectations and accountability. The event also covered workforce transformation in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and data-driven approaches to leading change.

What change management teaches us about business transformation

Culture and leadership

Ramnath Natarajan, director of intelligent automation and enterprise integration at Johnson Controls and Tyson Browning, professor of operations management at Neeley School of Business, highlighted the role of culture and leadership in driving successful transformations, with Ramnath stressing the need for human-centered approaches in technology adoption.

Challenges and strategies

Kerry Brown, lead transformation evangelist at Celonis, discussed the challenges and strategies involved in driving digital transformation and fostering a culture of adaptability. Brown highlighted the need for clear expectations, accountability and the use of process intelligence tools to measure and track progress. 

AI and data-driven approaches

Nellie Wartoft, CEO at Tiger Hall, discussed an AI and data-driven approach to leading transformation. She highlighted the importance of data in overcoming the “black hole” of activation, where transformation initiatives often fail due to lack of visibility and control.

Nellie emphasized the need to think of data as a loop, not just an output, providing strategies for collecting, leveraging and analyzing data to drive transformation. She recommended focusing on vertical AI applications rather than horizontal productivity tools and advised starting with a specific team or workflow to maximize impact.

Process excellence leaders

Tony Saldanha, co-founder at Inixia and PEX Certification trainer, delivered a presentation on the importance of process excellence leaders in driving business transformation. He emphasized that the current era presents a unique opportunity for process excellence leaders to become the transformation engines of their companies, citing examples from his experience at Procter & Gamble.

The session concluded with a brief overview of the new Professional Process Excellence Certification program launched by PEX Network in partnership with Inixia, which aims to equip professionals with the tools and methodologies to drive continuous transformation.

Digital transformation and emerging technologies

Zayd Rasool, technology, operations and digital transformation executive at GSK, shared his extensive experience in the importance of culture, leadership and data analytics. He discussed methods for evaluating existing processes and technologies, strategies for overcoming resistance to change and the role of emerging technologies in future transformations.

The session also covered the relevance of digital transformation for organizations of all sizes, the importance of security and governance and the integration of ESG principles into digital strategies.

Leadership in AI

The closing panel discussion focused on leadership in the AI era, where Julie Whitten, VP, change management and communications at UNC Dairy and Andrew Spector, change and leadership strategist with more than ten years guiding technology transformations at PwC and Paramount, shared insights on managing change related to AI adoption.

During the session we ran a poll, asking the audience what they believed to be the most critical aspect for leaders to focus on when managing change related to AI adoption?

With overwhelming 39 percent of respondents cited “creating a culture that encourages innovation and experimentation,” followed by “addressing employee fears and resistance to AI adoption.”

The participants discussed strategies for reframing AI as a tool for business transformation, emphasizing the importance of education, clear communication and addressing employee fears. They highlighted the need for leaders to understand AI capabilities, listen to employee concerns and provide clarity to help mitigate anxiety around AI implementation.

The high attendance and engagement throughout the event proved that change management is not only relevant but also critical in a world where change is continuous.

If you missed this event, you are still able to catch up and watch all sessions on PEX Replay.

All Access: BPM Business Process Management 2025

Business process management (BPM) is a discipline that helps organizations improve their efficiency and effectiveness by streamlining their processes. In 2025, BPM will be more important than ever as organizations look to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

All Access: BPM 2025 from PEX Network will help professionals get an understanding of the latest developments in BPM, including how to identify and improve key processes, how to implement BPM technology, and how to measure the success of BPM initiatives.

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