Change that works

Motherhood is personal — but the way organizations respond to it is cultural.
In this episode of Change That Works, Alexandra Popescu-Zorica speaks with Jannina Hämäläinen from ICG Innotiimi Finland about visible parenthood, organizational culture, and what truly supports working parents beyond policies and good intentions.
Together, they explore:
• Why motherhood still impacts women’s careers more than men’s • What visible parenthood reveals about workplace culture • Why flexibility and psychological safety matter more than ever • How organizations can retain talent by supporting different life stages • Why success after children may need redefining
Drawing from both lived experience and research, Janni shares what it has been like to combine part-time consulting work with life as a mother of three small children — including bringing her baby to international trainings and work events.
This episode is for leaders, parents, HR professionals, and anyone interested in building organizations where people can thrive in different stages of life.

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.

In this episode, Stefan Posch & Alexandra explore why growth has become one of the most important leadership challenges in today's rapidly changing business environment. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in innovation consulting, Stefan explains why organizations that focus solely on optimization risk becoming trapped in their existing business models, and how leaders can identify and pursue new avenues for sustainable growth.
Using the Ansoff Matrix as a practical framework, Stefan breaks down four distinct growth paths, from maximizing existing markets to creating entirely new businesses. Along the way, he shares lessons from technology, innovation, and organizational transformation, emphasizing the importance of experimentation, business development capabilities, and leadership attention when venturing beyond familiar territory.
Key Topics Discussed
Why growth matters more than cost optimization in uncertain markets
The hidden dangers of organizational complacency and "freezing"
The four growth strategies of the Ansoff Matrix
Product development vs. market development
Why diversification is often called the "Death Valley" of growth
The role of experimentation in reducing business risk
How leadership attention shapes innovation outcomes
Why great ideas fail without organizational adoption and change support
The connection between innovation, business development, and growth

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.

We talk about ESG as if it were mainly about emissions, reports, and ticking the right boxes. But in practice, the biggest sustainability risk is often much closer to home.
In this episode of Change That Works, we explore the uncomfortable truth most ESG discussions avoid: culture and leadership practices can make or break sustainability long before carbon targets do. Today's host, György Péczely with sustainability leader and consultant Kristiina Kiviharju, together challenge the idea that hiring one ESG manager can “handle” sustainability for the organization. We discuss why sustainability is fundamentally about future business viability, why aiming for the “legal minimum” is a dangerous strategy, and how toxic work cultures quietly undermine even the best ESG ambitions.
Drawing parallels between ESG and lean thinking, the conversation reframes poor leadership and emotional overload as real waste — the kind that drains performance, drives burnout, and destroys trust. This is a candid discussion for leaders who suspect that the real ESG work doesn’t start in dashboards, but in how people are led every day.

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.

In this episode of Change That Works, host Alexandra Popescu sits down with strategy and market-centricity expert Carina Christian-Kradischnig to unpack what it really takes to turn customer insights into strategic decisions. They explore why many companies are “data rich but decision poor,” how smart segmentation creates a shared language across teams, and why integrating segmentation into your CRM is the key to making it actionable. If your CRM feels like a database instead of a decision system, this conversation will help you move from dashboards and reports to focus, priorities, and measurable business impact.

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.

Middle managers sit right at the core of organizational life, they are the beating heart of change — but their reality is often far more complex than it appears. In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the unique pressures and enormous potential of this role: from balancing strategic expectations with day‑to‑day realities, to navigating identity shifts, stress, and the lonely middle. How can middle managers make the most of their sandwich position?

Together with our guests Hannah Flachberger and Kinga Illyés, you’ll learn what truly helps middle managers stay effective, empowered, and energized — and how leaders can support them in doing so. Packed with practical tools, personal insights, and fresh perspectives, this conversation sheds new light on a role that keeps organizations running.

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.