Breakthrough Podcast

My head is still buzzing and my soul singing after this incredible podcast with Dr Neasa Hardiman. Neasa is an Irish director, writer and executive producer whose work spans internationally acclaimed television and independent film. A two-time BAFTA winner, her directing credits include Happy Valley, Jessica Jones, The Power, We Were the Lucky Ones and Netflix’s Untamed. She also wrote and directed the science-fiction thriller Sea Fever, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. With a background in art and design and a PhD in Film Studies from Trinity College Dublin, Neasa brings together creative practice, intellectual curiosity and experience leading ambitious productions. She serves on the boards of RTÉ and Trinity and has a strong interest in how generative AI is changing creative work. In the podcast, we explore how she built her career, how she leads, and why creativity and storytelling matter in a world increasingly shaped by technology. You can follow her work on instagram or have a look at her website. https://neasahardiman.com

I am celebrating my 50th Breakthrough Podcast with the lovely and talented Julia Flower. Julia is a Thought Leader, Transformation Specialist, Speaker and Writer on The Future of Work: AI and The Human Layer. Central to Julia's work is how organisations can strengthen the human capabilities that underpin effective judgement, decision-making and governance in AI-enabled organisations. Drawing on extensive experience in operating model, organisation design and organisational transformation, Julia combines practical experience with research and thought leadership to help organisations navigate complexity and design organisations that are sustainable, resilient and fit for the future. She is the author of The Human Layer amp; AI, a Substack publication exploring the future of work and the human capabilities organisations need to thrive in an increasingly AI-enabled world. Through articles, speaking and workshops, she encourages leaders to think differently about the relationship between people, technology and organisational performance. Julia also publishes Art Conversations, a separate Substack publication that uses art as a lens to share perspectives, reflections and stories that shape our complex world. Through art, artists and cultural themes, the publication fosters dialogue and explores the stories, histories and narratives that continue to shape our world. You can listen here using the link below or on your favourite streaming platform. https://streamyard.com/6yxvj9wx33wj

Many performance problems that look like people issues are actually structural. In this episode of the Breakthrough Podcast, I speak with Naotake Momiyama, a Transformation CHRO with more than 20 years of global HR leadership experience. We explore how the way work is organised can shape performance, how complexity quietly creates friction as organisations grow, and the signs that it is beginning to undermine execution. We also discuss why HR should play a central role in building organisational capability—particularly in an AI-enabled world. A thought-provoking conversation about leadership, structure and what it really takes to turn organisational capacity into results. hashtag#Leadership hashtag#OrganisationalDesign hashtag#FutureOfWork You can access the podcast using the link below or on your favourite streaming platform. https://lnkd.in/dC2dQDH7

In my 48th podcast, I interview Joao Loreti about the challenges of transformation and how to overcome them. As he says "Most transformations don't fail because of strategy. They fail because decisions are too slow, ownership is unclear, and governance disconnects execution from outcomes." With 20+ years leading enterprise transformation, portfolio delivery and operational resilience across financial services, transport, technology and professional services — he works at the point where complexity stalls execution and boards start losing confidence in their programmes. You can listen/watch using this link or on your favourite streaming service. https://lnkd.in/dx24zhNN

Dónall is an independent non-executive director and audit & risk committee chair based in Dublin. A chartered accountant by background, he founded and led the Dublin practice BCK Auditors and Accountants before building a portfolio of board appointments across Ireland, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, among them Registers of Scotland, Fáilte Ireland, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Student Loans Company. He is known for independent challenge and for candour at the board table.

I am covering the topic of Board effectiveness in my next couple of podcasts, starting with a wonderful conversation with Vickie Williams. Vickie is based in Perth, Australia and is an accomplished organisational development and cultural change specialist. Her experience includes governance, communications, public relations, human rights, community development, and learning and development. She has broad Board experience and ESG expertise and shares a strong interest with me in human rights. We had a conversation about the collective responsibility of Boards. You can listen to our conversation below or on your favourite streaming services.

Today I share a podcast with Barry O'Reilly. Barry is an entrepreneur, executive advisor and bestselling author who helps senior leaders redesign how their organisations perform, make decisions, and innovate at scale. He is the co-founder of Nobody Studios, a global Top 10 AI venture studio building 100 companies in five years. Barry is the author of Lean Enterprise, Unlearn, and Artificial Organizations, and advises boards and executive teams worldwide on enterprise transformation in the age of AI. In this podcast we explore Barry's argument that AI isn't replacing leaders—it's exposing them. The real challenge facing organisations isn't a lack of data or technology; it's that leaders are overwhelmed by information and struggling to make clear, confident decisions under increasing complexity. Rather than being another book about AI tools, Artificial Organizations is a playbook for redesigning how decisions get made. Barry explores how organizations can combine human judgment and machine intelligence to improve decision quality, increase decision velocity, and create what he calls a lasting "decision advantage." You can listen/watch our conversation here, or listen to it on your favourite streaming service. https://lnkd.in/dUACkQiW

Caroline van der FelzHR Director /Visiting Professor/Board member Caroline is Human Resources Director at Danske Bank UK, a Visiting Professor at Ulster University, and a member of the Northern Ireland Skills Council, where she also chairs the Skills EDI Committee. But what makes Caroline particularly interesting right now is her thinking about the future of work. At a time when AI is reshaping organisations, she has been exploring what it means to build effective human-machine teams, how leadership needs to evolve, and how organisations can develop the skills, culture, and trust needed to thrive in an AI-enabled world. She brings a rare combination of practical executive experience, strategic insight, and a deep interest in how technology and people can work together to create better outcomes.

Sofi is currently the Inclusion Leader at Deloitte Ireland, a Board member of European Movement Ireland and a renowned coach and a leadership strategist. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the foundation of her work and the lens through which she approaches leadership, culture, and organizational growth. She is a TEDx Speaker, Storyteller, and Facilitator, able to translate complex issues into practical insights that shift perspectives and inspire action. In this podcast, we hone in on the challenges of a multi-generational workforce and the wonderful opportunity Gen Z brings for us to adapt to a new world of work and learn from them as much as they learn from us.

Ignatius Rautenbach A visionary leader in AI and sustainable technology, Ignatius drives global transformation through strategic ventures across multiple continents. As Founder and CEO of Koneqt, he orchestrates cross-border initiatives that bridge technology, regulation, and enterprise transformation. Through Yentra.AI, he leads EVOLVE, partnering with leading universities to address AI's fundamental challenges across sovereignty, ethics, agency, and sustainability. As Senior Technology & AI Advisor at The ESG Institute, he shapes international standards for AI-driven sustainable transformation. His expertise encompasses enterprise AI deployment, blockchain infrastructure, regulatory navigation, and data sovereignty frameworks, consistently delivering rapid, tangible results where others struggle to launch. Scott Bewley Scott runs Kastro.ai. helping clients transform their business and operations so they can Scale. he provides LIA which allows companies to quickly they get answers in seconds to questions that used to take weeks. He enables Leadership teams by training them and working on their AI strategy to move first and fast. He also ethically comply with the EU AI Act and ISO 42001 AI Management Systems.