Sullivan & Stanley

On Thursday morning, S&S had the honour to co-host our Women in Transformation breakfast with Bauer Media Group, bringing together transformation specialists from across industries. We explored how empathetic leadership transforms change programmes and the importance of authentic communication throughout transformation journeys. Key learnings to apply in your next change initiative: 🔶 Lead with empathy - show vulnerability by acknowledging challenges your team is facing alongside them 🔶 Time communications strategically around existing BAU activities to meet people where they are 🔶 Define success through longevity and lasting impact, not just project completion dates 🔶 Pause to learn from the post-change phase before rushing to celebrate wins 🔶 Remember that while AI is a powerful tool, successful transformation fundamentally depends on people and behavioural change Thank you to Bauer Media Group for their partnership in hosting this valuable event and to everyone who contributed their expertise and experiences. If you're looking for a collaborative community that thrives on peer learning, connect with Mathilda Börjesson to join our next Women in Transformation event. #WomenInTransformation #ChangeManagement #EmpatheticLeadership #FutureOfWork

Last week, we brought together an incredible group of women leaders for our Women in Transformation event in Manchester. Our discussions created a trusted space where everyone shared their professional and personal challenges and offered guidance on: 🔶 Authentic leadership - We explored what this truly means in transformation environments and how finding workplaces that support your genuine self creates the foundation for real impact. 🔶 International Women's Day reflections - The group shared powerful perspectives on distinguishing meaningful initiatives from performative gestures and how we're driving genuine progress. 🔶 Active listening techniques - One conversation centred on the distinction between "listening to respond" versus "listening to understand"—a subtle but transformative shift in communication. 🔶 Effective feedback approaches - We discussed methods that nurture growth, with one standout framework being: "What I value most about you is... and I would value it even more if..." 🔶 Building high-performance teams - The challenges and rewards sparked lively discussions, drawing inspiration from sports analogies and experiences outside traditional business contexts. These WiT gatherings continue to demonstrate the power of creating space for open, honest dialogue among transformation leaders. The insights shared will influence our work and strengthen our community connections. #WomenInTransformation #Leadership #TransformationLeadership

Is Total Experience (TX) a transformative business strategy worth investing in—or just another buzzword that promises more than it delivers? When we posed this question to a room of senior digital and tech leaders, their collective response was surprising: TX isn't just valuable—it's becoming essential. TX disrupts silos by bringing together four elements into one holistic framework: 🔶 Customer experience 🔶 User experience 🔶 Employee experience 🔶 Multi-channel experience One insight from our discussion particularly resonated: many organisations set out to deliver customer experience and end up with an "accidental employee experience" as they improve technology and overall delivery. This hidden connection is where the real transformation happens. What separates organisations that merely survive from those that thrive in today's digital landscape? Increasingly, it's their ability to see beyond isolated experiences to the powerful interconnections between them. #TotalExperience #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #CX #EX #TechLeadership

For International Women’s Day, we brought together an incredible group of women leaders in Dubai for our latest Senior Women in Transformation and Change (SWiTCH) event. The energy in the room was inspiring, and the discussions were full of insights on resilience, leadership and championing each other.   The stories shared were a reminder that women in transformation and change roles are leading from the front—driving impact and lifting each other as they rise. The conversations covered everything from navigating tough leadership moments to redefining success on their own terms.    Read the full blog for key highlights and insights from the event: https://lnkd.in/e_A8McPU   If you’d like to be part of the SWiTCH community, our Marketing & Community Manager, Zosia Alldritt would love to connect.    #SWiTCH #WomenInLeadership #Resilience #Transformation #InternationalWomensDay

At our latest Leaders in Transformation event, one thing became crystal clear: AI is no longer a future consideration—it’s a business reality. Yet while some organisations are embracing AI effectively, others are grappling with governance, data quality and the evolving regulatory landscape. Our own Archie Cobb (aka AI-chie) shared a powerful reminder: “It’s not just about adopting AI—it’s about structuring it in a way that makes sense for your business. If you don’t have clear policies and a plan, AI will cause more problems than it solves.” This blog captures the biggest takeaways from the discussion, including: 🔶 AI governance – Why shadow AI is a growing risk & how to control it 🔶 Regulation & compliance – What leaders need to know about the EU AI Act and global regulations 🔶 Real-world AI use cases – How businesses are integrating AI into operations, customer experience, and innovation 🔶 AI maturity – Where does your business sit on the AI maturity curve? Many businesses are stuck between experimentation and real AI transformation. Want to move from theory to action? Read the full blog to explore the key strategies and practical steps you need to take. https://lnkd.in/eXq3SZDt #AI #DigitalTransformation #Governance #FutureOfWork #BusinessLeadership

We've had an incredible week celebrating International Women's Day! Wrapping up our IWD series, our CEO Jason Byrne shares his thoughts on our journey to create a workplace where women thrive—not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes S&S stronger for everyone. We're proud that women now make up more than half of our team at S&S. Jason also highlights our thriving Women in Transformation Community, which brings together exceptional women from across our client network to share insights, challenges and successes. For us, it's about building a workplace that works better for everyone. When we create the right environment where women can succeed, we create a stronger, more inclusive and ultimately more successful organisation for everyone. Thank you to all who've shared their stories this week, and to everyone working to make our industry more inclusive every day. #WomenInTransformation #IWD2025 #FutureOfWork

This week, we've been celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day by sharing personal stories from our team. Our consultant Siobhán Nuzum shares her experience navigating the tech industry—from growing up in New Zealand where all her mentors were men, to discovering the transformative power of female mentorship after moving to the UK. Siobhan reflects on the challenges of being in the minority as a woman in tech and how meaningful mentorship made all the difference. She credits her drive to her mother—an absolute force in her career—and finds inspiration in her sister, a technology leader in New Zealand. #TransformationLeadership #WomenInTech

We're really looking forward to attending this event! Don't miss Adrian Stalham's session, where he'll show you how to transform strategic missions into measurable outcomes with our AI-powered methodology Missionhub.ai. Learn how cross-functional teams can deliver real value with clear accountability. #DigitalTransformation #AI #Government

In celebration of #IWD2025, Sibbs Singh, our Consulting Principal, shares how women have transformed his approach to leadership: from his wife Rachel's unwavering commitment to education, to his former marketing head Sarah's inclusive leadership style, to his young daughter Imogen who reminds him daily why building equitable workplaces matters. Sibbs' reflections highlight how transformation requires us to value diverse perspectives and experiences. The leaders who make lasting impact understand that equality and inclusion aren't separate from transformation—they're essential to it. Join us this week as we share more stories about the women who inspire our thinking and approach. #TransformationLeadership #InternationalWomensDay

Meet Sofia Mutafchieva, our Community Engagement Manager, who advocates for gender equality and drives meaningful change through her impactful work connecting our transformation community. In this first video of our #IWD2025 series, Sofia shares how trailblazers like Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Pankhurst, and Maya Angelou—women often labelled as "loud" or "difficult"—have shaped her journey and values. Looking to the future, she reminds us that intersectionality must be at the heart of progress. As Sofia puts it, at its core, feminism is about equality for all. We're proud to foster a team that champions these values and continuously works to create more inclusive spaces both within and beyond our organisation. We will be sharing more inspiring stories from our team this month as we explore this year's theme of "Accelerating Action" together. #InternationalWomensDay #AcceleratingAction