EZRA Asks

In a world where AI can generate answers in seconds, the real question is: are we still thinking deeply enough? In this episode of Ezra Ask, Devin Haberkorn sits down with Melanie Steinbach former Chief People Officer at MasterClass and Chief Talent Officer at McDonald’s to explore what truly separates high-performing leaders in an AI-driven world. Your team is using AI. They’re moving faster. Aut...

What if organisational culture wasn’t something you inherited — but something you deliberately designed? In this episode of EZRA Asks, host Sinead Keenan, Chief Innovation Officer at EZRA, sits down with Raj Verma, Chief Culture, Inclusion & Experience Officer at Sanofi, to explore how culture can become a strategic advantage rather than an invisible constraint. Raj shares how Sanofi has embedded...

EZRA Asks… Progress vs. Preservation: The Leader’s Real Job in Reinvention In a world that worships constant change, how do leaders know what actually needs to change — and what must be protected? In this episode of EZRA Asks, host Leslie Caputo, SVP of Global Solutions at EZRA Coaching, sits down with Jay Moore to explore the often-overlooked leadership skill of discernment. Jay draws on 37 years...

AI is reshaping how we work — but lasting transformation isn’t just about technology. It’s about people. In this live EZRA Asks episode, we sit down with Simon Lambert (Chief Learning Officer) and Tatiana Arventi (AI Workforce Function Lead) from Microsoft UK & Ireland to explore how to build the habits, behaviors, and leadership cultures that turn AI experimentation into sustained impact. Hosted...

What does it take to build cultures where people truly belong — and what happens when organisations don't quite get it right? In this episode of EZRA Asks, hosts Oly and Lewis sit down with Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall UK, to explore the realities of driving inclusion in today’s workplace. From hybrid work and pandemic aftershocks to the challenges of a multi-generational workforce, they explore...

What’s the real impact of coaching—months after the sessions end? In this special episode of EZRA Asks, host Roper reconnects with EZRA coach Frederique and her coachee Jo, a year after sharing their journey in the Work in Progress documentary. Together, they reflect on the breakthroughs that stuck, the challenges that reshaped their thinking, and how coaching continues to influence both their per...

Can your culture keep up with your ambition? In this episode of EZRA Asks, host Sinead Keenan sits down with Eric, Principal of Organisational Effectiveness at Adobe, to unpack what it really takes to build a future-ready culture. From scaling fast to staying grounded in your values, they explore how leaders can align people strategy with business ambition — without losing their teams’ momentum in...

In this episode of Ezra Asks, host Sinead Keenan is joined by Kim McMurdo, Head of Organisational Development at Standard Chartered Bank, to explore the concept of high performance in the corporate world. They delve into the balance between ambition and sustainability, discussing how organisations can achieve lasting results without compromising employee well-being. With a focus on the pressures o...

In this episode of EZRA Asks we invited in Marc Howells - VP of Global Talent and Organisational Development at AstraZeneca. We delve into the topics such as how do you balance performance for today whilst innovating for the future, how do you build belief in change, and how do you set direction from the top? #podcast #leadership #transformation Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ad...

In this extended episode of EZRA Asks we invited in Vijay Pendakur - a leading thinker on leadership and team dynamics, author of soon-to-be released 'Alchemy of Talent' and a valued member of EZRA's advisory board. In this two part special, we delve into the topic of whether there really is a formula for high performing teams. We'll talk about topics like team cohesion and performance, diversity,...

In this extended episode of EZRA Asks we invited in Vijay Pendakur - a leading thinker on leadership and team dynamics, author of soon-to-be released 'Alchemy of Talent' and a valued member of EZRA's adivsory board. In this two part special, we delve into the topic of whether there really is a formula for high performing teams. We'll talk about topics like team cohesion and performance, diversity,...

In September's episode of EZRA Asks, we invited the incredible expertise of Dr Pamela Larde, to join a discussion alongside Professor Jonathan Passmore on the topic of joy and happiness. During the episode we cover topics like current trends and insights, toxic positivity, organisational responsibility, with many tips and insights shared along the way.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

In this month's episode, we invited Mike Sharrock, former CEO of the British Paralympic Association and qualified executive coach, to discuss the world of elite athleticism and purposeful leadership. Mike has worked across the globe in various roles with BP, with his first involvement in the Paralympics coming from their partnership with the games in London in 2012. We discuss a range of thought-p...

In our fourth episode of EZRA Asks, we invited Haesun Moon, Ph. D., author and educator at the University of Toronto, to discuss communication in the digital age. Haesun is a communication scientist and "pracademic", and cares about people experiencing better conversations at home and at work. In this conversation we explore questions such as, is how we communicate in this digital age in sync or o...

In our third episode of EZRA Asks, we invited Paul Nevin, Assistant Manager of the England Football team and first-team coach for League 1 club, RC Strasbourg, France, to talk about the crossovers between sports and professional development in the workplace. Paul is a former player himself, and is seen as one of the most respected and widely experienced coaches in the country. We discuss a variety...

In our second episode of EZRA Asks, we invited Nick Caesar, Head of Senior Leadership Development and Coaching Centre of Expertise at NatWest Group, to have a conversation about hybrid working. Nick is passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to achieve purposeful, inclusive, and sustainable growth. We discuss some of the most talked about questions, such as what have we learned i...

In our first EZRA Asks podcast, we invited Simon Lambert, Chief Learning Officer at Microsoft UK to discuss all things AI and the world of work. Simon is responsible for leading the learning culture and skilling strategy in the UK and driving the execution for customers, partners, employees, and future generation skilling. We discuss the big questions, such as 'Is AI really set to change the world...