Denise Withers

When I went back to grad school to study how we learn and make decisions, I was lucky to get a brilliant supervisor. Brilliant not just because she knew her stuff, but also because she knew the secret to success in academia and in life: focus. Once I figured out

In the spring of 2018, I decided to take a break from my change management work to find a new way to focus on the two things I loved most - storytelling and ocean conservation. I told a friend I was going to try to volunteer for a new non-profit

During a coaching session the other day, a client who's in the middle of a major career transition told me she felt like a squirrel in mid-jump – cut off from the safety of the familiar tree she just left, hurtling through the air toward an uncertain landing pad,

It was a surprisingly emotional day. I was gathered with 25 colleagues in a room at the Canadian Museum of History with a spectacular view of the Ottawa River and Parliament – quintessential icons of colonialism. We were there to explore where our world views come from, how they influence our

Last week, I gave a talk to a group of 50 senior government execs about using stories to create a digital culture. Organizations of all sizes struggle with technology adoption, often suffering significant losses when they fail. During the conversation, the moderator of the session told a short story about

As part of my graduate research on how to design for engagement, I was lucky enough to spend two days with a team at the BMO Institute for Learning in Toronto - a pretty swank standalone facility dedicated to supporting change. In addition to testing out the new framework I&