Explore every episode of the podcast Change Cafe

In this episode of The Change Cafe, host Andrew Ourique sits down with Phil Buckley, award-winning author, speaker, coach, and founder of Change with Confidence, for a candid conversation about what it really means to lead change in complex environments.

Phil shares how he first entered the change management field through a major merger, what large-scale transformation taught him about pressure, culture, and leadership, and why change practitioners need to be careful not to fall in love with their models at the expense of the people and context in front of them.

The conversation explores the emotional side of resistance, the importance of self-awareness, why co-creation can be more powerful than the technically perfect plan, and how change professionals can keep growing by learning from mistakes. Phil also discusses why communication practices need to evolve as the way people consume information continues to change.

This episode is for change practitioners, leaders, project teams, and anyone navigating transformation who wants a grounded, practical, and human conversation about how change actually happens.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Phil’s path into change management
• Lessons from mergers, SAP implementations, and high-pressure project environments
• Why emotions often sit beneath resistance
• How to use curiosity when difficult behaviours show up
• Why co-created change plans are more likely to stick
• The risk of relying too heavily on familiar tools and templates
• What it means to grow as a change practitioner
• How change communication needs to evolve

Guest: Phil Buckley
Host: Andrew Ourique
Presented by: ACMP Ontario

Links and references mentioned:

Phil Buckley / Change with Confidence: https://www.changewithconfidence.com/

Phil Buckley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philbuckley01/

Change on the Run by Phil Buckley: https://www.amazon.ca/Change-Run-Survive-Workplace-Uncertainty/dp/198960398X

Change with Confidence by Phil Buckley: https://www.amazon.ca/Change-Confidence-Answers-Biggest-Questions/dp/1118556550

Change Toronto 2026: https://www.acmpglobal.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2048512

Subscribe, share with a colleague, and follow ACMP Ontario on LinkedIn for future episodes and events.

In Episode 3 of the Change Café podcast, Andrew sits down with Arif Naghar, an experienced change management professional whose career spans manufacturing, engineering, and the public sector.

One idea stands out throughout the conversation: change managers are like quarterbacks—but success in change is a game of inches. It’s not about a single big play, but about consistently reading the field, adapting, and moving people forward step by step.

Arif shares his journey into change management, highlighting a path many practitioners will recognize—doing the work long before having a name for it. From navigating high-paced automotive environments to leading people-centric transformation in education, he reflects on what it takes to adapt across industries while staying grounded in the human side of change.

This episode explores:

• The importance of understanding people before applying methodology
• Why change management is more than templates and frameworks
• The realities of transitioning industries as a change professional
• How self-reflection and continuous learning shape long-term success
• The evolving role of change practitioners in a world of AI and increasing complexity

Whether you’re early in your change journey or a seasoned practitioner, this conversation offers honest reflections and practical insights on leading change effectively today.

Listen now and stay connected with ACMP Ontario for more conversations with change leaders and practitioners.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Change Cafe, the ACMP Ontario podcast exploring the real stories behind how change actually happens.

Host Andrew Ourique sits down with Rich Batchelor, President of ACMP Global, founding member of ACMP, former Toronto Chapter President, and a globally respected change management leader with more than 30 years of experience delivering large-scale transformational change across public and private sectors.

In this episode, Rich shares his journey into change management, a pivotal career moment that reshaped how he approaches consulting engagements, and why successful change must be done with people, not to people. The conversation also explores the role of curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning in building effective change leadership.

Rich is an author, educator, and long-time advocate for advancing the change management profession worldwide. Throughout his career, he has helped shape the discipline while championing practical, people-centered approaches to transformation.

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Follow ACMP Ontario on LinkedIn for updates on upcoming episodes and events.

In the first episode of Change Cafe, host Andrew Ourique sits down with ACMP Ontario President Sharon McLaughlin, a seasoned HR and change leader with deep experience in municipal government transformation. Sharon shares how she “fell into” change management through HR technology implementations, what she learned from missed stakeholder groups and mid-project reorganizations, and why the most important skill is remembering that people experience change differently. The conversation also explores the growing intersection of change management and coaching, plus a lightning round on relationships, lifelong learning, and leading with grace.Book Recommendation: Change: How to Turn Uncertainty into OpportunityConnect with our guest and ACMP Ontario:

• Sharon McLaughlin (President, ACMP Ontario): president@acmpontario.org (or coach@sharonmclaughlin.ca)
• Andrew Ourique (Director of Events, ACMP Ontario): events@acmpontario.org (on LinkedIn)
• Follow ACMP Ontario on LinkedIn for updates on future episodes and events.

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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Change Cafe, share it with a colleague, and stay connected with the ACMP Ontario community.