Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox
Chatting About Change is about organizational change and helping individuals and organizations experience life to the fullest, and engaging in positive, transformational change. I am a university professor, OD consultant, and Change Strategist. Each episode I will engage in conversations with a guest from diverse backgrounds around the topic of change.
Chatting About Change with Dr. Jim Maddox
Building Change Capabilities: A Conversation with Riley Smith of Propeller Consulting
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Jim Maddox
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Season 6
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Episode 79
In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Riley Smith, Senior Director at Propeller Consulting, about his nontraditional path from teaching high school biology with Teach for America to leading large-scale change initiatives in consulting. Riley shares how experiences in building new functions, engaging stakeholders, and driving outcomes led him naturally into the field of change management. He offers an inside look at Propeller’s approach across industries—from retail and technology to healthcare and public sector—and discusses how curiosity, adaptability, and a methodology-agnostic mindset shape their client partnerships. This conversation highlights both the art and discipline of leading change in complex organizations.