Seeing beneath the surface: how leaders notice, interpret and shift culture

Many CEOs describe sensing something’s not quite right when facing challenges, but struggle to pinpoint the cause.

This session will help leaders build awareness of the subtle cultural risks that can surface (or remain hidden) in civil society organisations and introduce practical, reflective tools to recognise and address them before they escalate. It will increase your confidence to interpret those signals, reflect on your own leadership impact and begin honest internal conversations about culture, power and inclusion.

This session is led by Emma Walker, Founder and Director of Change the Chat, who help individuals and organisations speak up with confidence, navigate sensitive conversations and create cultures where voices are heard, valued and protected. It will discuss why cultural awareness is an essential leadership skill and explore:

• the early warning signs of cultural risk

• strategies for spotting and naming what doesn’t feel right

• what leaders commonly miss in their first 100 days.

Emma will introduce Change The Chat’s personal leadership audit framework:

• signs (what you or your instincts notice first)

• suggestions (what those signs may be telling you and the pitfalls of ignoring them)

• shifts (small, proactive actions leaders can take)

You will gain:

•  a clearer understanding of how cultural risk shows up in real time
• tools for reflective questioning and sense-making
• greater confidence in naming and exploring cultural issues early
• encouragement to build social justice values into day-to-day leadership practice

There will be lots of interaction including small group breakouts, micro-pauses for reflection, and discussion.

This event will not be recorded.

Speaker

Emma Walker

Founder and Director, Change the Chat

Emma Walker

Founder and Director, Change the Chat

Emma Walker founded Change The Chat to support women who have been harmed and unheard, whilst supporting organisations to do no more harm.

Emma is an experienced Chief Executive, Trustee, spokesperson, public speaker and activist. She has worked in community engagement, arts and culture, sport, politics and social care to deliver real and lasting change. As the first Chief Executive of Craft Scotland, she built the charity from the ground up, securing international partnerships and delivering ground-breaking campaigns with global impact within the sector. At Camphill Scotland, Emma worked across social policy and influencing, supported the Covid-19 response within communities of people with learning disabilities, and contributed to communications, workforce learning, and engagement with networks across Camphill and the third sector.

As the Founder and Director of Change The Chat, Emma is building a social change movement that creates change through storytelling and critical conversations - "I'm making whistleblowing cool and making non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) history".