Middle managers sit right at the core of organizational life, they are the beating heart of change — but their reality is often far more complex than it appears. In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the unique pressures and enormous potential of this role: from balancing strategic expectations with day‑to‑day realities, to navigating identity shifts, stress, and the lonely middle. How can middle managers make the most of their sandwich position?

Together with our guests Hannah Flachberger and Kinga Illyés, you’ll learn what truly helps middle managers stay effective, empowered, and energized — and how leaders can support them in doing so. Packed with practical tools, personal insights, and fresh perspectives, this conversation sheds new light on a role that keeps organizations running.

If you have questions or want to continue the discussion, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com.

Culture isn’t a soft topic; it’s the operating system of your strategy.

In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with Manfred Höfler about how leaders can transform their organisational culture from a barrier into a competitive advantage. Forget surveys and slogans — this is about real behaviour, real decisions and real business impact. We delve into the patterns that silently shape performance, going behind the scenes of cultural change — beyond talk and campaigns. If you want to understand why your organisation behaves the way it does, start here. Essential listening for executives navigating transformation.

If you have any questions for György or Manfred or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

In this special Christmas edition, all the Change That Works hosts – Carola, Alexandra, and Gyuri – sit down together to bust some of the biggest myths they hear in their work as change consultants. From the seductive illusion of big transformation plans to the false comfort of “just doing a training,” they challenge the assumptions that block real change from happening.

Expect personal stories, sharp insights, a few laughs, and a look behind the curtain of what actually works when it comes to leading transformation.

For this episode we will be welcoming all of our hosts – Alexandra, Carola and György – who will be busting the change myths and sharing their personal experiences with you.

If you have any questions for our hosts or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

Every CEO wants results: improved efficiency, shorter lead times, and streamlined processes.

However, few dare to admit that the real bottleneck is leadership behaviour, rather than a lack of tools or the knowledge how to use them.

In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with Josef Procházka, revealing the uncomfortable truths about leadership that companies often fail to recognise to be essential for any transformation.

If you have any questions for György or Josef or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

In this episode of Change That Works, Alexandra Popescu-Zorica talks with Michael Sarnitz, Managing Partner at ICG, about how organizations can turn strategy from a PowerPoint promise into daily reality. They explore why even the best strategies fail in execution, what “second operating systems” can do to bridge that gap, and how OKRs can shift teams from activity-based to results-based work. This conversation is a deep dive into the real work of strategy — ownership, mindset, and rhythm — and how to make strategic plans survive first contact with the calendar.

Main insights and topics covered:

• The Strategy–Execution Gap
• What Strategy Really Means
• Ownership in Strategy Development
• The “Second Operating System”
• Time as a Critical Resource
• From Activities to Results
• OKRs vs KPIs Explained

If you have any questions for Alexandraor Michael or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

Change is always challenging, and sometimes frightening. In this episode of Change That Works, host György Péczely talks with István Kosztolányi about the experiences of successful, and less successful change processes. We discuss what makes change work, and how leaders step up to the task. István shares some of the most memorable cases he has witnessed during his 30+ years of consultant career. We discuss the underlying principles and draw pragmatic conclusions, showing how the courage and openness of leaders can help organisations through the most difficult periods of change.

If you have any questions for György or István or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

What will define the executives of the future? In this episode of Change That Works, host Alexandra Popescu-Zorica speaks with Dan Palmer about why innovation management — not just efficiency — will set tomorrow’s leaders apart.

Through the story of John and Alex, we’ll explore how corporate culture, education, and fear of failure often stifle creativity. We’ll also discover why nurturing small-scale experimentation is just as vital as chasing disruptive breakthroughs. Tune in to learn how leaders can balance short-term performance with long-term innovation and build organizations ready for the future.

If you have any questions for Alexandra or Dan or are interested in collaborating reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com

I’d love to—but there’s just no time. We’ve all heard this phrase. In fast-paced, high-pressure environments, personal growth is often treated as a luxury—when in fact, it’s essential.

In this episode of Change That Works, host Carola Gasser-Trinkl talks with Kurt Mayer, consultant and Managing Partner at ICG Austria, about how to embed leadership development into the everyday reality of busy professionals.

You’ll hear about the leadership sprint — a focused, pragmatic format that bridges the gap between knowing and doing. Learn how small behavioral hacks, peer learning, and structured support systems can drive lasting change, shape organizational culture, and strengthen resilience in uncertain times.

If you’re struggling to find space for reflection and growth—or helping others do so—this episode is full of practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and real-world success stories.

If you have any questions for Carola or Kurt or are interested in collaborating, reach out via changethatworks@icg.eu.com