“They said she had no chance. But it never occurred to her to accept their reality”

At the age of 11, Marsha Shenk was suddenly and without warning taken from her family after contracting polio. Isolated in an iron lung, in a coma, she heard doctors tell her parents she was past the point of no return — that it might be best if they stopped visiting.

They were wrong.

A leader was born just before her 11th birthday: the day she walked — unsteady but determined — out of the hospital, knowing she would spend her life showing others that they have the power to shape their own reality.

In this extraordinary opening episode of Series 2, we hear from Marsha Shenk — a business anthropologist, leadership coach, and pioneer in human-centered strategy. Marsha shares her harrowing story of resilience, revealing how she used her own anger, grit, and inner will to survive what no one believed she could.

We explore:

• How to transform anger into a force for growth
• What it takes to keep faith in yourself when everyone else has given up
• The role mindset plays in overcoming impossible odds

Despite a life-changing illness, Marsha not only survived but thrived. Her experience shaped her unique perspective on leadership and business — where human beings play a game that wasn’t designed with us in mind.

Join us as we unpack her incredible journey, and set the stage for the powerful conversations to come in this season of Voices on the Edge of Change.

AI is transforming the world at an unprecedented pace, but what does it truly mean for businesses, leadership, and sustainability?

In this final episode of series 1 of Voices on the Edge of Change, Lou Robey catches up with an ex-colleague Petra Abbam Principal Responsible - AI Manager - BBCto explore the rapid rise of AI, the cultural shift it demands, and the fine line between meaningful innovation and corporate misrepresentation of sustainability efforts.

💡 Did you know that ChatGPT holds the record for the fastest-growing adoption in tech history? AI isn’t new, but something has changed—so why now? Petra shares her insights on what’s driving this acceleration and what leaders need to do to harness its potential responsibly.

🎙️ What you’ll hear in this episode:

✅ The fascinating journey that led Petra to the BBC and her work at the intersection of AI, culture, and transformation.

✅ Why AI is suddenly everywhere—what’s behind its explosive rise, and how companies should prepare.

✅ The reality behind AI-powered sustainability initiatives: genuine progress or just a corporate smokescreen?

✅ The biggest challenges in embedding AI into organisational culture—and how businesses can integrate it with purpose and long-term impact. How this sit with their Values and Trust as broadcaster - so much to think about!

✅ Why governance, trust, and integrity are critical when adopting AI—because it’s not just about what you use AI for, but how and where you use it.

🚀 If you want to stay ahead in the age of AI and understand how to lead responsibly, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now!

AI & Change: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders” - “Where Leadership Meets Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

Episode 5 of Voices of the Edge of Change AI & Change: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders” - “Where Leadership Meets Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”. With Leonie Valentine, an incredible leader with an illustrious career spanning traditionally male-dominated industries like oil and gas, Google, and cutting-edge AI.

Presented by Louise Robey MD & COO from Women in Change & co- presented by Annette Andresen, our sponsor Marlowe Consulting.

This episode is a must-listen for. anyone navigating transformation in the digital age. Lou Robey and Annette Andresen sit down with Leonie Valentine who has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to lead through change, from cultural transformations to navigating the complexities of acquisitions.a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in navigating complex business environments. She has held C-level positions in various organisations, including serving as Managing Director of Sales and Operations at Google Hong Kong. Leonie is a conservation biologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Ecosystem Restoration and Intervention Ecology (ERIE) group at the University of Western Australia.

Leonie shares her insights on what makes a great change leader, the motivations driving her leadership journey, and how she has seen attitudes shift across industries. She also tackles pressing questions about generative AI’s role in reshaping workplaces, its impact on leadership, and the challenges of AI governance.

Listeners will take away practical strategies for managing resistance to AI, fostering adaptability, and embracing the opportunities that generative AI presents. Leonie’s thoughtful perspectives highlight the generational nuances in AI usage and provide actionable advice for leading with confidence in a rapidly evolving world.

Whether you’re a leader, changemaker, or curious about the intersection of AI and transformation, this episode offers invaluable lessons from one of the most inspiring voices in the field.

🎙️ Listen now to hear how Leonie Valentine is shaping the future of work!