The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s 80. Navigating Through an Uncertain World
In this episode we discuss: Navigating through an uncertain world. We are joined by Jillian Reilly, Author, Global change facilitator, Keynote speaker, and International aid veteran.
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- We chat about the following with Jillian Reilly:
- What does it really take to be an effective facilitator of change within an organisation?
- How can operators lead confidently in uncertainty without overpromising outcomes?
- When should leaders rely on intuition over data—and how do they build that instinct?
- Can resilience be intentionally developed, or is it only forged through hardship?
- How do you balance empathy with accountability when leading teams through tough transitions?
References
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/
- https://jillreilly.substack.com/
- www.tenpermissions.com
Biography
Jillian Reilly is a founder, writer, keynote speaker, and consultant with 30 years’ experience in social, organisational, and personal change across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. She helps people navigate change and accelerate growth, and is the author of The Ten Permissions (forthcoming), which challenges outdated approaches to adult life in the 21st century. Her memoir, Shame: Confessions of an Aid Worker in Africa, reflects on her early career in international development. Jillian’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, Newsweek, and the LA Times, and her TEDx talk Vain Aid offers insights from the aid industry. She also created the Courageous Conversations podcast, funded by the Ford Foundation, spotlighting African activists.
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Summary
00:06:10 – Becoming a change facilitator
00:08:43 – Leading in uncertainty
00:10:46 – Trusting intuition
00:14:19 – Navigating profound change
00:18:29 – Leading without a grand vision
00:22:40 – Building resilience
00:28:15 – Reframing setbacks
00:35:50 – Holding onto purpose
00:42:10 – Empathy vs. accountability
00:44:05 – Final reflections
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