Change by Design

Chad Jackson•change-by-design.podbean.com

Welcome to Change by Design, the podcast where we shine a spotlight on engineering transformation. Each week, Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson dives deep with leaders driving real change in the world of engineering.

From breaking down barriers and challenging the status quo to fostering cultures of innovation and resilience, our guests share their journeys, lessons learned, and actionable insights to help you become a catalyst for positive change in your own organization.

Whether you’re an engineer, an executive, or simply passionate about making a difference, you’re in the right place. Get ready to be inspired, empowered, and equipped to engineer a better future—one change at a time.

Last refreshed: January 21st, 2026 at 8:28 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Weekly Roundup: AI Gaps, Change Agent Research, and New Community Programs

Is the “Digital Thread” a utopian dream or a practical reality? In this week’s episode of Change by Design, Josh Corman and Chad Jackson explore the tension between the technology that can capture everything and the engineering reality where critical context often lives in spreadsheets and hallway conversations. We discuss why “hiding” work-in-process data might be efficient for humans but disastrous for future AI agents. If an AI stakeholder can only see the final decision and not the messy opt...

Jan 20, 2026•45 min•Ep. 7

Soft Skills Are the Hard Part: Teaching EQ to Engineers

Why do 42% of organizational change initiatives face extreme resistance? Often, it’s not the technology—it’s the human element. In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Nikki Maginn, an engineer-turned-educator who teaches emotional intelligence (EQ) to technical professionals. Nikki shares her personal journey from receiving 199 job rejections after the Fukushima nuclear disaster to managing $25 million in projects by age 23—and how those experiences revealed that “soft skills” are actually...

Jan 15, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 6

Weekly Roundup: January 13, 2026

In this first episode of the new year, Josh Corman and Chad Jackson kick off 2026 by breaking down the engineering implications of the latest innovations from CES, including advancements in physical AI, autonomous sensors, and next-gen processors. The conversation then shifts to exclusive new research findings on engineering change initiatives. Chad reveals data showing a surprising mix of high success rates and high resistance, explaining why “resistance is a form of feedback” that leaders shou...

Jan 13, 2026•45 min•Ep. 5

Engineering Leadership: Culture, Change, and Talent

In this episode of Change by Design , host Chad Jackson interviews Greg Livelli, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Harvey Performance Company. Livelli shares his non-linear career path from business development in Asia to leading global transformation initiatives, offering a unique perspective on how curiosity and a “love for transformation” drive engineering success. Their conversation centers on the evolving role of engineering leaders—shifting from purely technical managers to the archit...

Jan 08, 2026•50 min•Ep. 4

Deep Dive with Alex Atala

In this episode of Change by Design, host Chad Jackson sits down with Alex Atala (Amazon, formerly of Stryker) to explore the human side of engineering transformation. They discuss why technical expertise alone isn’t enough to drive change and how “soft skills” like transparency, negotiation, and psychology are the true differentiators for success. Alex shares candid insights from his career, breaking down the red flags that signal a doomed initiative and the “green flags” that set teams up for ...

Jan 06, 2026•25 min•Ep. 3

Weekly Roundup - 12/29

Join Lifecycle Insights’ CEO Chad Jackson and Head of Content Josh Corman as they wrap up 2025 with a deep dive into the critical shifts facing engineering leaders. In this episode, the team explores why cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought and how “Agile for Hardware” is reshaping development cycles through frequent prototyping. They also outline a strategic framework for change agents to assess the business value versus execution risk of new initiatives—helping you decide when to pus...

Dec 29, 2025•43 min•Ep. 2

The Life of an Engineering Change Agent

Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson talks with change agents Alex Atala and Marshall Hulbert about how they’ve led major engineering transformations—from early CAD adoption to model-based definition—while navigating resistance, politics, and cross-functional complexity. They share the key skills, mindsets, and approaches that make change initiatives succeed—or fail—offering practical guidance for anyone looking to drive real change in engineering organizations.

Dec 18, 2025•37 min•Ep. 1

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