Episode 17: Thrive in chaos with reinvention guru Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva in Leadership Lab Podcast by Dr. Patrick Leddin

How to Thrive in Chaos

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva joins Dr. Patrick Leddin to discuss the hidden costs of resisting change—and what it really takes to lead in a world where disruption is the default. Drawing from her personal experience growing up in the Soviet Union and her global work as a reinvention expert, Dr. Nadya explains why most organizations are using tools built for stability in a world defined by chaos—and what leaders must do to close that gap.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn how to decode resistance to change, why fear—not logic—is your greatest challenge, and how to shift organizational mindsets with emotional intelligence. Dr. Nadya breaks down why our

management systems are outdated, what research says about real change fatigue, and how to create a reinvention-ready culture that acts fast without burning out. She also shares the data behind the reinvention imperative—why 1 in 3 companies will disappear in the next 5 years—and how to help yours thrive instead.

Who This Is For

• CEOs and executives building reinvention into strategy
• Team leaders navigating constant transformation
• Change consultants and HR leaders designing adaptive cultures
• Founders and entrepreneurs preparing for the next wave of disruption
• Coaches and educators supporting high-growth leadership

3 Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Reinvention Begins with Emotional Fluency, Not Rational Plans

Most change initiatives fail not because the data is wrong—but because the emotion is unaddressed. Fear, fatigue, and resistance are biological responses. Dr. Nadya explains why leaders must stop using PowerPoint decks to fix emotional problems—and how to instead introduce the right emotional cues like curiosity, hope, or healthy competition.

2. Outdated Tools Can’t Solve Modern Problems

Most strategy and management practices were built for post-WWII stability, not today’s volatility. Concepts like long-term budgeting or just-in-time inventory fail in a chaotic world. Dr. Nadya urges leaders to embrace new tools like the Stellar Canvas and build teams that reinvent continuously—not reactively.

3. Reinvention Is a Muscle—You Build It by Doing

You can’t “learn” reinvention from books alone—it must be practiced. Dr. Nadya’s handbook and global community of 3,000+ professionals have battle-tested over 10 reinvention tools. She explains how even simple rituals like “failure roundtables” can increase innovation by 27% and build true reinvention capability across teams.

Resources Mentioned

• The Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook: How to Thrive in Chaos
• 101 Free Reinvention Tools PDF - new version here
• Harvard Business Review article: 3 Things You're Getting Wrong About Organizational Change
• Stellar Strategy Canvas – adaptive planning tool
• Reinvention Society – Global Facebook community, now we’re on Li