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people navigate change and accelerate growth, and is the author of The Ten Permissions (forthcoming), which challenges outdated approaches to adult life in the 21st century.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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