As we wrapped up our final Thought Leadership event for 2024, "Don't Survive the Chaos: Effectively Maximize Organizational Change," one message was abundantly clear: Change isn’t slowing down—it's accelerating. Across industries, organizations are grappling with change in many forms, from mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and digital transformations to regulatory shifts and the constant demand for operational excellence. To protect investments in capital, time, and energy, leaders must turn to proven strategies and expert insights to navigate these complex waters effectively.
Advanced Resources brought together a distinguished panel of change leaders, including Laura Zeligman, Senior Director of Organization Effectiveness at McDonald's; Bill Davidson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Crash Champions; Connor Lawrie, President and Chief Operating Officer at Heartland Veterinary Partners; and Mark Salisbury, Chief Human Resources Officer at Transdev U.S. They shared invaluable experiences on the critical strategies needed to lead through transformation and achieve sustainable success. Here’s a closer look at some of the key takeaways and insights from the session for those who couldn't join us in person.
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The Ever-Increasing Speed of Change
Our moderator, Rich Diaz, CEO of Advanced Resources opened with a powerful reminder: In today’s landscape, change is constant and accelerating. Businesses face relentless demands for agility and adaptability, with challenges spanning corporate M&A, organizational transformations, ERP/HCM implementations, regulatory pressures, and evolving legislation. The imperative for leaders to leverage expert guidance and structured methodologies has never been greater. By understanding that successful change management is both a science and an art, organizations can safeguard their investments and drive impactful, lasting results.
Setting a Clear Vision and Strategy
Panelists emphasized that a strong, clear vision is essential for successful change. Laura Zeligman, who leads the Organization Design team at McDonald’s, explained how aligning the change vision with the broader organizational vision helps maintain momentum and motivation. As Laura noted, starting with core values ensures that every aspect of the initiative is meaningful to employees and aligns with the company’s identity.
Mark Salisbury from Transdev added that simplicity in vision is key to effective communication. His “safe, reliable services” mantra exemplifies how a purpose-driven approach helps employees at every level see the importance of their roles within the broader change strategy.
Mobilizing Teams and Building Ownership
One of the most critical components of change management is getting buy-in from employees across the organization. Connor Lawrie from Heartland Veterinary Partners offered a compelling analogy, comparing his approach to the movie Inception: planting the seed of change in a way that feels organic to employees, creating a sense of ownership over the initiative. For Connor, mobilizing teams is about encouraging ownership and ensuring everyone understands how the change benefits them and the organization.
Bill Davidson, CHRO of Crash Champions, emphasized the importance of empathy and emotional support. Change, he pointed out, is inherently disruptive, and organizations must support their people through this disruption to sustain engagement and minimize resistance. Mark Salisbury echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for an Integration Management Office (IMO) and clear accountability to keep everyone aligned and invested in the outcome.
Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Vision
In today’s fast-paced business environment, it’s essential to balance quick wins with a sustainable long-term vision. Each panelist shared lessons on how they’ve managed this tension in their organizations. Bill highlighted the value of dedicated resources to support change initiatives, noting that often organizations need employees to work on change efforts while also maintaining their core responsibilities. Regardless, a clear process and the right team make all the difference in maintaining progress.
For Laura, sustaining change requires ongoing assessment. Her team at McDonald’s has created custom scorecards to track progress and quantify smaller, incremental changes over time. Connor shared how his team cultivates a culture-first approach, focusing on retention and trust as key indicators of success in sustaining change within Heartland’s extensive network of animal hospitals.
Frameworks and Proven Methodologies for Effective Change
Advanced Resources’ experts leverage a range of change management frameworks to address the diverse needs of their clients. Laura referenced Kotter’s 8 Steps for Leading Change and Burke-Litwin’s model, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of organizational systems. Both frameworks have been instrumental in managing change across McDonald's complex operations, from leadership transitions to digital transformation.
Mark Salisbury underscored the role of an IMO in managing the operational aspects of change. A structured framework not only aligns leaders and operations but also ensures consistency across locations—a vital aspect of Transdev’s recent acquisitions and expansion efforts. Bill Davidson added that in his experience, measuring adoption rates and sustainability are key to evaluating the long-term success of any change initiative.
Insights for Future Change Leaders
Our panel closed with words of advice for navigating the ever-evolving demands of change. Laura encouraged leaders to develop resilience and build teams that can influence and communicate effectively. Bill underscored the critical role of talent and technology, including AI, as essential to staying relevant in the future. Mark emphasized the need for adaptability, urging leaders to assess, recalibrate, and embrace a continuous improvement mindset.
Connor added a motivating perspective: in a world where change is constant, finding purpose in addressing each new challenge can turn obstacles into real opportunities for problem-solving. He noted that seeing change as a chance to tackle meaningful issues not only brings motivation but also highlights the importance of those in leadership roles who drive change—ensuring there will always be a need for dedicated change leaders.
Looking Ahead: Join Us in 2025
As we wrap up 2024, we’re grateful to all who participated in our Thought Leadership events this year. If you missed this event, we invite you to join us in 2025 for more opportunities to engage with top industry experts, gain practical insights, and connect with peers facing similar challenges. At Advanced Resources, we don’t just provide strategic insights—we work tirelessly to ensure tactical execution that not only meets but exceeds expectations.
Thank you to our expert panelists and everyone who attended. We look forward to more insightful discussions in the year ahead as we continue to help organizations not only survive but thrive amidst the accelerating pace of change.
About Advanced Resources
Advanced Resources partners with leading organizations providing consulting and staffing services. Advanced Resources specializes in two critical business areas: human resources and accounting & finance.
Over the past 30+ years, Advanced Resources has been recognized as a perennial Top Workplace while helping clients secure the best talent to meet their hiring goals.
The team of Advanced Resources is comprised of accomplished industry professionals who understand people are the heart of all organizations. Advanced Resources offers a personalized approach and proven processes to help with strategy staffing execution.
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