#shifthappens in the Digital Workplace Podcast

AI is everywhere, but turning it into lasting value is a challenge for every organization. In this episode of #shifthappens, Claire Engels, Senior Manager for Collaboration Experience & Productivity at Versuni, shares how to make AI adoption practical, sustainable, and people-first. From building momentum with small wins to keeping teams engaged beyond the initial rollout, Claire explores what it takes to move AI from hype to habit.

Greg van der Gaast, cybersecurity leader and founder of Sequoia Consulting, shares why modern security keeps failing — and it’s not because attackers are getting smarter. Drawing from his path from teenage hacker to government witness to CISO, Greg reveals how weak IT foundations, broken processes, and poor data habits create the conditions for most breaches. He explains why security must be treated as a quality discipline, how unstructured data quietly multiplies risk, and how AI can finally help uncover the root causes that organizations often overlook.

Ally Ward, M365 Product and Platform Services Manager at a leading global law firm, shares how innovation takes shape in one of the most complex business environments for this #shifthappens episode. 
Managing technology across regions, regulations, and cultures, Ally leads the firm’s strategy for responsible AI and collaboration at scale. She discusses how data-driven adoption, strong governance, and an inclusive approach to training help transform ambitious ideas into everyday impact — creating a workplace where technology builds both confidence and capacity.

How do you thrive when cultural expectations, career pivots, and global moves collide? In this episode of #shifthappens, we sit down with Angela Chen, Microsoft’s Communications Lead, podcast host, and mentor to the next generation of tech talent. Angela shares how growing up in an Asian cultural context shaped her views on personal branding, why mentorship must be a two-way street, and how she redefined work-life balance into a life-work blend. Her story – spanning journalism, entertainment, and tech – proves that resilience isn’t just about adapting to change, it’s about intentionally writing your own playbook.

In this #shifthappens episode, Travis Hann, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Pender & Howe and Board Member at Kestria, shares how AI is transforming executive search — without replacing the human judgment that defines great leadership. From the cost of a bad hire to the traits that set modern leaders apart, Travis discusses why curiosity, humility, and storytelling matter more than ever, and how balancing innovation with genuine human connection is crucial to success.