Inspiring Impacts

Pioneering the Appreciative Inquiry Revolution with David Cooperrider

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? It’s the one and only, Dr. David Cooperrider, the first person to coin the term “Appreciative Inquiry”! David Cooperrider, PhD, is a professor and Founder of the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. As we wrap up Season 1 of Inspiring Impacts, David joins host Dr. Lindsey Godwin to share his definition and perspectives on three decades of global f Appreciative Inquiry work.
David shares stories of how  Appreciative Inquiry first developed, how he’s applied it in his own life, and how he’s seen others use AI to create positive change in their lives and the world for over 30 years. Highlighting many of the themes we’ve discussed throughout this season, he answers questions you’ve likely been wondering. He also details the powerful role of language in bringing people together in a creative mode, practicing Appreciative Inquiry, and realizing transformation.
David Cooperrider, PhD, is the Fairmount Minerals Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University. Currently David serves as Faculty Director of the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. David is best known as the co-creator and creative thought leader of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). His founding work with AI is creating a positive revolution in the leadership of change; it is helping institutions all over the world discover the power of the strength-based approaches to multi-stakeholder innovation and collaborative design. Cooperrider’s work is especially unique because of its ability to enable positive change, innovation, and sustainable design in systems of large and complex scale.
Episode Highlights:
The origin story of the term “Appreciative Inquiry”.
Why the “whole system” approach is so important in the Appreciative Inquiry model.
“Words create worlds.” – What is the meaning behind that phrase?
Reframing as a core principle of Appreciative Inquiry & how David brought reframing to life in his own health journey.
Why storytelling is a powerful tool and a core part of any appreciative process.
Appreciative questions you can take with you into work, relationships, personal health, and more.
Join us next season for more conversations, stories, and guests who are Inspiring Impacts all over the world!
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!
Resources & Previous Episodes Mentioned:
More about David's work and writing: https://www.davidcooperrider.com 
David's commentary on the original AI article he and Suresh Srivastva published https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S1475-9152(2013)0000004001/full/html
UN Global Compact Appreciative Inquiry Summit: https://aicommons.champlain.edu/educational-material/united-nations-global-compact-leaders-summit/ 
Making Change Easy: The Tiniest Ai Summit in the World.  This article details David's personal health journey using AI reframing as an approach
AI and the United Religions Initiative (URI) http://www.theinterfaithobserver.org/journal-articles/2019/5/13/appreciative-inquiry-and-the-united-religions-initiative
Ame Lambert: add link when live
Jackie Wong: add link when live
Liz Vogel: https://bit.ly/43IjfSz
Luc Verheijen: https://bit.ly/43KO7Sg
Tojo Thatchenkery: add link when live
Ellen Drolette: https://bit.ly/44HAgOc
Yabome Gilpin-Jackson: https://bit.ly/47aQjWc
Ronald Fry: https://bit.ly/44GXN1F
Inspiring Quotes:
“Appreciative Inquiry is all about the search for the true, the good, the better, the possible.”
“We grow and we become what we most deeply, frequently, and most powerfully ask questions about.”
“There’s a big difference between eliminating something and enabling something and you can’t enable what you can’t talk about it.”
“We’ve underestimated the role of the positive in human systems… What good is hope, inspiration, and joy as it relates to growing into a changed person, growing into a transformed organization?”
“People don’t resist change, they resist being changed by others. We are hardwired to love change when it’s done in a way that brings forward hope… joy… learning.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.

Embedding AI as a Company’s Core Cultural Driver with Cindy Stull

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Cindy Stull! Cindy Stull is the Chief Revenue Officer at Dealer Tire. Listen in as Cindy joins host Dr. Lindsey Godwin to shed light on how she’s spearheading large change initiatives and moving organizations in inspirational directions through Appreciative Inquiry.
Cindy inspires us to foster a company culture that’s rooted in Appreciative Inquiry and thoughtful questions. She highlights the powerful benefits of hosting an Appreciative Inquiry summit along with how Appreciative Inquiry can improve every aspect of leadership and business.
If you’re looking to drive strategic and cultural advancements across your organization, this episode is one to take notes on!
Cindy Stull is Partner & Chief Revenue Officer at Dealer Tire in Cleveland Ohio. Dealer Tire is a value-added distributor that manages tire programs for over 20 automotive manufacturers. Cindy joined the company in 2006 and is responsible for leading a team of over 500 people who help auto dealerships to be more profitable and drive customer retention. Previously holding the positions of Chief Sales Officer and Chief People & Strategy Officer, Cindy plays a key role in shaping the strategy and culture of Dealer Tire, while ensuring top-notch execution.
Episode Highlights:
How Cindy uses Appreciative Inquiry to solve problems, increase engagement, and achieve long-lasting change in organizations like Dealer Tire.
What is an Appreciative Inquiry summit and how do these AI summits impact employees and customers?
How Appreciative Inquiry can improve talent management, safety programs, and diversity and inclusion in leadership.
Why  Cindy choose to adopt an appreciative approach to leadership
Resources Mentioned:
Co-Creating Roadmap for Inclusion: Dealer Tire’s Inclusive Leadership (COIL) article 
Inspiring Quotes:
“If we’re asking questions that are more focused on the strengths and what we want to be and how we grow, then we find that we accelerate the pace of change and the change is actually much more long-lasting.”
“Learning more about Appreciative Inquiry has given me the structure and science behind why it works and helped me to leverage new methodologies, new tools, take what might have been a natural collaborative style to just a whole different level based on the research that’s out there.”
“I can envision that we are probably going to have a real opportunity to have a summit around the customer experience and ensure that we are galvanizing our leaders to every level, including our frontline technicians.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Mindfulness and Positive Reframing: The Appreciative Intelligence® Model with Tojo Thatchenkery

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Tojo Thatchenkery! Dr. Tojo Thatchenkery, PhD, is a professor, author, and Founder of the Appreciative Intelligence® Model, which is based on Appreciative Inquiry and mindfulness. Listen in as Tojo joins host Dr. Lindsey Godwin to detail the concept of Appreciative Intelligence and share how you can develop your own Appreciative Intelligence® with just three simple techniques.
From doctors to economists to parents, everyone can benefit from growing their Appreciative Intelligence®! Tojo says a big part of that is practicing mindfulness and positive reframing. Tune in to learn more about the power of Appreciative Intelligence® and even how it  helped Tojo transform his relationship with his daughter.
Tojo Thatchenkery, PhD, is a professor and director of the Organization Development and Knowledge Management program in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He is an internationally known speaker, consultant, and educator and is featured as one of the leading change thinkers in the Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers. Thatchenkery’s research has been funded by agencies such as the United States National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, and the U.S. Postal Service. He is the author of more than a dozen books and hundreds of articles.
Episode Highlights:
The difference between Appreciative Inquiry and Appreciative Intelligence®.
How leaders, individuals, and organizations are using Appreciative Intelligence® (plus their results).
Why reframing is a crucial part of Appreciative Inquiry and Intelligence.
How to develop your Appreciative Intelligence® and reframing skills.
The 4 qualities of people with Appreciative Intelligence®.
How Tojo has used Appreciative Intelligence® and reframing in his personal life.
What is the circular economy and how do you see it as reframing in action?
Resources Mentioned:
http://www.appreciativeintelligence.com/
Appreciative Intelligence®: Seeing the Mighty Oak in the Acorn (book) by Tojo Thatchenkery and Carol Metzker
The Development and Validation of the Appreciative Intelligence ® Scale (article) by Brian Whitaker, Tojo Thatchenkery, and Lindsey Godwin
Inspiring Quotes:
“Appreciative Inquiry is a systematic way of building on those core values, competencies, assets, etc. thereby creating a much better and healthier organization.
“We also find mindfulness as one of the best examples of a practice for reframing and seeing the positive because in mindfulness, you are accepting the present as good without judging.” 
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Shaping Singapore’s Future with Jacqueline Wong

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Jacqueline Wong! Jacqueline Wong is a Singapore-based Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner and Founder/Managing Director of Sequoia Group. Listen in as Jackie shares with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin how she’s been integrating Appreciative Inquiry into Singapore’s labor movement, healthcare system, community engagement, and more!
In this episode, Jackie sheds light on the powerful impact of intentionally seeking where things are working and asking new questions to figure out how we can sustain success together. She breaks down some prime examples of how she has used this Appreciative Inquiry methodology to bring positive change to the people and systems of Singapore (and how you can, too!).
Jackie Wong is an Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner and Founder/Managing Director of Sequoia Group, a management consultancy specializing in Leadership & Organizational Development (OD). She is the Founder of Imagine Singapore and board member of the International Appreciative Inquiry Journal.
Episode Highlights:
How Jackie first used Appreciative Inquiry to help transform Singapore’s labor movement.
The behind-the-scenes of Imagine Singapore, which aims to create hope and possibility through AI and meaningful conversations.
Reimagining Singapore’s Healthcare: How Appreciative Inquiry fueled a quest for a sustainable, relationship-based healthcare system.
Resources Mentioned:
Learn more about Imagine Singapore: https://www.sequoia.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Synopsis_on_Imagine_Singapore_Age_Unlimited_Inquiry_Summit.pdf
The Sequoia Group: https://www.sequoia.com.sg/about-us/ 
Imagine Chicago: https://www.imaginechicago.org
Inspiring Quotes:
“I have infused Appreciative Inquiry into every single intervention.”
“I want to say how important it is to understand the principles of AI, not just the tools and the techniques and the questions.” 
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Empowering Equity and Racial Justice with Dr. Ame Lambert

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Dr. Ame Lambert! Dr. Ame Lambert is the Vice President for Global Diversity & Inclusion at Portland State University (PSU). Tune in as Ame speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about the generative power of Appreciative Inquiry in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion at universities and beyond.
Ame describes how Appreciative Inquiry helps bring diverse groups together across cultures, races, and ethnicities, making it a powerful tool for seeing the universal humanity in all of us and bringing out the best in each of us.
You’ll learn how Ame and her colleagues are using an appreciative approach to co-create a racially just and equitable future for the Portland community. She notes how the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, along with a similar tragedy at PSU, fueled her action-focused diversity and inclusion summit called Time to Act. Listen in to learn about the powerful impact of this summit and the work that continues to unfold at PSU.
In her role as  Vice President for Global Diversity & Inclusion at Portland State University, Dr. Ame Lambert  leads the embedding of equity into all university operations, and supports the thriving of minoritized students and employees. Her goal and core purpose is to close the gap between potential and thriving for students and the university as a whole.
Episode Highlights:
What pushed Ame to use Appreciative Inquiry in her diversity and inclusion work.
How to use Appreciative Inquiry to fuel action in people who feel hopeless, angry, and frustrated.
The Appreciative Inquiry framework that informed the design of the Time to Act Summit.
Dream and Discovery questions that encourage people to imagine a more inclusive, equitable future.
Goals and action items of PSU’s Time to Act Plan.
How PSU is infusing diversity, equity, and inclusion into leadership and infrastructure, student education, scholarship and service, and the performance review process.
Resources Mentioned:
Time to Act Summit: https://www.pdx.edu/diversity/equity-summit
Inspiring Quotes:
“I see AI as a methodology that really activates the best in us to work for the best of us.”
“Every year we’re getting better.”
“What pain and anger of frustration actually are communicating is that in my core, I have a sense of how it should be.” 
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

From Small Shop to Billion-Dollar Success: The Journey of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters with Pru Sullivan

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Pru Sullivan! Pru Sullivan is the former Director of Continuous Learning and Organizational Development at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Tune in as Pru speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about how to integrate Appreciative Inquiry principles into the core of your company and with employees.
Pru sheds light on how Green Mountain Coffee Roasters leveraged Appreciative Inquiry to grow from a small shop to the billion-dollar company it is today. She describes the different ways you can adopt an appreciative approach at a growing organization, from leadership onboarding and project management to accelerating employee and collective performance and beyond.
Pru Sullivan is a Founding Partner of The Change Factory and a Practitioner in Residence Emeritus at David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry at Champlain College-Stiller School of Business. For over a decade, Pru has been co-creating, designing, and delivering strength-based growth initiatives based on Appreciative Inquiry methodology. Her mission is to be an inspirational catalyst for personal, team, organizational, and community breakthrough growth and strength-based transformation.
Episode Highlights:
How Bob Stiller’s philosophy of strength-based Appreciative Inquiry impacted Green Mountain Coffee’s culture.
How Appreciative Inquiry creates shared ownership in organizational change.
Green Mountain’s AI Summit: Where their core principles were born.
Tips for onboarding new leaders and ensuring they’re aligned with your organization’s core values and culture.
The critical impact of appreciative training for frontline supervisors.
How to use Appreciative Inquiry in employee performance reviews to accelerate individual and collective performance.
Building Appreciative Inquiry into project management and product development.
Resources Mentioned:
The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jackie Kelm: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Appreciative-Living-Happiness-Incredibly/dp/1585426601
Inspiring Quotes:
“What’s wonderful about Appreciative Inquiry is that when you make that shift, the evidence shows up.”
“A performance review cycle often acts as a demotivator and an upsetter that takes months to often recover from. And so, we formed a cross-functional team… to say, our task is to redesign this process and redesign the software that’s coming in to reflect how we want performance management to be managed.”
“It’s not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have if you want to be a high-performance organization that is making a positive difference in the world.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Transforming Early Childhood Education: Empowering Educators and Young Learners with Ellen Drolette

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Ellen Drolette! Ellen Drolette is an appreciative educator and expert on early childhood education. Tune in as Ellen speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about the transformative impacts Appreciative Inquiry has on the mindsets and behaviors of early childhood teachers and students.
Ellen breaks down how Appreciative Inquiry can help educators reframe and change negative behaviors and perspectives, from kids’ biting habits to the dread you feel about Mondays. She emphasizes the power of using AI to dismantle and avoid negative self-fulfilling prophecies and even improve your interactions with co-teachers and parents.
Ellen Drolette is a certified Appreciative Inquiry practitioner and has found innovative ways to work AI into the practices of early childhood education. She earned her certificate at Champlain College under the direction of Dr. Lindsey Godwin. Ellen brings nearly 30 years of experience to the early childhood field. Her enthusiasm and passion for working with young children and families are as enormous as her passion for working with early childhood teachers, directors, mentors, administrators, and the entire team of early childhood educators. Ellen’s first book, Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood: Strategies for Change, was published in 2018 by Redleaf Press and focuses on how early childhood professionals can battle burnout and low morale in the workplace.
Episode Highlights:
How Appreciative Inquiry guides her through difficult moments as an educator.
Ways to integrate Appreciative Inquiry in early childhood education + examples of AI questions to ask young students.
How to use Appreciative Inquiry at parent-teacher conferences.
Understanding, reframing, and correcting children’s behaviors, like biting, with Appreciative Inquiry.
How to stop dreading Mondays.
How to work more effectively with your co-teacher.
Resources Mentioned:
National Association for the Education of Young Children: https://www.naeyc.org
The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jacqueline Bascobert Kelm: https://appreciativeliving.com/the-joy-of-appreciative-living
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dwek: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400062756/sociapsychn0f-20 
Research on Growth Mindset: https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/
A summary of Barbara Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions: https://positivepsychology.com/broaden-build-theory/ 
Summary of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and the Pygmalion Effect: https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-fulfilling-prophecy.html
Inspiring Quotes:
“Once you learn about Appreciative Inquiry, you can implement it so deeply in all of the different places of your life.”
“I realized in that moment, it had nothing to do with the children. It had everything to do with me and my attitude and how I was showing up for that day… That really was very impactful for me.”
“If you know your co-teacher’s not a morning person, don’t try to engage with them in the morning, but also, recognizing what is going well with that teacher… that can go a long way... when you say that you appreciate the way someone did something, it’s so powerful.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Unleashing Students Strengths: The Power of Appreciative Advising with Jenny Bloom

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Jenny Bloom! Jenny Bloom, Ed.D. is a co-founder and leading expert on the Appreciative Advising and Appreciative Education movements. Tune in as Jenny speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about how appreciative advising can help students and advisors make inspiring impacts on themselves, each other, and the world.
Jenny shares insights on how Appreciative Inquiry helps you reframe challenges into solutions and visions of success and how appreciative advising can increase retention and GPAs in college students. Then, she shares her vision for how Appreciative Inquiry will evolve into the future of education.
Dr. Jenny Bloom joined the Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology at Florida Atlantic University in August 2015 as an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Higher Education Leadership Master’s Degree Program. As a co-founder of the Appreciative Advising and Appreciative Education movements, Jenny established the annual Appreciative Advising Summer Institute, the Appreciative Education Conference, an online Appreciative Advising course, the process for Certifying Appreciative Advisers, and other exciting initiatives. Jenny has co-authored 6 books, 6 book chapters, 31 articles, and even co-founded and serves as a section editor for the Journal of Appreciative Education (JAE).
Episode Highlights:
How Jenny discovered Appreciative Inquiry over 20 years ago and what inspired her to enter the field of advising.
What it takes to integrate Appreciate Inquiry, advising, and education.
The 6 phases of appreciative advising + example questions you can ask students.
Shocking stats that show the impact of appreciative advising in higher education.
How appreciative advising grew into a movement that inspires impact.
Research studies that inspire Jenny the most about the impact of advisors adopting appreciative advising methods.
The biggest impact appreciative advising has made on Jenny herself.
Resources Mentioned:
Incorporating Appreciative Inquiry into Academic Advising by Jennifer Bloom and Nancy Archer Martin (2002) https://journals.psu.edu/mentor/article/view/61701/61346
The Appreciative Advising Revolution by Jennifer Bloom, Bryant Hutson, and Ye He: https://bit.ly/46defYH
FAU Office of Appreciative Education: https://www.fau.edu/education/centersandprograms/oae
Inspiring Quotes:
“90% of the people who’ve met with an appreciative advisor, and this was a voluntary thing… were eligible to return the following semester after they’ve come back off of dismissal, versus 33% of the other students who did not meet with an appreciative advisor.”
“The sustained impact is, I think, really important. It’s not about a one year blip going up… it’s looking at this data over time that really matters.”
“Appreciative advising is not just a powerful framework for enhancing interactions between advisors and students, it’s a framework for how you build good relationships with other people, whether they be students or your supervisor or your colleague.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

From Collective Intelligence to Collective Action: Unlocking the Power of the Whole System with Luc Verheijen

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Luc Verheijen! Luc Verheijen is a Partner at Kessels and Smit, The Learning Company in Belgium. In this episode, Luc speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about how to use Appreciative Inquiry and learning networks to address challenges, improve performance, and create energized workplace environments.
Luc emphasizes the power of storytelling and leading with questions instead of answers, noting how different questions can lead to different realities. He describes how to use appreciative inquiry in large groups and learning networks to foster collective intelligence and inspiring impacts.
Luc Verheijen is a Consultant and Partner at Kessels and Smit, where he focused on process guidance, appreciative inquiry, leadership, organizational and social development, and positive education. He believes that if we can change the conversations, then the organization changes.
Episode Highlights:
How Luc utilizes an appreciative inquiry approach to work with large groups and bring diverse views together to tackle challenges head-on.
Collective Intelligence: When people come together around a shared purpose, they can take on challenges and create positive impacts far beyond what they could do alone.
The power of the question: “Whose voice do we need to hear at this moment?”
AI learning networks to learn about and apply appreciative inquiry to a large group’s work around a shared topic.
What does it look like for people participating in a tourism-focused appreciative inquiry learning network? What’s been the biggest impact of the learning network?
How to bring feuding companies together through appreciative inquiry.
Advice for using appreciative inquiry: AI itself is the learning. It’s a tool for continuous discovery.
Resources Mentioned:
Kessels and Smit: https://www.kessels-smit.com
AI Practitioner - International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry: https://aipractitioner.com
“Appreciative Inquiry as a Daily Leadership Practice” by Luc Verheijen, Saskia Tjempkema, & Joeri Kabalt: https://www.amazon.com/Appreciative-Inquiry-Daily-Leadership-Practice/dp/193855275X
Inspiring Quotes:
“Every participant who joins and learns about AI, we get tens and tens of projects using AI to support the mission of everyone deserves a holiday and we strengthen the interrelationships between all these network parts.”
“For me, the essence is a practice of inquiry, a practice of being curious every and each time, again and to see the wonder in everything you meet during a day.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!

Transforming Cancer Care Through Appreciative Inquiry with Liz Vogel

Who’s Inspiring Impacts today? Liz Vogel! Liz Vogel is the Senior Director of Organizational Development at Moffitt Cancer Center. Tune in as Liz speaks with host Dr. Lindsey Godwin about how she and her team are using Appreciative Inquiry to transform patient experiences while envisioning and planning the future of cancer treatment.
Liz breaks down her approach to integrating multiple diverse perspectives through appreciative inquiry and the importance of integrating the whole system in organizational development. She touches on how Appreciative Inquiry can improve skills, like communication and problem-solving. Then, Liz shares how her experience as a Moffitt patient has informed her work within the organization.
As Senior Director of Organizational Development for Moffitt Cancer Center, Liz has provided strategic insight, solutions, and organizational design across the organization. She has transformed the OD department to operate as a professional service model. She is responsible for Moffitt's executive development to enable long-term business and financial stability for the organization and leads the VP tier in cross-collaboration and advanced understanding of integrated hospital operations.
Episode Highlights:
How Liz utilizes appreciative inquiry to create an energizing and psychologically safe environment for stakeholders to share ideas for improving the patient experience.
Why is it so important to engage the whole system in organizational change work?
How to use the “yes and” technique to create an appreciative space for different perspectives to be honored.
How appreciative inquiry helps us approach challenges in different ways.
How Moffitt Cancer Center is using AI to envision and plan the future of cancer treatment.
Liz shares her experience being a cancer patient at Moffitt and how that influences her organizational development work.
The importance of businesses having tough conversations instead of avoiding conflict or difference of opinion.
Resources Mentioned:
Moffitt Cancer Center: https://moffitt.org
Inspiring Quotes:
“Without a voice, without a certain perspective, there’s a risk, there’s actually sort of a business risk when you’re looking at solutions to missing something.”
“In all my years, I have never worked so closely with this tier who got along so well, where you do have differences of opinions. People can kick the tires and say, ‘Is this the best answer or is there another answer we should be looking at?... That doesn’t always happen at every organization.”
“I was talking with one of our executive leaders a year ago and was humbled by her thanks for being able to have the tough conversations that businesses need to have, being able to facilitate those so that we get the answers that we need. So, I think this process is just invaluable to businesses.”
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry, sometimes referred to as “the other AI”, is one of the best kept secrets behind meaningful and lasting change at organizations. The AI approach is strength-based, meaning it focuses on identifying and leveraging successes to solve problems, rather than focusing on trying to fix individual failures.
Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!