Three Paths Through Failure. A CEO, a counsellor, a consultant
The Change Signal with Mark Smith, Ian Cron & Garry Ridge
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A CEO, a counsellor, and a consultant share a key question each about change:
How do you really make things safe for people?
Could powerlessness actually, ironically, be a superpower?
What’s the difference between guardrails and control layers?
What if everything you know about leading change is backwards? Garry Ridge turned WD-40 into a global phenomenon by doing something that sounds like career suicide — actively encouraging people to share their mistakes.
Ian Cron watched a wildly successful private equity executive hit rock bottom and say five words that changed everything: "I'm out of ammo." That moment revealed why admitting powerlessness might be the most powerful thing a leader can do.
Mark Smith faced a massive change initiative spiralling toward chaos with 280+ people across multiple programs. Instead of adding more governance, he did the opposite — gave teams complete autonomy within clear boundaries.
If change has ever felt like you're pushing water uphill, you'll find something here that flips the script. These aren't your typical change management playbooks. They're counterintuitive approaches from a CEO, a counsellor, and a consultant who've learned that sometimes the path to transformation runs directly through what feels like failure.
The insights might make you uncomfortable. That's probably a good sign.
ABOUT GUESTS:
Garry Ridge is the former CEO of WD-40, where he built a global brand through a culture of trust and transparency.
Ian Cron is a counsellor and leadership advisor, working with top executives on personal growth and emotional intelligence.
Mark Smith is a transformation consultant specializing in large-scale organizational change and complex systems leadership.
