Across sectors, change—and disruption—are still the words of the day.

In this edition of the Hudson Institute newsletter, we examine how organizations are adapting—and how jazz just might provide the perfect metaphor for how to navigate an age where information is rampant and interpretation is a coveted resource.

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Scaling leadership coaching to 10,000+ employees through human-AI collaboration

CVS was ready to create bold change—and they knew their managers were key to rolling that change out to their large workforce. The answer to that kind of scale?

Ollie, an AI coach trained on developmental methodology through Hudson’s Wiser Managers program. Through this human-AI collaboration, participants build essential leadership skills with a combination of self-guided learning, AI-guided practice and reflection, and group coaching led by expert human coaches. By the end of the program, 100% of participants wanted to continue despite initial hesitation; 93% had tried leadership experiments that they otherwise would not have attempted; and every participant surfaced a lasting insight to carry forward.

Read the Case Study and watch the webinar for an intimate look on CVS’ experiences with Wiser Managers.

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Coaching is key for the healthcare sector

Healthcare leaders today are facing unprecedented complexity—balancing policy changes, workforce strain, and the ongoing demands of care delivery. At our recent webinar, two seasoned leaders shared how they’re navigating this moment.

Heather Brace, Chief People Officer at Intermountain Health, described how coaching unlocks possibility in the midst of ambiguity—helping leaders reimagine both their personal and professional impact. Andy Ortiz, SVP & CHRO at Cedars-Sinai, spoke about leading with purpose, staying grounded in the human moments of care that bring meaning to the work. Together, they underscored that resilience isn’t built in isolation—it grows when leaders create systems of support.

The conversation made clear: while the challenges in healthcare are unique, so are the opportunities to lead differently.

Watch it on-demand to hear Heather and Andy’s insights firsthand.

If you are looking for opportunities to lead differently as a healthcare clinician or healthcare admin, Hudson and Intermountain Health have partnered to develop more coaches from within the field of healthcare. Coaching in Healthcare Certification is a first-of-its-kind dual certification program offering general coach training (ICF Level 1), plus advanced preparation for the unique challenges facing healthcare organizations and leaders.

Registration is open for fall and spring cohorts. Visit the website to learn more. Stay connected; subscribe to our mailing list and be among the first to receive updates on upcoming information sessions.

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The “interpretation age,” the best leaders understand “sensemaking”

In his article for Forbes, Sensemaking: A Leadership Superpower That Creates Hope in Uncertainty, Michael turns to the work of 1960s organizational psychologist, Karl Weick, who demonstrated through his theory of sensemaking that humans don’t simply process information; they actively construct meaning from ambiguous cues—a fundamentally social process. “The most effective leaders,” Jennifer Garvey Berger observes in her groundbreaking work on leadership, “are no longer the ones with the best answers, but the ones who host the best conversations.”

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Shifting from change management to change fitness

Recently, Bain & Company upped the likely failure rate of big-ticket change programs from 70% to 88%.

What to do, then, at a time when change is a constant?

It starts with simply recognizing that there’s no break between disruption, and there’s no “getting through” it, then snapping back to an old shape.

When organizations see change not as a disruption to be managed but as the medium in which they operate, they move into holding complexity without trying to resist or being overwhelmed by it. Learn more about how change fitness is developed in Organizations Need To Shift From Change Management To Change Fitness.

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Seeking rhythm at work

“What if your team’s best performance is hiding in the rhythm of your worst meetings?”

This is the central question Michael asks in Why Leaders Need To Find Rhythm, Not Control, In A Chaotic World,

When the world feels chaotic, it’s natural for leaders to grab for the conductor’s baton and tightly control every note that’s played—but it’s fluidity that engenders adaptivity.

As in a jazz ensemble, organizational rhythm can offer a familiar progression that keeps teams anchored, giving them freedom to experiment without becoming untethered. This shared rhythm prevents burnout, helping to keep a regulated pace and integrating recovery. 

Upcoming Public Events

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Metabolizing Change: Coach-Informed Strategies for Organizations & Leaders

What does it take to manage acute organizational change through unending disruption?

Our CEO, Michael Hudson, discuss this question with an expert panel featuring:

• Jennifer Garvey Berger – Author, Executive Coach, and CEO at Cultivating Leadership
• Krista Johnson – Head of Organization Development, Effectiveness, & Coaching at Saks Global and Hudson Certified Coach,
• Jennifer Tankersley – Principal & Executive Coach at The Tankersley Group,  Change Management Expert, and Hudson Certified Coach

Join us October 16th at 11:30am PT to explore what organizations can borrow from coaching to cultivate a developmental approach to leadership—one that strengthens resilience and adaptability in the face of ongoing change. Explore what happens when sensemaking becomes distributed, decision-making becomes more adaptive, energy is managed as a system, and opportunities emerge faster through the reframing of challenges.

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Authors in the Field ft. Peter Block

Join us for a conversation with Peter Block on September 17th at 11:00am PT, author of Activating the Common Good: Reclaiming Control of Our Collective Well-Being as he dives deep into how a shift from competition to cooperation can reshape our communities and society. This inspiring book challenges the dominant narrative of scarcity and self-interest, and instead offers a vision rooted in trust, connection, and communal purpose. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore powerful ideas, engage in dialogue, and be inspired to help build the common good.

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