In this episode of The EX Conversation, Kaz sits down with Emma Turner to explore what it really takes to make change land inside organizations, especially in today’s environment of constant transformation. From technology rollouts to shifting employee expectations, the conversation focuses on the often-overlooked role of communication in bridging the gap between strategy and day-to-day experience.
Emma brings a grounded, practical perspective shaped by her experience across internal communications, IT, and change. She shares how her career evolved, what she’s learned from working closely with technology teams, and why simplifying complexity is at the heart of effective EX. Together, they unpack why many organizations still struggle with change readiness, and where EX leaders should focus their attention.
This episode will be especially useful for EX, internal communications, and digital workplace leaders navigating ongoing change programs, supporting managers, or trying to make sense of employee feedback. If you’re grappling with how to prioritize, where to focus, or how to better support your organization through change, there’s plenty here to relate to.
🎧 Enjoy the episode and thanks for listening.
Episode timeline
00:00 – 03:20 | Emma’s career journey into internal comms
How Emma’s path evolved from call center work into internal communications and change-focused roles.
03:20 – 06:00 | Translating technology for real people
Why tech experience matters in EX—and the importance of simplifying complex change for employees.
06:00 – 07:30 | The reality of constant change
How overlapping transformation initiatives shape the employee experience today.
07:30 – 09:45 | The manager gap in change readiness
Why line managers play a critical role—and why organizations still underinvest in supporting them.
09:45 – 11:30 | Where to start with manager support
Practical advice on starting small, co-creating solutions, and testing approaches with real teams.
11:30 – 14:30 | Why discovery matters more than assumptions
How effective discovery uncovers real problems—and why curiosity beats pre-defined solutions.
14:30 – 16:30 | What employees actually struggle with
Insights from frontline conversations—and why access to tools and information matters most.
16:30 – 17:45 | The role of search in EX
Why search remains a persistent challenge—and how expectations are shifting toward more intelligent, answer-led experiences.
17:45 – 19:30 | The most underrated EX skill: influence
Why subtle influence and emotional awareness are essential for navigating stakeholders and shaping decisions.
19:30 – 22:30 | Quick-fire: instincts, priorities, and avoiding burnout
Emma shares her approach to decision-making, career advice, and focusing on what truly matters.
22:30 – 24:30 | Rethinking workplace culture fixes
Why surface-level perks don’t solve deeper cultural challenges.
24:30 – 26:30 | Dealing with difficult stakeholders
A practical, human approach to handling challenging personalities at work.
26:30 – End | A question for the next guest
Emma reflects on standout communications work and what creates “career envy” in EX.
About The EX Conversation
The EX Conversation is a podcast series from Unily that brings together employee experience, internal communications, and digital workplace leaders from across industries.
Each episode features an open, practical conversation with people on the frontlines of EX: sharing what’s working, what’s hard, and how they’re navigating complexity in real time. No hype. No scripts. Just honest perspectives and hard-won insight to help EX leaders learn from each other and move the workplace forward.