Change by Design: Engineering Transformation with Chad Jackson

Change by Design: Engineering Transformation with Chad Jackson

Welcome to Change by Design, the podcast where we shine a spotlight on engineering transformation. Each week, Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson dives deep with leaders driving real change in the world of engineering. From breaking down barriers and challenging the status quo to fostering cultures of innovation and resilience, our guests share their journeys, lessons learned, and actionable insights to help you become a catalyst for positive change in your own organization. Whether you’re an engineer, an executive, or simply passionate about making a difference, you’re in the right place. Get ready to be inspired, empowered, and equipped to engineer a better future—one change at a time.

Episodes

March 5, 2026 49 mins

Research says engineering leaders expect a lot from Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) — improved reliability, better traceability, fewer integration failures. So why are those benefits so hard to actually realize? In a recent Lifecycle Insights study, fewer than 30% of teams reported achieving the outcomes they set out to get from MBSE. That's the...

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In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Ebele Okochar and Pete Oliver-Krueger, co-founders of Organizational Mindset Mapping (OMM), a coaching and training firm specializing in transformation for manufacturing and hardware companies. Together, they make a compelling case that Agile isn't just for software — and that the biggest breakthroughs in ha...

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Chad Jackson digs into the growing gap between hardware and software development in engineering organizations — and why the industry's biggest solution providers may be running out of time to close it.

Chad also reflects on his recent conversation with Anand Rangaramu of T...

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Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson sits down with Joseph Laurine, PhD, AI Governance Lead at a major healthcare organization and former head of AI Governance and Assurance for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Joseph's career spans cryptologic intelligence, applied statistics, data science, and executive coaching — a...

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Are AI virtual companions the future of engineering work? Chad Jackson shares his takeaways from 3D Experience World, where Dassault Systèmes unveiled three AI assistants—each with distinct personalities tuned to different work modes. But what happens when exploration, execution, and expertise each demand a different interaction style?

The conversation then takes a turn into new research revealing a troubling gap in MBSE initiativ...

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What does it take to transform aerospace innovation from concept to reality? In this episode, we explore the critical role of systems engineering in modern aerospace through a conversation with Sindhu Belki, a graduate research assistant at Georgia Tech’s renowned Aerospace Systems Design Lab (ASDL).   Systems engineering bridges the gap that often derails complex projects—the disconnect between specialized disciplines working in i...
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    Can a lack of systems engineering really cost a program $68 million? Absolutely, according to Laura Otero, Director of Digital Engineering at Leidos. In this episode, Chad Jackson and Laura explore the trenches of digital engineering, where culture wars between document-based and model-based are still being fought every day.   Topics covered:
    • The Unpaid Labor of Change: Why change agents are essential but rarely have the offic...
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    Complexity is rising, timelines aren’t getting longer, and organizations can’t afford “set the stack once and never change it” thinking anymore.  In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Branden Ramsey to unpack what it really takes to lead change—especially in aerospace/defense and systems engineering environments where integration, interfaces, and risk are everything.   Topics covered:
    • Choosing the leadership track: Why ...
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    In this episode, we sit down with McKray Jones, a Technical Program Manager and Deputy Director of Engineering, to explore the evolving role of the “Change Agent” in modern engineering organizations. McKray shares his unique journey from the Marine Corps to leading complex hardware integration teams, offering a fresh perspective on why the engineering industry is facing a leadership vacuum and how to fill it.

    We dive deep into the ...

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    This week, Josh Corman and Chad Jackson explore AI-assisted workflows in engineering, break down how internal resistance can actually improve improve transformation outcomes, and dig into the pain points associated with MBSE adoption.   In this episode, we discuss:
    • AI-Native Workflows: We deconstruct the concept of “AI Scaffolding”—a method to provide engineering models with a “memory” by using document-based inputs to maintai...
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    In this episode, Chad sits down with Guy Zur, Director of Test Systems and Automation at CARIAD (Volkswagen Group). A self-proclaimed “change agent” born with a soldering iron in his hand, Guy shares his fascinating journey from designing thermal imaging for defense to developing AR glasses for pilots and now revolutionizing automotive testing.   We dive deep into the philosophy of the “Change Agent”—why leadership requires proacti...
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    Is the “Digital Thread” a utopian dream or a practical reality? In this week’s episode of Change by Design, Josh Corman and Chad Jackson explore the tension between the technology that can capture everything and the engineering reality where critical context often lives in spreadsheets and hallway conversations.   We discuss why “hiding” work-in-process data might be efficient for humans but disastrous for future AI agents. If an A...
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    Why do 42% of organizational change initiatives face extreme resistance? Often, it’s not the technology—it’s the human element.   In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Nikki Maginn, an engineer-turned-educator who teaches emotional intelligence (EQ) to technical professionals. Nikki shares her personal journey from receiving 199 job rejections after the Fukushima nuclear disaster to managing $25 million in projects by age 23...
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    In this first episode of the new year, Josh Corman and Chad Jackson kick off 2026 by breaking down the engineering implications of the latest innovations from CES, including advancements in physical AI, autonomous sensors, and next-gen processors.   The conversation then shifts to exclusive new research findings on engineering change initiatives. Chad reveals data showing a surprising mix of high success rates and high resistance, ...
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    In this episode of Change by Design, host Chad Jackson interviews Greg Livelli, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Harvey Performance Company. Livelli shares his non-linear career path from business development in Asia to leading global transformation initiatives, offering a unique perspective on how curiosity and a “love for transformation” drive engineering success.

    Their conversation centers on the evolving role of engineeri...

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    January 6, 2026 25 mins
    In this episode of Change by Design, host Chad Jackson sits down with Alex Atala (Amazon, formerly of Stryker) to explore the human side of engineering transformation. They discuss why technical expertise alone isn’t enough to drive change and how “soft skills” like transparency, negotiation, and psychology are the true differentiators for success.   Alex shares candid insights from his career, breaking down the red flags that sign...
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    December 29, 2025 42 mins
    Join Lifecycle Insights’ CEO Chad Jackson and Head of Content Josh Corman as they wrap up 2025 with a deep dive into the critical shifts facing engineering leaders. In this episode, the team explores why cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought and how “Agile for Hardware” is reshaping development cycles through frequent prototyping.   They also outline a strategic framework for change agents to assess the business value vers...
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    December 18, 2025 37 mins

    Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson talks with change agents Alex Atala and Marshall Hulbert about how they’ve led major engineering transformations—from early CAD adoption to model-based definition—while navigating resistance, politics, and cross-functional complexity. They share the key skills, mindsets, and approaches that make change initiatives succeed—or fail—offering practical guidance for anyone looking to...

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