Leading the Emotional Side of Change: How to convert resistance into progress

Everyone understands the need for change. We just don’t like to be changed. When we’re deeply connected to our ways, being asked to do things differently triggers frustration, anxiety, and even grief. In today’s environment of constant disruption, plans and policies aren’t enough—leaders need to know what to do when emotions run high. This interactive, research-backed session equips HR professionals and people leaders with practical techniques to meet resistance with skill.

Learner Objectives:

• Recognize the emotional signals beneath resistance — and understand what they're really telling you. 
• Practice three hands-on techniques for responding to pushback in the moment.
• Leave with a concrete plan for applying your insights at your workplace.

ATD Capability Model – Managing Learning Programs and Integrated Talent Management

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Marek Rudak  is an emotional intelligence expert who has designed workshops for premier organizations such as NASA, Fidelity, and Rice University. He is certified in the EQ-i 2.0® & EQ 360® assessments that help his clients quickly understand what they need to do specifically to improve their leadership skills and effectiveness.

Marek is also certified in Red Team Coaching, a revolutionary set of tools first developed by the military and intelligence agencies, then evolved to help business executives thrive in complexity and make better decisions by ensuring emotions are an asset, not a liability. Marek graduated in the top 10% of his class at West Point and became a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon separating from the Army, he joined ExxonMobil, where he worked on global, multi-billion-dollar projects for ten years.

As an executive coach, Marek accumulated over 5,000 hours coaching C-suite leaders and their teams at multiple Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits, and government agencies.

Judith Walton is a leadership coach and organizational development consultant who helps leaders navigate the emotional side of change—especially when the stakes are high and the path forward isn’t clear. With over 20 years of experience at NASA, she built and supported teams operating in complex, high-pressure environments where clarity had to emerge in real time.

She specializes in helping leaders work the stretch between “we don’t know yet” and “now we do,” equipping them to stay grounded in moments of resistance, surface what’s really driving pushback, and move teams toward shared ownership and progress.

Judith’s approach blends emotional intelligence, practical tools, and real-world application—giving leaders not just insight, but something they can use immediately when emotions run high and decisions matter most.