PRESS RELEASE
London, January 2026 — Whatever Next?, the growing transformation and leadership platform created by author and strategist Lisa Woodall, has today launched its new conversation series, Whatever Next? Unplugged, with an opening episode featuring Maria, founder of Australian consultancy Aplo.
The first episode sets out the real story behind why so many technology and business transformations fail to land with the people they are meant to serve. Drawing on more than 30 years in delivery and leadership roles, Maria describes the familiar picture: programmes celebrated as “on time, on budget and on scope” while frontline teams struggle with tools that increase effort rather than reduce it.
Her turning point came when a part-time frontline worker said, “I feel like a full-time IT worker now.” That moment sparked a shift toward human centred design, usability and co-design practices that now define Aplo’s work across government and corporate clients.
Throughout the conversation, Lisa and Maria explore persistent industry gaps:
- Tech teams still trying to solve today’s problems with yesterday’s skills
- Organisations measuring delivery performance, not experience or impact
- Business leaders demanding more than functional metrics and financial benefits
- The rise of digital-native employees and customers expecting to participate, not wait for hand-offs
- Leadership cultures that rely on polished plans rather than human connection
The episode ends with a clear message for leaders: transformation will not stick if teams ignore early warning signs such as confusion, fatigue or avoidance. “Leaders need to stop performing leadership and start feeling it,” Maria says. “Transformation only sticks when leaders stop hiding behind a plan and start showing up as people.”
Lisa Woodall adds:
“This is exactly why Whatever Next? exists. Transformation is no longer a technical exercise. It’s a human one. Unplugged gives space for practitioners and leaders to speak plainly about what it takes to make real change land.”
Whatever Next? Unplugged is part of the wider Whatever Next? ecosystem including the book, Five Lenses Diagnostic, Soundbytes series and the upcoming Practical Companion for Connected Leadership. The series will feature guests across consulting, design, operations and technology, each sharing candid stories of what makes transformation more human, more honest, and more likely to stick.
About Aplo
Aplo is an Australian consultancy helping organisations design and deliver technology that works for humans, not just systems. Operating at the intersection of service design, operating models and delivery capability, Aplo supports government and corporate clients across Australia to embed usability, experience and co-design into the heart of transformation.
Aplo is one of the growing community of consultancies resonating with the Whatever Next? call for more human, more honest transformation, with a shared belief that better experiences lead to better outcomes.
The first episode is available now on Spotify – Whatever Next? Unplugged
For interviews, speaking engagements or partnership enquiries:
[email protected]
www.whatevernextbook.com
