The cliché that has become a truism in any article or book written recently about change is that change is a constant. Engineering and managing change has become a must-have competency for leaders and organizational success has become heavily linked with a company’s ability to activate, navigate and respond to change.  For some, change is highly motivating and exciting, presenting new opportunities and possibilities. For others, change can be paralyzing and fear-inducing.  Change often arouses a flight or fight response in employees. In this session, Neil Jacobs, principal of MindsOpen, a business psychology practice, will:

• Share some of his experiences working on a significant change program at Scotland Yard, the police service for London, during one of it’s darkest periods
• Discuss principles for managing change
• Explore the psychological impact on people faced with organizational change

Bio of Neil Jacobs, MSc, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Neil began his career working as a psychologist for the British Military, where he found his niche profiling officers for specialist roles.   In 1999, he joined Scotland Yard, the police service for London and was soon appointed Head of Psychology. He worked on a range of high profile assignments including debriefing the UK police response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and helping the organization learn from failed murder investigations, kidnappings and child protection cases. In 2005 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to undertake research into domestic violence homicide in the United States. His last role at Scotland Yard was Director of Security Strategy for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2008, Neil joined YSC, a global leadership consulting firm.  After leading the East Coast business, he was promoted to Managing Director and ran the Americas business.  He left YSC in 2014 to launch his own practice, Minds Open, working with individuals, teams and organizations in the leadership, culture and talent space. Neil coaches CEOs and other C-Suite executives and works with leadership teams to improve performance and shift culture.  His other areas of specialism include organizational development and change, leveraging relationships, debriefing major incidents and creating purpose and meaning for people and organizations. In addition to his business psychology work, Neil is the owner and curator of The Road Gallery, a contemporary gallery representing some of America’s finest emerging and established artists.