Organising Chaos, Sparking Belonging

Joanne Lockwood is joined by learning and development leader Amanda Van Der Heiden to unpack what it really means to “organise chaos” and spark belonging at work. They explore why belonging is more than a DEI policy line—it’s a felt experience of being seen, heard, and valued—and how that feeling can be created (or undermined) through everyday communication, leadership habits, and organisational choices.

Amanda shares how growing up between Kentucky and New York shaped her ability to navigate different worlds, connect across perspectives, and translate complexity into people-centred momentum. She also reflects on being visibly different due to piebaldism and what that taught her about empathy, assumptions, and inclusion.

Together, they discuss practical approaches for bridging divides in polarised times: balancing authenticity with respect, adapting communication styles to different audiences, asking “why” to get to root causes, and supporting people through change. The conversation also touches on post-COVID shifts such as return-to-office expectations, the importance of trust, and how leaders can set people up for success by focusing on autonomy, intent, transparency, and strengths.