From Death March to Culture Shift: Stephanie Antonelli on Leading Transformations That Actually Stick

Breakthrough Innovation

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Stephanie Antonelli, Global Chief Business Transformation Officer at VML, whose career has spanned strategy, systems thinking, and executive leadership across some of the world’s most complex organizations. From navigating multi-year, high-stakes digital transformations to reshaping how global teams collaborate, Stephanie shares what it really takes to lead change that delivers results—and lasts.

Key Lessons Covered in This Episode:

The War Story That Changed Everything: Stephanie opens up about a multi-year transformation project that pushed everyone to the brink—but also unlocked new ways of operating for both the client and her team at VML. It wasn’t just business—it was professional trauma turned into transformation.

Why People, Not Just Process, Drive Change: In large-scale transformation, success isn’t about optimizing systems alone—it’s about making sure people feel seen, heard, and valued throughout the journey.

Creating Clarity Amid Complexity: Stephanie’s leadership framework focuses on three pillars: strong relationships, a clear vision that stays ahead of the business, and a human-centered execution strategy.

How to Build Culture That Fuels Innovation: From showing up as a real person to fostering friendships on and off the clock, Stephanie shares how to create an environment where people want to do great work.

Measuring What Actually Matters: It’s not just about deadlines or revenue—it’s about giving teams access to the bigger story, celebrating the messy middle, and making impact visible beyond the numbers.

The Power of Storytelling in Making Change Stick: Stephanie explains how case studies, vision documents, and team celebrations aren’t just artifacts—they’re tools to build shared ownership and emotional resonance across stakeholders.

The Hard Lesson: Boundaries Matter: Stephanie reflects on the cost of not setting boundaries early in her career and why leaders need to protect their own capacity in order to lead others effectively.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Sustainable transformation requires emotional intelligence, not just executional rigor.

✅ Great leaders create environments where people feel connected, creative, and safe.

✅ Transparency and access to the “why” builds trust and drives momentum.

✅ Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re essential to longevity and impact.

✅ Storytelling isn’t a cherry on top; it’s the glue that makes transformation stick.

Links And Resources:

• Connect with Stephanie Antonelli on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanie-antonelli

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