Are We Ready to Begin?
Considering Change Readiness Before the Transformative Project Kickoff
Organizations often ask, “When can we start the project?” But for transformative initiatives, there may be an even more important question:
“Are we ready to start?”
Join us for an engaging in-person event featuring three presenters who will explore Change Readiness as a critical facet of determining when to kickoff a transformative project.
Too often, project kickoff is driven primarily by funding approval, resource availability, deadlines, technology schedules, or executive expectations. Yet a project can be technically ready to begin while the organization—and the people expected to make the transformation successful—may not be equally prepared.
Our presenters will examine change readiness from three complementary perspectives, exploring how leaders can assess whether the conditions exist to successfully launch a transformation and what should happen when important readiness gaps are identified.
The discussion will explore topics such as:
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Assessing Readiness — What should we understand about leadership alignment, organizational capacity, culture, stakeholder commitment, capabilities, competing changes, and willingness to adopt before kickoff?
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Readiness as a Go/Adjust Input — How should readiness information influence the timing, scope, sequencing, resourcing, and approach of a transformative project?
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Building Readiness — When gaps exist, what actions can Project Management, Change Management, Business Analysis, Continuous Improvement, HR, Coaching, and other transformation disciplines take to improve the conditions for success?
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Creating Shared Accountability — Who owns readiness, and how can sponsors, project leaders, change practitioners, and operational leaders collectively determine whether the organization is prepared to move forward?
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Connecting Readiness to Benefits — How can considering readiness before kickoff improve adoption, execution, sustainability, and ultimately the realization of the intended business benefits?
Rather than treating Change Management as something that begins after a project has already been launched, this event challenges participants to consider how change readiness can become part of the decision-making process that determines how and when transformation begins.
Through three perspectives, practical insights, and interactive discussion with fellow transformation professionals, attendees will leave with ideas they can apply to their own organizations and initiatives.
The question isn't simply, “Is the project ready?”
It’s also: “Are the organization and its people ready for the transformation the project is about to create?”
Your Presenters:
AnnMarie Maier (LinkedIn) is a Prosci-certified change management practitioner who helps organizations navigate complex challenges, prepare people for change, and turn strategy into practical action.
Her experience spans organizational change, technology and product adoption, project management, risk and controls, and business transformation. During her 17+ years at J.P. Morgan Chase, she worked across these disciplines, developing a perspective on how change impacts people, processes, and operations often in ways that aren't immediately apparent.
Today, AnnMarie continues to apply her experience through consulting and volunteer projects, helping organizations uncover underlying challenges, improve processes, and implement practical solutions, including AI-enabled improvements. She also volunteers as AI Operations Lead with Women Applying AI (WAAI), where she is focusing on designing and improving AI-enabled workflows, strengthening operations, and helping the organization scale its impact.
She brings a cross-functional, people-centered perspective to change readiness, recognizing that successful transformation requires understanding not just what needs to change, but whether the organization is prepared to make it happen.
Dawn White (LinkedIn) is a dynamic leader with broad work experience leading change and optimization efforts across various disciplines including government, legal, mergers & acquisitions, finance-shared services, health care, and manufacturing. As a certified PMP project manager, Six Sigma black belt, and Prosci trained change practitioner she easily transition between leadership roles for transformational initiatives, program management, process improvement, and change management.
The degrees and certifications demonstrate the continuous learning nature she possesses, but more importantly, she has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in a highly-matrix organization to deliver and "make things happen". She is passionate about the people side of change and excel in solving complex problems, launching new initiatives, and breaking down large-scale initiatives into manageable chunks of work.
Event Venue:
We will be getting together for this in-person event at the Kforce office in Tampa Midtown at 1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 500, in Tampa, Florida.
Continuing education credits for professional certifications will be available from the participating organizations.
Light refreshments and snacks will be available during the event.
Registration fees cover costs and support the organization to be able to organize and coordinate future events.