ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What separates organisations that deliver from those that stay busy?
In this episode of the Everyday Agile Podcast, Jac sits down with digital transformation leader Tori Sutherland to discuss leadership, agile transformation, digital delivery, public-sector transformation, and what organisations need to do to become truly agile.
Drawing on her experience leading digital public services in the NHS and now working independently, Tori shares insights on:
✅ Why most organisations focus on the wrong things during agile transformations
✅ The difference between doing Agile and being Agile
✅ Leadership behaviours that appear when pressure increases
✅ Building trust and empowering teams to deliver outcomes
✅ Why stand-ups and Scrum ceremonies won't automatically make you faster
✅ Managing change fatigue and continuous delivery environments
✅ How to prioritise when everything feels urgent
✅ Freelancing, burnout recovery and building a sustainable business
If you're a leader, transformation professional, Agile Coach, Scrum Master, Product Manager or anyone interested in improving organisational delivery, this episode is packed with practical insights.
▶︎Key Topics
Agile transformation
Leadership under pressure
Digital transformation
NHS digital delivery
Organisational design
High-performing teams
Product delivery
Change management
Continuous improvement
Public sector transformation
▶︎Connect with Tori
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torisutherland/
▶︎ Not Another Agile Conference 2027 tickets are now available.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/notanotheragileconference/2178867
▶︎Newsletter
https://betweenthestandups.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
▶︎Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Welcome
00:50 Meet Tori Sutherland
01:36 Why Tori Chose Digital Transformation
03:08 What Organisations Get Wrong About Agile
03:50 Going Freelance Without a Safety Net
05:10 Why People Should Ask for More Help
06:09 The Leadership Conversations We Need to Have
07:12 Are Organisations Really Set Up to Deliver?
09:14 Sprinting a Marathon: The Delivery Trap
10:20 Leadership Behaviours Nobody Challenges
12:00 Trust, Empowerment & High-Pressure Delivery
13:46 What Separates High-Performing Teams?
15:22 Prioritising When Everything Feels Urgent
17:00 Circle of Control vs Organisational Influence
19:25 What Great Leadership Looks Like Under Pressure
21:34 Building Trust as an External Consultant
23:48 The Biggest Myth in Agile
26:00 Why Agile Practices Alone Don't Increase Speed
28:06 Change Fatigue & Continuous Delivery
30:29 Creating Space to Improve Delivery
31:11 Are We Creating Better Leaders?
33:45 Building a Freelance Business
34:23 Avoiding Burnout & Protecting Your Energy
36:50 The Problem with Optimisation Culture
37:48 Lifestyle Business vs Scale Business
39:35 Tori's Favourite Leadership Principle
41:28 What's Next for Tori?
43:04 Where to Connect with Tori
43:53 Not Another Agile Conference 2027
About Everyday Agile
The Everyday Agile Podcast explores leadership, delivery, product development, organisational transformation and practical ways of working with people who are helping organisations deliver better outcomes.
