Anthony Nicols and I discuss how we started a movement of agile transformation at British Council. We discuss how organisations need to think about digital transformation and what the basic ‘ingredients’ and steps for successful transformation are…

Let’s be honest: getting transformation right is hard. Many long-established organisations fail. Multiple times.

We will illustrate how we sowed the seeds of change at the British Council, an institution set up in 1934 to combat fascism; promote a wider knowledge of the UK and the English language abroad and develop UK cultural relations with a operation in over 100 countries; one that is now the largest provider of English teaching and assessment in the world with a commercial revenue of over £500m per year.

We will share how we started moved British Council from a position that can only be called ‘classical’, to one that is lean, agile, and focused on happy high performing teams, delivering valuable outcomes.

We will discuss how to lay the groundwork, where to start, and then what to focus on to spark a movement.

Video recording of our conference talk at NDC Oslo

Anthony Nicols is a delivery and transformation experts and currently works as Exams director of technology and delivery at British council.