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Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world? Remember, everyone not only belongs, but thrives. You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo and share storeys that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in. Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too.

Reach out to joe.lockwoodeechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show. So adjust your earbuds and settle in. It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites.

And today is episode 195 with the title Organising Chaos, Sparking Belonging. And I have the absolute honour and privilege to welcome Amanda Van der Heyden. Amanda is a Chaos coordinator and a relationship builder with over 20 years experience in L and D, leading global rollouts for over 40 companies across 15 countries, spread over 12 different industries, and of course, empowering teams through People first solutions. And when I asked Amanda to describe her superpower, she said that it is translating complexity into people centred momentum. That all sounds fascinating. I say hello, Amanda, welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

So your name, it says to me Dutch. So you have some Dutch heritage in you?

Yep, my dad is from the Netherlands. His whole family is still there. He's the only one in the States.

Wow. So you're. You're now in the States yourself?

Yeah, Yep.

Did you say New York or thereabouts.

So in real life, I'm a New Yorker currently living in Rhode Island. Very random. So it's been fun journey.

So for someone who doesn't know the geography of the States too well, I mean, that's me. So Rhode island is on the east coast.

Still isn't is so with COVID and all the moving and fun stuff that happened, I used to be about an hour from Manhattan and then I moved down to Kentucky, which is like the Middle west, very drastically different world. And then all the way up to the tippy top point on the east side of little tiny Rhode island, so.

So above you is Canada, is that?

Yes, basically. Basically not too far away. If you had asked a couple years ago, Rhode Island, I'd say, what's in Rhode Island? But just one of those things. Life takes you to new places and the People are really nice here, so I love it. But I definitely am missing the food from New York, that is for sure.

Yeah, I was, I've been in New York probably three or four times. I, I worked over there and had a bit of a holiday there once. And you're right, there's. On every street corner there's, there's something else. Yeah, you've got the left Liftly, you got all those sort of places, you've got all the different zones and things. Whatever you want. And it's a bit like London I guess. You can.

Whenever you want, whatever time of the day you want, whatever time of year you want, you can find whatever you like.

Yeah.

If you can't, they'll deliver it somewhere.

Yeah, yeah, it's great melting pot.

So the climate must be a bit cooler up in Rhode island. Does it?

Yeah, it's off the water, so it's, you know, northeast definitely right now it's really pretty. This is the right time of year. But it has both extremes, the heat in August and the freezing cold in the winter. So we definitely get the seasons here.

What's the nickname of the state then? What's it, what is it? It's not Sunshine State. What is it?

Quiz me. That's California. Rhode island is the Ocean State because it's basically a tiny little island in the, in the.

So it's completely an island. So you have a bridge over the top, do you?

There's bridges everywhere, there's. And the funny thing I've learned, so I've only been here about a year and a half and the fun part is, is that locals like local Rhode island people will be like, wow, you cross two bridges to be here. And I'm like, the bridges are like every five, 10 minutes. But apparently when you have a smaller island like this, it's like a big deal. When you cross two bridges to get somewhere, I'm like, it's only a 30 minute drive, it's not a big deal. But to them they measure things and how many bridges you cross to get, to get places. So that's pretty fun.

So I guess if you, if you brought up there all your life, your whole life is centred around being an Islander, I guess. Is it?