Earning Change. By Design.
I help leaders build programs that earn commitment—not mere compliance—for the changes this era demands.
IRRESISTIBLE CHANGE
Irresistible Change, Phil’s book documenting the historic transformation of IBM into an entrepreneurial, human-centered organization. Every decision. Every outcome. And every learning. This playbook offers tactical advice for any transformation initiative, from Design to AI.
Why the book?
Jerry was one of the first IBMers Phil met. He was there for the full journey and moved from skeptic to believer.
Phil and Jerry got together on his podcast to discuss why the book? And why now? They also got into how making change irresistible made believers of skeptics.
Phil Gilbert has creative and innovative vision…
The man behind this re-Think (to rephrase IBM’s famous, single word internal slogan) is general manager of IBM Design Phil Gilbert, a tall, baritone-voiced American based out of the company’s Austin, Texas offices.
“Design is about how you approach a problem. It’s the thinking of how you frame the problem, and then an intention behind the solution, so that it is grounded in empathy for a human being,” he says.
THE PERILS OF SCALE
Doug Powell and Phil sat down at the historic State Theater in Austin, Texas to talk about leading change at scale. They reminisced about their time together at IBM, and Phil tackled some tough questions about design in the age of AI from current and former IBM designers.
fast company
“Phil Gilbert transformed the way 400,000 IBMers worked. Now he wants to fix your business’s culture.”
the “oh shit” moment!
Greg Parrott interviewed Phil about transforming IBM.
“I sent the email off thinking that it was about the end of that conversation. And within a week or 10 days, Ginni writes back, ‘Okay, let’s go. Now… how fast can you go?’
“400,000 people. 180 countries. And not a one of them reported to me.”
Why AI Transformations Are Failing—And What CEOs Can Do
Phil’s bylined article in Chief Executive magazine.
“The real shift was cultural—changing how people worked together. Those changes stuck, and they remain core to how IBM operates today.”
IBM’s Design-Centered Strategy to Set Free the Squares
The first reveal of the IBM transformation program. By Steve Lohr, in the Sunday New York Times.
“In the past, we changed what we were working on, but we were pretty much working the same way. Now, we’re changing how we work too. And the how element is always related to speed.”
change is a product
Phil appeared on John Ayers’ podcast to talk Irresistible Change and dig more deeply into the idea of change being offered as a product, instead of being mandated.
Designing Corporate Culture Change
Video of Phil Gilbert and Tony Bynum being interviewed by Design Observer’s Ellen McGirt.
It’s the people, stupid
What if the key to unlocking AI isn’t the machine, but the team behind it? Phil joined Mike Sarraille on Mike’s Everyday Warrior podcast.
a healthy disrespect for the status quo
Joe Byerly and Phil talk about leadership, change and how to build adaptable cultures at scale.