Turning Technical Challenges into People-Centred Change
As Head of Business Architecture at LexisNexis, Kirsty Dixon sits between business strategy and delivery, helping the organisation identify future capabilities and create a path for long-term growth. When faced with the challenge of gaining support for a complex, data-led transformation programme, she turned to Curium for a fresh perspective.
Working with Curium consultants Rob and Stuart, Kirsty was looking for more than a project plan. She wanted to find a better way to engage stakeholders and communicate the value of work that was essential but difficult to sell internally.
Reflecting on the experience, Kirsty said she was immediately impressed by how quickly the team understood the challenge.
“What really stood out for me was just how switched on they are. I thought a couple of hours wouldn’t be enough time to get to the heart of the issues, but the speed at which they picked things up was incredible. Their experience in people change really came through.”
Rather than focusing purely on processes and deliverables, Rob and Stuart shifted the conversation towards the people behind the programme.
“They almost re-educated me on how to keep people motivated, how to get people on side and how to communicate with people where they are, rather than where you need them to be.”
Together, they explored practical stakeholder engagement techniques, including identifying innovators and early adopters to build momentum across the organisation. For Kirsty, this changed how she approached the project entirely.
“The importance of understanding who to focus on first and how to build momentum was really helpful.”
The workshop also challenged Kirsty to rethink how she communicated complex ideas. Instead of relying on presentations, Curium encouraged her to bring stories and experiences to life using memorable, practical examples that would resonate with her audience.
“The message was to think about different ways to tell the story and show the impact in a way that sticks. PowerPoint isn’t necessarily your friend.”
Perhaps the biggest outcome wasn’t a new project plan, but a new way of thinking.
“I’ve completely reset my focus. It made me realise that progress isn’t just about moving quickly. It only works if you’ve got people coming on that journey with you.”
Following the workshop, Kirsty’s action plan shifted away from producing documents and holding meetings. Instead, it became centred on building understanding, creating meaningful conversations and helping colleagues see how foundational data connects to their day-to-day roles.
“The actions I came away with were completely different. They’re much less about producing artefacts and much more about connecting the dots for people.”
For Kirsty, the greatest value came from the confidence to slow down, re-engage stakeholders and invest time in bringing people with her rather than pushing ahead alone.
“It gave me permission to reset without feeling like I was failing. It reminded me that bringing people with you isn’t slowing progress, it’s what makes progress possible.”
Asked whether she would recommend Curium to others facing similar challenges, Kirsty had no hesitation.
“I’d absolutely recommend them. We’ve all been on generic stakeholder management courses, but working through a real project in the context of your own challenges makes it so much more meaningful.”
By combining practical expertise with a deep understanding of people and change, Curium helped Kirsty transform a technical challenge into a people-first strategy, leaving her with renewed energy, a fresh perspective and the confidence to lead change more effectively.
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