The next great disruption puts people first—are we ready?
By Megan Nash
The way we work is changing. In offices, coffee shops and living rooms across the world, people are reimagining how to connect, lead and innovate.
At the second annual DisruptRVA event, hosted by the VCU School of Business on Oct. 30, this future wasn’t just discussed—it was actively built.
Organized by The Change Decision and VCU’s Institute for Transformative Leadership, the event brought together more than 120 participants, including students, faculty and professionals, to explore what “disruption” really means in the workplace.
“We chose the DisruptRVA theme to be “Transforming work to be part of a life well-lived” because it nurtures the idea that work is a part of everyone’s life,” said Ed Cook, Ph.D., president of The Change Decision. “Finding ways to disrupt our normal patterns and innovate how we think about work is the path to finding ways to grow Joy at Work.”
Throughout an evening packed with rapid-fire presentations and thought-provoking discussions, one idea stood out: innovation doesn’t come from technology alone—it starts with people.
“Disruption creates space for growth,” said Chris Reina, Ph.D., founding and executive director of the Institute for Transformative Leadership. “When leaders foster environments of care and safety, transformation follows.”
The structure of the evening mirrored its forward-thinking spirit. Each speaker presented 20 slides, each displayed for 20 seconds. The presentations addressed questions that every organization is grappling with: How do we navigate an AI-driven world? What role should joy play in the workplace? How can leaders balance purpose with profit?
Anastasia Mizitova, CEO of Talent14, kicked things off with a vision of artificial intelligence as a “career pilot,” steering employees through unexpected challenges, Alex DerHovhannessian, senior vice president at Voyatek, turned heads with his argument that “breaking the rules” can actually bring clarity and joy to the workplace. And Laura Kottkamp, Ed.D., executive director of Monroe Park Foundations at VCU, spoke to the realities of balancing professional ambition with personal fulfillment.
Intentional “connection breaks” punctuated the evening, providing space for attendees to reflect and share insights. These moments, led by emcee Todd Waldo, encouraged deeper conversations and connections.
“People don’t just want ideas; they want to feel connected,” said Reina. “The magic happens when you realize you’re not alone in navigating these challenges.”
What sets DisruptRVA apart is its distinctly local flavor. While cities like Silicon Valley and New York often dominate conversations about innovation, Richmond is carving its own path.
“Richmond is proving that innovation doesn’t require a big-city backdrop,” said Reina. “They might have scale, but we have intention.”
The event also highlighted the relationship between education and industry. Speakers like David Pickersgill and Brian Wellinghoff of Barry-Wehmiller drove home the importance of collaboration between schools and businesses, revealing what’s possible when these sectors work together.
“At Barry Wehmiller we measure our success by the way that we touch the lives of people,” said David Pickersgill, learning outreach program leader. “We put this into practice every day in the training development and culture setting we undertake, that ensures our leaders know the importance of caring for those entrusted to them and have the skills to put that caring into practice. We are thrilled to be able to work in partnership with VCU to pass on our learning and skills to the next generation of leaders. We are thrilled to have found a partner who is as passionate caring leadership as we are.”
As the evening concluded, conversations lingered, and attendees left with actionable ideas to bring back to their workplaces and communities.
Richmond is growing as a hub for bold, human-centered thinking, and DisruptRVA is already planting the seeds for its next chapter.
“We’re all learning as we go,” said Reina. “But we know two things for sure: Disruption is never easy, and it works best when people feel valued. That’s what we’re building here—spaces where ideas and human connection can thrive together.”
For more information about DisruptRVA and updates on future events, visit their website. A special thank you to the sponsors—Delta Dental, Lockton, HealthEquity, USI and Spring Health—for their generous support in making this year’s gathering possible.
DisruptRVA 2024 speakers:
- Emcee: Todd Waldo, Adjunct Faculty, VCU da Vinci Center & Vice President, The Shockoe Institute
- Brian Brown, Ph.D., Interim Dean, VCU School of Business
- Chris Reina, Ph.D., Associate Professor, VCU & Founding & Executive Director, Institute for Transformative Leadership
- Anatasia Mizitova, CEO, Talent14
- Alex DerHovhannessian, Senior Vice President, Voyatek
- Laura Kottkamp, Ed.D., Executive Director, Monroe Park VCU
- Gopa Nair, Adjunct Faculty, VCU & Lead Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, U.S. Department of Labor
- Peter Fraser, Director of Brand Experience, Great Minds
- Cristina Martinez de Andino, Founder & CEO, CMdA Consulting
- David Blanchard, Vice President – Employee Benefits and Organizational Risk Consulting, Lockton Companies
- Scott Boddie, Director of Organizational Development, PATTERN4building
- Mike Lynch, Founder and Principal, MJL Consulting Group
- Sara Shelton, Talent Development Coach, PassionFruit
- David Pickersgill, Learning Outreach Program Leader and Brian Wellinghoff, Director of Strategy, Improvement and Culture, Barry-Wehmiller
- William Ferguson, MBA Student, Liberty University
- Keonna Knight, M.Ed, Burnout Coach and CEO, Heal with Keonna