How Manulife Is Embedding Change Into Its DNA - 2026 Next Practices Weekly
Next Practices Weekly recently welcomed Blake Bell, Head of Global Change Enablement, Centre of Excellence at Manulife, for an insightful conversation on how leading organizations are redefining change for an era of constant disruption. Rather than treating change as a series of projects to manage, Blake shared how Manulife is building organization-wide adaptability by embedding change enablement into its culture, leadership practices, and everyday work. Through practical examples and the company's Change Enablement Maturity Model, he demonstrated how organizations can develop lasting capabilities that prepare employees, not just projects - for continuous transformation.
Moderated by i4cp's Lorrie Lykins and Tom Stone, the discussion explored why HR and business leaders must move beyond traditional change management and instead create the conditions for successful adoption from the very beginning of every initiative. Blake explained that transformation succeeds when leaders invest early in workforce readiness, build change capability across every role, and foster communities that reinforce learning long after implementation. He also shared how Manulife has intentionally decentralized change capability, empowering leaders and employees across the organization rather than relying on a centralized team of specialists.
Key Topics Discussed
- From Change Management to Change Enablement
Blake encouraged organizations to shift from managing individual projects to building lasting adaptability, empowering employees to embrace continuous change. - Building Change Capability at Scale
Manulife's Change Enablement Maturity Model equips leaders and employees with practical tools, learning resources, and communities that make successful transformation repeatable. - Preparing People Before Change Happens
Workforce readiness begins early. Engaging employees and leaders before implementation builds confidence, accelerates adoption, and improves outcomes. - Embedding Adaptability Across the Organization
Rather than relying on change specialists alone, Manulife empowers everyone to play a role in driving and sustaining change. - Measuring What Matters
Success isn't just about launching initiatives - it's about employee adoption, behavior change, and achieving meaningful business results.
As AI, digital transformation, and evolving business priorities continue to accelerate the pace of change, the session offered a compelling blueprint for HR, organizational effectiveness, and transformation leaders seeking to build resilient, high-performing organizations. Blake's practical framework demonstrates that competitive advantage no longer comes from managing change more efficiently - it comes from building a workforce that can continuously adapt. Watch the recording to learn how Manulife is making adaptability part of its organizational DNA.
Resources Shared
- The AI-Enabled HR Operating Model – Download Executive Brief. Explore i4cp's latest research on how AI is reshaping HR roles, structures, and operating models in future-ready organizations. Access The AI-Enabled HR Operating Model Executive Brief.
- 2027 i4cp Next Practices Now Conference - Stay ahead of emerging HR trends at i4cp's 2027 Next Practices Now Conference, where HR executives gather in a vendor-free environment to gain practical insights and strategies that drive immediate impact. Register today
To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.
