Deep Dive with Alex Atala

In this episode of Change by Design, host Chad Jackson sits down with Alex Atala (Amazon, formerly of Stryker) to explore the human side of engineering transformation. They discuss why technical expertise alone isn’t enough to drive change and how “soft skills” like transparency, negotiation, and psychology are the true differentiators for success.

 

Alex shares candid insights from his career, breaking down the red flags that signal a doomed initiative and the “green flags” that set teams up for a win.

 

Key Topics:

• The Change Agent Toolkit: Why communication and building trust are your most critical assets.
• Red Flags vs. Green Flags: How to evaluate leadership competence and project viability before you commit.
• Success & Failure Stories: Real-world lessons from a seamless medical device launch and a chaotic product recall.
• Navigating Team Dynamics: Overcoming the “square engineer” stereotype to build consensus across diverse groups.