Akshaya Murthy on humanizing change around technology (podcast episode #1)

In the first episode of Humanizing Change, host Ari Abraham Tremendousness talks with Akshaya Murthy, Director of AI Transformation at Zendesk, about what it really takes to lead change in a world where technology moves faster than people.

Drawing from his global upbringing and deep experience in tech, Akshaya and host Ari Abraham dig into why real transformation isn’t about the tools — it’s about the people. Trust, curiosity, and safe spaces to learn aren’t just nice to have — they’re essential to making change feel human.

Lessons from the episode:

• Center change around people, not tools: I focus first on human needs and experiences, not just on rolling out technology.
• Build trust and psychological safety: I create environments where people feel secure enough to learn and adapt.
• Give people time and space to grow: I allow teams to experiment, explore, and build confidence at their own pace.
• Model curiosity and vulnerability: I lead by showing openness to learning, making it safe for others to do the same.
• Empower humans through technology: I design change efforts so that technology strengthens, rather than overwhelms, human experience.

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to Humanizing Change to hear more real, thoughtful stories about how people are navigating change and complexity. New episodes drop regularly — and we’d love to have you along for the journey.

Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.

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