Building Change Capabilities: A Conversation with Riley Smith of Propeller Consulting

In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Riley Smith, Senior Director at Propeller Consulting, about his nontraditional path from teaching high school biology with Teach for America to leading large-scale change initiatives in consulting. Riley shares how experiences in building new functions, engaging stakeholders, and driving outcomes led him naturally into the field of change management. He offers an inside look at Propeller’s approach across industries—from retail and technology to healthcare and public sector—and discusses how curiosity, adaptability, and a methodology-agnostic mindset shape their client partnerships. This conversation highlights both the art and discipline of leading change in complex organizations.