“I always say I want entrepreneurs in the company and I want them to act like entrepreneurs by making decisions that are good for the business.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, we speak to Travel industry disruptor, André Schwämmlein, the Co-Founder and CEO of Flix, on art versus science, creating new markets, and daring to better the world. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/250  👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba André is one of three Flix founders, launching the business in 2012 as FlixBus, a global travel platform with more than 100 million customers in 28 European countries as well as in the USA. Prior to founding Flix, he worked as a Strategic Consultant for Boston Consulting Group in Munich for 5 years. André studied industrial engineering at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and is also a board member of both tech companies Scout24 and About You. In this episode we talk about: ✅  Leading a team by transparency and clarity of a long-term vision ✅  Taking a giant leap of faith from a secure job to founding a business ✅  Why Flix is not a travel company, but rather a technology and data analytics business ✅  How a travel company survived the COVID pandemic and is thriving again. Connecting with André Schwämmlein You can connect with André via LinkedIn.

“This human condition to protect and help others is there from the moment we are born. People who feel soulless simply lack this instinct. Incorporating it into our daily routine will make all the difference.” In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Hetty Johnston AM, Founder and Former CEO & Chair of Bravehearts, on passion, resilience and negotiating with Prime Ministers. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/249  👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Hetty in April 2018 when she was the Chair of an organisation she founded, Bravehearts, which is Australia’s leading child protection advocacy. For over 20 years, Hetty has been leading the charge in child protection and built Bravehearts into a powerful not-for-profit with global reach. Hetty had a career in politics, as the Queensland State Leader of the Australian Democrats. She has accumulated many accolades in her time, including Australian Businesswomen’s 2016 Hall of Fame Inductee, Queensland Australian of the Year in 2015, and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2014. In this episode, you’re going to hear Hetty talk about: ✅  The full story of the horrific circumstances that led to the beginnings of Bravehearts, after her 6 year old daughter disclosed that she was being assaulted ✅  Her resilience over more than two decades in battling resistance to change from some of the most powerful groups in our community ✅  Some of her techniques for negotiating with Prime Ministers ✅  The ultimate career advice if you want to be a GREAT Chief. Connecting with Hetty Johnston AM You can connect with Hetty via LinkedIn. Books and resources The Gift of Fear - by Gavin De Becker

“The businesses that generally fail are where the founder says they have a backup plan, like a job. My mentality was if it failed, I would start another business. So I may as well make this one work.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, we speak to footwear brand trailblazer, Vince Lebon, the CEO and Founder of Rollie Nation, on streamlining systems, scaling a business and operating rhythm. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/248  👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Vince founded Rollie Nation, a footwear brand, in 2012 and sold nearly 500 pairs in a South Melbourne market. He formally trained as a multimedia designer who fell in love with footwear and product design, developing and refining his craft with shoemaker Andrew McDonald in Sydney, SLEM Innovation & Training Institute in the Netherlands and Pensole Footwear Academy in Oregon, USA. Vince applied and won a Pensole Scholarship and then won the  ‘Future of Footwear’ Master Class sponsored by Foot Locker and asics in 2016. In 2021, he ranked 4th in the Internet Retailing Top 50 People in E-Commerce. In this episode we talk about: ✅  Designing shoes for some of the top celebrities and athletes in the world  ✅  Using design thinking to constantly improve systems and processes ✅  Starting Rollie Nation by creating a business model and operating rhythm first ✅  His hiring process and the value of making it intentionally difficult Connecting with Vince Lebon You can connect with Vince via LinkedIn or via his Instagram account. Books and resources Scaling Up - by Verne Harnish Brand Gap - by Marty Neumeier Zag - by Marty Neumeier

“It’s not about saying “no” or trying to dodge work; you’re actually trying to be better for the company you work for. You’re putting them first.” In today’s minisode, I want to save you some time. You know the score, you’ve accepted a meeting invite and you turn up to the meeting and there’s no agenda, no plan, no defined outcome, and you probably weren’t even needed or the meeting could have been replaced by an email. Or it’s a project that you don’t have capacity for based on your current agreed workload. 🎧👉 chiefmaker.com/247 👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: ✅ Acknowledging that meetings are the performance theatre for executives ✅ Establishing the purpose of a meeting and whether you have the information to make it meaningful ✅ Working with your boss to prioritise tasks, initiatives and, therefore, meetings Stay epic, Greg

“It's not enough to have a good-sounding idea. Is that idea executable in a way that is sustainable or do you have dependencies on things that are just outside your control?” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, we speak to Skins Co-Founder and current CEO of eo Lab, Dean Hawkins, on the power of a brand, creatively telling the story of the business, and turning alchemy into the extraordinary. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/246  👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Dean is a vastly experienced senior executive having held a variety of senior and advisory roles over the last 25 years with international businesses across a range of industries including sports, fintech, television, broadband, apparel, and venture capital. He has also held many Board positions including of adidas, Ten Network Holdings, I-Med Australia, Apparel Group and the Sydney Dance Company. Dean was the Co-Founder and then Chairman of SKINS Global, a household name in compression clothing and activewear. He has also been the CFO of adidas, during which time the company’s market capitalisation grew from €1.5bn to €8bn. Prior to this he was an investment banker at UBS in Zurich where he led the successful IPO of adidas. Dean returned to Sydney from London in late 2021 to become CEO of eo Lab, an exciting new sports technology business. In this episode we talk about: ✅  Moving into a career where he could own the consequences of his decisions ✅  Turning adidas around by reigniting the brand with customers ✅  The intersection of a positive brand story, people and a great product and other lessons from Skins ✅  Changing the rules of the game of sports technology with his latest venture Connecting with Dean Hawkins You can connect with Dean via LinkedIn Books and resources The Hard Thing About Hard Things - by Ben Horowitz

“You've got to smell the roses. If there's ever any doubt, you only really have to look back and see the results and achievements. It just puts you in a completely different frame of mind.” In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Brad Gordon, seasoned resources executive, on how to create a vision and game that inspires your team and attracts the best talent. chiefmaker.com/245 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPTEMBER MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Brad in early 2018 when he had just left his role as CEO of Acacia Mining, a position he had held since 2013. Prior to that he was the CEO of Intrepid Mines Limited, Emperor Mines Limited and was Managing Director of Placer Dome, New Guinea. Brad co-founded mining servicing company Big Yellow with 2 other executives, and also sits on the Board of Firefinch Limited. In this episode, you’re going to hear Brad talk about: The magic and tranquility of working in a team 2000 metres underground; Why having vastly different career experience, including overseas, trumps a linear journey; How the game of attracting and maintaining the best talent works; and What he does in moments of doubt. Connecting with Brad Gordon You can connect with Brad via LinkedIn. Books and resources Good to Great - by Jim Collins The Outsiders - by William Thorndike

“Things will always go wrong; my engineering background taught me to remain calm, avoid blame and just work through the problem.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, we speak to telecommunications industry disruptor, Alex West, CEO of Swoop, on being the calm in the chaos, trust and vulnerability, and building a high performing culture through metrics. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/244  👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Alex is currently the CEO of Swoop, a telecommunications company backed by Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang, and which has had a stellar year, including listing on the ASX followed by six acquisitions. Alex has been involved in around 50 company acquisitions while in senior roles with some of Australia’s leading telcos, including Superloop and PIPE Networks (now TPG), and has also raised more than $66 million in equity in his 20-year career. He cut his teeth as a graduate engineer at Telstra, before climbing the ranks to Chief Operating Officer at Vocus Group. Alex holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from the University of Newcastle, and a Master of Engineering Management from the University of Technology, Sydney. In this episode we talk about: ✅  How remaining calm, even when things go wrong, is his superpower; ✅  The shift from executive to CEO when you’ve spent two decades in the same industry; ✅  Leading a high-performing team through trust and vulnerability; and ✅  Cultivating a strong company culture of using metrics and dashboards. Connecting with Alex West You can connect with Alex via LinkedIn Books and resources Start with Why - by Simon Sinek

“I don't want you to just take the path less travelled; I want you to stop and pause and actually use a little bit of deep thinking and a bit of science to then take the path best, most congruent for you, and that will make all the difference.” In today’s minisode, we look at a question that I have been inundated with in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that is a career crossroads. People are getting to this point as they’ve realised what’s truly important in life or they’ve had new opportunities come out of the blue. 🎧👉 chiefmaker.com/243 👂 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: ✅ How to assess any opportunities and how this links to career excellence ✅ Some tools to arm you with making the most informed decision about which path to take that align to your career vision and values ✅ Applying the Chief Maker GREAT Method to affirm your chosen path.   Stay epic, Greg

“We started every board meeting talking about what impact we made in the last month, before we even got to the CEO report or financials.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from tech industry pioneer Tristan Sternson, CEO of ARQ Group, on being answerable to investors, systemising values and culture, and building equality through technology. chiefmaker.com/242 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Tristan is an Australian tech industry pioneer and CEO of multi-award-winning company, ARQ Group. ARQ is one of Australia’s leading providers of digital and tech services, with a client base spanning Government and more than half of Australia’s top 20 ASX-listed companies. A serial entrepreneur and growth expert, Tristan boasts a decades-long career in IT, including advisory, experience and design, engineering and managed services. Since being appointed CEO of ARQ in December 2019, Tristan led one of Australia’s greatest turnaround stories, resulting in ARQ’s $290 million acquisition by Singtel subsidiary NCS in April 2022. Tristan’s actions have also had a direct impact on Australia’s tech skills shortage, establishing education programs within ARQ’s Academy and growing their headcount by 75%. In this episode we talk about: ✅  Starting a data business off the back of the GFC in 2009; ✅  Being answerable to investors while systemising values and culture; ✅  How technology like blockchain and the Metaverse is building equality into the world; and ✅  What a high-performance culture looks like in the technology industry. Connecting with Tristan Sternson You can connect with Tristan via LinkedIn Books and resources Good to Great - by Jim Collins

“As an industry, we are stopping women from working in all levels of society by our six-day working week. And that's not okay.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from construction industry game-changer, Alison Mirams, CEO of Roberts Co, on transforming an industry and leaving a legacy by putting workers and their families at the heart of your business. chiefmaker.com/240 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Alison has more than twenty years’ experience in the construction sector. In 2017, after successfully operating in executive roles at both Brookfield Multiplex and Lendlease, Alison became the CEO of boutique tier one construction firm, Roberts Co. Alison also sits on the Boards of TAFE NSW and AeroPM, and has an engineering degree from the University of Technology Sydney. In this episode we talk about: Leading from the front and changing an entire industry through promotion of a 5-day working week; How this change impacts families, but also addresses huge gender equity issues well beyond the first-order set of consequences; The jaw-dropping results of the research she did in conjunction with UNSW that enabled a data-led approach to shifting attitudes; and What’s next for her and how she plans to leave a legacy for the next generation of construction workers. Connecting with Alison Mirams You can connect with Alison via LinkedIn Books and resources Wall Street Journal

“I can’t tell you the number of Mini-MBA graduates who have taken action on low performers or toxic high performers and it has made a fundamental difference to everyone’s lives.”   In today’s minisode, we cover some of the main reasons why graduates of the Chief Maker Mini-MBA program decide to join a cohort and the main benefits they get from it. chiefmaker.com/239 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba One of the most common reasons why people take up the Chief Maker Mini-MBA is one that I hear repeatedly before we kick off the sessions, and that is, “How do I work at level? How do I work in a leadership capacity, on strategy, and with the executive team and really add value to the organisation?” So, today we’re going to talk about: Stopping to look up at the broader market trends and other external factors; How to do an organisational analysis and deal with the wrong people on the bus; and Building your strategic playbook so that you can deliver on your track record.   Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Daniel Penny, Co-Founder and MD of Mustard Creative Agency, on going beyond the brief, working with agencies, and understanding your influence. chiefmaker.com/238 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Daniel co-founded Mustard Creative Agency in 2001 with his business partner. The agency has worked with well-known brands like Target, Hertz, Hisense, Coles and The Good Guys. Daniel is also the founder of LearnSpring, an online learning digital platform. In this episode we talk about: Starting a marketing and creative agency from scratch and how word-of-mouth recommendations have fuelled the business since launching; Why responding to a brief beyond what is requested is the best outcome for a client; Leading an organisation of humans and understanding your influence; and His core principles in driving employee and client engagement. Connecting with Daniel Penny You can connect with Daniel via LinkedIn Books and resources Almanack of Naval Ravikant - by Eric Jorgenson Atomic Habits - by James Clear

In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Angela Buglass, former CEO of Trilogy International, on creating your own destiny, cross-functional experience, and being at the pinnacle of a listed company. chiefmaker.com/237 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Angela in early 2018 when she was the CEO of Trilogy International, the parent company for popular consumer brands across such categories as skincare and luxury home fragrance products. She is currently the MD of Hello in New Zealand, a women’s health brand, while also serving as the Chair of Cosmetics New Zealand and sitting on the board of The Beauty Collective. After just over 3 years at Trilogy, Angela went on to become CEO of Antipodes Water. Her experience also includes roles with leading FMCG players Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal and Estée Lauder, and these roles have taken her all around the world. In this episode, you’re going to hear Angela talk about: How gaining a variety of experience at smaller organisations was fundamental to her development in landing senior roles at large multinational brands; Her routines and recovery methods that allow her to achieve life balance; What she looks for when recruiting executives to her team; and Why communication and honesty will allow you to be the creator of your own destiny. Connecting with Angela Buglass You can connect with Angela via LinkedIn. Books and resources The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - by Patrick Lencioni The Fish Rots from the Head - by Bob Garrett

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I chat to Jay Bonaretti, Founder & CEO of Amino Z, on ownership over victimhood, being in competition with yourself, and distributed leadership. chiefmaker.com/236 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Jay is the Founder and CEO of Amino Z, an Australian manufacturer and retailer of nutritional products and supplements. He founded the business in 2006 as a one-man organisation and continues to be at the helm of a now large workforce, servicing hundreds of thousands of customers. Jay is incredibly vulnerable about his childhood battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, a situation that led him to depression and isolation, but ultimately to recovery. He is also the author of “How to Transform the Average Joe in 12 Weeks”. In this episode we talk about: Being bed-ridden for 9 months to winning Australia’s BodyBlitz Challenge a few years later; Why your physical capability is based on your mental capability, regardless of age; Surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you and giving them accountability; and How he has a “stop doing list” and builds that into his quarterly review process. Connecting with Jay Bonaretti You can connect with Jay via LinkedIn Books and resources The Road Less Stupid - by Keith Cunningham

“The research says it takes one and a half years for us to really be fully valuable to a mid- to large-sized organisation. But there are ways to cut that period down.” In today’s minisode, we have a question from one of our listeners, Louise, who asks about returning to work and how to get back into the swing of things after a long break. chiefmaker.com/235 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: Understanding how your life has changed since you were last at work; Why the success markers are different in your life and how to be kinder to yourself; and How to craft 30, 60, 90 day plans and weave in continuous learning. Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Dean Salakas, CEO of The Party People, on seeing change as an opportunity, coping with growth, and evolving as a leader. chiefmaker.com/234 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Dean is the Chief Party Dude of The Party People, a business he and his brother bought from their mother in 2007. Before taking on the ownership, Dean and his brother worked in the business in various positions, from driver to retail assistant to website manager. Dean is now an accomplished speaker, a Board member of both eTail Australia and Online Retail Summit. He has also pitched The Party People to the investment TV show, Shark Tank. In this episode we talk about: The full background to him and his brother buying The Party People from his mother; Being the first Google and Bing customers, and leading the business to triple digit growth, and all the challenges that brought; How he developed a culture that change is an opportunity; and How the business survived the COVID-19 pandemic through innovation, communication and engagement with customers. Connecting with Dean Salakas You can connect with Dean via LinkedIn Books and resources The One Minute Manager - by Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D and Spencer Johnson M.D.

In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Greg Steele, Global President of Arcadis Mobility, on the importance of broad experience, bringing people with you and dealing with difficult issues. chiefmaker.com/233 REGISTER FOR OUR JULY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Greg in late 2017 when he was the CEO of the Asia Pacific business of Arcadis, one of the world's largest professional service consultancy firms with over 28,000 people in 70 countries. Greg has nearly 40 years' experience as an engineer and manager, having been involved at a leadership level for some of Australia's largest and most complex infrastructure projects. He is also the Chair of Engineering Aid Australia, a not for profit organisation which strives to inspire indigenous Australians to become engineers. He has also been a Board Member of Roads Australia, and an MD of Hyder Consulting. Greg has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland and also a PostGrad Diploma in Management from Deakin University. In this episode, you’re going to hear Greg talk about: The importance of making mistakes, re-charting your course and developing broad experience; His list of three keys to leadership; How to show your staff that you are serious about cultural change, especially around gender diversity; and Dealing with difficult issues by taking them head-on. Connecting with Greg Steele You can connect with Greg via LinkedIn. Books and resources The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - by Patrick Lencioni The Discipline of Market Leaders – by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema Kaleidoscope Strategy - building success that lasts

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Brigit Esselmont, Founder & CEO of Biddy Tarot on executive intuition, busting the myths of tarot, and from zero to 7 figures. chiefmaker.com/232 REGISTER FOR OUR SEPTEMBER MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Brigit is the Founder & CEO of Biddy Tarot the world’s leading online learning community for people who read Tarot. She is the best-selling author of Everyday Tarot and is on a mission to bring Tarot out of the closet and into the mainstream. Brigit has been featured in Huffington Post, The Oprah Magazine, and appeared on numerous podcasts including Being Boss and Truth Telling, and has appeared on stage in front of live audiences across the US and Australia. Before diving full-time into Biddy Tarot, Brigit was a management consultant and human resource strategist at organisations such as Telstra and ANZ. In this episode we talk about: Busting the myths around tarot, and what it actually is; Executive intuition and how elite chiefs use its principles to execute their game plans; How she quit her corporate career and developed what is now a multi-million dollar business; and A live tarot reading with me! Connecting with Brigit Esselmont You can connect with Brigit via the Biddy Tarot website Books and resources The Big Leap - by Gay Hendricks

“People overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10.” In today’s minisode, we have a question from one of our listeners, Ben, who asks how he can really nail a year and achieve all or most of his goals. chiefmaker.com/231 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: The visioning process and timing of check-ins; Managing time and energy to fit in with your busy life; The value of structured thinking time. Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Izzy Silva, MD, APAC at Wolters Kluwer, on using EQ to good effect, making the vision visible, and data-led decision-making. chiefmaker.com/230 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Izzy was born in Sri Lanka, moved to New Zealand when he was 9 but has called Australia home for the last 25 years. He is currently the MD in the APAC region of Wolters Kluwer, a global information services and solutions provider focusing on health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Since graduating from Monash University with a Bachelor of Information Management & Systems, Izzy’s career has seen him take on roles at well-known organisations such as HP, Deloitte Australia, Telstra and Equifax. His first CEO role came at GetCreditScore, a start-up based in Sydney. He has been at Wolters Kluwer APAC for nearly 4 years, having been promoted to MD from Chief Commercial Officer in late 2018. In this episode we talk about: How his EQ is his secret sauce and how he uses it to lead change; Living and breathing the vision and setting the example; Why data is the key to realising client and company value; and The technological future of privacy, diversity and creativity. Connecting with Izzy Silva You can connect with Izzy via LinkedIn Books and resources Homo Deus - by Yuval Noah Harari Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order - by Ray Dalio Think Again - Adam Grant

“Life’s too short for instant coffee and cheap shoes.” In this Best of Series episode, we hear from former CEO of Water Corporation, Sue Murphy, on leading transformation, and how to be honest, fun and make a difference in your work. chiefmaker.com/229 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Sue back in November 2017, when she was the CEO of Water Corporation in Perth, having led the organisation since 2008. Sue finished up there in 2018, having joined Water Corp as the GM of Planning & Infrastructure in 2004. Preceding this was a 25 year stint at Clough Engineering, where she started as a scholarship recipient after completing an Engineering degree from the University of Western Australia, where she was one of only two women out of 300 students. Sue is now an accomplished Director. She has sat on the board of The Fremantle Dockers and the Water Services Association of Australia, and currently is a Director of the West Australian Treasury Corporation and MMA Offshore Limited. She’s also come full circle and serves on the Senate of the University of Western Australia. In this episode, you’re going to hear Sue talk about: Building people-first organisations through empowerment; The joy and experiences of working on construction projects; Why the path to leadership should only be for those who aspire to it; and Leading transformations and bringing people along on the journey. Connecting with Sue Murphy You can connect with Sue via LinkedIn. Books and resources Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? – article by Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Alison Gaines, MD & Founder of Gaines Advisory, on hiring great executives, becoming an NED, and characteristics of successful boards. chiefmaker.com/228 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Alison founded Gaines Advisory in 2020 to provide a unique board search and board advisory service, while also specialising in the provision of strategic support to leaders to develop and implement their corporate strategy. She currently sits on the board of Blackstone Minerals (we had their MD, Scott Williamson on the show in episode 222), Tura New Music Ltd, is the Chair of Hiremii recruitment, and is the Governor of the College of Law Ltd. She is also the independent Chair of the Nominations Committee of Hockey Australia and member of the Nominations Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (WA). Alison was Global CEO and Head of the Board Practice for international boutique search firm, Gerard Daniels, for nearly 15 years, following a career as a CEO of a law society and senior executive in government responsible for government boards and committees and the Senior Executive Service. In this episode we talk about: The traits she looks for when hiring a CEO and appointing Board members; Career journeys and transitioning into NED roles; How the changing world has impacted the expectations of boards and Chairs; and What makes a Board successful and how tenures are managed. Connecting with Alison Gaines You can connect with Alison via LinkedIn Books and resources International Directors Programme at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, in France - it’s a very sophisticated, very focused, small, higher education institution with amazing faculty and research.

In today’s minisode, I am going to share my top 10 tips for running an executive retreat or a strategic offsite. chiefmaker.com/227 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: What to do if you don’t have a budget for bringing in a facilitator or coach; How to define an agenda that measures the success of the event; Ensuring follow-up tasks are absorbed into your operating rhythm.   Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Nickie Scriven, CEO of Zenith Media Australia, on leaning into challenges, responding not reacting, and sonic branding. chiefmaker.com/226 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Nickie has had a tremendous career in marketing, advertising and media. Before moving into agency leadership, she spent eight years on the client side, holding marketing and sales leadership roles for the likes of AustralianSuper, NAB and News Corp, as well as running her own consultancy. She joined Zenith Media in Melbourne as Managing Director in October 2014, and within two years was promoted to Australia CEO. She has been instrumental in helping Zenith achieve global account wins like Disney and TikTok, while guiding the agency through the pandemic, achieving consecutive year-on-year double-digit revenue growth. Nickie is also an accomplished triathlete, having competed internationally for Australia. In this episode we talk about: Leaning into challenges and smashing goals; Responding not reacting to career setbacks and learning to value yourself; How to get the most out of the agency-client partnership model; and Why sonic branding is often overlooked as a marketing weapon. Connecting with Nickie Scriven You can connect with Nickie via LinkedIn Books and resources The Growth Mindset - by Carol Dweck Shoe Dog - Phil Knight Attention economy article

In this Best of Series episode, we hear from former Wallaby rugby player Daniel Herbert, CEO of SSKB on what executives can learn from elite sport, what made him stand out from the pack and how to be indispensable to an organisation. chiefmaker.com/225 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA Daniel played 67 tests for the Wallabies, Australia’s national rugby union team. He was a part of the glory era of Australian rugby, winning the Rugby World Cup in 1999, the Bledisloe Cup contested between Australia and New Zealand, and also beating the British and Irish Lions in 2001, a series that Wallaby players only contest every 12 years.  He also captained the Queensland Reds and was World Player of the Year in 1999. In short, he is an Australian sporting great. Since retiring from rugby, Daniel has gone onto a successful corporate career, having been involved on the commercial side of sportswear brand Skins and the Queensland Reds, and is now the CEO of property services firm, SSKB. In this episode, you’re going to hear Daniel talk about: Lessons from elite sport, and what hasn’t translated into the corporate world; Living by his mantra of ‘Hard work will beat talent when talent doesn’t work hard’; How he became indispensable to his team, and how this applies in the corporate world; and Why an aligned executive leadership will knock it out of the park. Connecting with Daniel Herbert You can connect with Daniel via LinkedIn. Books and resources Good to Great – by Jim Collins Sapiens – by Yuval Noah Harari Grit – by Angela-Lee Duckworth

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Ben Simon, Partner at Rose Partners, on diffusing heated negotiations, identifying red flags during a deal, and managing founders. chiefmaker.com/224 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Ben has spent his entire career at Rose Partners, and has worked his way up to become a Partner at the professional services firm. His specialties are in Business Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Valuations, Tax and structuring, and Large business transaction and he has performed these duties across many industries. This is critical for all executives to understand strategy and getting ahead. As a testimony to his wealth of knowledge, Ben has also been asked to sit on several clients’ advisory boards. In this episode we talk about: The role of an advisor and bringing transacting parties together; What a good advisory team looks like; Identifying red flags during the deal process; and Managing founders after a sale. Connecting with Ben Simon You can connect with Ben via email Books and resources Chief Maker Minisode: How to get and keep a CEO mentor

We have a question from one of our listeners, Charlotte from Liverpool in the UK, and she asks whether work-life balance is actually possible, especially in the top jobs. chiefmaker.com/223 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We’re going to talk about: Understanding what work-life balance is and how to measure it; Having a mindset of a life of different chapters; Some tools to get work-life balance. Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Scott Williamson, MD of Blackstone Minerals, on the CEO-Chair relationship, taking career risks, and injecting fun into business. chiefmaker.com/222 REGISTER FOR OUR APRIL MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Scott has been the Managing Director of Blackstone Minerals for 4 and a half years, and has extensive experience in the mining & metals industry over a 20 year career. He graduated from the West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University of Technology and also holds a WA First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. In this episode we talk about: The cyclical nature of the mining industry and how he was often in and out of jobs; The role of the Chairperson and their relationship with the CEO; Taking risks in your career to get ahead, and then becoming a CEO for the first time; The fun side of business; and What the future holds for the mining industry. Connecting with Scott Williamson You can connect with Scott via LinkedIn Books and resources Good to Great - by Jim Collins Blackstone Minerals Investor Presentation

In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Nicky Sparshott, CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand, on being brave, taking the path less trodden and differentiating yourself. chiefmaker.com/221 REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA Nicky has been involved with FMCG firm Unilever since 2006, as a senior manager and executive in various roles and locations around the world. She became the CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand in March 2020, but we interviewed Nicky back in October 2017 when she was the Global CEO of T2 Tea, a luxury retailer and Unilever brand. Nicky is also a non-executive director for a number of organisations and has built up quite the impressive resume and expertise across FMCG, Retail, Luxury, and Ecommerce. In this episode, you’re going to hear Nicky talk about: her lessons from a failed product launch; taking the path less travelled, even if others don’t think it’s a good idea for you; being brave and not being scared to fail; and creating a track record that differentiates you from your peers. Connecting with Nicky Sparshott You can connect with Nicky via LinkedIn. Books and resources Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future - by Ashlee Vance A Whole New Mind - by Daniel Pink

Our topic today is the All-in Mindset. chiefmaker.com/220 REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba We look at how you can elevate yourself to a new level of being through the all-in mindset. We’re going to talk about: Making a conscious decision to shift course; Looking back to plan a way forward; Using small moments to go all in, that compound into massive changes. Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Ian Snape, CEO of Frontline Mind, on resilience by design, leading Antarctic expeditions and relaxing in high stakes environments. chiefmaker.com/219 LAST CHANCE! REGISTER FOR OUR JANUARY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Ian has over 30 years of experience leading and managing teams in strategy, innovation, and adventure. His speciality in coaching and training is on the topics of resilience, performance, recovery and wellbeing, especially to people who operate in complex high-risk situations such as Special Forces, police, paramedics, as well as Olympic athletes, company directors and senior executives. He has a PhD in Geochemistry from the University of Edinburgh and also has a Graduate Certificate in Neuro-linguistic Programming. He has led teams on expeditions to the Antarctic to conduct research on pollution issues in cold regions that were crucial to policy and regulatory decisions. He is the co-founder of two related coaching and training companies, The Coaching Space and Frontline Mind and is the author of the book, Resilience by Design. In this episode we talk about: Building a foundation of focusing on relaxation instead of stress; Resilience strategies to manage tricky situations and decisions; Leading Antarctic expeditions; and The difference between your state and your emotions. Connecting with Ian Snape You can connect with Ian via LinkedIn Books and resources You Are What You Risk - by Michele Wucker The Gray Rhino - by Michele Wucker

In this Best of Series episode, we hear from Trevor Matthews on how a leader is a dealer in hope, building a track record and thinking globally, acting locally. chiefmaker.com/218 REGISTER FOR OUR JANUARY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Trevor back in September 2017 when he told us the story of his remarkable career from Actuary to CEO and Chair of some of the world’s biggest insurance companies. He is also the Former MD/CEO of Legal & General Australia, Manulife Canada and Japan, and has since gone on to become a trusted advisor, Chair and Board member at companies like Bupa, CMC Markets APAC, State Insurance Regulatory Authority and Preferred Global Health. In short, Trevor is an elite Chief and we were privileged that he came on the show. In this episode, you’re going to hear Trevor talk about: Why a leader is a dealer in hope; How he got new roles as a result of building a track record of solving problems; How he brought ideas from around the world and implemented them locally; and Earning your seat at the Executive Team’s table. Connecting with Trevor Matthews You can connect with Trevor via LinkedIn. Books and resources Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff - by Richard Carlson Young Presidents Organisation: www.ypo.org

In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, you’ll hear from Fiona Crawford OLY, Chief Human Resources Officer of CreditorWatch, on doing extra, celebrating success, and enabling the business. chiefmaker.com/217 REGISTER FOR OUR JANUARY MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Fiona joined fintech startup, CreditorWatch, in September 2021 as GM of People & Culture. Her career spans almost 20 years in human resources, training and coaching across a range of industries including sport, fitness, finance, hospitality and automotive. Fiona is a dual Olympian softballer, claiming the bronze and silver medals for Australia at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games respectively. In this episode we talk all about: How she got a place on the team by always doing extra; Why the successful teams are the ones that encourage feedback; Teaching organisations to celebrate success; and Removing the noise and enabling the business. Connecting with Fiona Crawford OLY You can connect with Fiona via LinkedIn Books and resources The Man in the Mirror - by Wayne Bennett

Our topic today is self-belief. For more info check out chiefmaker.com/216 REGISTER FOR THE JANUARY INTAKE OF OUR MINI-MBA: chiefmaker.com/minimba We look at how you can harness self-belief in a constructive way to build your track record. We’re going to talk about: The physical impact of positive and negative mindsets; Myth-busting negative self-belief; and Finding a place where negative self-talk is non-existent. Stay epic, Greg

In this latest episode of our Best of Series, you’ll hear from Todd Hunter, Group CEO of Turners Automotive, on asking great questions, humility and how pressure is a privilege. chiefmaker.com/215 REGISTER FOR THE NEXT INTAKE OF OUR MINI-MBA: chiefmaker.com/miniMBA We interviewed Todd back in August 2017 and he is the brother of Daniel Hunter, another chief we have featured recently on the Best of Series - episode 202. Todd has had broad career experience, from being a Financial Accountant with Ernst & Young, to a Marketing Manager with Microsoft New Zealand, to Corporate & Government Sector Manager at New Zealand Post. He spent 7 years at Turners before assuming the role of CEO. Today, you’re going to hear Todd talk about: Having the courage of your convictions and dealing with hostile people; Asking great questions versus having every answer; Why humility is such an important quality for a CEO to have; and How the pressure of a leadership position is a privilege. Connecting with Todd Hunter You can connect with Todd via LinkedIn. Books and resources Podcast - Desert Island Discs Shoe Dog - by Phil Knight Todd's nominated charity is SDAA – Students Against Dangerous Driving

In this episode of The Inner Chief, you’ll hear from Dr Bronwyn Evans AM, CEO of Engineers Australia, on theory vs practice, empathetic performance management, and advancing society through great engineering. chiefmaker.com/214   REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba   Bronwyn is the CEO of Engineers Australia, the Chair of Building4.0 CRC, and a Director of the Australia-Japan Foundation. She has previously held positions in innovation initiatives, including as Chair of the Industry Growth Centre for Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals, and previously as the CEO of Standards Australia and VP of Finance of the International Standards Organisation (ISO). She has over 35 years’ experience in various engineering roles and was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2021. She’s also been recognised as one of Australia’s 100 most influential engineers and is in the list of top 100 Women of Influence. She is also a Member of the Champions of Change STEM Group which aims to achieve a significant and sustainable increase in the representation of women in leadership positions in STEM fields. In this episode we talk all about: Her varied career pathway and putting theory into practice; Performance management tactics that benefit both parties; How excellence and innovative engineering can advance society; and Her organisation’s role as the voice of engineering in Australia. Connecting with Dr Bronwyn Evans AM You can connect with Bronwyn via LinkedIn Books and resources Voss - by Patrick White Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created The Modern World - by Simon Winchester

Our topic today is the number 1 performance environment for executives - meetings.   For more info check out chiefmaker.com/213   REGISTER FOR THE NEXT INTAKE OF OUR MINI-MBA: chiefmaker.com/minimba   We look at being a high performer in the meeting room, and how to unlock the power of this environment in bringing your entourage along with you and building your track record.   We’re going to talk about: Preparing for meetings with an outcomes-based approach; Why this environment should be seen as your theatre; and Creating an experience for the attendees.   Stay epic, Greg

In this latest episode of our Best of Series, you’ll hear from Jonathan Ling, Chairman of Planet Innovation, on telling wow stories, top 3 skills to be CEO, and pulling the right levers. chiefmaker.com/212 REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Jonathan is currently the Chairman of Planet Innovation and of Pro-Pac Packaging, as well as a Non-Executive Director of The Pact Group, but was the CEO of GUD Holdings when we interviewed him back in July 2017. His executive experience also includes having been CEO of Fletcher Building, Laminex Australia and Visy Recycling. He is the former Chairman of the Melbourne Rebels’ Advisory Board and has previously held a number of other board roles including ASB bank and Pacific Brands. Jonathan’s story is a fantastic one of a little Chinese boy that rose from the frontline all the way through the ranks to becoming CEO. He has taken on some of the biggest challenges in business and succeeded commercially through the cultures he creates. In this episode we talk all about: Standing out by telling ‘wow’ stories; The top 3 skills you need as a CEO; Pulling the right levers to get a solid track record; and Creating emotional intensity in a team. Connecting with Jonathan Ling You can connect with Jonathan via LinkedIn. Books and resources Covey’s Time Management Quadrants Jonathan’s nominated charity is Disaster Relief Australia and I’ve made a donation of $250 in Jonathan’s name for coming on the show.

In this episode of The Inner Chief, you’ll hear from Antonia Mercorella, CEO of The REIQ, on tackling the hard stuff, resolving conflict, and sharing your vision. chiefmaker.com/211 REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT MINI-MBA INTAKE: chiefmaker.com/minimba Antonia is the Chief Executive Officer of The Real Estate Institute of Queensland. She is the first female CEO, and also the youngest person ever appointed to lead the organisation, and has transformed the 103-year-old Institute into one of most progressive and high-profile industry associations in Australia. Prior to her appointment as CEO, Antonia worked with the REIQ as Deputy CEO and before that, as General Counsel. She has also worked as principal legal advisor to the Real Estate Institute of South Australia, and as a commercial lawyer specialising in property and real estate. In this episode we talk all about: Tackling the hard stuff that no-one else wants to; Resolving conflict early and effectively; The key you skills you need to have as a CEO; and Sharing your organisation’s vision across the company.   Connecting with Antonia Mercorella You can connect with Antonia via LinkedIn Books and resources Getting to Yes - by Roger Fisher and William Ury

Our topic today is 3 questions you MUST be able to answer about key stakeholders. For more info check out chiefmaker.com/210 REGISTER FOR THE NEXT INTAKE OF OUR MINI-MBA: chiefmaker.com/minimba We look at how to build connection and trust with stakeholders, so as to improve how others view you when you're not in the room. We’re going to talk about: Track records and integrity; Incentives;  Pressure; and Personality. Stay epic, Greg

In this latest episode of our Best of Series, you’ll hear from Jennifer Holland, Founder & CEO of Throat Scope and Holland Healthcare, on preparedness, persistence and revolutionising the healthcare industry. chiefmaker.com/209 Jennifer’s passion lies in inventing, designing and developing medical products that will revolutionise the healthcare industry. Her first invention was Throat Scope, which was the recipient of $50,000 prize money for the ‘What’s Your Big Idea Queensland?’ in 2011, allowing her to build several prototypes and register a patent. In 2015, she secured investment from Steve Baxter on Shark Tank Australia, helping the business grow exponentially and attract significant publicity. Her mission is to raise awareness for Head & Neck Cancer & introduce an affordable oral health system for the underserved and she has received many awards for her entrepreneurship and volunteering, and actively participates in speaking and networking events internationally.   In this episode we talk all about: Preparing for Shark Tank and the lessons applicable to career growth; How she lives her motto: believe, act, persist; Balancing life as a mumpreneur with 4 kids; and Taking opportunities and turning a no into a yes. Connecting with Jennifer Holland You can connect with Jennifer via LinkedIn.

In this episode of The Inner Chief, you’ll hear from Ben Darwin, Co-Founder of GAIN LINE, on cohesion analytics, understanding versus skill, and sacking staff too soon. chiefmaker.com/208   REGISTER FOR OUR MINI-MBA BEFORE 31st AUGUST: chiefmaker.com/minimba   Ben is the Co-Founder and GM of GAIN LINE Analytics, an operations and management consultancy dedicated to building consistently successful teams.   He represented the Brumbies in Super Rugby and played at international level 28 times for the Wallabies. In his last ever game of competitive rugby, he broke his neck, but extraordinarily, has since recovered.   Ben has considerable experience in coaching, player development and analysis in both Australia and Japan and is a highly-sought after speaker all around the world and in the media.   In this episode we talk all about: Achieving his boyhood dream of making the Wallabies and being surrounded by his own heroes; The science of cohesion, namely systems, interpersonal and positional understanding; How teams work in groups and what drives changes in behaviour; and Stories of where the data contradicted intuition. Connecting with Ben Darwin You can connect with Ben via LinkedIn or via GAIN LINE’s website. Books and resources Chasing Stars - by Boris Groysberg Article: The risky business of hiring stars - by Boris Groysberg

Our topic today is where strategy execution goes wrong.   For more info check out chiefmaker.com/207   REGISTER FOR OUR MINI-MBA BEFORE 31st AUGUST: chiefmaker.com/minimba   We look at three key scenarios of when the execution of a strategy could fall over.   We’re going to talk about: Vertical and horizontal trust; Operating rhythm; and Resourcing.   Stay epic, Greg

In this episode of The Inner Chief, you’ll hear from Eric Morris, CEO of The PAS Group, on culture shocks, lessons from sport and treading your own path. chiefmaker.com/206 REGISTER FOR OUR MINI-MBA BEFORE 31st AUGUST: chiefmaker.com/minimba   Eric has been CEO of The PAS Group since its inception in 2005 and has led nine of the Group’s acquisitions and the successful integration of the Group’s businesses. He has held senior executive positions at the likes of Myer, Walt Disney International, Reebok International in both Hong Kong and Cape Town, and Woolworths South Africa. In total, he has over 36 years’ experience in retail, wholesale/supply, licensing, manufacturing and distribution. In this episode we talk all about: His amazing journey working in different countries and the various culture shocks he had to endure; How sport has shaped his leadership style; Taking the leap of faith and going out on your own; and Finding positivity and navigating a new world post-COVID. Connecting with Eric Morris You can connect with Eric via LinkedIn. Books and resources Legacy - by James Kerr Good to Great - by Jim Collins Mindset - by Carol Dweck

Our topic today is coaching principles.   For more info check out chiefmaker.com/205   REGISTER FOR OUR MINI-MBA BEFORE 31st AUGUST: chiefmaker.com/minimba   We look at three really powerful principles that you can use when leading your people or even coaching a client.   We’re going to talk about: Helping someone to create a congruent future vision of themselves; Ownership of all insights; and Believing in everyone’s ability to be great.   Stay epic, Greg

In this fourth episode of our Best of Series, you’ll hear from Vivek Bhatia, CEO of Link Group, on lifelong learning, going beyond your job description, and having your antenna on. chiefmaker.com/204 Vivek is currently the CEO of financial services firm Link Group, but was the CEO of iCare when we interviewed him back in July 2017. He has over two decades of experience in financial services, government and management consulting, having also been CEO of Wesfarmers Insurance and the QBE Insurance Group APAC. Vivek holds an undergraduate degree in engineering, a post graduate in business administration and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is an Indian migrant and this episode is an inspiring story of how after arriving in Australia, he rose above the pack to become a CEO in just 10 years. In this episode we talk all about: How to treat your boss like your most important customer; Looking for other opportunities in the business and going above your role description; What the most effective use of a leader’s time is; and Always having your antenna on. Connecting with Vivek Bhatia You can connect with Vivek via LinkedIn. Books and resources The Road to Character - by David Brooks Vivek’s nominated charity is The Starlight Foundation and I made a donation of $250 in Vivek’s name for coming on the show

Our topic today is powerful coaching questions. For more info check out chiefmaker.com/203 REGISTER FOR OUR MINI-MBA BEFORE 31st AUGUST: chiefmaker.com/minimba I've been a coach now for nearly 14 years and throughout that time, what you learn to be is really good at asking questions and at interviewing people. The reason is because you have to be curious and you've got to listen very carefully to what people say, the pitch and tone of the voice when they say things, where their attention is, their nonverbal cues, and their body language that goes with it. Remember, all leaders are effectively coaches. That means you, Chief, are also a coach. So when you're leading your people, or when you are even self-reflecting on your own career and challenges, have these questions somewhere to call upon regularly. Stay epic, Greg