The Real Math of Business with Alena Bennett

Can you switch your perspective for 2 minutes? What if that could help solve a lot of problems? We are joined today by Dr. Ken Hudson. Dr Ken Hudson is the author of a new book called Switch Thinking (Wiley) which has just been released. It’s a book about change, creativity, switching your thinking, collaborating with others  and working more productively with AI. Ken has a PhD in Organisational C...

If SME's are always under-resourced, how can that be an advantage? Today we are joined by friend of the podcast Bill Withers to talk about the SME advantage. In this insightful conversation, we explore the importance of succession thinking and how SME owners can build resilient businesses that thrive without them. We also chat about succession thinking, and why that is the only way as an owner...

What are intractable problems, and how do you solve them? In this episode, we are joined by Adrian Wolfberg to dive deep into how organisations can effectively generate, interpret, and act on knowledge under uncertainty. Adrian Wolfberg is a researcher, author, organizational scientist, former U.S. intelligence officer,and former naval officer whose work focuses on how organizations generate, inte...

Why does clarity beat motivation every time? And how can you begin to think about making more money per year without changing your job? In this episode, we chat to the fantastic Amir Rodnia. We dive deep into the concepts from his book, Freedom Game Plan, where he shares practical strategies to escape the wage cage and build wealth. We also chat about his freedom framework, as well as swapping som...

This week, we wanted to drop off a bonus episode about something I am calling Economic Exhaustion. All of us have a lot on our plates, but how do you manage this as well? I share my experiences, my thoughts and my tips. Are you struggling with economic exhaustion? Check out the whitepaper here: https://www.alenabennett.com.au/economic-exhaustion What are your tips for staying on top of it? Check o...

What can be the effect of not addressing an eye-roll in a meeting? Maybe it's nothing, or maybe it could be a symptom of a much deeper culture issue. In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of adaptive safety in organisations with Errol Amerasekera, author of "From Fear to Flow: The Adaptive Safety Revolution." Discover how safety, trust, and culture impact high-performance te...

What is it like to be in the headspace of someone just before they kick the goal after the siren to win the game? In this episode, Bernadette Schwert shares her unique insights on high performance, the importance of managing friction, and the power of curiosity and empathy in business and life. Discover practical strategies for achieving your goals and creating meaningful connections. Bernadette i...

We are lucky to be catching Jason Dunn on the day after his big book launch in Sydney CBD Dymocks for his new book Greatness Doesn't Care. In today's episode, Jason chats about his life, inflection points and his Real Math of Business Ratio. He also chats aboutIn his new book, Greatness Doesn't Care, he challenges one of the most common assumption in leadership: that exceptional perfor...

How much has thw work environment, and its expectations changed recently? And how can the change that's coming be something that works better for you and your business? In this fantastic chat with author Megan Dalla-Camina, we break down how the dirty word of "patriarchy" may be controlling a lot more than we think (even for men).Megan Dalla-Camina is the Founder and CEO of Women Ris...

Happy 1 year anniversary to the Real Math of Business with Alena Bennett. We have been talking about the Real Math of Business for over a year now, and we wanted to celebrate with some of our favourite chats. To our amazing audience and fantastic guests, thank you so much for making this show what it is. We can't wait for another year of this! Chapters: 00:00 Cruz Gamboa08:09 Edward Podolski18...

Do you speak the language of business? In this episode, Cruz Gamboa shares his unique perspective on the real math of business, emphasizing the importance of mindset, language, and simple frameworks like the law of constraints to drive business success. We explore how understanding profit, cash flow, and enterprise value can transform your approach to growth and leadership. Cruz explains how all o...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Brent Forrester, Emmy-winning writer and creator of the new comedy series "Historic Freedomburg." Discover how he challenges the status quo in comedy and the creative process behind his latest project. In this episode, Brent Forrester shares his journey from traditional comedy writing to creating low-budget, original content on YouTube. We expl...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kylie Paatsch, an executive coach and author of "The Connect Effect." Discover how to foster genuine connections in the workplace and why engagement metrics may be doing more harm than good. In this episode, Kylie shares insights on leadership, engagement, and the evolving role of data and connection in business success. Discover how to lead ef...

What metrics does the entertainment industry use, and how does that math affect their creativity? What is the real math of constructing a comedy? In today's episode, I am lucky enough to be joined by Brent Forrester. Brent Forrester won his first Comedy Writing Emmy at age 25 for his work on "The Ben Stiller Show."  He went on to write for "The Simpsons," helped launch "King of The Hill," and was...

Our friends over at Magical Learning complete their 300th episode next week, and to celebrate, we are re-releasing the only crossover episode they have ever recorded; which was with us here at Real Math of Business. So enjoy, and go check them out. Cngratulations, and what an achievement. Welcome to the first ever CROSSOVER EPISODE for both podcasts, and we are so excited to have you join us for t...

How does your business "get on first base", and what even is "first base" for your business? In this episode, my amazing guest Mike Erlin shares insights on how high performance, environment, and data-driven talent management intersect, emphasising the importance of understanding the "get on first base'" metric and the role of humility and resilience in leadership...

With World Play Day being on June 11th, we thought this was a great time to revisit a great chat about the power and science of play (amongst other things).What happens when a cancer researcher and Australia's leading voice in play-at-work come together to look at technology? And why do they end up on opposite ends of the scale in their Real Math of Business? Dara Simkin is Australia's lea...

What metrics are actually valuable, and what things are we doing to stroke someone's ego? In this insightful interview, Liz McMillan shares her unique perspective on the Real Math of Business, emphasising the importance of alignment, purpose, and human-centric metrics in leadership and organisational success. Discover how to leverage your business identity and create meaningful community withi...

Money is a proxy for reality? Diversity helps family business? And what do short-term goals have to do with company culture? In today's special episode; Alena and producer Jez break down some of the biggest ideas from the show's biggest episodes. If you want to have a fun look at the philosophy of money (and what that could mean for you) as well as much more (see the chapters below), enjoy this ep...

What really drives innovation, and why has it slowed down since the 20th century began? In this insightful interview, Professor Edward Podolsky and Alena Bennett explore the complex relationship between finance, governance, innovation, and value creation. They discuss how mathematical models, narratives, and organisational structures influence decision-making and the importance of humility and con...

Dr. Kathryn Page and host Alena Bennett as they explore the depths of purpose, well-being, and the future of work. Discover how embracing discomfort, community, and values can transform leadership and organizational culture. Dr Kathryn (Kat) Page is an organisational psychologist, Leadership Partner at ByMany, Adjunct Professor of Management and Leadership at Swinburne Unniversity, and author of G...

How has the Real Math of Business changed for CFO's in the last 20 years? Well, our guest today claims it is almost opposite to what it was 20 years ago. If you're a Finance Leader in Australia or New Zealand, chances are you already know today's guest. Richard McBride has spent close to 20 years embedded in the A/NZ finance leadership community - As Editor of CFO Magazine and Producer of the CFO...

How does a business' relationship to people vs maths change as it changes it's goals? And do people's change as well? In this insightful interview, Dane Hudson shares his impactful leadership framework, emphasising discipline, trust, and leading with purpose amidst global chaos. Discover practical strategies for scaling your business, fostering trust, and maintaining resilience in turb...

What if I told you that a more relaxed office environment could lead to better performance? Well, today we are joined by the awesome Graeme Cowan to explain his philosophy of the Caring CEO. Graeme Cowan is a resilience author, speaker and a founding director of R U OK? He is a former senior executive at Johnson & Johnson and Kearney, and host of the #2 globally-ranked workplace mental health...

Today we thought we would mix it up and share some of our favourite Mic-Drop moments from the season. This show has been full of amazing moments that made Alena stop and think, and we thought today would be a great chance to share those with you. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mic Drop Moments00:37 Claire Gray02:40 Lindsay Hutchinson06:05 David Fish09:24 Dara Simkin & Tane Hunter13:45 Katie Nel...