15 Minutes with the Boss

Communications expert Louise Mahler has spent years helping leaders gain confidence, presence, and influence in the way they communicate. However, since the pandemic and the rapid increase of online platforms, Mahler believes people are losing the ability to engage with audiences. But she's hopeful that connection can be restored. On this week's episode, the former opera singers reveals her top pu...

Stuart Gregor has always been a keen storyteller. From his first job working in journalism as a copy boy to co-founding craft gin brand Four Pillars, this entrepreneur has used his skills to build brands and their narratives. Now the chief executive of ASX-listed Lark Distillery, the whisky boss is having to tell a new type of story to analysts and fund managers. In this week's episode, Grego...

“We’ve had a number of years when there was a huge emphasis on people’s work-life balance. Now it’s about performance,” says Chris Karagounis. The managing director at executive search firm Alex Kaar says working in the office allows budding leaders to contribute to the culture and community, and to keep learning. And if they're not there, then they risk falling behin...

When Sharon Pickering’s husband died, she realised she needed to choose where she directed her energy and focus on what mattered to her. After years of being a dedicated scholar, the academic made a decision that would set her on a path to becoming the vice chancellor of Monash University. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the university boss to find out h...

Procter & Gamble’s Australian chief executive, Neal Reed, has been with the global manufacturer for 30 years. The company behind household brands such as Pampers nappies, Gillette razors and Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoos has long been committed to finding and developing top talent. But as the CEO has discovered, the strategy presents a temptation to push high performers too h...

He’s one of Australia’s most influential chefs and restaurateurs. But when Neil Perry was faced with the closure of his restaurant, Song Bird, he realised he’d broken his most important rule. “You've always got to be prepared to walk away," Perry says. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what went wrong with the Double Bay restaurant, and what h...

Praveena Raman, the head of Motorola in Australia and New Zealand, is a self-described yes person.  At the start of her career as an engineer, the “say yes to everything” mindset opened doors to pivotal opportunities that would set her on the path to becoming an executive. But a crucial piece of advice also made the smartphone boss realise the importance of saying no. On this week...

One of Anubha Sahasrabuddhe’s proudest moments was getting Chinese consumers to drink Coca-Cola – and lots of it. Earlier in her career, Sahasrabuddhe, now the chief executive of brewing giant Lion, was asked to go to China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics and take on the competition, Pepsi. Sahasrabuddhe’s stint was a success, but there were also failures. The experience le...

Mary Wooldridge, the outgoing chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s.  While her time at Kerry Packer's company, Consolidated Press Holdings, taught her some invaluable skills, Wooldridge found it unmotivating. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out why the former politician traded a Packer deal-making r...

When Allison Rossiter was offered a dream job, she had just one hesitation: she was terrified of public speaking. But not wanting to walk away from the opportunity, the budding executive asked for a public speaking coach. On this week’s episode, the president for Novartis in Australia and New Zealand tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how a new coach, a hypnotist and a Hollywood movie helped her...

For any arts production, reviews are a crucial metric of success. But for Brett Sheehy, what the critics have to say means very little. For him, it’s all about the audience. On this week’s episode, Vivid Sydney's festival director tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how he's determined his own way of measuring success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the managing director of Franklin Templeton in Australia and New Zealand, Felicity Walsh has done her fair share of job interviews. In that time, the local head of the global asset manager has figured out what candidates should – and should not – do during the process. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the top executive to find out her tips on researching prospectiv...

The chief executive of Gurner Group and former boss of Australia Post says his morning routine has been transformational. Ahmed Fahour says he now thinks more clearly, has lost 13 kilograms over the past two years and has discovered the best productivity hack: sleep. On this week's episode, the top executive tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how a new start to the day has helped drive high performanc...

Vikram Pawah has loved cars since he was a child. Or more specifically, engines. From Honda to Harley Davidson and now BMW, the chief executive has worked for some of the biggest car and motorcycle brands in the world. And it was through motorcycle riding that the luxury car company CEO learnt how to avoid making rash decisions: “Sometimes what your reflex is telling you is the wrong thing i...

When Jess Saxby became the chief executive of Banjo’s Bakery Cafes, she went "hell for leather". Taking over the family business, the new CEO was always chasing the next big thing for the chain. Until she realised she couldn't switch off. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the bakery boss to find out how Saxby overcame burnout and the boundaries she's put in plac...

Turning around a business never comes down to just one thing, says Shane Bracken.  The chief executive of Subway in Australia and New Zealand believes three key steps have been critical to expanding the sandwich brand across the country. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this CEO continues to grow the largest fast-food chain in Australia. See omnystudio.com/...

The founder of online retailer Kogan.com firmly believes that mistakes are an “additional asset” that any company can learn from. But the entrepreneur says there was one “existential mistake” he made that stands out. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the chief executive to find out how he came to value decision-making and the missteps alo...

Lisa Chiba’s first executive role was “a bit of a rollercoaster”.  After starting in the role of customer service director, the company entered a divestment process – making the entire workforce redundant.  It was an experience that would give the now-Momentum Energy CEO some of big lessons on communication and transparency. On this week’s episode, BOSS edit...

When it comes to banking, Joseph Healy has seen it all.  After a long career holding executive positions at NAB, ANZ and Citi, the high-profile banker co-founded Australia’s first fintech unicorn, Judo Bank. And beyond the world of financial services, the chief executive also started mental health group Malu Health last year. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds...

Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page says one of her biggest failures was not speaking up enough early in her career. “I’ve always spoken up if I thought there was an injustice, but one that I feel was a failure was when I fell pregnant," the gallery's chief executive says. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Page to find out about the early challenges she...

When Sanjeev Gandhi was called into the office of German chemical company BASF’s managing director, the young salesman was “tentative and concerned”. It was a meeting that would go on to change the course of his career. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the CEO of mining services giant Orica to find out how an unexpected opportunity paved the w...

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Bronte Campbell knows a lot about high-stress situations. But for the co-founder and CEO of sustainable athleisure company Earthletica, there are a few techniques she draws on no matter the circumstance. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this athlete-turned-chief executive deals with high-stakes events – in the pool and the...

Managing director Dan White says his first day working alongside his father and brother at Australia’s largest real estate company was surreal. A fourth-generation, family-run business, Ray White dominates the country’s competitive property market. In this week’s episode of the new season of 15 Minutes with the BOSS, host Sally Patten sits down with the property leader to find ou...

Being in charge of one of Australia’s biggest food and drink companies was never part of Pete Findlay’s plan. But the chief executive of Bega Group knows how beloved the brands are: “Never go messing with the Vegemite recipe. We do not touch that.” In the final episode of season three of 15 Minutes with the Boss, host Sally Patten finds out what this dairy products boss has...

Standing up and speaking to a room full of people is a task that many find daunting.  But there are a few tricks that can help you master the art of public speaking. On this week’s episode, National Institute of Dramatic Art CEO Liz Hughes sits down with BOSS editor Sally Patten to reveal her secrets for delivering a top address. This podcast was sponsored by Vanta . See omnystudio.com/...