Brave Feminine Leadership

Dr. Alison Fragale, organisational psychologist and author of "Likeable Badass," reveals why women don't need to choose between being liked and being respected, they need both, and the science proves it. Alison explains how "status" (how much others respect you) is more foundational than power for career success, and why it comes from demonstrating two qualities simultaneously: warmth and assertiv...

Justine Robbins, CEO of Heartweb, dismantles the myth that successful careers follow one path. After feedback calling her "not a team player" and "not strategic" stopped her for six months, she learned to question input constructively and discovered career is a "team sport." She reveals how to build your personal "board of directors" and why sometimes feedback simply isn't true. Why you should lis...

Dr. Kate Mason, executive communications coach and author of "Powerfully Likeable," dismantles the myth that you have to choose between being powerful or being liked as a leader. Kate reveals why the traditional "leadership persona" is exhausting and challenges the Miranda Priestley vs. people-pleaser binary that traps high-achieving women. She shares her simple exercise to map your power-up and p...

Baby Boomers are technophobes. Gen Z are lazy and entitled. Millennials want everything handed to them. Gen X are just... forgotten. Florence Potter, Founding Director of No Umbrellas, is calling out every single stereotype. For the first time in history, five generations are working side by side, and most leaders are missing the biggest opportunity hiding in plain sight. Florence reveals why gene...

Tom Mutch, a board and C-suite headhunter specialising in APAC appointments, reveals his infamous "30-second elevator pitch test" that exposes why 90% of aspiring board directors aren't actually ready for the boardroom. From his accidental journey from PhD in Physics to becoming one of the most recommended board search consultants, Tom shares the real-world insights that matter: his four-ingredien...

Robbie Campo didn’t set out to become a CEO. She started in advocacy and policy, driven by purpose and a passion for change. But over time, she realised something important: real impact often requires authority. In this episode, Robbie shares her path from behind the scenes to the CEO seat, the mentors who nudged her forward, the feedback that shaped her, and the moment she chose to own her leader...

In the powerful finale to our Board Director Series, we meet Emma Olivier, founder of Twenty Percent and passionate advocate for authentic inclusion in Australian boardrooms. After 20 years at Accenture and a career-defining moment that taught her the power of vulnerability, Emma discovered her true calling in creating meaningful change. The statistics are confronting: 20% of Australians have a di...

Episode 5 of the Board Director Series features Aliza Knox, bestselling author of "Don't Quit Your Day Job" and the tech executive who built APAC businesses for Google, Twitter, and Cloudflare. From Boston Consulting Group to becoming APAC IT Woman of the Year and the first female partner across Asia Pacific at BCG, Aliza's career demonstrates the power of curiosity-driven decision-making and stra...

In this compelling episode of the Board Director Series, we meet Nichelle Maynard-Elliott, founder of Dunamis Transaction Advisors and board director of Xerox and Lucid Group, who understands that breaking barriers means nothing if you don't help others follow. In a time when diversity progress feels uncertain, Nichelle poses a critical question: Will this be a movement that creates lasting change...

Welcome to the third interview in our six-part Board Director Series, where we explore the pathways and wisdom of some of our most respected leaders. Kathy Grigg brings a refreshingly practical perspective to board leadership—one grounded in the belief that operational experience is the foundation of sound governance judgment. From managing wool trading operations across multiple countries to serv...

Welcome to the second interview in our six-part Board Director Series, where we explore the mindset and pathways of the world's most accomplished leaders. Leanne Caret made history as the first woman to lead Boeing Defense, Space and Security, overseeing 30,000 employees and $30 billion in revenue, but her path there was built on one core principle: never opting out of opportunities because of wha...

Welcome to the first interview in our six-part Board Director Series, where we explore the mindset and pathways of Australia's most respected board directors. Kate Spargo made one of the most calculated career moves of her life when she left Adelaide for Melbourne in 2000, a decision that transformed her from a practising lawyer into one of Australia's most sought-after board directors. With board...

Just back from facilitating two leadership sessions in Sydney, I witnessed something profound that changed how I think about high-performance thinking. When we hit the edge of familiar territory and the room went uncomfortably quiet, every instinct screamed to fill that silence. But what happened when we didn't might surprise you. In this episode, I share what I learned about the difference betwee...

Terry Tateossian had it all on paper—founder of a successful tech agency, two beautiful kids, and a reputation for being the one who always delivered. But behind the scenes? She was running on caffeine, chaos, and the belief that being "on" 24/7 was just the price of success. Then came the hospital visits. Not once, but twice. In this episode, Terry shares the raw truth about how she broke the cyc...

If your strategy isn’t landing, it’s probably not the strategy. It’s the conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Rose Fass — the person Fortune 500 CEOs call when things go sideways. Founder of fassforward and author of The Chocolate Conversation, Rose helps leaders get clear, aligned, and heard. We talk: What’s really being heard when you speak Why poor communication costs more than poor str...

Meg Gluth didn’t plan to become a CEO but her path through sobriety taught her the discipline, clarity, and self-awareness that leadership demands. Now running a $100M chemical distribution business, Meg shares what she’s learned about showing up with calm under pressure, asking the right questions, and building a business (and life) with intention. We talk about the turning points that shaped her...

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Michelle McQuaid, Honourary Fellow at Melbourne University's Centre for Well-being Science and one of LinkedIn's top mental health thought leaders, shares her journey from being a "good girl" to embracing authenticity. Her research reveals 65% of women still feel pressured to conform to "good girl" expectations. Michelle explains how perfectionism, people-pleasing,...

What does it take to lead 75,000 people through transformation, challenge, and real impact? In this final episode of the 2025 CEO Interview Series, former Verizon Business CEO and current Xerox board director Tami Erwin shares her incredible leadership journey -  from starting in a call centre to leading at the highest levels. With clarity, courage, and deep conviction, Tami reflects on the power...

Episode Five in the CEO Interview Series features Judy Deuchar - a global CEO and brand strategist with deep experience leading across retail, live commerce, and media. In this episode, Judy shares candid reflections on staying grounded when things are going well, setting a clear strategic focus, and navigating pressure with confidence. We also talk visibility, humility, and the best leadership ad...

Christine Holgate’s leadership story is one of purpose, persistence, and principle. In this episode, she reflects on the feedback that shaped her, the mentors who backed her, and what it really takes to lead through high-stakes transformation. From her earliest career steps to navigating CEO visibility and legacy leadership, Christine shares hard-won wisdom for leaders ready to grow — and leave th...

Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria, has held four CEO roles across some of Australia’s most respected public health organisations. But his leadership edge doesn’t come from always having the answers — it comes from the opposite. In this conversation, Todd shares how embracing uncertainty, seeking unfiltered feedback, and learning to let go of control shaped him into a more effective le...

What does it take to scale a business from $6 million to $6 billion — and stay grounded in what matters most? In this episode, John Batistich (JB), a seasoned executive and non-executive director, shares his approach to leadership that balances commercial excellence with deep self-awareness. We explore how feedback fuels performance, the role of focus in a noisy world, and why the best leaders are...

Welcome to our first interview in the 2025 CEO Series, where we explore the CEO mindset and best pathways to success. Jayne Hrdlicka, former CEO of Virgin Australia, has led through some of the toughest moments imaginable—personally and professionally—and shares with incredible honesty what it takes to navigate crises and emerge stronger. From rebuilding a beloved brand to protecting her energy an...

In this compelling episode, I reflect on what six remarkable CEOs taught me about real leadership — beyond the job titles and polished bios. From leading Myer, Suncorp, Carman’s Kitchen and more, these leaders share the truth about delegation, energy management, honest feedback, people over technical skills, and the courage to change direction. Their stories are practical, generous, and refreshing...

In this captivating conversation, Kit Rich shares her extraordinary journey from celebrity fitness trainer to award-winning filmmaker. After building a successful fitness empire empowering thousands to embrace their bodies, Kit faced a crossroads at 38 when she realized she'd abandoned her passion for writing. Despite never having directed before, she created "Isabel's Garden," winning Best Direct...