Calling Operator with Laura Nicol

Today, I'm connecting with Maxine Minter, executive coach, founder of Co Lab, and General Partner of Co Ventures. Coaching and mentoring leapfrogging someone’s career trajectory has been a key theme percolating our recent episodes, SO… recognising that having a coach is a privilege and perhaps more uncommon at the operator level in the ANZ ecosystem; this is a SPECIAL EPISODE to help open source s...

Today, I'm connecting with Taylor Fox-Smith, Head of Community Partnerships at Airwallex. In this episode, we explore Taylor's formative years and Montessori education and dive into her latest project: building the community function at fintech unicorn Airwallex, a cross-border payments company. We also unpack her lessons from scaling channel partnerships across various stages and verticals (PropT...

Emily's an incredible people and operations leader who is passionate about doing things differently. Her latest project is Kic, a fitness app quashing diet culture—founded by Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith. In this episode, we explore her journey from corporate to startup land; leading inside a unicorn to a bootstrapped company with year-on-year growth. There were so many, but highlights inc...

In this episode, we explore Albert’s journey from growing up as an immigrant in Australia to becoming a startup leader and new dad to his daughter, Ava. Albert is a true fundraising nerd, and watching him level up on his way to Victory Road is a joy. We dive into how he built conviction to leave venture capital and step into a leadership role at Nexl—a vertical SaaS company that provides collabora...

In this episode, I dial into a conversation with Maddi Ingham, 2x Chief of Staff, now working in stealth on her next venture. Maddi's career is a testament to her commitment to creating a better world for people and the planet. We explore her journey from management consulting to her catch-all role in Verve Super’s acquisition—a remarkable all-women-founded exit celebrated as “the business story w...

Mikayla builds brands people can't stop talking about. Her latest project is Tracksuit, recognised in The Generalist's Future 50 list as one of the world's highest potential startups. We dive into her career journey from beer to beauty to B2B SaaS; the bumpy (but amazing) road of marketing leadership to $15 million ARR at Tracksuit; the challenges of rapid growth; her experience serving in her fir...

Episode summary: This week, we’re thrilled to introduce Laura Nicol, the new host of the Calling Operator podcast! In this special transition episode, we get to know Laura and her incredible journey—from the front rows of London Fashion Week beside Anna Wintour and Vivienne Westwood to the picturesque Queenstown, New Zealand, where she was among the first employees at First Table, and finally, her...

Episode summary: This week, we sat down with Shilpa Mohan, Head of Operations at ProcurePro. We explore themes of confidence, career transitions, and true self-belief beyond external validation. Shilpa shares her inspiring vision for diversity in startups, highlighting the positive changes happening in the ecosystem. Tune in for personal stories, insightful discussions, and thought-provoking ideas...

Episode summary: This week, Georgia Marshall takes us through her journey from Fishburners to founding Humans for Good and Flock. Georgia shares her experiences building communities, running pitch nights, and developing Flock, a database of diverse communities. Discover how she creates meaningful connections and leverages no-code tools. Perfect for anyone interested in community building and the f...

Dive into Jared Bergman's journey on this week's episode, where he shares his transition from developing bionic eyes at university to pushing the boundaries of biotech at Vow. Discover the thrilling world of engineering innovative solutions for sustainable food production. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the intersection of technology and sustainability—where science meets th...

This week, we delve into Gaby's journey from founding Flaunter to spearheading operations and growth at Carted. Gaby takes us through her unique journey back to an operational role after experiencing the highs and lows of being a founder herself, the shifts in mindset and approach required when moving from leading your business to amplifying someone else's vision. Guest ideas? Do you have an opera...

Resources mentioned: Radical Candor, Kim Scott  Spades, Hearts, Diamonds feedback framework  Outlive, the science & art of longevity, Peter Attia     Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operato...

Resources mentioned: Fair Play by Eve Rodsky Emotional Agility by Dr. Susan David Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at build...

Find Deanna here: TikTok / @deanna.stem Instagram   @deanna.stem https://dhood.io/  Resources mentioned:  Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking Brave not Perfect: Fear less, Fail more and Live Bolder https://www.meetup.com/

You can find Sam here on Linkedin  Resources mentioned:  WGEA report: Gender Pay Gap Fair Work amendments 2024  Josh Bersin Podcast Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various...

Resources mentioned in this episode: MKT1 Newsletter Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini  The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.   Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is...

Listen to this interview with Nicole Meaker and dive into...  Unexpected Paths Lead to Rewarding Careers : Nicole's journey into tech was unplanned. Despite an initial lack of interest in math and science, her diverse experiences, including working in bars and a call centre, led her to discover a passion for technology. A reminder to never forget the importance of exploring and being open to unexp...

Alex Crawshaw is a finance manager and chartered accountant at Halter, a New Zealand AgTech startup on a mission to enable farmers to run more productive and sustainable farms. Alex grew up in NZ and went to boarding school (with her now founder, Craig Piggott!) before university which ended up with her landing a grad job at Deloitte. We chat through Alex's journey, passion for her role at Halter...

** Apologies for the radio silence! I have moved interstate, had some tough family news and am also at a new job - this episode is an absolute banger to come back to, so please enjoy 🙏 ** This week I sat down with Dr Izzy Bigio, Blackbirds Aotearoa-based Platform manager and my first colleague to come on calling operator. Izzy takes us through her journey to start-ups, after being fixated on med...

Interesting in Overnight Success? find them here Resources mentioned:  Acquired podcast  Tech Safari  Acquisitions anonymous  Lennys newsletter    Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators...

Resources mentioned:  Scaling People, Claire Highs Johnson Rosalyn Santa Elena, RevOps influencer   RecOps Impact Newsletter, Jeff Ignacio   Pavillion University    Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from...

Resources mentioned:  Influence: The psychology of persuasion  Inside the nudge unit: how small differences can make a big difference Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across variou...

Resources mentioned in this episode:  Atlassian Playbook Atlassian Team 2023 online event Elizabeth Gilbert: the Curiosity-Driven life podcast TedTalk - Hire a Mum Midset: Ben Crowe: Mojoespresso Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator...

**Content warning at the bottom of this section**       ** Please note that this episode touches on grief and murder and may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is experiencing grief, please visit the below resources  and remember to take care of yourself. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/  Griefline 1300 845 745 Lifeline 131 114  Headspace  1800 650 890 Guest ideas? Do you...

Resources mentioned:  Podcast, Radical Candor Podcast, the imperfects John Cutler, LinkedIn  Guest ideas? Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.   A note from your host, Laura: My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they exc...