Future Fit Leadership

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership , I sit down with Jodi Geddes – co-founder of Circle In, keynote speaker, and a passionate advocate for caregivers in the workplace. Jodi shares her remarkable journey of building (and selling) a global platform that supports working parents and caregivers across life stages – from parental leave to menopause and beyond. We talk about the realit...

What if your brand had a signature scent that made clients feel exactly what you wanted them to feel — trust, luxury, energy, nostalgia? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership , I sit down with doctors-turned-entrepreneurs Suji and Jeeva, co-founders of BrandScent , the game-changing business behind some of Australia’s most memorable branded fragrances. From maternity leave side hust...

In this episode, we’re excited to feature Matt Jones, the co-founder of Four Pillars Gin, a brand that has redefined the craft gin industry in Australia and beyond. Join us as we delve into Matt's journey from political advisor to brand strategist, exploring how storytelling and authentic leadership play crucial roles in building a globally recognized brand. Matt shares valuable insights on: The i...

Are you tired of feeling sluggish, achy and uninspired at work? The solution may lie in embracing micro movements throughout your day. Lizzie Williamson, a former professional dancer and wellness expert, shares her transformative approach to revitalizing the workday through simple, yet powerful bursts of activity. Lizzie's journey began 15 years ago when she found herself in the grips of postnatal...

Wellness has become a priority for many in this post COVID world and many of us are more health conscious than ever before and with the rise of the hybrid world of work, wellness is becoming a critical organisational pillar. We all know that our health is our most important asset and that without this we really have nothing. However are we paying the right type of attention to our health and are w...

What happens when a family decides to turn plastic waste into stylish, sustainable eyewear? Meet Nik Robinson and his children, who are revolutionising recycling through their brand, Good Citizens. In this inspiring episode, Nik shares the incredible journey of transforming 600ml plastic bottles into high-quality sunglasses, while involving his entire family - including his kids - in the mission t...

As we close out the year, this final episode of Future Fit Leadership brings together the themes and insights that defined our conversations in 2025. Leadership continues to shift at speed. We are the generation of leaders who guided our people through COVID and are now navigating the rapid rise of AI, technology transformation and changing expectations in the workplace. This episode reflects on t...

Crisis is rarely the headline. It is the quiet gap between what happens and how leaders respond. And few people understand that gap better than Stephanie Craig, President of Kith, former political insider, and the woman some call the Olivia Pope of crisis communications. In this conversation, Stephanie takes us from her childhood in the Canadian Arctic to the halls of the US and Canadian Senates,...

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and very grounded Jenny Stilwell, a woman who has spent her life helping businesses move from surviving to scaling. Jenny has led companies through complexity, run her own advisory firm, and written the book The 7 Percent Club, which reveals why only a small number of businesses ever grow past two million in revenue. What I love about Jenny is how hon...

When the FBI knocked on Kevin McCarthy’s door one morning in 2002, everything he thought he knew about integrity, loyalty, and trust shattered. What followed was a federal conviction for a crime he didn’t mean to commit, spending 33 months in prison that changed his life forever. In this deeply human conversation, Kevin shares how good people can make bad choices, what blind spots real...

What makes a leader truly future fit in a world where AI can attend your meetings, interview your staff, and even write your next LinkedIn post? In this lively and thought-provoking conversation, futurist and best-selling author Michael McQueen joins Sadhana Smiles to unpack what it really means to stay relevant, human, and adaptable as technology reshapes the way we lead and work. They explore ev...

Monica Bradley’s career has been anything but conventional — spanning trade, logistics, government, technology, and impact investing. In this Future Fit Leadership conversation, she shares how curiosity, contribution, and courage shaped her path from regional Queensland to boardrooms across the globe. Monica unpacks her mantra of growth without compromise which is a bold philosophy tha...

George Haros and Deivina Peethamparam from Gadens Lawyers join me to explore one of the fastest-evolving frontiers in leadership —  psychological and psychosocial safety . They unpack what today’s laws demand from leaders, where most organisations fall short, and why emotional intelligence now matters as much as compliance. From trust and vulnerability to reproductive health and h...

At 26, Lisa O’Neill’s body gave out before her mind did. What followed was a radical reset, a crash course in energy, healing, and self-awareness that would shape everything she teaches today. In this conversation, Lisa shares the story behind Energy: Get It. Guard It. Give It. , and what it really means to manage energy, not time. From adrenal fatigue to four children and nine books l...

Leaders are contagious. That is where Michelle McQuaid begins. In this episode we explore how a leader’s state shapes a team’s energy, focus, courage and care, and why self compassion is not a soft option but a competitive advantage. Michelle is a positive psychology expert, best-selling author and LinkedIn Top 10 mental health voice who blends evidence with lived experience. Her lates...

Catherine Fox AM has spent her career asking tough questions about leadership and even tougher ones about the systems that shape it. An award-winning journalist, author, and former editor at Boss Magazine , Catherine has spent decades reporting on power, progress, and the invisible barriers that hold people back. In this conversation, she shares what she’s learned about leadership from the n...

What does it take to keep your energy high, lead through change, and stay future fit in a world that never stops moving? In this conversation, Josh Phegan shares the lessons he learned from growing up surrounded by books and cassette tapes of Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy, through to becoming one of the most recognised performance coaches in our industry. We talk about confidence as a skill you can b...

From a pineapple farm on Kubi Kubi country to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Renee Wooton’s journey is anything but ordinary. A proud First Nations aerospace engineer, leader in sustainable aviation fuel, and Boss Young Executive, Renee has faced adversity with grit, curiosity, and courage. In this conversation, she shares her story of resilience, breaking barriers in STEM, and how...

Steve Griffith has spent three decades helping elite athletes and hard-charging executives perform without burning out. In this conversation we unpack why stress is the quiet saboteur of leadership, and why meditation is not a fad but a recovery tool that gives you rest deeper than sleep in just 20 minutes. Steve shares how his six month holistic leadership program builds self leadership, one on o...

From high school entrepreneur to CEO of one of Australia’s fastest-growing companies, Scott Millar has never played by the rules. Nicknamed the “Teenage Entrepreneur” by the media, Scott turned down the traditional career path to build a business that helps organisations connect with Gen Z and future generations. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership , Scott shares how curiosi...

What if you only had 4000 Sundays in your lifetime? And what if the way you work today is quietly stealing them away? In this conversation, Dr Kristy Goodwin takes us inside her own life-altering wake-up call — a moment in a Code Red hospital ward that forced her to confront burnout, mortality, and the “success tax” so many high performers pay. Kristy shares why our bodies keep s...

Kate Mason’s leadership journey is anything but ordinary. From touring with Paul McCartney to leading culture and transformation across global giants like Coca-Cola Amatil, Amcor, and Credit Suisse, Kate has sat at the biggest tables — and now she’s rewriting the rules of leadership with her business, Social Value. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership , Kate shares powerful l...

What does it take to lead with impact when the world won’t stop changing? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership , I sit down with Holly Ransom — author of The Leading Edge , global speaker, and one of Australia’s boldest leadership voices. Holly shares the lessons that shaped her, from her grandmother’s courage in standing up for others to the mantra that if you “w...

What if optimism wasn’t just a personal trait, but a leadership strategy? In this Spotlight episode, we’re joined by Victor Perton , founder and Chief Optimism Officer at the Centre for Optimism. Victor shares why declining optimism is one of the greatest public policy challenges of our time — and why the leaders of the future must be “magnetic optimists.” He unpacks...

In this Spotlight episode, Michelle Redfern calls on leaders to take radical accountability — not just for results, but for developing people. She shares why skills are the defining currency of the future, why too many leaders still overlook talent development, and how inclusive workplace design can unlock untapped potential. From leadership brand to business intelligence, Michelle breaks do...