Live Smarter

Most accountants start out at the Big 4, hear about how Liz took another path, beginning as an in-house accountant that set her up well for CFO roles later on.  In my FULL conversation with Liz O’Neil on The Story Hub we hear about her experience working for large Corporates such as Lion Breweries, Spark, Fonterra, and most recently Coca-Cola Euro-Pacific Partners as CFO of New Zealand. Hear about...

Owen shares his advice for aspiring professionals who want to get that next promotion. He shares his tips on how to stand out and show that you are ready for the next role.  If you want to hear Owen Culliney ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub we discuss Owen’s success in Law, building up multiple successful law practices including his own. We talk through Owen’s entrepreneurial journey purchasi...

Becoming CEO of multiple large organisations is not only rare, but difficult. Kim shares how she balances her life commitments outside of work while managing a demanding career. In my FULL conversation with Kim Ballinger on The Story Hub we discuss her success in the Global Dairy Industry, starting out in a technical role with a Chemical Technology degree to being the first female salesperson in B...

Sir Ross is known for his incredible ability to remember people’s names. He gives his advice on how to make yourself memorable and to remember others. If you want to hear more from Sir Ross Buckley talking about leadership after 38 years at KPMG, working abroad (Netherlands & Canada), and practical tips & life advice - find Sir Ross' full conversation on The Story Hub on ⁠Spotify⁠ &amp...

We know feedback is so helpful, albeit hard to hear sometimes. Andy shares why unsolicited advice and feedback often hurts the most and how to improve how you give and receive feedback. Andrew Nicol is Owner & Chief Co-Worker at Agoge a Recruitment firm based in Hamilton, New Zealand. In Andy's full conversation over on The Story Hub podcast, we talk about Andy’s journey rising rapidly in...

In this episode, Liz shares what her favourite leadership lessons are and what it means to have learning as a lifestyle.  In my FULL conversation with Liz O’Neil on The Story Hub we hear about her experience working for large Corporates such as Lion Breweries, Spark, Fonterra, and most recently Coca-Cola Euro-Pacific Partners as CFO of New Zealand. Hear about her journey where she didn’t take the...

The sacrifice business growth takes and managing that risk. Owen shares about the next evolution of iCLAW and what the mental shift was when you decide to grow after being established.  If you want to hear Owen Culliney ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub we discuss Owen’s success in Law, building up multiple successful law practices including his own. We talk through Owen’s entrepreneurial jour...

38 year career, no massive mistakes. Sir Ross shares what his guiding principles have been and how to live by your own.  If you want to hear more from Sir Ross Buckley talking about leadership after 38 years at KPMG, working abroad (Netherlands & Canada), and practical tips & life advice - find Sir Ross' full conversation on The Story Hub on ⁠Spotify⁠ & ⁠Apple Podcasts

After taking over the innovation team, Kim turns it around to gain the highest engagement score across Fonterra in only 12 months. Hear Kim’s thoughts on leadership and how to create a culture where teams thrive.  In my FULL conversation with Kim Ballinger on The Story Hub we discuss her success in the Global Dairy Industry, starting out in a technical role with a Chemical Technology degree to bei...

What was the early growth phase like developing a new law practice at an existing firm? What were his key learnings? All of this and more from Owen Culliney as he shares about a key part in his career that taught him how to grow a business. If you want to hear Owen Culliney ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub we discuss Owen’s success in Law, building up multiple successful law practices includi...

Liz shares her tips on how to improve your reflections when you get the time to pause and rethink your life. How do you get the most value out of this time rather than making it a time to beat yourself up? In my FULL conversation with Liz O’Neil on The Story Hub we hear about her experience working for large Corporates such as Lion Breweries, Spark, Fonterra, and most recently Coca-Cola Euro-Pacif...

Hear what it means to live developing resilience & discipline.  If you want to hear Paul Gerritsen ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub where we discuss his whole rowing for New Zealand experience, working for the NZ Fire Service for a decade, and starting Purpose Fill, his own waste business, check it out now. We talk through his crazy journey where he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean with a...

Imposter syndrome - what is it? How do you overcome it? Jeff shares wisdom from his journey and talks through practical tips to become more confident in who you are. If you are interested in more from Jeff McLuckie , hear about his journey into Tech Consulting in a late part of his career. We explore how to overcome Imposter Syndrome, and how to succeed by getting clarity around expectations and s...

Sir Ross came in to run the New Zealand Tax division and had never worked in tax before. How do you turn a divided team around and create a new culture of success? Sir Ross shares a special turning point in that journey. If you want to hear more from Sir Ross Buckley talking about his leadership approach after 38 years at KPMG, working abroad (Netherlands & Canada), and practical tips & li...

Stop the pressure of getting every step in your career perfect on the first try. You often don’t know what areas of work you’d love to work in. Hear Celia’s journey that led her to develop excellent consulting skills without realising as she discovered her passions in work. Her journey from an Art History degree to technology consulting.  This was one of the most replayed episodes on The Story Hub...

What does a career in the New Zealand Fire Service look like? Paul Shares his experience and some of his stories. If you want to hear Paul Gerritsen ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub where we discuss his whole rowing for New Zealand experience, working for the NZ Fire Service for a decade, and starting Purpose Fill, his own waste business, check it out now. We talk through his crazy journey wh...

iCLAW is a law firm in the Waikato & now Bay of Plenty that became well known in a short period of time. Owen teaches this principle that helped iCLAW define itself in the first years of business.  If you want to hear Owen Culliney ’s FULL conversation on The Story Hub we discuss Owen’s success in Law, building up multiple successful law practices including his own. We talk through Owen’s entr...

Kim had the unique opportunity to lead a global sales team - she shares how she created a quality team culture, ensured people were successful, and her biggest learning curves.  In my FULL conversation with Kim Ballinger on The Story Hub we discuss her success in the Global Dairy Industry, starting out in a technical role with a Chemical Technology degree to being the first female salesperson in B...

Stoney Creek has only one value - TRUST. Hear why Brent believes this is the most important value you can have and how trust shapes the culture of Stoney Creek as an organisation. In our FULL conversation with Brent McConnell on The Story Hub we discuss his journey as a dairy farmer and subdivision developer, the full Stoney Creek turnaround story where it was 1 week from receivership to a multi-m...

What are the principles Pat Peoples believes will guide aspiring professionals to success? Start your career with intentional success and listen now! In our full conversation with Pat Peoples on The Story Hub we discuss how he makes it into the NZ rowing team after not competing in any sport for years, how he transformed Schick construction from a concrete pad business into a commercial constructi...

What are the things top performers do differently from everyone else? Jeff shares his reflections as a manager how top performers stand out in ways that are separate from raw talent. If you are interested in more from Jeff McLuckie , hear about his journey into Tech Consulting in a late part of his career. We explore how to overcome Imposter Syndrome, and how to succeed by getting clarity around e...

Leonard Gardner after only a few years in the workforce was very successful, what he didn’t expect was the mental toll this had. Hear in this clip how Leonard learnt to deal with the pressure of early success. In Leonard Gardne r's full conversation we discuss his journey to CEO and owner of Fosters Construction. If you are interested in growing in leadership, and dealing with the pressures of...

Andy is one of the best people I know at intentionally getting outside of his echo chamber to explore new ideas. Listen as he shares what he has practically done to broaden his perspective. Andrew Nicol is Owner & Chief Co-Worker at Agoge a Recruitment firm based in Hamilton, New Zealand. In Andy's full conversation over on The Story Hub podcast, we talk about Andy’s journey rising rapidly...

Sir Ross recorded this conversation in his last month of his stellar 38 year KPMG career. He has worked leading the New Zealand Audit & Tax divisions and his last 9 years were as the Chairman of KPMG New Zealand. He shares his reflections on leadership from his journey. If you want to hear more from Sir Ross Buckley talking about a practical leadership confrontation moment, working abroad (Net...

You want a mentor but don’t know where to start? This clip is perfect for you, sharing how to get great mentors and what a healthy mentor relationship looks like.  This was one of the most replayed episodes on The Story Hub podcast out of all seasons. If you want to hear some of Celia Austin 's other great moments ranging from her journey from Art History to Consulting, developing a resilience...