Tales from Tech Titans

Interested in a tech career but not sure about "traditional tech" industries? 🔥 Check out this extract from Episode 6 with Jamie Newman on how technology is making a difference in Residential Construction and learn about the opportunities and challenges of working in a non-traditional tech environment. Watch full conversation here 👉 https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/KV3gvWiy4Lb #tec...

From Navy to Chief Information Officer, How? Today, we’re pleased to welcome Leigh Berrell, a Transformation Tech Leader with 30 years of experience spanning Technology, Engineering, Transportation, Logistics, Peacekeeping, Retail, Utilities, and workforce staffing services. In recognition of his outstanding work, Leigh was named Australian Utilities CIO of the Year in 2013 and was ranked 4th in t...

The impact of meaningful feedback, the influence of mentors, and the importance of balancing personal and professional life. Discover why Andrea Bell has no career regrets and how her experiences have shaped her aspirations for the future. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to grow, this discussion offers insights into the significance of learning, resilience, and finding fulf...

How do massive investments in technology shape the future of industries? What are the challenges of decentralising organisations, and how can they be overcome? Why are giants like Microsoft and Amazon investing heavily in AI, and what does it mean for the future of technology? All these exciting topics and more are discussed in our conversation with the 26th Tech Titan, Eglantine Etiemble, Group C...

How being a Tech Mom influences leadership styles? In this podcast extract, we explore the parallels between parenting and leadership, from patience to empathy to more and more. Gain valuable insights on how motherhood can shape leadership approach. #techpodcast #techmom #leadership #parenting #womeninleadership

In this compelling extract from our full conversation with Kerr Forbes in episode 5 of Tales from Tech Titans, we delve into Kerr's fascinating journey from UCL, one of the top universities in the world, to building a successful engineering career in Australia. Kerr shares his experiences of adapting to new cultures, overcoming homesickness, and the drive that fueled his academic and professio...

Can emotional intelligence be the key to career success? How severely did the dot-com bubble bust impact tech companies, and what about the guilt of those who survived company downsizing? How to move to management role from technical? All these topics and more are covered in our chat with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Armaguard Group, Don MacGowan, as he reflects on his incredible 20-year...

In this captivating extract from the "Tales from Tech Titans" podcast, we follow an inspiring journey from the world of music to a successful career in tech. Our guest, Bill Hunter shares their experiences of starting as a passionate musician, navigating various roles in the creative industry, and ultimately transitioning to the tech field. Discover how their unique background shaped their approac...

The One Interview Tip You Might Have Missed ⁉ Our 24th Tech Titan, Ayten Ozenc, the seasoned CIO at ABN, shared invaluable career insights from her nearly 30-year journey. How to thrive as an introvert (INFJ) in workplaces full of extroverts; her ‘accidental’ career progression; the importance of aligning individual and corporate values from an organisational psychology perspective; and THAT ONE T...

Discover the fascinating journey of Sheani De Silva, a tech leader who leveraged experiences from Japan to enhance team dynamics in Australia. In this extract from episode 2 of Tales from Tech Titans podcast, we discuss the intricacies of adapting to diverse work cultures, fostering communication, and the ongoing quest for patience and resilience. What You'll Learn: - How Japanese work ethics...

Ever imagine being a Director with 13 years in Nursing and then one day deciding to hit the reset button and become a Business Analyst? Sounds a bit crazy, right? Well, that's exactly what Fi Slaven did! Fi Salven takes us through waves of excitement: from how nursing skills translate to tech to her biggest career regrets and sacrifices, and how she came to realise why she shouldn’t send email...

In this extract from episode 2 of the "Tales from Tech Titans" podcast, accomplished tech leader Sheani De Silva shares her inspiring journey. She discusses her initial entry into the tech industry, her transition to becoming a medical sales representative, and her eventual return to the tech world. This segment highlights her resilience, adaptability, and passion for technology, providi...

You’re listening to one of the top 1% of podcasts worldwide! Only 1% of podcasts make it to their 21st episode, and we’re celebrating this milestone by welcoming a special guest, Lisa Dowie, a Velvet-Sledgehammer CEO with an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. In this episode, we reflect on Lisa’s incredibly inspiring career spanning Tech and Business, exploring how she overcame challe...

You might be the best at what you do, a true expert in your field. But here’s a hard truth: individual excellence alone won’t sustain long-term success. Without a great team around you, even the most successful organisation can falter. In today’s competitive landscape, the ability to build and nurture a high-performing team is crucial. A great sharing from Gavin Wood about how he built a value-bas...

Our 20th guest, Jen Rebeiro is a distinguished tech leader listed in the prestigious CIO Top 50 for three consecutive years. In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of a tech leader who navigated through career challenges, overcame imposter syndrome, and embraced continuous learning and innovation. From the collapse of Ansett to the fast-paced world of startups, you'll hear fi...

An extract from our conversation with Gavin Wood - the former CIO at Newcrest Mining. Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Tech Leader looks like? Listen to Gavin's experience as a Chief Information Officer at the largest gold producer listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and one of the world's largest gold mining companies. How to keep up-to-date with what technology...

Do you apply for a new role when you feel 70% ready or 100% ready? We were thrilled to have a conversation with Leanne about her experience moving roles despite not being 100% suitable. Our 19th guest - Leanne Ayers a seasoned and results-driven head of PMO, whose experience spans renowned organisations such as Suncorp Group, Delaware North, HostPlus and most recently Victorian Electoral Commissio...

Our 18th guest, Tracey Evans, is a future-focused CIO whose career has left an indelible mark on industry giants such as KPMG, Seek, and most recently, Virtus Health. With a breadth of experience across digital, professional services, and finance, Tracey will guide us through her career journey and explore her “culture-first” leadership philosophy. In this episode, our host Anton sits with Tracey...

Our 17th guest - Sunil Rane, is an experienced CISO, whose journey through the realms of Finance, Banking, Oil & Gas, Telecommunication, and Government has been remarkable. With a wealth of experience from challenging projects at Sagacity Consulting, Protiviti, and KPMG, Sunil has established himself as a trusted leader in tech and cybersecurity. In this episode, our host Anton sits with Sunil...

Our 16th guest, Catherine Lopes boasts over 25 years of expertise as a Chief Data and Analytics Officer, driving major advancements across different sectors, including financial services and utilities. Her work is not only recognised within industry circles—being one of the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries—but also in academia, as evidenced by her groundbreaking Ph. D. research at Monash University...

Our 15th guest, Kendra Vant is a visionary in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and data, with a decade of experience leading AI and data teams. Her career is marked by a passion for BUILDING—from products and teams to entire companies—and turning innovative ideas into profitable realities. In this episode, our host Anton sits down with Kendra and discusses her fascinating journey around t...

Our 14th guest, David Jenkins, brings his wealth of experience as the seasoned CTO at Pepperstone, with a career that has flourished over almost three decades at the vibrant crossroads of technology, business development, and product innovation. In this episode, our host Anton engages in a conversation with David, exploring his remarkable career journey. From his initial experience in the technolo...

Our 13th guest, Sami Yalavac is an accomplished leader in the realm of technology and business, recognised as the CIO of the Year 2022. With a multifaceted background as a CIO, board director, executive coach, managing director, CEO, and public speaker, Sami brings a wealth of expertise to the table. In this episode, our host Anton has a fascinating conversation with Sami, exploring his journey fr...

Our 12th guest - Mary Beth Hosking is an award winning technology leader, who boasts an illustrious career as a technology leader, having achieved accolades while serving at esteemed companies like Toll, Specsavers, and Pointsbet. Currently, she holds the position of CEO at VIC ICT for Women. She has previously collaborated with Emmbr as a guest speaker at our Peak event discussing the change conv...