Graeme Cowan
The Caring CEO. For leaders who want to grow teams who are more caring, fun filled and productive. For leaders who care.
We want to provide inspiration and practical tips for leaders who believe that future success requires equal emphasis on growth and employee mental health. We want to explore how we ensure that the right culture is fostered. Ultimately we would like to grow a community of caring leaders that can show that this approach is a win win in business. Good for people and good for growth and profits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where to listen?
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Episodes
#94 Family Friendly Workplaces, Emma Walsh, Founder & CEO, Parents at Work 10.07.2026 37:10
Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work, shares how family-friendly workplaces, inclusive leadership, and flexible work practices can drive stronger business outcomes while supporting employee wellbeing. Tune in for practical insights on building workplaces where people and organisations thrive together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#93 Building a 10x WD40 culture, Garry Ridge, Former CEO, WD-40 Company 26.06.2026 34:10
Garry Ridge, former Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company, shares how caring leadership, trust, and psychological safety create high-performing teams and lasting business success. Packed with practical leadership insights, this conversation offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a workplace where people and performance thrive together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
#92 High Performance Habits, James Laughlin, Author & Keynote Speaker 12.06.2026 45:00
James Laughlin, author of Habits of High Performers, shares his remarkable journey from troubled schoolboy in Northern Ireland to 7 time World Champion drummer and trusted coach to elite athletes, business leaders and high-performing teams. Drawing on decades of experience in performance, leadership and wellbeing, James reveals practical strategies for building sustainable success, developing heal...
#91 Measure What Matters, Jacob Chase, CEO The INFIN 15.05.2026 40:45
Jacob Chase discusses why businesses measure financial capital precisely but often overlook the true value of their people. Drawing from his experience across Lazard, Angelo Gordon, and entrepreneurship, Jacob shares how organizations can better align performance, culture, and accountability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#90 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Daily, Nick Orchard, Performance Coach 23.04.2026 44:59
Nick Orchard, Performance Coach, shares his powerful journey from near-burnout to meaningful transformation. Drawing on his experience across government, leadership, and creative industries, Nick reveals practical strategies to overcome burnout, build sustainable momentum, and break free from self-limiting beliefs. This conversation offers actionable insights for leaders, creatives, and profession...
#89 Start with 'Yes", Katrina Troughton, Managing Director, Adobe ANZ 26.03.2026 53:31
Katrina Troughton, Managing Director of Adobe ANZ, shares how true leadership care goes beyond policy to build cultures of trust, flexibility, and genuine support. From navigating uncertainty to empowering teams and embracing discomfort, Katrina’s standout message is simple yet powerful: start with yes—and work out what it takes to make it happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
#88 Joy at work, Alex Liu, ex Chairman & Global Managing Partner, Kearney 12.03.2026 48:25
Alex Liu, ex Chairman & Global Partner at Kearney, shares insights from his bestselling book Joy Works on building psychologically safe and high-performing teams. In this episode, Alex reveals why care is the key differentiator that gets you hired or not, alongside competence and confidence, offering invaluable leadership lessons for today’s fast-paced world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
#87 Clarity counts most, Tara James, Founder, Small and Mighty 26.02.2026 40:11
Tara James, Founder of Small and Mighty, shares why care in leadership is a strategic advantage, not a soft skill, and how psychological safety drives performance. She explains why 2026 will demand clarity over urgency, encouraging leaders to “hurry up slowly” and lead with self-awareness, humility, and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#86 Staying afloat in rough waters, Veronica Papacosta, CEO Seafood Industry Australia 12.02.2026 38:51
Veronica Papacosta, former CEO of Seafood Industry Australia, reflects on growing up in her family’s fish shop and how early responsibility shaped her approach to leadership. In conversation with Graeme, she explores family legacy, resilience, and the values formed long before the boardroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#85 Guiding end of life care, Casey Beros 30.01.2026 42:46
Casey Beros, author of Next of Kin, shares her deeply personal experience of caring for her father during the final two years of his life and the lessons it taught her about leadership, care, and impact. It’s a moving conversation about compassion at work, supporting carers, and what truly matters when life and leadership collide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#84 How to finish strong for a better Christmas /holidays & 2026 18.12.2025 54:11
Anna Feringa, workplace mental health expert, and Melo Calarco, author of 'Beating Burnout, Finding Balance' join Graeme for a panel discussion looking at the challenges that many of us face in the lead up to Christmas and the holiday season. They look at ways to navigate spending time with people who drain us, managing the stress of overspending and dealing with grief as we remember loved ones wh...
#83 A begin with 'WE' cultural revolution, Kyle McDowell, Speaker, Author, Leadership Coach 17.10.2025 47:53
Kyle McDowell, bestselling author of Begin With We and former Fortune 10 executive, reshapes leadership with his powerful framework, The 10 WEs. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience leading tens of thousands of employees, Kyle shares how shifting from “I” to “WE” can dismantle dysfunction, reignite purpose, and transform organisational culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
#82 A career of contribution, Brendan Maher, CEO St John Ambulance Australia 05.09.2025 42:08
Brendan Maher is the CEO of St John Ambulance Australia. With nearly 20 years of leadership across Lifeline, R U OK?, and Movember, Brendan shares powerful insights on community care, mental health, and building stronger, more connected societies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#81 The Generous Leader, Joe Davis, Former Head of Boston Consulting Group, North America 07.08.2025 44:37
Joe Davis is the Former Head of Boston Consulting Group North America. In this episode, we explore leading with purpose, equity, and long-term impact. Joe shares insights from his 37-year career at BCG, his work in inclusion and transformation, and the principles behind his book The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain (April 2024). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
#80 Care Underpins Everything, Melissa Reynolds 10.07.2025 40:47
Melissa Reynolds is the CEO of State Trustees. Her extensive leadership in financial services and utilities is driven by a passion for client-focused transformation and inclusive, high-performing teams. With a career spanning AGL, NAB, Westpac, and more, Melissa shares valuable insights on leading with empathy and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#79 Radical Customer Obsession, Amanda Stevens, Keynote Speaker and Author 26.06.2025 40:49
Award-winning speaker and author Amanda Stevens shares how valuing employees is key to delivering exceptional customer experiences, drawing on powerful examples from her book Radical Customer Obsession. From her leadership insights with Richard Branson to her personal journey of resilience, Amanda reveals how curiosity, care, and culture can drive meaningful business transformation. Hosted on Acas...
#78 Embracing a learning mindset, David Barnett, ex CEO, Pearson, Asia Pacific 12.06.2025 40:30
David Barnett, was the CEO of Pearson Asia Pacific for over 20 years and is current chair of several e-learning initiatives. He reflects on his journey transforming education from textbooks to digital learning and the defining question that reshaped his leadership. David shares heartfelt stories about building a culture of care, the lessons he's learned from his son with learning difficulties, and...
#77 Top 12 Futurist Globally, Michael McQueen, Speaker & Author 29.05.2025 55:46
Michael McQueen is currently ranked 12th among the world’s top futurists. He is a globally renowned speaker, futurist, and author of Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds. Michael joins us for a powerful conversation on self-leadership, personal loss, and the influence of his father’s legacy. We also dive into the societal impact of AI and explore why Australia ranks as the least optimist...
#76 Silicon Innovator, Melissa Dinwiddie, Innovation Strategist, Creative Sandbox Solutions 15.05.2025 40:33
Melissa Dinwiddie, is a Juilliard-trained dancer turned creativity coach who helps teams at companies like Google and Salesforce unlock innovation through play, experimentation, and imperfection. Drawing from her rich background as an artist, jazz musician, and improviser, Melissa shares how embracing creativity can transform leadership and collaboration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
#75 From Head to Heart, Pam Buchanan, Founder and CEO, Quantam Sense 01.05.2025 43:19
Pam Buchannan, former Managing Director at NASDAQ, spent nearly 15 years working with leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Despite her success, she realised true fulfillment required more than physical and mental health—it called for what she now calls Soul Health, connected to spirit and life force. As founder of Quantum Sense, she now helps high-achievers find deeper meaning and purpose b...
#74 A Purposeful Life, Richard Boele, Chief Purpose Officer, KPMG 10.04.2025 56:03
Richard Boele, Chief Purpose Officer at KPMG, has an incredible journey shaped by purpose. At 21, he found himself in Tibet during a brutal crackdown, igniting his lifelong commitment to human rights. Richard stepped into his current role, helping individuals and teams connect their personal purpose to organizational impact. Richard’s passion shines through as he talks about KPMG’s “Purpose Weeks”...
#73 An extraordinary contribution, Gemma Sisia, Founder, St Jude's School, Tanzania 20.03.2025 46:19
Gemma Sisia is the Founder of St. Jude’s School in Tanzania which she founded over 20 years ago with just three students. She has now grown the school to 1,500 students. And What Gemma has built is just quite extraordinary. Gemma has practices in place for continual improvement. Gemma fosters a culture of respect, responsibility, honesty, and kindness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
#72 From mail boy to caring CEO, Damien Mu, CEO AIS Australia 20.02.2025 51:45
Damien Mu is the CEO of AIA Insurance, one of Australia’s leading life insurers with over 2,000 employees. Damien’s journey is one of resilience and determination. His leadership is deeply rooted in purpose and care. Not just for his team and customers, but for the broader Australian community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#71 Remote leadership expert, Wayne Turmel, Co-founder, The Remote Leadership Institute 06.02.2025 32:03
Wayne Turmel was a pioneer in long-distance and virtual leadership over 18 years ago —long before remote work became the norm. Wayne has dedicated his career to mastering effective communication in virtual environments. Wayne has worked with Fortune 500 companies worldwide, and leadership legend Marshall Goldsmith calls him "one of the most unique voices in leadership today." Wayne brings a lot of...
#70Kindness, connection and gratitude, Todd Harper AM, CEO Cancer Council, Victoria 06.12.2024 40:53
Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council, Victoria, shares valuable ideas with his leadership team in which they decided to prioritise three core values: kindness, connection, and gratitude. This initiative encouraged everyone in the organisation to embrace these values in their own unique ways, fostering a culture of support and positivity throughout our community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
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