The Inspired CEO

Selina Bridge is the dynamic CEO of KX Pilates, leading the brand’s rapid expansion across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. With a background in global marketing and a passion for people-first leadership, she has redefined what it means to balance business growth with motherhood.   In this episode, Selina shares her journey from corporate executive to fitness industry leader, her insights on empowe...

Jo Cooper is a singer/songwriter, author, and social impact advocate whose unwavering fight for justice has sparked national change. From overcoming childhood challenges and surviving abuse to leading a relentless legal battle that made Australian history, Jo’s story is one of courage, creativity, and transformation.   In this episode, she shares how her voice — on stage, in writing, and in the co...

Sabina Read is one of Australia’s most trusted voices in psychology and human behaviour. As a media commentator, speaker, and co-host of the Human Cogs podcast, she blends warmth and wisdom with real-world insights that help people thrive at work and in life. In this episode, Sabina shares her proudest moments, lessons learned from burnout, and how she finds balance between work, family and health...

Harry Sanders’ journey is nothing short of remarkable. From facing adversity as a teen to founding StudioHawk at just 17, he’s gone on to build one of the largest independent SEO agencies in the world — with over 100 staff across Australia, the UK, and the US.   Alongside StudioHawk, Harry co-founded luggage brand Kadi, and his entrepreneurial achievements have earned him recognition on the Forbes...

Paul Guerra’s career spans global business, public advocacy, and now professional sport — but his leadership philosophy has always been the same: lead with heart, build strong communities, and focus on the future. From 17 years at Motorola witnessing the birth of mobile phones, to guiding Victorian small businesses through the toughest days of the pandemic as CEO of the Victorian Chamber of Commer...

Paul Greenberg never set out to be a tech founder — in his own words, he was the “accidental entrepreneur.”   But from early eBay days to founding Australia’s first online department store, his legacy laid the groundwork for platforms like Catch, Kogan, and MyDeal.   He arrived in Australia with nothing but vintage guitars and a vision, later founding NORA and shaping the future of digital retail...

Corbin Halliday went from being bedridden with chronic illness to founding one of Australia’s leading clean beauty brands. What began as a homemade organic tanning solution for friends and family grew into a multimillion-dollar business, now stocked nationally and selling a product every 60 seconds. Along the way, Corbin built a purpose-driven brand, educating consumers on the benefits of natural...

Diana Williams started with a single gym in Bendigo and a vision to create a space where women could feel safe, strong and supported. What began as a passion project grew into Fernwood Fitness, Australia’s leading women only health club with over 70 locations. Along the way, Diana empowered hundreds of women to become business owners, championed the benefits of strength training for all ages, and...

Donna Aston transformed her own health, built a business from scratch, and defied the mainstream by saying fat isn’t the enemy—sugar is. After being rejected by 17 publishers, she self-published her book Fat or Fiction, sold over half a million copies, and went on to create AstonRX: a digital health platform that’s changing lives around the world. 🎧 Watch the full episode YouTube 🎙 Hosted by Kate...

Ash Bent has built and exited businesses, faced the collapse of a multimillion-dollar venture, and come out the other side with a whole new perspective. After burnout reshaped his priorities, Ash turned his focus to wellness, longevity, and building a more intentional life—one that puts health and relationships before hustle. Through ventures like Koud, he’s now helping others optimise their physi...

Rudi van der Vlies is on a mission to help 10 million people manage IBS and digestive issues. As co-founder of Tumme, he’s building a brand that blends science, empathy, and lived experience—shaped by his own journey with Crohn’s disease and years spent navigating gut health confusion. From billion-dollar ventures to passion-led startups, Rudi shares how adaptability and purpose drive real impact—...

Professor Felice Jacka is leading a revolution in mental health—one that starts in the gut. In this episode, Kate Save speaks with the renowned researcher, author, and Director of the Food & Mood Centre to explore the powerful connection between diet, gut health, and mental wellbeing. Discover the science behind nutritional psychiatry, how the SMILES trial changed everything, and why our food...

Dr Michelle McQuaid knows exactly what that feels like. Burnt out, overachieving, and quietly unraveling—until she realised the self-sacrifice wasn’t sustainable. In this deeply honest episode of The Inspired CEO, Michelle shares how societal expectations planted in childhood keep so many women stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and exhaustion. But it doesn’t have to stay that way....

Chris Forbes is on a mission to end dialysis by 2050.   As CEO of Kidney Health Australia, he's tackling one of Australia’s most silent epidemics with a bold plan: early detection, lifestyle change, and better access to treatment—especially for First Nations communities.   From the Red Socks Run to dialysis buses that bring freedom back to patients, Chris is turning compassion into real-world impa...

Trish Mackie-Smith is on a mission to make buildings—and the industry behind them—smarter, safer, and more transparent. As the CEO and co-founder of Inndox, she’s transforming property technology with a platform that digitises a building’s entire history—from defects and warranties to maintenance schedules and compliance. In this episode, Trish shares how her career in law exposed a major gap in t...

Suji Sanjeevan is a doctor turned entrepreneur who walked away from clinical research to pursue a different kind of healing—through scent. As the founder of Light & Glo Fragrances and BrandScent, she’s bringing science, storytelling and sensory wellbeing into homes, retailers and boardrooms across the globe. From launching with just $237 while 36 weeks pregnant, to partnering with Amex, global...

What does it really take to lead with kindness—and why is it so often mistaken for weakness? In this episode of The Inspired CEO, Kate Save sits down with Colleen Callander, former CEO of Sportsgirl and Suzanne, to talk about redefining leadership on your own terms. From burnout to boundaries, Colleen shares the highs, lows and lessons that shaped her journey—from building iconic brands to rebuild...

Emma Lovell is a speaker, author and business coach who’s visited 75 countries while running her business remotely—and raising a family. She calls it bleisure: the blend of business, leisure and self-care to create a life of freedom, purpose and joy. In this episode of The Inspired CEO, Emma opens up about: Turning a broken back into a business breakthrough How personal tragedy fuelled her legacy...

AFL great. Media lightning rod. Unfiltered to the very end. Sam Newman sits down with Kate Save for an honest, no-holds-barred conversation about life in the spotlight—from his 300-game footy career and 25 years on The Footy Show, to financial collapse, public backlash, and navigating cancel culture. Sam opens up about: The highs and lows of playing elite sport Losing everything (and what it taugh...

Ganesh Naidoo is a pioneering doctor, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind Medmate, a digital health platform revolutionizing access to medical care. With a background in general practice and a deep understanding of rural healthcare challenges, Ganesh set out to bridge the gap between patients and essential health services. From launching one of Australia's first electronic prescription systems...

What does it take to go from homelessness to building a global luxury brand? In this episode of The Inspired CEO, Kate Save sits down with Olivia Carr, founder of SHHH Silk and Self Made Academy, to share her extraordinary story—from a turbulent childhood and sleeping rough to launching a multi-million dollar business rooted in purpose and impact. Olivia opens up about how she built her brand with...

In this episode of The Inspired CEO, Kate Save sits down with Damian Mander—a former Australian special forces sniper turned global conservationist and founder of Akashinga, the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit. Damian opens up about his transformation from military service in Iraq to protecting endangered species in Africa. What began as a search for purpose led him to Zimbabwe, where...

Nicky Whelan is an Australian actress and model who made her mark on Neighbours before leaping into the world of Hollywood. You may know her from Hall Pass, The Wedding Ringer, or Scrubs—but behind the camera is a story of resilience, reinvention, and radical authenticity. In this episode of The Inspired CEO, Nicky opens up about the challenges of starting over in a new country, the reality of lif...

Tora Brophy is a digital commerce powerhouse who has scaled iconic brands across ANZ—from launching Billabong’s first eComm platform to leading retail growth at Under Armour, Google, and now TikTok. In this episode, Tora opens up about navigating career pivots, leading through ambiguity, and the importance of persistence when the answer is "no." He also shares the habits that keep him grounded, ho...