The Real Math of Business with Alena Bennett

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kylie Paatsch, an executive coach and author of "The Connect Effect." Discover how to foster genuine connections in the workplace and why engagement metrics may be doing more harm than good. In this episode, Kylie shares insights on leadership, engagement, and the evolving role of data and connection in business success. Discover how to lead ef...

What metrics does the entertainment industry use, and how does that math affect their creativity? What is the real math of constructing a comedy? In today's episode, I am lucky enough to be joined by Brent Forrester. Brent Forrester won his first Comedy Writing Emmy at age 25 for his work on "The Ben Stiller Show."  He went on to write for "The Simpsons," helped launch "King of The Hill," and was...

Our friends over at Magical Learning complete their 300th episode next week, and to celebrate, we are re-releasing the only crossover episode they have ever recorded; which was with us here at Real Math of Business. So enjoy, and go check them out. Cngratulations, and what an achievement. Welcome to the first ever CROSSOVER EPISODE for both podcasts, and we are so excited to have you join us for t...

How does your business "get on first base", and what even is "first base" for your business? In this episode, my amazing guest Mike Erlin shares insights on how high performance, environment, and data-driven talent management intersect, emphasising the importance of understanding the "get on first base'" metric and the role of humility and resilience in leadership...

With World Play Day being on June 11th, we thought this was a great time to revisit a great chat about the power and science of play (amongst other things).What happens when a cancer researcher and Australia's leading voice in play-at-work come together to look at technology? And why do they end up on opposite ends of the scale in their Real Math of Business? Dara Simkin is Australia's lea...

What metrics are actually valuable, and what things are we doing to stroke someone's ego? In this insightful interview, Liz McMillan shares her unique perspective on the Real Math of Business, emphasising the importance of alignment, purpose, and human-centric metrics in leadership and organisational success. Discover how to leverage your business identity and create meaningful community withi...

Money is a proxy for reality? Diversity helps family business? And what do short-term goals have to do with company culture? In today's special episode; Alena and producer Jez break down some of the biggest ideas from the show's biggest episodes. If you want to have a fun look at the philosophy of money (and what that could mean for you) as well as much more (see the chapters below), enjoy this ep...

What really drives innovation, and why has it slowed down since the 20th century began? In this insightful interview, Professor Edward Podolsky and Alena Bennett explore the complex relationship between finance, governance, innovation, and value creation. They discuss how mathematical models, narratives, and organisational structures influence decision-making and the importance of humility and con...

Dr. Kathryn Page and host Alena Bennett as they explore the depths of purpose, well-being, and the future of work. Discover how embracing discomfort, community, and values can transform leadership and organizational culture. Dr Kathryn (Kat) Page is an organisational psychologist, Leadership Partner at ByMany, Adjunct Professor of Management and Leadership at Swinburne Unniversity, and author of G...

How has the Real Math of Business changed for CFO's in the last 20 years? Well, our guest today claims it is almost opposite to what it was 20 years ago. If you're a Finance Leader in Australia or New Zealand, chances are you already know today's guest. Richard McBride has spent close to 20 years embedded in the A/NZ finance leadership community - As Editor of CFO Magazine and Producer of the CFO...

How does a business' relationship to people vs maths change as it changes it's goals? And do people's change as well? In this insightful interview, Dane Hudson shares his impactful leadership framework, emphasising discipline, trust, and leading with purpose amidst global chaos. Discover practical strategies for scaling your business, fostering trust, and maintaining resilience in turb...

What if I told you that a more relaxed office environment could lead to better performance? Well, today we are joined by the awesome Graeme Cowan to explain his philosophy of the Caring CEO. Graeme Cowan is a resilience author, speaker and a founding director of R U OK? He is a former senior executive at Johnson & Johnson and Kearney, and host of the #2 globally-ranked workplace mental health...

Today we thought we would mix it up and share some of our favourite Mic-Drop moments from the season. This show has been full of amazing moments that made Alena stop and think, and we thought today would be a great chance to share those with you. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mic Drop Moments00:37 Claire Gray02:40 Lindsay Hutchinson06:05 David Fish09:24 Dara Simkin & Tane Hunter13:45 Katie Nel...

What happens when a cancer researcher and Australia's leading voice in play-at-work come together to look at technology? And why do they end up on opposite ends of the scale in their Real Math of Business? Dara Simkin is Australia's leading voice in play at work and the founder of Culture Hero, a learning experience design consultancy specialising in evidence‑based play interventions that...

How do we create thriving teams using accountability? Are we measuring employee engagement totally wrong? And should shareholders care about the business' mission as much as the employees? In this insightful interview, speaker, author and leadership & team performance expert Claire Gray shares her perspectives on creating thriving cultures, the importance of clarity and intention, and how...

Welcome to the first ever CROSSOVER EPISODE for both podcasts, and we are so excited to have you join us for this one. Today, the team from the Magical Learning Podcast is chatting to the amazing Alena Bennett, host of The Real Math of Business with Alena Bennett. Alena is a speaker, author and leadership expert who works primarily with CEOs and CFOs, helping build businesses where people serve pe...

In this conversation, Alena Bennett speaks with Bill Withers, a seasoned SME owner and author of 'Succession Thinking'. They explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs, particularly in relation to employee wellbeing, leadership, and the importance of a strong business manifesto. Bill emphasizes the need for vision custodians within SMEs to ensure long-term success and di...

In this engaging conversation, Alena Bennett speaks with Bernie Kelly about the evolving role of boards and leadership in today's complex environment. They explore the emotional impact of vision planning, the importance of self-awareness, and the balance between efficiency and effectiveness. Bernie shares insights on the significance of lead indicators, accountability in purpose-driven organis...

In this episode of "The Real Math of Business," host Alena Bennett welcomes leadership coach Jason McDougall to discuss the intersection of faith and business. Jason shares his journey from humble beginnings in Western Sydney to becoming a leadership mentor, emphasising the importance of understanding one's purpose and the role of faith in navigating challenges. He reflects on his ca...

Donna McGeorge, a sought-after international speaker and bestselling author, discusses time management and decision-making in the context of business. The conversation covers observations during the holiday season, the real math of business, the 25-minute meeting, and the first two hours of the workday. The key takeaways include insights into effective time management and the impact of decision-ma...

This year has been a great start to the podcast and we wanted to highlight that by sharing you, the listener's, most watched episodes from our first year. Every guest from the entire season has been absolutely amazing and we want to thank them for making this show so good. So whether you listened to the whole season, or are using this episode to see which episode to listen to next, we hope you...

This week's podcast is a little different as we get into the mind of our host: Alena Bennett. In this episode, Alena shares her story with producer Jez. Starting with her accounting background to becoming a consultant, emphasising the importance of human connection in business. She discusses the duality of her cultural heritage and how it shapes her perspective on success. Alena reflects on he...

In this engaging conversation, Alena Bennett interviews Katie Nelson, CEO of Sales Uprising, exploring the intricacies of sales, business growth, and the human elements that drive success. They discuss the importance of reflection in business, the dynamics between large and small organisations, and the critical role of cash flow. Katie emphasises that sales is not just about numbers but about auth...

In this episode of Real Math at Business, Alena Bennett engages in a deep conversation with Stacey Ellis Fisher, CEO of ClevrCopy, about the intersection of business, leadership, and personal growth. They explore the importance of reflection and intentional learning as they approach 2026, the challenges of navigating advanced business roles, and the significance of building a strong advisory board...

In this episode of the Real Math of Business podcast, host Alena Bennett speaks with Steve Vamos, a leadership authority and former CEO, about the critical importance of alignment in business. They discuss the challenges CEOs face in navigating misalignment, the role of people leadership, and the necessity of execution in achieving organisational goals. Steve shares insights from his extensive car...