Tonka Talks

In this episode of Tonka Talks, Simon Traynor, a former CEO and current Non-Executive Director (NED) across four diverse boards, including Kookaburra Sport, Paddle Australia, and the portfolio of Quiksilver/Billabong brands, shares his journey of balancing passion and a demanding professional career. Simon, whose career goal was to work for Nike, reflects on the gratification of achieving that goa...

Laura Bogar, the Acting Director of the Capability Partnering and Strategy team (substantively Senior Manager of Organisational Development) at La Trobe University , shares her extensive experience in leadership, performance, and strategy within the higher education sector. She delves into the critical role of managing an acting position , highlighting the need to balance a roadmap for change with...

Amy Sznicer , the Chief Retail Officer at Michael Hill Australia , shares her extensive experience in retail leadership. She delves into the critical role of a CRO, highlighting the importance of strong leadership, a results-driven mindset, and the unique excitement of the retail industry. Amy discusses the challenges and strategies involved in successful brand repositioning, emphasising the impor...

In this episode of Tonka Talks, Jane Street shares her insights on leadership, purpose, and personal growth. With a diverse career spanning biotech, healthcare, and higher education, Jane offers unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders today. Listen as she discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, cultural impact, and transformational change. This episode is...

Empowering People and Building Culture: Michelle Young on Tonka Talks Tune in to Tonka Talks as Michelle Young, Melbourne Storm's GM of People and Culture, shares her inspiring journey – from overcoming personal challenges to building a thriving family-oriented culture within the high performance world of the Melbourne Storm. Introduction (2:30 - 9:20) Meet Michelle - Introduction and her conn...

This month on Tonka Talks, Michael dives deep into Communicative Intelligence with author and expert Professor Kendall Zoller. Together, they've tackled the challenges of virtual training during COVID, and now they're here to share their insights with you. Discover the three key areas of Communicative Intelligence: Cognitive:  Sharpen your thinking and understanding. Emotional:  Master the...

Test Tube Triumphs:  Michael quizzes Georgie on her time at Oxford (Chemistry!) and the privilege of studying at a historic UK university. (4:41 – 7:34) JANA Journey to CEO:  Georgie reflects on her 15 years at JANA, her lifelong curiosity, and embracing diverse roles instead of a fixed career plan. (8:02 - 10:47) Inside JANA:  Georgie sheds light on the company's business model. (11:15 - 12:3...

In this podcast episode, Michael talks with Mark Ronan, the CEO of Adairs. They discuss Mark's remarkable career path, emphasising the transition from accounting to a leadership role in the retail sector. Mark shares valuable insights on leadership, job satisfaction, and customer-centric strategies. Additionally, he offers tips for effective presentation skills. Tune in for this insightful dis...

Discover valuable insights in this episode of Tonka Talks as we chat with Kate Solly, Sales Director and Marketing Manager at CAPI, an Australian family-owned bottled water and beverage company on the rise. Join the dynamic conversation between Kate and Michael as they explore strategies to enhance meeting efficiency, CAPI's impressive growth in the past year, and Kate's innovative approac...

Join us as we sit down with Paul Burness, the Managing Principal at Worrells, an Australian based insolvency fund. From savouring the delights of food, wine, and travel, to diving into the intricacies of staff engagement and business success strategies, this episode explores what truly propels enterprises forward. Paul unveils the secrets behind nurturing unwavering staff commitment and igniting t...