Transformer CEOs

This week, I'm excited to introduce you to MC Gasco Busson, CEO of Unilever Prestige. Things that really stood out to me are her incredible engineering mindset and systemic thinking that she brings to everything that she does. She describes the set of paradoxes that all transformer CEOs face, and she confirms that for any transformation to be successful, the people and organisation in your company...

This week I am joined by Chris de Bruin, CEO at Acenda, the large Australian life business. Chris is a serial CEO, having transformed a number of businesses. He's very much a strategic thinker and problem solver. Among his key messages is the fact that deep thoughtfulness is required by all CEOs to judge timing, what to change, what not to change, how to develop as a master of influence and succes...

DESCRIPTION This week, it is great to be joined by Dominic Kovacs, CEO of Colossyan. He stands out as the youngest CEO on my podcast, and yet, in a few short years, he has transformed himself, his business and the learning sector using tech and AI.  Dominik is humble about his learning. Yet he has achieved much his transformation maxes on internal locus of control, using culture to drive sustainab...

Welcome to another episode of transformer CEOs. Matt Stephens has led two of his own companies in consulting and employee insight Quest Agency and Inpulse. He's worked with hundreds of CEOs globally, some of them transformers. So brings both perspectives through his own work. Matt has transformed how CEOs value employee insight data and use it to drive performance. He also brings a distinct societ...

Patrick Svensk is CEO of PodX and chairs three other companies. He's a straight-talking senior media executive who's transformed multiple companies as well as the industry. I loved his ability and willingness to flip between CEO and chair roles depending on need, his take on what it makes for a great transformer CEO in media and his total disregard for career planning and politics, but deep passio...

DESCRIPTION This week, Erik is joined by serial investor and entrepreneur, Peter Lindholm. He was the CEO of the unicorn company, Frontier Car Group, and is now chair of Unaric, a Software Group integrating SaaS companies into AI powered platforms.  Peter speaks openly about scaling from 3 to 5000 employees, the AI juggernaut coming down the tracks towards all CEOs, especially those with large whi...

DESCRIPTION This week, I'm excited to introduce you to Peter Hörwing, CEO of Chart Learning Solutions. Peter is a serial CEO, who has transformed a number of organisations and now runs his own virtual company from his yacht. What really stood out for me is Peter´s strong link between the CEO's values and the company's values, the importance of surrounding yourself with great talent and then delega...

DESCRIPTION Today, I am joined by Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, former CEO and Chair of LEGO Group and a real titan of the toy industry. He has just stepped away from executive roles at LEGO and is embarking on five buckets of new activity. His learning mindset and academic roots still shape his leadership today, bringing a distinctive mix of curiosity, authenticity and a truth‑to‑power willingness to con...

DESCRIPTION Welcome to Transformer CEOs with me, Erik Schmidt. As well as hosting this podcast, I advise Chairs, CEOs and investors on driving performance in tough environments. Today I’m joined by one such CEO - Erwin Wieffering, CEO of SafetyKleen, who has led multiple transformations.  Today, we talk about the necessary craziness and resilience of a transformer CEO, achieving that vital balance...

DESCRIPTION This week, Erik is joined by someone he has had the privilege to work with directly -  Alexander Lacik the  President and CEO of Pandora - the world's largest jewellery business by volume. Alexander has successfully led the global transformation of Pandora that has been named as the most successful turnaround in Danish corporate history.  He talks vividly about the cultural transformat...

DESCRIPTION This week, I am delighted to be joined by Mark Cuddigan, CEO at THIS™ a leading plant protein business. Mark is a serial CEO, having transformed and built a number of businesses in the food sector. He leads with the heart. His key messages include the amazing transformative effect of focusing on culture and freeing up employees to be part of something great. Mark felt he wasn't really...

Erik is described by CEO and Chairmen as "exceptional", "undoubtedly one of the top global HR leaders" and "a strong strategic thinker and amazing change leader". After 35 years working with some of the most successful companies on the planet including Diageo, GE, LEGO, HSBC and Pandora, he focuses in the podcast on sharing the unique character of corporate leaders who take on some of the biggest...