Arete Podcast With Richard Triggs

In this episode, I interview Vinod Muthanna - CEO and President of DBM Vircon. DBM Vircon is a merger of 3 companies and he leads the integration and the creation of a global practice with nine offices in 8 countries over four continents. He also shares his experiences throughout his career, past and present, and shares his thoughts on being a CEO and a servant leader to his team and business. DBM Vircon is a steel-detailing and building information modelling company DBM Vircon is a merger of three businesses - BDs Vircon, PDC Group, and Candraft VSI, and headquartered in Brisbane What type of work DBM Vircon does around the world. The company does projects with industrial and commercial strain, and high rises. It boasts 55 years of iconic projects around the world. How did the company come to acquire and work for these iconic projects? How the business stood out in North America versus the local competitors Vinod talks about his life in India. He migrated to Australia in 1988 for his MBA What attracted

This episode was recorded at the end of March 2020, just as severe restrictions were taking hold due to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 threat. While you might expect that job prospects are difficult for everyone at this time, the executive job market, especially for mission-critical roles is surprisingly vibrant at the moment. In this episode I chat with Brett Jarman, Executive Producer of the Experts On Air Podcast Network (and producer of the Arete Podcast) about the current situation and the prospects and opportunities for executives looking for a new role. We also get into the details of my successful Executive Career Coaching Program and why now is the perfect time for executives in the job market to use it. What is career coaching and advocacy? Who it is suitable for? Executives looking for a new role because they need one Executives looking for a new role because they are ready for a change Executives expecting to look for a new role in the next 6-12 months Suitable candidates for non-executive board r

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard interviews Grant Moyle - the CEO of XLM Systems. XLM Systems helps mining businesses switch from mechanical solutions to IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) solutions for their operations. He shares his personal background, his career over the past years, his mindset on business investing and acquisitions, to employee recruitment and team handling, his current role as the CEO, his career and business aspirations, and more. Episode Highlights: What is IoT? XLM has been in existence in its current form for 2 years The business has just purchased a software development business, doubling in size to 12 currently on staff XLM is owned by Mitchell Group, a family-based investment firm established over 50 years ago Grant's portfolio before being XLM Systems's CEO - from his earlier experiences, to working in the field, working for Compaq, moving to London and starting as a data entry professional and moving up to an MD role, moving to Calcutta, India and starting a

In this episode, I’m chatting with Bill Petch, CEO of the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, about his first CEO role and how he’s managing such an important sector during a time of exciting change. The charity is the only national charity dedicated to helping those with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. Bill was first appointed CEO of the Queensland branch in 2012 and led an agency-wide program to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness with a focus on impact and sustainability. Under his watch, the organisation released the very first ‘State of the Nation’ report on blood cancer in Australia and has put together the very first national task force that will improve equity of access to current treatments and new emerging therapies to improve survivability. Episode highlights: Who Bill is and his current professional responsibilities Big moments for the foundation recently - released first ‘State of the Nation’ report on blood cancer and put together the first nati

In this episode I chat to Mark Denning, owner and managing director of Fallon Solutions about risks he’s taken over the years, investing in training for staff and networking throughout Australia and across the pond in the US. Brisbane-based Fallon Solutions provides B2C and B2B trade services to customers in South East Queensland, including electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, carpentry and all that comes with it. The company employs more than 170 permanent staff, has 100 service vehicles and a pool of talent ready to jump in to help continue its reputation of being the most responsive business in their field. Since buying the business in 2005, Mark, who has run businesses of $40m through to $150m, has made changes to the business structure that has resulted in an impressive 1500% increase in revenue. Episode Highlights: Mark’s professional responsibilities - owner and MD of Fallon Solutions, providing trade services in B2C and B2B sectors How Mark came to be a business owner The scope of Fallon S

In this episode I chat to David Carter, CEO Suncorp Banking & Wealth about some of the issues facing the banking industry and the challenge of restoring confidence for customers and employees. Suncorp is the largest of the Queensland-listed public companies, with more than 1.1 million customers. David, who has a team of around 650+, is publicly thought of as the person who runs the bank, but his duties don’t stop there. He’s also a board member of Queensland Ballet and Deputy Chair of Australian Banking Association with a strong background in financial services, including banking, wealth management and life insurance. Episode highlights: David’s current range of responsibilities - CEO of Banking and Wealth at Suncorp, board member of Queensland Ballet and Deputy Chair of Australian Bankers’ Association A look at Queensland Ballet, what they do well and how David got on the board David’s views on being on a not-for-profit board - understanding the different nature and dynamics of a not-for-profit board

Building a business based on something you love is easy. Building a business that works without your constant attention isn’t. Too many business owners run away with a business idea without having the skill set they need for it to really take off and fail to understand what’s missing. In this episode, I chat to Ben Fewtrell, CEO of multi-million dollar business MaxMyProfit. He’s been in the business coaching and training space since 2001, so he’s seen his fair share of business successes and failures. His career is varied, starting as a panel beater, working in the transportation industry and owning several businesses over the years, including two hairdressers! He’s also a fellow podcaster as host of the Business Brain Food Podcast. Now, he focuses on coaching and consulting business owners looking to ‘build the business they imagined’ with the Business Exceleration™ Coaching program. MaxMyProfit also offers Business Exceleration™ Franchises, since 2018. Episode highlights: Been working in the busine

In this episode, I delve into the arts sector with Craig Whitehead, CEO of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) to learn more about the business and leadership of a large orchestra. Craig’s love for the performing arts sector began at a young age, despite being brought up in a “sports-focused” family in Stafford. He went on to become a freelance actor in London, UK, and saw an opportunity to start a theatre education company. After completing a Diploma in Business and an MBA in Business, Craig completed an Advanced Management Program at INSEAD, ‘The Business School For The World’ in 2015. Over the years, Craig has served as General Manager of Queensland’s second largest theatre company, CEO for West Australia Opera and CEO of Western Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) - a position he held for 10 years. Now, his work as CEO of QSO focuses on changing people’s perceptions of an orchestra and targeting new markets. QSO is the largest performing arts company in Queensland , with a turnover of around

What do you do when you’re thinking about replacing a current employee who is underperforming? Or have a position to fill and an internal candidate who meets the requirements of the role, but you want to make sure you’re hiring the right person for the job? I discussed these scenarios, and our Headhunted Shortlist package, with Brett Jarman, Founder and Executive Producer of Experts On Air, the producers of the Arete Podcast. Episode highlights: Using the Headhunted Shortlist when you have a position to fill and want to ensure your internal candidate is the best person for the role Arete Executive’s assignment to hire a CFO for a mining company The Headhunted Shortlist package - delivering candidates for 7.5% of package How our package can benefit organisations Why hiring internally might not be the best fit, despite it being good for business culture Using the Headhunted Shortlist when you’re thinking of terminating somebody who is underperforming and replacing them with new external talent Maintaining co

Competition in the workspace is high nowadays, so career development is no longer just about doing a great job, whatever your role. If you want to get access to the best opportunities, you need to show you are doing more than competently executing your responsibilities. As a result, building a personal brand is becoming more prevalent. How you come across in the marketplace can make all the difference to your professional development. In this episode, Brett Jarman from Experts on Air (the producers of the Arete Executive Podcast) and I discussed the subject in detail. Episode highlights: Programs and people who can help you build your personal brand - Key Person of Influence (Dent Global), Suzie Lightfoot and Brett Jarman The younger generation pay more attention to their brand Should you have a website or be present on social media? Start small and work your way up - speak at a conference, write an article or join an industry board Every job has an element of sales so sell yourself The power of LinkedI

In this episode, I chat to Moira Harris, the managing director of Hygrade Water Australia, a family-owned startup. The company manufactures, imports and distributes specialised water-related products for the civil construction industry, and employs 25 people across its two branches in Brisbane and Sydney. Moira is a strong business leader with experience in operations management, sales management, negotiation, marketing and stakeholder relations - all roles she held since emigrating from Scotland to Australia in 2000. She shares the lessons she’s learned along the way as a female in male-dominated industries, and as the managing director of a ‘isolated’ startup in Australia. Moira also touches in the pressure to assimilate and how executive coaching has taught her to stay true to herself. Episode highlights: Background of Hygrade Water Australia - a startup of parent company, New Zealand-based Hynds Group Most of Hygrade Water’s products are brought in from Europe - specialised products Why the owner

In this episode I’m joined by three company directors, each with a unique outlook on the past, present and future of business. My three guest speakers are Ian Sampson, Michael James and Natasha Howie. Ian is an executive and non-executive director and chairman of several companies, advising senior leaders on complex issues. Michael is a company director and business advisor, working mostly with SMEs to grow their businesses and create a high performing culture. Similarly, Natasha is director of Ascend Media Australia and a marketing consultant specialist, and works primarily with people in the SME space in Brisbane. We chat about everything from business culture and brand identity to leadership, artificial intelligence and even Lime electric scooters. Episode highlights: An introduction to each speaker and their role Natasha’s work with clients on ‘micro moments’ A definition of micro moments - what people are doing when they’re online and how that changes the customer’s decision making Michael’s work

It’s always a good idea to go to an interview fully prepared. While some people have great interview skills, others may need to practise prior to meeting their potential employer to avoid common mistakes. Having said that, regardless of where you sit on the interviewee spectrum, you could be making mistakes you weren’t even aware of. So I’ve come up with good interview techniques for candidates to help you bag your next executive role. This is the second in the series with Brett Jarman (the founder and CEO of Experts On Air, the producers of the podcast). Topics covered: Advice offered in my book, ‘Uncover The Hidden Job Market’ Show your interest - print out company information or a LinkedIn profile and take it with you Don’t assume you know what the employer wants - ask what is expected of you in the role Don’t list off attributes you think are relevant - ask what your role will be and tell stories based on the employer’s answers Practising your stories ahead of time with family and friends or in the

In this episode, I chat to Jason Cubit, CEO of not-for-profit Horizon Housing Company, based on the Gold Coast. The company, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, provides housing for low income people in need. Jason has been a part of the company for 11 years, coming from a business background. Horizon’s portfolio spans Townsville, Roma, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Mackay and Gold Coast and includes a range of housing for people escaping domestic violence out of shelters, right through to home ownership. The company’s 60 staff work with the Queensland state government providing housing and supporting them in the provision of social housing for low income earners. It also works with the development industry providing discount housing options and development projects. Episode highlights: What Horizon Housing Company does - provides housing for low income people in need Horizon Housing stats - 2,500 houses and more under its subsidiaries across 6 countries People who would qualify for housing with H

In the last episode of this Interview series, we looked at good interview techniques for candidates. Now, we’re flipping the table and looking at good techniques employers can use when interviewing, because having the right skills as the interviewer is just as important. As people get promoted to leadership roles in their respective industries, they take on new responsibilities to recruit new talent for their team as and when required. But just because they are good at their own role, it doesn’t mean they are a good interviewer. It is something that can be improved though, with a few simple interview techniques. Episode highlights: Arete Executive’s recruitment methodology based on Lou Adler’s performance-based hiring approach What makes a good interview? Thoroughly explaining the role and expectations at the start of the interview An example of three organisations hiring for a similar role with completely different expectations How to ask the right questions to find the right talent for your business Goi

How do you turn an organisation with a tarnished reputation into a thriving charity? By working towards a shared mission with the right staff and innovative technology. In this episode, I chat to Mark Townend who has been CEO of RSPCA in Queensland for 19 years. He has local government, commercial and not-for-profit experience and likes to think outside the box to find creative solutions. RSPCA QLD deals with some 56,000 animals a year - more than anyone else in the Southern Hemisphere - and has an 88% save rate with a $51m budget. Its 340 staff, 5,300 volunteers and 24 inspectors deal with 18,000 cruelty complaints a year As well as significantly strengthening RSPCA QLD’s future health, Mark has several Board responsibilities with Bio Security, Animal Welfare, St Paul de Chartres and Regional Development Australia (RDA), a government initiative. He’s also the director of Tap Tins, a fully self-serve contactless payment system for donating to charity, and Pet Cloud, an Airbnb-type setup for animals.

I talk a lot about the dos and the don’ts of recruitment and hunting for work, but what are the rules of being headhunted? Is there a right way to respond to being headhunted? Similarly, are there right and wrong ways to go about headhunting somebody? In this episode, Brett Jarman, (the founder and CEO of Experts On Air, the producers of the podcast) joins me again to decipher the tricky subject. Episode highlights: The first steps of headhunting - finding the available talent to fill the role LinkedIn as the most common way of engaging with a potential candidate The importance of making yourself visible on LinkedIn and how to do that through keywords What to expect from a recruiter - phone calls, emails and LinkedIn messages Being open to chats about possible opportunities How to manage your salary expectations Telling legitimate recruiters from those just trying to make money Loose lips sink ships - dealing with the stress of your current employer finding out you’ve had discussions with other compani

In this episode we’re switching things around and instead of me doing the interview, this time I’m being interviewed. Brett Jarman, the Founder and CEO of Experts on Air, the agency that produces and hosts my podcast, turned the tables on me in my office and interviewed me for the podcast. I hope you find it as interesting as he did :-). Brett will also be co-hosting with me on some future episodes of the Arete Executive Podcast. Episode Highlights: My early life, my aspirations of becoming a rock star and my band Leather Zen How we beat Powderfinger in the QLD Rock Awards How my working career began Finishing my undergraduate degree Working for James Hardie as a sales person My first mentor Going back to university to complete my executive MBA What made me realise the difficulty and complexity of the recruitment industry 90% of people who go to work in the recruitment industry leave within 2 years and never return My surprise at the recruitment industry’s reputation and their low commitment to deli

This episode I chat to Suzie Lightfoot about the ongoing struggles for women as executives and the importance of knowing who you are, what you want and how to articulate that. She’s had quite the career, moving from her days as a gymnast and an elite diver competing for Australia, to modelling, being a brand ambassador, presenter and now brand mentor and female champion. After working as a single parent to send her daughter to private school, Suzie decided to quit her job at 50 and says she had no idea what she was doing. It was later she realised her strength lies with personal branding and found her groove helping other professional women do the same. Suzie works with predominantly women, but does have some male clients. The majority are successful in their industry but lack the know-how when it comes to elevating themselves. She works to take them to the next level and find the confidence they need to do what they want in life. She has big plans to take her motivational speaking and branding expert

Running a successful business can be hard and the financials overwhelming, but knowing your numbers is key to knowing your business. That’s what Philip Barnes, founder of CFO Insight, told me. A Chartered Accountant, Philip has worked with over 50 business in a range of industries since 2006 in either non-executive board roles or as a consultant. Pulling his wealth of knowledge of helping companies in distress and helping Australian tech startups commercialise in North America together, CFO Insight was founded in 2006. The company helps SMEs solve some of the major and most common business problems, and helps them to shape their business, primarily for success. Philip holds the business owner’s hand, doing what he calls “management consulting from the numbers.” Episode highlights: What Philip’s company offers to SMEs How Philip differs from a traditional CFO - helping businesses understand the numbers Why external accountants often provide CFO Insight with a lot of work Working for Andersons for 10 yea