Inner Chief Podcast

“When you develop all three traits, you become bulletproof. You create momentum, confidence, and long-term impact.” Chief, today we dive into what I consider to be a core framework that I’ve observed after working with hundreds of top-tier executives and CEOs through the podcast and our day job at Chief Maker over a number of years. These three traits keep showing up, without fail, in every high-performing leader I meet. If you don’t have these in your toolkit, I can almost guarantee you’ll struggle to hit your definition of success.

“You’ve got to get yourself in a position to exit, and then give yourself the time to exit properly. The biggest advice I give sellers is to not be in a rush to sell.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Dean Salakas, Former CEO of The Party People. His full episode is titled Being sale-ready, Forecasting like a CFO, and Selling confidently on your terms. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“There's work guilt because you worry that you're not delivering 100%. There's guilt that you're not being the best mum possible. So, it really is guilt on all fronts if you're not careful.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author, on removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness.  

“You’ve got to get yourself into a position to exit and then put time on your side. Don't be in a rush to sell, but when you are ready, put a deadline in place for buyers to make an offer.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Dean Salakas, former Party People CEO, on Being sale-ready, forecasting like a CFO, and selling confidently on your terms.

“Imagine any city with 50% job losses, it's a completely different place. I don't see governments getting things ready. It's going to take time.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Professor Joel Pearson, Director of Future Minds Lab. His full episode is titled Leading in uncertainty, Future-proofing for the AI Revolution, and De-risking innovation. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“We need to get better, better, better at core. Not newer, bigger, different.”   Chief, today we cover something that is absolutely dominating everyone’s thoughts in a hyper-distracted world, and that is cutting out the noise and getting back to strategic intent and focus. Executive teams are under relentless pressure; from technological change, shifting workforce expectations, and increasing compliance, to the ever-present noise of geopolitics and market urgency, it’s easy to get pulled in a hundred directions and lose sight of what actually drives value. When leadership spreads itself too thin, focus disappears, risk increases, and performance suffers. Chief, getting back to your core business is more important now than ever. I share the framework I use with Chiefs and boards across the globe to help them identify their true strategic priorities, cut through distraction, and optimise their systems to deliver real impact. Because when leaders waste energy on the wrong things, the business pays the price: in

“By the time that person's come to work, it's cost them 50 bucks for transport, lunch, coffee. So what is the experience they’re going to get going into work for a day, because they could easily just stay at home.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Brad Krauskopf, Founder & CEO of Hub Australia. His full episode is titled Designing inspiring flexible workspaces for the future, and Building workplace engagement and experience.   You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“I think the internet will be gone. AIs will have all the information and entertainment for us whenever we want.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Professor Joel Pearson, Director of the Future Minds Lab, on Leading in uncertainty, Future-proofing for the AI revolution, and De-risking innovation.

“The 80/20 curve also applies to time: 1% of your time produces 50% of all your productivity.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Perry Marshall, Author and Sales & Marketing Guru. His full episode is titled Redefining the 80/20 Rule, buying time for superhuman productivity, and solving tough problems. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“When I think about the workplace of the future, it's about the experiences you provide when bringing people together. It’s an extension of your brand.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Brad Krauskopf, Founder & CEO of Hub Australia, on Designing inspiring flexible workspaces for the future, and Building workplace engagement and experience.

“80-90% of my job is to engage the business. It's a KPI.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Ben Marsonet, CEO of Altus Group. His full episode is titled The 6 stages of executive evolution, leading with visibility, and how powerful stories shape culture. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“Step one, write down 25 things that you really, really want to do in your life. Step two, order the list in importance to you. Step three, put a circle around the top five and cross off the bottom 20. That's how you succeed.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Perry Marshall, Author and Sales & Marketing Guru, on Redefining the 80/20 Rule, buying time for superhuman productivity, and solving tough problems.  

“The biggest risk for executives and corporations is distance from the customer. It’s the number one thing that will kill you.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Jack Delosa, Founder & CEO of The Entourage. His full episode is titled Frameworks for success, Building customer connection, and Raising capital from an investor’s viewpoint. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“If you want to know how you actually build a culture, it’s through stories you tell of the amazing things that people do inside of the business that make you sit back in awe.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Ben Marsonet, CEO of Altus Group, on The 6 stages of executive evolution, leading with visibility, and how powerful stories shape culture.

“Too many leaders sit in fancy offices assuming what customers want, and then wonder why their product or service isn’t landing.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Jack Delosa, Founder and CEO of The Entourage, on Frameworks for success, Building customer connection, and Raising capital from an investor’s viewpoint.

“You've got to have the wherewithal and the EQ to know when to stick your nose in and ask the questions, and other times to trust and let people get on with it. Noses in, fingers out.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Angela Tsoukatos, CEO and 20 years executive team member. Her  full episode is titled Pivotal career moments, how to focus on core business, and the most effective ways the Board and C-Suite can work together. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“Being difficult to give feedback to means people will stop giving it completely and you'll have no idea about your true performance and reputation.” In today’s minisode, we finish our series on How to Give Feedback and we're going to bring this home by giving you some strategies to implement a culture of feedback within your department or organisation. Remember, as a leader, their performance is also your performance and you’ve both got to own it, otherwise you risk negatively affecting your track record. Chief, if you haven't listened to Part 1 (preparing like a coach) or Part 2 (tools and strategies), please go back and listen to them first as it will give you some vital context to the final episode.

“An insight made by the coach is owned by the coach. An insight made by the client (or the person you're giving feedback to), is owned by the client.” In today’s minisode, we continue with our series on How to Give Feedback and we're going to talk about how to deliver like a true chief with some specific feedback methods and scripts that might help you bring this process to life.  Chief, if you haven't listened to Part 1 in the series, please go back and listen to it as it will give you some vital context.

“Feedback is never done in isolation; there's a whole range of things going on around someone in your team, and so it's really helpful to prepare properly before you give feedback.” Chief, today we are kicking off Part 1 of our How to Give Feedback Series. In today’s episode, we are diving into the essentials of preparing to give feedback like an elite sporting coach, as well as some core principles of this process. Feedback is the breakfast of champions of high-performance teams and is vital for personal and team growth. And you, as the leader, are your team’s coach, helping to guide them to kicking business goals, ultimately which reflects on you, Chief, and your track record.

“One of the big lessons anyone can take out of COVID was that everyone was forced to live in a world that was out of control and you just had to adapt and respond.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features David Knoff, Antarctic Expedition Leader and author of 537 Days of Winter. His full episode is titled: High-stakes risk and crisis management, and being adaptable around your mission. You can find the full audio and show notes here: