Inner Chief Podcast

" The key here is not perfection, it's all about just doing the very best we can in the current state of our life." Chief, in our last episode of 2025, I'm going to share with you the exact end of year review process I've refined over more than two decades that gives me clarity, alignment, and meaningful progress. You can complete this on your own or with your partner, but in the Council of Chiefs we take it further by building a full Executive Playbook that guides both your career and life.

"It's now obvious to me that it's harder to maintain that sense of community unless you've got things like parkrun that are driving that connection." 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 Tim Oberg, former CEO of parkrun Australia. His full episode is titled Escaping the rat race, building a vibrant community and managing anxiety. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

"As human beings we have a lot more physically and mentally than we give ourselves credit for. When we think we're done, I don't think we're near." In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Rupert Guinness, legendary sports writer and ultra-endurance cyclist, on choosing growth and opportunity at every turn, and discovering untapped physical and mental capacity through extreme adversity.

"Start telling your story really early. By the time the actual capital raise comes around, you can create something that's oversubscribed." 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 James Schofield, Founder of Insight Investor Relations. His full episode is titled Pitching your business, raising capital and winning investor trust. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

"It's now obvious to me that it's harder to maintain that sense of community unless you've got things like parkrun that are driving that connection."   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Tim Oberg, Former CEO of parkrun Australia on escaping the rat race, building a vibrant community and managing anxiety.  

"The best founders are constantly pitching – for customers, recruits, suppliers and capital."   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to James Schofield, Founder of Insight Investor Relations, on Pitching your business, raising capital and winning investor trust.

“You can’t make good choices from a cluttered mind.” Chief, today I'm going to introduce you to one of the most powerful tools in leadership: The Decision Clarity Matrix. Every part of your life and career is shaped by the quality of your decisions. From relationships to investments, to how you respond in tough moments, your reputation and legacy all come down to one thing. Decision-making. Yet, no one really teaches us how to make good decisions. Until today, that is!

“Your values and philosophy about why you do things are your North Star; without them your decisions will be wishy-washy.”   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 Neil Craig, Former AFL Coach and England Rugby High Performance Manager. His full episode is titled High performance environments, your North Star and decision-making under pressure. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“Chiefs who take a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership will ALWAYS end up failing.” Chief, today I'm diving into one of the most powerful models in business performance and leadership: the Fix, Reset, Grow, Change the Game journey map. This is the framework I use with almost every executive or organisation I coach. It gives you clarity, confidence and direction as a leader by showing you exactly where your business is, where it’s heading, and what to do next.

“It's not about you, but it's all about you. If you're able to think that way, you'll get feedback when you need it without asking for it and you'll be amazed how many problems just go away.”   It's AFL grand final week so we're bringing you a Best of Series episode from 2019 with Neil Craig, former AFL Head Coach, on high performance environments, your North Star and decision-making under pressure.  

“Building an operating rhythm and sticking to it requires energy and fortitude.”   Chief, today I'm going to talk about three important tips to help you bring your operating rhythm to life and to ensure that it is high impact and drives results consistently. I'm also going to talk through three of the most classic problems that executives face when trying to implement a new one or refine an existing operating rhythm.

“To win your people’s hearts and minds, you have to have a compelling vision or proposition to offer them.”   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 George Hunt, Former CIO of the Year. His full episode is titled Winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“If you think your people aren't using AI, you would be in denial.”   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 Kate Newey, HR Chief of Adaptalift Group. Her full episode is titled The secret life of HR professionals, having it all and AI in the workplace. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“The one analogy I use for technology change programs is that we're trying to upgrade an aircraft whilst it's in flight. This allows people to understand the risk profile.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with George Hunt, former CIO of the Year, on winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership.

“It's really important to keep a sense of humour, especially if you're in a stressful environment. Show people that you're human.”   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 Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer, G8 Education. Her full episode is titled Driving business success through the development of your people. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“HR is such a diverse role. At any given time we see people at their worst, and people at their best. We’re expected to be lawyers and are constantly making commercial decisions.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Kate Newey, HR Chief of Adaptalift Group, on The secret life of HR professionals, having it all and AI in the workplace.

“HR has shifted towards partnering with the business as a trusted advisor to the executive team, as people have started to realise the value of human capital.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer of G8 Education, on driving business success through the development of your people.  

“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.”   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 Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author. Her full episode is titled Removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“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: