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15 Minutes with the Boss

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Latest Episode

Why Gurner gave up alcohol – and what he learnt

The property developer and wellness entrepreneur has rarely had a drink for 18 months. He doesn’t like what he sees from people who are imbibing.

  • Sally Patten and Martin Peralta
Australian Museum chief executive Kim McKay.

Why this CEO reckons networking is ‘BS’

For Australian Museum boss Kim McKay, work and life are about having meaningful conversations. Social media chit-chat doesn’t cut it.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

This Month

Staff got a nine-day fortnight, but still waste time on one thing

Grant Thornton CEO Greg Keith doesn’t like to see staff, who work a nine-day fortnight, wasting time waiting for everyone to get their coffee before they go back to the office.

  • Updated
  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

November

Why being good at your job isn’t enough to get a promotion

Brighter Super CEO Kate Farrar reveals the secrets to getting a promotion, what she does at 4am and what she learnt from failing at an investment bank. 

  • Updated
  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Cicada boss Sally Ann Williams.

A top CEO reveals what you shouldn’t do in a job interview

Cicada Innovations chief Sally-Ann Williams discusses tips when trying to advance your career, and the thing she does every morning to make better decisions.

  • Sally Patten and Martin Peralta
Paul Scurrah.

The mantra that keeps this CEO ahead of the game

Former Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah reveals how he avoids distractions, what he has learnt from the collapse of two airlines and why he doesn’t eat until midday.

  • Sally Patten and Martin Peralta

Why retail was the Bunnings MD’s third career choice, and why he stayed

Michael Schneider found doing the thing he was passionate about helped make his career much more worthwhile than seeing it as a job with a fortnightly pay.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan
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October

Kyle Faulconer

What this CEO learnt from losing $30m

Kyle Faulconer, the CEO of PepsiCo in ANZ, discovered the value of rapid prototyping and minimum viable products after a failed launch cost his client $30m.

  • Euan Black, Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Zip Co chief executive Cynthia Scott says a simple reframing exercise helped her overcome her fear of the word ‘no’ and become the CEO of Barclays in Australia and New Zealand.

The simple ‘reframe’ that helped this leader become a big bank CEO

Zip Co CEO Cynthia Scott nominates a simple reframing exercise that taught her not to fear the word ‘no’ as the best career advice she ever received.

  • Euan Black, Sally Patten and Lap Phan
South Africa’s first fully representative democratic elections in 1994 were a pivotal moment in Biopak CEO Gary Smith’s career.

Why Nelson Mandela’s election was a turning point for this CEO

A contract to provide the computers for South Africa’s first all-race democratic elections in 1994 was a pivotal moment in the career of BioPak CEO Gary Smith.

  • Euan Black, Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Richard Evans

This CEO gave up drinking 10 years ago, and never looked back

Why Australian Chamber Orchestra boss Richard Evans swapped alcohol for walking and a cup of tea.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

Why we should all learn to be OK with embarrassment

If we let fear of failing and ego get in the way, we will stop trying and stop moving forward, says this high-profile education leader.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

September

Former David Jones boss on the ideal time to quit as CEO

Paul Zahra, the former chief executive of David Jones, says, as a general rule, there is a minimum and maximum amount of time the leader should be in the role.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

What this CEO learnt from Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar

Culture Amp chief Didier Elzinga met the Atlassian duo at an awards function years ago, and got an insight into scalable business models.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

How this former accountant became a top music exec

Sean Warner, the CEO of Universal Music in Australia, thought he wanted to be an accountant, until he realised he didn’t.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Vicki Doyle has recently stopped drinking coffee and alcohol.

How a tragic car accident upended this CEO’s life

Rest Superannuation’s Vicki Doyle worked at insurer Suncorp for more than nine years. Three weeks into her first general manager role, she got a phone call.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

August

How this former McKinsey consultant finds jobs she loves

Allegra Spender’s route to becoming an independent MP was a roundabout one and taught her about the power of putting yourself forward and following your passions.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan
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How this CEO wins back clients his business has lost

Advertising boss Michael Rebelo is a big believer in being magnanimous when he loses a deal or a client.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Sharon Lewin, a night owl, does a lot of her emails at night and sends them the following morning.

MH17 taught this leader how to manage through a crisis

The Malaysia Airlines plane was shot out of the sky two days before a large health conference being organised by Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin was due to begin. Several delegates were on board.

  • Sally Patten
Mick O’Brien

Why most executives don’t reach their full potential

Early in his career, a senior colleague suggested Mick O’Brien, now a $900 million company CEO, take on a management role. Luckily his colleague could see his potential.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

July

This top fundie used to peel four sacks of potatoes every Friday

Ausbil Investment Management’s Paul Xiradis says it’s at the fish market that he probably got involved in markets, understanding how they’re priced and cleared.

  • Sally Patten and Lap Phan

Why this top lawyer has a nanny

For KWM chief executive partner Renae Lattey, having home help means that she gets time to herself, as well as time to devote to her family and job. 

  • Ciara Seccombe and Lap Phan

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/podcast/15-minutes-with-the-boss