An Extraordinary Life

We are in the midst of an AI revolution, where the biggest companies in the world are locked in an arms race, with valuations like Nvidia's skyrocketing as AI becomes the new 'electricity' driving innovation. But what is hype, and what is reality? And more importantly, how can you harness this power to amplify your effectiveness, productivity, and impact?

In this episode of An Extraordinary Life, brought to you by the QUT graduate school of business. we speak with Dr Evan Shellshear.  Evan is the coauthor of a new book entitled "Why Data Science Projects Fail" —a book for practioners and leaders that uncovers the harsh realities of implementing AI and analytics, cutting through the hype to reveal what truly works.

We hope you enjoy.

In this episode, we are honoured to welcome Ann Sherry AO, a trailblazing business executive, philanthropist, newly appointed QUT Chancellor, and former CEO of Carnival Australia. With an exceptional career spanning government, banking, and cruise tourism, Ann has broken barriers, revitalised the cruise industry in the region, and paved the way for future generations.

From her beginnings as a radiographer to becoming the First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women, and later transitioning to the banking sector as CEO of Bank of Melbourne and Westpac NZ, Ann's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Her numerous accolades, including being named the overall winner of the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Award in 2015, and receiving the prestigious Australian honour of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of her contributions to the community and the advancement of women in leadership roles, are well-deserved acknowledgments of her significant impact on business and society.

Join us as we delve into Ann Sherry's incredible story, her dedication to empowering others, her transformative tenure at Carnival Australia, and her thoughts on effective leadership and living a full, rich and valued life.

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Ray Weekes who has risen from humble beginnings to become a successful CEO and philanthropist.

Growing up in a single-parent household in Sydney's housing commission, Ray's mother instilled in him the importance of education at a young age.

This belief stayed with him throughout his career, which saw him climb the corporate ladder and hold senior leadership positions in several major companies.

Ray is currently an adjunct professor and CEO in residence at QUT Business School, and also chair of the CEO Institute Queensland, and director and advisor to various companies.

In this podcast, we learn more about Ray's journey and his dedication to supporting the next generation of leaders.

In this episode, we speak with former Commissioner of Queensland Police, Ian Stewart, who has had a remarkable career in policing spanning 45 years. 

Ian has seen the best and the worst of human nature. 

In his role as commissioner, empathy has played a leading role.  For instance,  in speaking to new recruits, he'd mention to them that the difference between them and many of the people that they'd need to deal with in their careers lies in one factor -  the presence or absence of a supporting and loving family upbringing.  So, be kind.

We speak with Ian about his varied experiences across his career, and what lessons they have taught him.

This is a refreshing conversation about the positive role that the police do, can, and should have in our community and our lives.

In this episode, we speak with inspector Corey Allen. 

For Corey as a child, empathy and kindness were in short supply. When the violence erupted Corey called the police. 

In a twist of fate, Corey signed up as a police officer and became the officer in charge of one of Australia's largest and busiest police stations. At the time the police service was in crisis.  Bad press, the use of excessive force, and a proliferation of injuries in custody were common.

Corey explored a different approach to policing. Instead of defining success by the number of arrests, using force as the only option, he led with empathy. This new approach was about taking preventative measures that helped steer at-risk lives in a more positive direction.

The results were surprising. Corey helped dramatically reshape the way police work with the homeless and vulnerable leading to an unprecedented reduction in crime in inner-city, Brisbane. 

Empathy is also a strong theme in his personal life where Corey and his wife were fostering many children needing emergency care.

This is an inspirational story not to be missed

In this episode, we interview Hayden Tee one of Broadway and West End's brightest stars. We chat to Hayden about his career highlights and what he believes are the secrets to his success. We also talked to Hayden about his personal journey of self-actualization in proudly embracing his identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+  community and helping lift as he describes, the colonial cloak of shame, that's been imposed on the Maori culture. 

Hayden's also a strong advocate for equity and inclusion.  His passion shines through when he explains his interesting perspective on auditioning for his upcoming musical production, Jekyll and Hyde.

These auditions are open to anyone for any role.  This potentially broadens the scope for any race, gender identity, and physical ability. We discuss the outcomes of this casting call, the show's record-breaking box-office reception, and what other leaders and employees can learn from this experience.