223 Birgit Schnelle – Certified EOS Implementer – Entrepreneurial Coach – EOS Worldwide by Richard Triggs

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of CST Hire, Chair and Non-Executive Director. With more than two decades of leadership experience across resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, and professional services, Andrew shares the lessons from a career defined by reinvention, curiosity, and cultural leadership.

Andrew discusses his journey from aspiring engineer to CFO and then CEO, spanning industries from energy and mining to law and logistics. He reflects on the mindset shift required to transition from technical leadership into people-centred leadership, and why emotional intelligence and culture are now central to how he builds teams.

We explore the reality of balancing executive and board responsibilities, the discipline it takes to maintain governance boundaries, and how sitting on boards in different industries has sharpened his business acumen as a CEO. Andrew also talks about his current work at CST Hire — Australia’s leading truck and specialist vehicle rental business — where he’s driving diversification into renewables, rail, and infrastructure, while embedding innovation such as AI-powered fleet management and customer service automation.

The conversation is rich with practical insights for leaders about staying curious, walking the floor, and creating cultures of accountability and engagement. Andrew’s reflections on learning, adaptability, and longevity offer valuable guidance for any executive considering their own evolution from C-suite to boardroom.

Key Timestamps

2:00 – Overview of CST Hire and its national operations

5:00 – Balancing CEO and board roles effectively

8:00 – From engineer to CFO to CEO: lessons in reinvention

12:15 – Developing soft skills and emotional intelligence in leadership

17:00 – Building board experience and applying cross-industry learning

19:00 – Listed vs private company dynamics and leadership differences

22:30 – Culture, visibility, and leading from the floor

24:00 – Behaviour, accountability, and building team engagement

28:00 – CST’s diversification strategy and use of AI technology

34:00 – The appeal and reality of portfolio careers

36:00 – Life outside work: family, surf, and being a proud grandfather

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I sit down with Damien van Brunschot — Director of EvolveResolve, host of The Resolution Room podcast, leadership coach and trainer, and former Managing Partner with 29 years of legal experience.

Damien shares his journey from decades in commercial litigation and governance through to his transition into mediation, conflict resolution, and leadership coaching. We explore how his experience as a Managing Partner shaped his perspective on dispute resolution and why he now champions proactive mediation as a pathway to stronger workplaces and healthier leadership.

In the second half of the conversation, Damien dives into the psychology of conflict — how leaders can defuse tension, reframe disputes as opportunities, and build cultures where difficult conversations drive connection rather than division. This episode is rich with practical wisdom for executives navigating both boardroom decisions and workplace dynamics.

Key Timestamps

2:00 – Damien’s 29-year career in law and leadership, and why he pivoted into mediation and coaching.

6:15 – The roots of EvolveResolve and the mission to transform how organisations approach disputes.

10:40 – Common mistakes leaders make in conflict situations — and how to avoid them.

15:30 – Why unresolved disputes erode culture, productivity, and trust.

21:50 – The role of mediation in turning workplace friction into collaboration.

28:10 – Insights from hosting The Resolution Room podcast and conversations with leaders.

34:30 – Leadership lessons from managing a law firm and guiding teams through pressure.

40:45 – Coaching leaders to embrace vulnerability and courage in conflict.

47:20 – Building organisations where disagreement becomes a catalyst for growth and innovation.

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I sit down with Tim Dwyer, business growth strategist and founder of Tolemy, to explore how leaders can create clarity, alignment, and activation across their organisations.

Tim shares the journey from his early vision in 2008 to develop a “Google Maps for business” through to the creation of the Tolemy Map and his recently published book. We unpack how Tolemy helps leadership teams chart their direction, align their decision-making, and leverage the collective genius of their people.

In the second half of the conversation, Tim shifts gears to talk about the importance of slowing down to speed up, taking time to reinvent your business, and nurturing health, relationships, and brand. This episode blends practical strategy with deep leadership reflection — a must-listen for any executive looking to lead with clarity and purpose.

Key Timestamps

1:15 – Tim’s original 2008 vision to build a “Google Maps for business” and remove the stress from growth.

4:00 – The inspiration behind the Tolemy name and why navigation is a powerful metaphor for strategy.

6:45 – How the Tolemy Map aligns leadership teams around direction and decision-making.

9:30 – Turning the map into a reference manual for businesses — setting direction, aligning teams, activating plans.

13:20 – The cost of disconnection between leadership teams and how Tolemy closes the gap.

20:40 – Leveraging the “genius” of every person in the business for maximum growth.

34:50 – The danger of accelerating faster and faster — why leaders must create space for relationships.

37:30 – “Slowing down to speed up” — reconnecting with health, business fundamentals, and people.

42:10 – Tim on the current “reinvention window” and why now is the time to reimagine business.

46:00 – Practical ways to build a less frantic, more connected, more intentional organisation.

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I speak with Dr Zena Burgess FAICD FAPS, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Psychological Society, about her leadership journey across psychology, governance, and health reform. Zena shares how she scaled APS into a digitally enabled organisation with influence at state and federal levels, while also balancing a diverse board portfolio that includes Diabetes Australia, Bully Zero, and a psychedelic start-up.

We discuss the importance of advocacy, how to navigate ambiguity as a leader, and why coaching, networks and patience are essential for long-term success. Zena also reflects on gender barriers she overcame early in her career, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and why aligning heart and mind is the key to effective profit-for-purpose organisations.

Key Timestamps

00:20 – CEO role at APS: representing 26,000 psychologists, influencing government, and transforming the organisation’s digital capability.

02:33 – Board portfolio: Diabetes Australia, Bully Zero, and psychedelic start-up work in PTSD and pain.

06:26 – Early life: convent school, father a judge/hostage negotiator; learning resilience through debate and gender barriers.

10:44 – First CEO role at the College of GPs: stepping up when her CEO retired; focus on enabling teams.

12:59 – Preparing for leadership: continuous learning through Harvard, Columbia, INSEAD, and working with business coaches.

15:24 – Proud RACGP achievements: resolving 25-year GP training issue, influencing government policy, advancing mental health reforms.

23:31 – APS transformation: raising external profile, digitisation, and stronger student/emerging leader engagement.

26:29 – Advocacy philosophy: patience, persistence, and aligning ideas with others to achieve change.

28:09 – Best career advice: “learn the grey,” embrace uncertainty, tolerate imperfection, and learn to say no.

35:08 – Diabetes Australia as a model: blending lived experience with commercial discipline; why it’s rare and effective.

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I speak with Vincent Berry, Director at Sajen Legal, about how business owners and executives can better protect their organisations from legal risk. Vincent shares his journey from young lawyer to firm director, why commercial litigation and insolvency are such critical areas right now, and how business leaders can mitigate risks with the right contracts, due diligence, and proactive legal strategies.

We explore post-COVID legal trends, including the rise in insolvencies, shareholder disputes, and compliance pressures from the ATO. Vincent also explains why many executives underestimate the importance of contract terms, how failing to act quickly can cost millions, and why prevention is far cheaper than cure. From supplier contracts to shareholder agreements and employment restraints, this conversation is a practical masterclass in protecting what you’ve built before problems arise.

Key Timestamps

1:12 – Vincent introduces Sajen Legal and its focus on commercial litigation and insolvency.

2:28 – Asset protection and structuring to safeguard clients if things go wrong.

6:19 – Post-COVID legal trends: ATO pressure, insolvencies, and shareholder disputes.

10:09 – Why contracts matter more than ever and the dangers of DIY terms (Google, ChatGPT).

15:57 – Evidence tips: don’t send emotional emails, assume you’re being recorded.

20:27 – Shareholder disputes, strategy, and why early legal advice is critical.

22:00 – Common mistakes: waiting too long, losing rights to secure assets.

28:00 – Employment law risks: intellectual property and restraints of trade.

31:41 – Vincent’s key advice: don’t expect courts to guarantee fairness—act early.

33:38 – Personal reflections: running his own firm, growth plans, and becoming a new father.

In this episode, I sit down with Kylie Sprott to explore her journey from senior executive roles into a true portfolio career that blends board directorships, consulting, mentoring, writing, and public speaking. Central to this transition is her latest venture, Sprott Methods—a leadership platform developed over three years that combines global collaborations, masterclasses, interviews, and practical resources for business leaders. Kylie explains how the platform is designed to cut through “noise” and provide digestible, real-world advice for leaders, while also celebrating insights from diverse leaders across industries.

Kylie reflects on her philosophy of leadership, drawing on her 25 years in executive roles. She emphasises curiosity, humility, and breadth of knowledge as essential traits for modern leaders, qualities she likens to “unicorn leaders.” We also explore her perspectives on risk management, strategy, and how fictional characters like Ted Lasso can inspire leadership lessons. Kylie shares her approach to board service, explaining how she positions her skills within board matrices, and how she balances advertised opportunities with those found through the hidden job market.

Timestamps

2:15 - The launch of Sprott Methods and its global collaborations

5:36 - Cutting through the noise: practical leadership education

7:39 - Risk registers and real-world business resilience

9:00 - The “business unicorn” metaphor and what makes great leaders

12:01 - Lessons from Top Gun and Ted Lasso applied to leadership

15:05 - The “malaise of mediocrity” and striving for improvement

20:05 - Building board capability and defining a skills matrix

23:21 - Hidden job market vs advertised board opportunities

26:02 - Differentiating coaching, mentoring, and advisory roles

30:00 - Public speaking and lessons from vulnerability

In this episode, I sit down with Ashton Bishop, CEO of Step Change, to talk all things marketing, such as why so much of it fails, and how challenger businesses can cut through the noise without outspending their competition.

We trace Ashton’s journey from co-creating 'R U OK? Day' to building a consultancy that helps companies, from small trades businesses to ASX-listed giants, unlock real growth. We unpack why too many organisations chase short-term tactics without a strategy, why distinctiveness beats differentiation, and how understanding behavioural economics can transform cut-through and conversion.

We also explore practical tools like the “Value Visualiser” that can triple proposal conversions, why B2B buying decisions are still emotional at their core, and how AI, when used wisely, can deliver meaningful wins rather than just “garbage at the speed of light.”

TIME STAMPS:

02:59 – What Step Change does and growth stories from $2M to $1B

06:08 – Ashton’s backstory: from R U OK? Day to launching Step Change during the GFC

12:51 – Why most businesses fail at marketing despite more channels and data

14:50 – The “four Ps” approach vs. ad-first tactics; the RAM framework (Result, Audience, Message)

17:38 – The “rocket from a canoe” analogy and the need for long-term, consistent marketing

20:43 – AI in marketing – opportunities and risks

23:36 – B2B vs. B2C: emotional decision-making and why the shortlist matters

32:18 – Real-world example: how a Value Visualiser tripled conversion rates

36:22 – Behavioural economics and distinctiveness: cutting through in crowded markets

In this episode, I’m joined once again by Dr Gavriel "Gav" Schneider — CEO, author, strategic risk expert, and one of Australia’s foremost thinkers on how to navigate uncertainty and unlock human potential. We dive deep into his latest book, 'Presilience: How to Navigate Risk, Embrace Opportunity and Build Resilience', exploring why most organisations still view risk too narrowly, and how reframing it as a strategic enabler can lift both performance and resilience.

We talk about the post-COVID productivity slump, the challenge of leading five generations in the workforce, and why Australia’s risk-averse culture is holding back innovation. Gav shares the core skills every leader needs to thrive in a world of low certainty and limited control, and how his Presilience framework has transformed not only his own $45M business but also the outcomes of clients across sectors.

This conversation is packed with practical insights, from rethinking work-from-home policies based on human behaviour, to leading through disruption without burning out, to positioning your organisation for the opportunities emerging from generative AI.

If you’re a leader, board member, or aspiring high performer, this is essential listening.

In this episode, Richard Triggs interviews long-time colleague Darren Finkelstein on how accountability drives performance, reduces overwhelm, and creates real behavioural change in teams and individuals. They reflect on Darren’s pivot from Apple executive to boating entrepreneur to becoming a sought-after accountability coach. The discussion highlights how leaders can model accountability, why frequent check-ins outperform annual reviews, and how Darren’s “seven steps to success” framework can increase goal achievement by up to 95%.

They also explore themes from Darren’s latest book, NO: Building a Life of Choice Without Obligation, and why learning to say no is central to personal and professional effectiveness.

01:30 – Darren’s career pivot from Apple to boating to accountability coaching

08:00 – Accountability vs. responsibility: what’s the real difference?

13:45 – Why most leaders fail to create true accountability in their organisations

24:00 – Darren’s 7-step framework to increase goal achievement to 95%

32:30 – How to say “no” without guilt: insights from Darren’s book NO

36:45 – The impact of overwhelm and how to beat it with micro steps

41:00 – Tools, coaching options, and Darren’s free accountability scorecard

45:05 – Richard reflects on his own experience working with Darren