In this episode we’re switching things around and instead of me doing the interview, this time I’m being interviewed. Brett Jarman, the Founder and CEO of Experts on Air, the agency that produces and hosts my podcast, turned the tables on me in my office and interviewed me for the podcast. I hope you find it as interesting as he did :-).

Brett will also be co-hosting with me on some future episodes of the Arete Executive Podcast.

Episode Highlights:

My early life, my aspirations of becoming a rock star and my band Leather Zen

How we beat Powderfinger in the QLD Rock Awards

How my working career began

Finishing my undergraduate degree

Working for James Hardie as a sales person

My first mentor

Going back to university to complete my executive MBA

What made me realise the difficulty and complexity of the recruitment industry

90% of people who go to work in the recruitment industry leave within 2 years and never return

My surprise at the recruitment industry’s reputation and their low commitment to delivering high customer experience

What I did to set myself ahead of the rest

How a retreat I experienced changed my outlook on the next steps in my career

1st Feb 2009 the beginning of Arete Executive

My ambitions to become a politician?

A confusing and confronting experience for me working as an executive and living amongst Buddhists

Integrating my professional and spiritual life

Why we picked the name Arete Executive

The people who have influenced me on a professional and personal level

My professional and personal development

The biggest changes in the recruitment industry in the last 10 to 15 years

The importance of building my LinkedIn connections

The impact of LinkedIn on the recruitment industry

What the constants of the recruitment industry have been

Why there is a high churn and burn rate in the recruitment industry

The issues with contingency based recruiters

What sets Arete Executive apart from the rest

Why recruiters are the worst at recruiting for their own business

Arete Website: http://areteexecutive.com.au/

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/

Richard's book: http://arete.pages.ontraport.net/free-book

Brett Jarman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettjarman/

Experts On Air: https://expertsonair.fm/

This episode I chat to Suzie Lightfoot about the ongoing struggles for women as executives and the importance of knowing who you are, what you want and how to articulate that.

She’s had quite the career, moving from her days as a gymnast and an elite diver competing for Australia, to modelling, being a brand ambassador, presenter and now brand mentor and female champion.

After working as a single parent to send her daughter to private school, Suzie decided to quit her job at 50 and says she had no idea what she was doing. It was later she realised her strength lies with personal branding and found her groove helping other professional women do the same.

Suzie works with predominantly women, but does have some male clients. The majority are successful in their industry but lack the know-how when it comes to elevating themselves. She works to take them to the next level and find the confidence they need to do what they want in life.

She has big plans to take her motivational speaking and branding expertise global as well as hold her own conferences to help women take back control.

Full show notes here: http://areteexecutive.com.au/suzie-lightfoot-interview-shining-the-light-on-professional-women/

Arete Website: http://areteexecutive.com.au/

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/

Suzie Lightfoot Website: https://www.suzielightfoot.com/

Suzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzielightfoot/

Suzie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUooHztSejeYfGkDX-NOig

Running a successful business can be hard and the financials overwhelming, but knowing your numbers is key to knowing your business.

That’s what Philip Barnes, founder of CFO Insight, told me. A Chartered Accountant, Philip has worked with over 50 business in a range of industries since 2006 in either non-executive board roles or as a consultant.

Pulling his wealth of knowledge of helping companies in distress and helping Australian tech startups commercialise in North America together, CFO Insight was founded in 2006.

The company helps SMEs solve some of the major and most common business problems, and helps them to shape their business, primarily for success. Philip holds the business owner’s hand, doing what he calls “management consulting from the numbers.”

Episode highlights:

What Philip’s company offers to SMEs

How Philip differs from a traditional CFO - helping businesses understand the numbers

Why external accountants often provide CFO Insight with a lot of work

Working for Andersons for 10 years and how that shaped CFO Insight

Looking at companies in distress - following the core themes to solve the problems

Philip’s background - Kiwi-born, two working parents, children, part-time jobs

Why Philip didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor

Education, a year in the UK, and settling in Brisbane

How CFO Insight came about and how Philip got his first client

Distinct periods of CFO Insight - distress and startups in the USA

Common problems of businesses - structural issues with their products

The three fundamental questions Philip asks his clients

What makes a good Board of Executives?

Do SMEs need a Board of Executives?

Arete Executive Website - http://areteexecutive.com.au/

Richard Triggs LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/

CFO Website - https://www.cfoinsight.com.au/our-people.html

Phillip Barnes Website - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-barnes-9688172/?originalSubdomain=au

There’s a lot of stigma around mental health in the workplace and while awareness around the issue is growing, Chris Smedley, CEO of Assure Programs, told me there’s still some way to go.

Assure Programs is an Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) provider and one of the largest mental health organisations in Australia.

Originally from the UK, Chris has worked across a broad range of industries from manufacturing and retail, to financial management and health insurance, before moving into a CEO role at Assure Programs.

The company specialises in workplace mental health, including EAPs, critical instances and trauma response, and manager and leader support. In addition, it carries out organisational development programs for team behavioural change and awareness.

Chris says Assures Programs’ services are lot more proactive and holistic than your average EAP, providing confidential counselling on a one-to-one for any work-related or personal issues.

Links:

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richards Book: http://areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/

Welcome to a new innovation in the Arete Executive Podcast!

This week I’m taking a deep dive discussing a range of subjects with some returning guests on our first Arete Panel Discussion.

Guests this time ‘round include: Bec Mac - presenter producer and media maker, Tim Dwyer - Group Partner at BOB, and Martin Moore - Your CEO Mentor.

In our panel discussions we’ll be covering business and career but from vastly different angles compared to what you would normally expect.

These episodes are longer than usual but with the range of subjects covered it will be like listening to four podcast episodes at once.

Thanks to The Brisbane Club for hosting the group interview in The President’s Room.

Links:

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

This episode of the Arete Podcast is all about fun as I chat with exuberant entrepreneur and performance-based producer and presenter, Bec Mac.

Best known for her alter ego Aphrodite, Bec writes, produces and presents LOVE TV, interviewing thousands of people on the subject of love. She’s been busy building her live LOVE TV show since the early 2000s, taking it from the streets of Australia to New York City.

Bec also produces and presents Friday NEON on 4ZZZ radio station, a weekly cultural programme featuring artists across all art forms.

She’s also the creator of Popsart, a series of live-to-Facebook interviews with artists and curators with the aim of broadening Australia’s arts audience.

As well as working with city councils around Australia and more recently, further afield in New York, Bec’s working towards developing a model to help the corporate sector deliver its message in a more fun, engaging way.

Episode highlights:

What Bec does and want she wants to achieve with Popsart

Her goal with Popsart - develop a broader audience for Australian arts

How Love TV began - growing from Adelaide to New York City

Other work on 4ZZZ radio

Early life - growing up in a large Catholic family and her Arts education

Growing the business - sponsorships

The concept of place attachment and place making

Working with Brisbane City Council

Building a personal brand - LinkedIn opportunities

Developing opportunities to work with the corporate sector

How Bec manages her time and attention - the work/family balance

Bec’s vision for the future - build Popsart, working with the corporate sector

Website - https://www.becmac.tv/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-mcintosh-04432622/?originalSubdomain=au

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BECMACSHOW/?ref=bookmarks

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/becmactv/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEgiJUd_zeLTvJaW62USAsg?spfreload=10

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

As with most things in this world, modern technology is changing the way we do things. It’s no difference for the job market. The way recruiters are working is changing with the use of things like LinkedIn.

Whether you’re looking for the same job in the same industry, or looking to branch out to a new challenge in a new sector, or somewhere in between, you too need to take a different approach to achieve your job of choice, with your employer of choice.

Episode highlights:

The current job market - confidence and excitement

Understanding the hidden job market

Internal recruitment

How recruiters work - square pegs, square holes

The four job market segments - ‘same job, same industry’, 'same job, different industry’, 'different job, same industry', and ‘different job, different industry'

Using LinkedIn to recruit

New LinkedIn technology - artificial intelligence used to find candidates

Making yourself visible on LinkedIn

Putting yourself out there - engage with your employer of choice

The importance of building a rapport

Arete Executive recruitment example

More detail in my book, ‘Uncover The Hidden Job Market’

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

There’s one topic in the recruitment industry that continues to divide people: the fees charged by recruiters, especially those in the executive search space, for their services.

Despite it being a hot topic for years now, little has changed, although it definitely needs to.

This episode covers:

Who’s who in the zoo

The power of LinkedIn - 99% of white-collar executives have a profile

Research is no longer difficult

Blue-chip brands no longer a guarantee for a successful search

Are you wasting your money?

Arete Headhunted Shortlists package offering

The change in technology and the need for change in the industry

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

I spoke in this episode of the Arete Podcast to Tim Dwyer, business growth specialist, mentor and leader, about building a solid foundation, how to avoid recruiting mistakes, and investing in future growth.

Tim’s philosophy is that good business is about creating the most amount of value in the shortest amount of time.

He says a lot of people start a business with grandeur in mind but end up lost along the way because of simple mistakes.

Tim is currently the Managing Director of Sunshine Coast-based Shirlaws Group and Group Partner at Business Of Brand and Growth Metrics. All three companies offer expert business consulting on everything from basic foundations, to sales and revenue, and consistent growth.

I’m sure you’ll find this episode as interesting as I did...

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market

I often get approached by people looking to build a board career. Many are just starting out, while others might already have one or sometimes two board roles, and are looking to grow a full portfolio of boards to keep them occupied after retiring from their executive life.

Other times people have a desire to move into a board career earlier in their life. The good news is there are more opportunities than ever as the desire for diversity increases, not only in terms of gender, but also age and other attributes.

There a few things you can do to ensure success that I outline in this episode.

Episode highlights:

The desire for diversity on boards - more opportunities for young people and female executives

Start off small and work to build a full portfolio

Starting a board career is like starting a new career altogether

Don’t bank on your current skill set - complete the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course

The importance of being on the board of a not-for-profit

Using not-for-profits to learn and grow, and network for other opportunities

Joining a board you have a genuine connection with - a cause that sits close to your heart

Examples from podcasts with Ian Klug and Grant Murdoch

Following the steps outlined in my book, Uncover The Hidden Job Market

Building a rapport with the chair of boards to ensure you receive opportunities

Don’t pigeonhole yourself - keep your options open

Richard Triggs LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs

Arete Executive website: www.areteexecutive.com.au

Richard's book on Amazon: www.amazon.com.au/Uncover-Hidden-J…idden+job+market