Creating Synergy Podcast

A great thinker, strategist and business leader, Paul talks to us about his journey and learning experiences as CEO and how he led SYC to become one of the largest and most innovative purpose Organizations in Australia.

As a not-for-profit veteran, with over 18 years of experience as a CEO of some of our most game-changing organisations including Vinomofo, Paul Edgington knows one thing:   

There’s no such thing as a Proper CEO.

So don’t bother trying.
 
 Starting off as a sixteen-year-old who walked into his local pizza joint and thought, hey, I could run this place, Paul has learned some serious lessons in leadership.
 
 In this episode, we explore:

🎯  Why hope alone isn’t a strategy for the not-for-profit sector
🎯 And why certainty is a false idol for leaders
🎯 Curing the plague of the Proper CEO and being the one you want to be

 
Paul’s journey from start-ups to c-suite, from large not-for-profits to industry disruptors like Vinomofo, has shown him the importance of calibrating, recalibrating and then calibrating again. 

In a world of constant change, Paul will explain how language matters, disruption is vital and how his sixteen-year-old self had it all wrong.

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Thinking, Fast and Slow By: Daniel Kahneman
• Eureka By: Peter FitzSimons
• The Pyramid of Lies Lex Greensill and the Billion-Dollar Scandal

Where to find Paul Edginton:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

In today’s episode,  Following a jam-packed, sold-out Lunch and Learn session in Adelaide, Synergy IQ Executive Director Michelle Holland is back on the podcast to lay down some cold hard facts about some current trends in change and the uncomfortable truth of the  Great Resignation, or how she describes it as the Great Reality Check. 

We explore:

• Why people are quietly quitting or walking off the job
• How organisations are misjudging the trends and not reading the room
• And what business leaders need to do about it
• And so much more! 

Michelle also shares some of her top tips on what you can do to stay ahead of the curve, build an engaged culture and create an experience your employees will love. 

If you want to stem the tide of turnover in your organisation or keep your best talent from looking elsewhere, this episode is a must-listen.

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Culture Inc. by Michelle Holland 

Where to find Michelle Holland:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Hello there Synergisers, and welcome back to another episode of the Creating Synergy Podcast with Daniel Franco.

 Today on the show we had the amazing Eloise Hall, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Social Enterprise Business Taboo Period Products. 

When Eloise Hall was just 17 years old, she was sitting at a leadership conference with her bestie and a light bulb moment hit.  

Could they start a social enterprise that would make period poverty history?  

And so, with the support of their families and school, they founded TABOO - a ground-breaking menstrual health social enterprise.   

Now, you'll find TABOO pads and tampons in major retailers like OTR and National Pharmacies and their online "Pad it forward" program is also making huge inroads, helping to provide free pads and tampons to those experiencing period poverty. 

Eloise also speaks about:

🔸The big lessons she learned in the first few years of running TABOO
🔸Period poverty and how businesses can play a role in solving this global problem
🔸How we can bridge the inequality gap
🔸The ins and out of social enterprise
🔸And much more! 

Whether you need a dose of inspiration or you want a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get a social enterprise up and running, this conversation is for you! 

If you like this episode, you'll love the rest of our episodes with high-profile leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs and athletes. Find us on Spotify, Apple, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Remember to share, like and subscribe, this really will help us out. 
 

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Practicing the Power of Now - A Guide to Spiritual EnlightenmentBy: Eckhart Tolle
• Untamed By: Glennon Doyle

Where to find Eloise Hall:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Andrew Nunn is Co-Founder, Chairman and Executive Director of JBS&G Australia—one of Australia’s largest privately-owned environmental consulting companies. Andrew also acts as Director for several companies focused on property development, private equity investments, and entertainment opportunities. In partnership with his wife Alexandra Dimos, he founded the Nunn Dimos Foundation, a philanthropic fund focused on supporting key social and arts causes in South Australia.  

Andrew was Appointed in early 2021, as the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur, with the role to provide high-level, independent advice to the South Australian Cabinet and the business community, to enable entrepreneurialism across all forms of business, industry, and the public sector. 

We discussed so many of the intricacies of being a business owner, entrepreneur, and leader, then coupled it with his insights and experiences along the way, and how he grew and scaled his business JBS&G. 

Like everyone else, he went through all the teething problems of growing a business but maintained his position to continually treat people with respect and dignity, which he believes enabled good things to happen. 

Andrew also provided some insight  around:

• How he built one of Australia's largest privately held environmental consulting companies
• The one mistake he made in his business growth trajectory
• The most transformational business decision he made
• His plans for the Chief Entrepreneur role and why we need to grow South Australia's investable companies
• The one lesson that's taken him the longest to learn

And plenty more!

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Where to find  Andrew Nunn:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Shaun's career in the AFL speaks for itself, playing 407 games of professional football, the 5th most ever in the history of the AFL and the 1st indigenous player to have ever played over 400 games. He is a x4 premierships player, winning 3 with Hawthorn Football Club and 1 with Port Adelaide Football Club.

Since retiring at the end of 2021, he has transitioned into media where he now finds himself on Channel 7 and triple M commentating the AFL matches, as well as working in multiple positions at Port Adelaide such as Indigenous Liaison officer, Football Service officer, and Community Ambassador.

On today’s show, whilst we speak a lot about football in this podcast, this chat is more about the inner mindset of a football player and the inner workings of an elite football club. Shaun was recruited in 2009 to the  Hawthorn Football Club,  and the club under the leadership of Alistair Clarkson, built a dynasty, winning 4 premierships over 8 years. We talked about the high-performing culture the club created, the meaning of living and breathing the values within a football club context, and the absolute obsession with giving and receiving feedback.  

We also deep-dived into Shaun's own mindset, and how he grew from a pretty easy-going teenager who had just been drafted to becoming elite with his habits and behaviors, his application, his mental state, and how he managed through the ups and downs of injury, how he kept himself in the best possible position they play week in and week out, and finally how he managed to be a husband and father of 4 whilst playing at the highest level for 20+ years.  

Shaun also shared with us :

• His journey and the importance of his family in his career - Wife and 4 kids
• His learnings as a player and the influence of his coaches in his life
• How was the process of Changing club and the importance of the values and culture of the club
• Importance of Leadership, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Reconciliation Path
• Culture change in the club - Women can now play
• How he learned to trust others

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Silk Football, Family, Respect  By: Shaun Burgoyne, Martin Blake 

Where to find  Shaun Burgoyne:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Niki is the Co-founder of Blackbird, a venture fund that exists to supercharge the most ambitious founders. Blackbird Ventures is one of the leading Venture Capital funds in Australia and NZ, counting companies such as Canva, Culture Amp, and Safety Culture as part of its portfolio. 

Niki Co-founded Blackbird in 2012 with an initial $29M. That initial fund proved to be hugely successful, with the fund selling 40% of fund 1 for $100M. The sale provided a guaranteed 3x return to all 96 investors who contributed to fund 1 while retaining an interest in the 12 portfolio companies with a carrying value of $6.50 per $1 invested. 

On today’s show, Niki shared his journey from starting a business with his University friend, Mike Cannon Brookes, whom you may know as the founder of Atlassian, all the way to co-founding Blackbird Ventures and how he became known as the 'Godfather' of Venture Capital here in Australia. 

He also shared the Blackbird’s investing philosophy, "Taking a chance on the hungry, not the proven" which means he is more interested in those who are passionate to succeed than those who possibly have already proven themselves, and also discussed why "investing is more phycological than it is data and analytics". 

Niki also shared with us :

• What are some of the key qualities he looks for in entrepreneurs which lead to success, 
• The pivotal role organisational Culture plays in startups 
• What the Australian Start-Up Scene looks like over the next 5-10 years 
• His advice for entrepreneurs to attract investors  
• His beliefs in the constant need for Personal growth  
• What does the future look like for Blackbird Ventures. 

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Poor Charlie's Almanack - The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger By: Charles Thomas Munger 
• Zero to One -  Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future By Peter Thiel, Blake Masters

Where to find  Niki Scevak:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Twitter

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

A serial entrepreneur, Aaron started his first business as a 15-year-old while still in high school. He has since established, sold, and grown ventures within the technology sector. Passionate about collaboration, innovation, and returning manufacturing to Australia, he is demonstrating that it can be achieved through the adoption of advanced technology to achieve cost-comparative products while exceeding quality standards. 

With over ten years of experience in the lighting industry, Aaron has forged relationships with ‘best of breed’ entrepreneurs and innovators across the globe, from Silicon Valley to Germany and Japan. His renewed focus is working on R&D projects which reimagine lighting technology of the future. 

In 2021 InDaily 40under40 for South Australia, Aaron was awarded the state’s top young entrepreneur award, for his development of LED lighting systems. VAILO’S technology has pushed into fields spanning SPORTS, transport, and defense and over the past decade, you may have seen their LED lights lighting up spaces across South Australia such as the Titanium Security Arena and the light, and Art & Technology winter festival here in South Australia, Illuminate Adelaide. 

 Moreover, you may have seen the VAILO name on signage around numerous places as they are sponsoring so many amazing sports and sporting teams such as:

•  Hawthorn Football Club 
•  Adelaide Crows Football Club 
• Sport SA,  
• Adelaide United 
•  Sport NSW 
• VicSport 
• Baseball Australia 
• Adelaide Giants 
• Football SA

On today’s show, we deep-dived into Aaron’s journey of founding VAILO, expanding in SA, and bringing manufacturing back onshore. Aaron shares how having production move back onshore helps to increase employment in South Australia and provides economic benefits for the state in an emerging advanced manufacturing industry. 

Aaron also shared the ambitions and purpose of VAILO focused on constantly researching and developing smart lighting products which will improve sustainability, reduce carbon footprints and provide significant benefits to wide-ranging communities.  

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Less and More The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams

Where to find  Aaron Hickmann:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Jim has 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. Before joining Nova Systems, he was South Australia’s top public servant in the role of Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.  

Prior to that, he was the CEO of BAE Systems Australia for 10 plus years, where he oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia's largest defense prime, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion. He then moved to BAE in Saudi Arabia where he took up the role of in-country CEO for the $6 billion business. 

Jim has also served as the Chancellor of the University of South Australia and he also worked in legal, commercial, and marketing roles with the aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for 18 years after graduating from the University of Warwick (England). 

On top of all this, he has also been in Non-executive director roles, for Codan, RAA, Austral, and Micro X. 

On today’s show, listen to:

• Jim's journey over the years. 
• Stories of Northern Ireland where he grew up 
• Lobbying for Capitol Hill and why the US has 50% of the worlds defense spends 
• Strategy and how to stick to it, 
• Building trusting relationships with all stakeholders 
• What the future looks like for Nova Systems 
• The new rebranding they have just gone through 
• Jim's thoughts on what is happening in the world right now, with Ukraine, Russia, and China, and how Australia sits within the geopolitical nature. 

Timestamp:

12:27 – Leadership point of view
15:29 – Art and Literature
24:23 – Insight on US Defense
28:33 – On being CEO
32:32 – On Making Change and Building Relationships
35:14 – Being a Leader
36:45 – On Knowing the Right Strategy
41:49 – Nova Systems and Nova Strategies
47:13 – People Aspect of Growth
51:43 – Integrating Business
1:02:16 – On Defense and Protecting Ourselves
1:06:37 – Leadership Growth, own experience
1:09:10 – Leadership Management
1:14:39 – Feedback and Accountability
1:19:57 – Advise on Being First Time CEO

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Sword of Honour Trilogy By: Evelyn Waugh
• History of the Peloponnesian war By: Thucydides

Where to find  Jim McDowell:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Gatik Chaujer is the co-founder of the global, award-winning Leadership Development firm, TransforMe. He is a passionate facilitator, coach & keynote speaker, with 20 years of training and coaching experience, his journey is a story worth listening to!  

Driven by his mission to transform a million lives, Gatik’s uniqueness lies in his innate ability to connect, spontaneously share, be mindfully present and bring humour to learning! Gatik is not just a brilliant storyteller but also a highly sought after storytelling coach – for speakers, leaders and marketers of the world’s leading organizations including Google, Adobe, EY, McKinsey and many more. 

His expertise lies in the areas of Leadership Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Leadership Team Synergy, Storytelling & Influencing Without Authority.   

A completely family-oriented man, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful daughters, Keisha & Kyra and his wife Sandra. 

On today’s show, we deep-dived into his journey to becoming a world-class facilitator and coach. He shared with us his experiences of starting a very successful business in India, picking up the family and moving to Australia in the quest to grow the business globally. Being a masterful storyteller, Gatik shared how to tell a good story, about the aspects that make a good story and keep people glued, and shared some tips and tricks on how to become a better storyteller and communicate with influence.

Listen as we discuss:

• Storytelling - what makes a good story 
• Tips on how to tell a better story 
• Importance of Being present in the moment and the impact of this behaviour 
• What is the starting point for people who are looking to transform 
• The ability to lead 
• Leadership transformation and Personal transformation 
• And many more

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Iacocca An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca, William Novak
• Summary of Shoe Dog - A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
• Greenlights By: Matthew McConaughey
• Sam Walton - Made In America By: Sam Walton
• Elon Musk - Tesla, Spacex, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future By: Ashlee Vance
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

Where to find  Gatik Chaujer:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@synergyiq) and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Georgie is the CEO of Beyond Blue and is known for her decisive and personable leadership style and her track record of delivering complex reforms. She has significant experience in policy development, service delivery and change management across the community, public and private sectors. 
 
Appointed CEO of Beyond Blue in May 2014, Georgie has diversified the organisation’s activities and led significant growth in service innovation, suicide prevention and digital offerings in response to community needs.  
 
Previously, she was Deputy CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and for six years prior to that, served as a senior executive at the Commonwealth Department of Health where she had national responsibility for mental health, suicide prevention, substance misuse, cancer and chronic disease. At the same time, she led the strategy and development of legislation to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia – a world first. 
 
Georgie has also led national reforms to lift Australia’s organ and tissue donation rates and worked in the HIV/AIDS sector in Australia and the UK. 
 
Georgie is driven by a determination to do better for people and their families using a community heart and a business head. 

On today’s show, we dived into her journey to becoming the CEO of Beyond Blue and she describes how it is the most purposeful job she has ever had, and still continuing her own growth journey after 8 years in the role. We talked about the challenging work that the team at Beyond Blue faces every day, and how building a culture of trust and clear communication is key to their success. 

Listen as we discuss:

• managing oneself
• setting your own personal boundaries
• the different types of frameworks organisations can use to manage the well-being of their people
• How vulnerability can be used as a superpower
• and Living as your authentic self is a fundamental pillar in managing your own mental health. 

Books  mentioned in this episode:

• Happy Never After by Jill Stark
• Not Waving, Drowning - Mental illness and vulnerability in Australia: Quarterly Essay 85 By Sarah Krasnostein

Where to find  Georgie Harman:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@synergyiq) and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing and sharing this podcast. 

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.