GROWTH Schema

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Sir Ryan Paul Spiteri, Mindset Mentor, for a conversation about setbacks, choices, discipline, and what resilience actually looks like when life doesn't go according to plan.

We explore the role of positive thinking, while also questioning where positivity ends and action needs to begin. Ryan reflects on how difficult experiences can shape us, the choices available to us when circumstances aren't within our control, and why our response to adversity can sometimes matter more than the adversity itself.

We also dive into Ryan's experiences with martial arts and fitness, and the lessons they have taught him about discipline, consistency, discomfort, and learning to keep going when things become difficult.

Ultimately, this isn't a conversation about pretending everything will be fine. It's about developing the mindset and habits that help us respond when it isn't.

This is a conversation about getting knocked down, choosing what happens next, and gradually building the resilience to face whatever comes our way.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Mindset #Resilience #MentalStrength #PositiveThinking #MartialArts #Fitness #Discipline #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingSetbacks #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Brian Cardona, Founder and Director of ElectroWaste Malta, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, resourcefulness, and recognising value where others might see very little.

Brian shares his journey of starting a business from zero, without significant capital or a financial advantage to fall back on, and building it into a company operating within Malta's electronic waste and recycling industry. We talk about what it feels like to be underestimated, why proving yourself through action can sometimes matter more than convincing people with words, and how having fewer resources can force you to become more creative with the ones you have.

We also explore the idea of turning trash into treasure, not only through Brian's work in recycling, but as a mindset for business and life. It's about seeing potential where others don't, staying focused on what actually matters, and having the persistence to build something valuable from an imperfect starting point.

This is a conversation about starting with what you have, making something out of it, and refusing to let your starting point determine where you can end up.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Entrepreneurship #StartingFromZero #Resilience #Resourcefulness #Recycling #Sustainability #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Lucienne Muscat, Founder and Chief People Officer of Peeple, for a conversation about what good leadership and people practices actually look like when put into practice.

We explore authentic leadership and why being true to yourself is only part of the equation. Lucienne shares her perspective on the importance of consistency and fairness, and how the everyday decisions leaders make shape trust, culture, and the way people experience an organisation.

We also challenge some traditional ideas about career progression, including whether shorter career stints should still be viewed negatively and how our expectations around loyalty, commitment, and growth have evolved. Along the way, we discuss what effective people practices look like and why putting people at the centre of a business doesn't mean losing sight of performance or commercial realities.

Ultimately, we come back to a simple question: do people experience the leader you believe yourself to be?

This is a conversation about authenticity, fairness, consistency, and creating workplaces where good people practices and good business can genuinely coexist.

A special thank you to Konnekt Talexio for supporting the space where we record these conversations, and to A2CO for sponsoring this episode. A2CO is a Malta-based consultancy firm specialising in corporate structuring, licensing processes within regulated industries, and advisory services for businesses and international clients.

Find out more about A2CO: a2co.com

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#AuthenticLeadership #PeopleLeadership #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #Fairness #CareerGrowth #PeopleAndCulture #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Melissa Manthos, General Manager at Switch, for a deeply personal conversation about vulnerability, uncertainty, resilience, and how our priorities can shift when life interrupts the plans we had made.

Melissa speaks openly about being diagnosed with cancer, undergoing treatment, and navigating recovery. We explore the periods of uncertainty that followed, those moments of feeling paralysed or caught in a state of flux, and what acceptance can look like when we don't have control over what comes next.

But this conversation is also about much more. We talk about vulnerability in life and leadership, career growth, motherhood, and Melissa's belief that work should fit into life rather than life constantly having to fit around work. We reflect on resilience not simply as pushing through, but as allowing ourselves to adapt, accept, and gradually find our way forward.

This is a conversation about what happens when life forces us to pause, and how, somewhere within that uncertainty, we can begin to understand ourselves, our relationships, and what truly matters a little differently.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Resilience #Vulnerability #Acceptance #LifeTransitions #Motherhood #CareerGrowth #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #FindingPerspective #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Kenneth Spiteri, Director of Business Innovation at Melita, for a conversation about the decisions, relationships, and unexpected turns that shape a career.

We explore Kenneth’s decision to leave banking and take a leap into a completely different chapter, challenging the idea that a successful career needs to follow a predictable path. We talk about knowing your deal breakers, taking calculated risks, and recognising when staying somewhere may actually be the riskier choice.

We also get into the more uncomfortable side of leadership: candour, difficult decisions, and why sometimes you have to be “cruel to be kind” when letting someone go may ultimately be better for both the individual and the team.

Along the way, Kenneth reflects on mentorship, the people who have influenced his journey, and why experience can sometimes bring us back to surprisingly simple conclusions about what really makes us happy.

This is a conversation about having the courage to change direction, being honest when it matters, and discovering that growth isn't always about adding more, sometimes it's about getting back to basics.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Leadership #CareerGrowth #Mentorship #Candour #CareerChange #BusinessLeadership #DecisionMaking #PersonalGrowth #Purpose #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Emanuel Zammit, Director of Recruitment Services & Business Consultancy at GCS Malta, for a candid conversation about the realities of recruitment, talent acquisition, and professional growth.

Together, we unpack some of the most common misconceptions surrounding recruitment and headhunting, exploring what really happens behind the scenes and why great recruitment is about much more than matching candidates to vacancies. Emanuel shares insights from years of working with clients and candidates across different industries, shedding light on the challenges, responsibilities, and value that recruitment professionals bring to the table.

We also discuss what it means to operate as a service provider, building trust, managing expectations, and creating long-term relationships in a people-driven profession. Along the way, we reflect on the importance of humility, the lessons that come from setbacks, and the difference between choosing to stay humble and being humbled by life's experiences.

This is a conversation about people, careers, service, and the mindset required to succeed in a profession built on relationships.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #Headhunting #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #PeopleAndCulture #Humility #BusinessDevelopment #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Olivia Bilocca, Fractional HR Leader, HR Consultant, Trainer, and Warranted Systemic Psychotherapist, for a conversation that sits at the intersection of organisational life and human behaviour.

Together, we explore the fascinating overlap between HR and psychotherapy, discussing how both disciplines ultimately revolve around understanding people, relationships, and change. We unpack the concept of role identity and what happens when we wear multiple professional hats, while reflecting on the challenges of navigating difficult conversations with empathy, clarity, and integrity.

We also delve into the topic of self-disclosure, when sharing parts of ourselves can strengthen connection, and when boundaries matter. Throughout the discussion, ethics emerges as a central theme, challenging us to think more deeply about responsibility, professionalism, and what it means to genuinely put people first.

This is a thoughtful conversation about authenticity, relationships, and the balance between being human and being professional.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#HumanBehaviour #OrganisationalPsychology #HRLeadership #Psychotherapy #DifficultConversations #LeadershipDevelopment #EthicalLeadership #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Dr Keith M. Azzopardi, CEO and Co-Founder of Smart Materials and the driving force behind Huggah, for a conversation about innovation, persistence, and the realities of building something that has never existed before.

Keith shares his journey from scientist to entrepreneur, reflecting on the failures, lessons, and sacrifices that often sit behind meaningful achievement. We explore the uncomfortable but necessary role of failure in growth, why learning is often born from experimentation, and what it takes to continue pursuing an idea when there is no proven roadmap to follow.

We also discuss the importance of sleep and recovery, not as luxuries, but as critical foundations for sustainable performance and wellbeing. Throughout the conversation, Keith offers insights into the mindset required to tackle difficult problems, challenge assumptions, and keep moving forward when progress is slow and uncertainty is high.

This is a conversation about resilience, curiosity, and the determination to keep searching for solutions long after others have given up.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Resilience #FailureAndGrowth #Leadership #ScienceAndBusiness #SleepRecovery #Wellbeing #Mindset #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Calvin Briffa, Technology Consultant, for a grounded conversation about the realities behind career growth in today’s fast-moving, AI-driven world. We unpack what it feels like to be let go early in your career and how moments like these can quietly reshape your direction. Calvin shares his perspective on the illusion of overnight success, highlighting the years of uncertainty, experimentation, and persistence that often go unseen.

We also explore the growing dilemma around AI—whether to deepen your existing skills or leverage technology to move faster—and what this means for staying relevant in an evolving landscape. Along the way, we discuss zigzag career paths, why they’re more common than we think, and how embracing non-linear growth can lead to more meaningful and intentional outcomes.

This is a conversation about resilience, adaptability, and learning to navigate a career that doesn’t follow a straight line.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#CareerGrowth #AIandWork #TechnologyConsulting #Resilience #MindsetShift #FutureOfWork #NonLinearCareers #PersonalGrowth #Adaptability #GROWTHSchemaPodcast

In this episode of the GROWTH Schema podcast, I sit down with Mark Camilleri Gambin, CEO of Talexio, for a conversation that blends technology, imagination, and personal growth. We explore how gaming and fantasy worlds, often seen as escapism, can actually serve as tools for reflection, resilience, and navigating real-life challenges.

Mark shares how staying connected to our “child self” can help us remain curious and adaptable, even as responsibilities grow. We also discuss the balance between the virtual and real world, and how the skills we build in one can shape how we operate in the other.

Beyond this, we dive into more personal territory, touching on loss, perspective, and the journey of stepping into leadership. Mark reflects on his path to becoming CEO of Talexio, and what it means to lead a product-driven company in a fast-evolving digital landscape.

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from the obvious places, sometimes it comes from the worlds we explore, the stories we engage with, and the parts of ourselves we choose not to outgrow.

Song by: Travel Acoustic Hip Hop · Action Alexi

#LeadershipJourney #TechLeadership #GamingAndGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #DigitalWorlds #MindsetShift #InnerChild #Innovation #GROWTHSchemaPodcast #EndeavourMalta