In this episode of Watermark’s Agile Leadership Lessons Podcast, host Chris Grant, Partner Executive Search at Watermark Search, sits down with special guest Brad Lloyd, Director at Apogee Sports, former General Manager of Football at Carlton Football Club, former General Manager List Management at Fremantle Dockers, and former AFL Player Agent at Elite Sports Properties. They have a powerful conversation exploring the crossover between elite sport and modern business leadership.

With an extraordinary year ahead for Australian sport, the pair unpack what executives can learn from the way high‑performing athletes, coaches and teams operate under pressure. Brad shares how leaders can stay agile when the landscape can shift overnight, how to build and sustain a high‑performance strategy, and what it really takes to foster resilience and mental toughness within teams.

Chris and Brad discuss the importance of maintaining clarity and energy during stressful periods and how to keep teams engaged and hungry for success, especially when the pace is relentless. The conversation also delves into spotting potential in emerging talent, succession planning with intent and tailoring leadership approaches to individuals while still keeping everyone aligned to a shared purpose. They explore the leadership nuances between AFL and AFLW, the art of giving meaningful feedback and how to lead calmly and confidently when things go wrong. The episode wraps with the universal traits that define effective leaders and the core habits that consistently show up in top performers.

This is a rich, insightful conversation for anyone looking to elevate their leadership game, whether you're in the boardroom, leadership team or on the field.