There are aspects of leadership that many people find easy and others that don’t seem to come so naturally. Kirstin Ferguson is one of the world's most recognised leadership experts and in the first of this two-part interview, Juliet talks with Kirstin about her book, Head& Heart and delves into what leading with our heads looks like. The winner of the International Thinkers50 Distinguished Award for Leadership, Kirstinis also ranked in the top 50 thinkers in the world. She researches, writes, speaks and advises major international brands on what it means to be a modern leader, and how to build modern leadership cultures it was such a pleasure to talk with her about leadership both internationally and here in Australia. Kirstin’s career includes three decades of senior leadership experience including a previous appointment by the Australian Prime Minister as Acting Chair and Deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2023 for her significant contributions to business, and gender equality.

Kirstin has previously been the CEO of a global consulting firm, was a senior executive at a leading corporate law firm and spent nearly 10 years as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, including at a fighter jet squadron. She holds a PhD in leadership and culture as well as Honours degrees in Law, and also History. She is an Adjunct Professor at the QUTBusiness School and a Sir Winston Churchill Fellow. Phew! In this first episode, you may recognise some of the ways you lead with your head. You can also rate yourself using the Head & Heart Leader Scaleathttps://headheartleader.com/.This simple questionnaire can provide insights into where we put the emphasis in our leadership. We would love to hear your insights from completing the scale and how it reflects your leadership style.

You can share your experiences and ask questions at https://www.facebook.com/growyourinfluence/

You can find more information on Kirstin at https://www.kirstinferguson.com/ and purchase her books at any good bookstore on her website at https://www.kirstinferguson.com/books/head-heart/

In episode 2 we will dive into what leading with your heart looks like