MBA Success

Today, we are thrilled to welcome a powerhouse in the world of IT and business management, Lisa Pascoe. Lisa is an MBA graduate from ECU, class of 2023, who has made remarkable strides in her career post-graduation.

Lisa is the Senior Global IT Manager at fortune 500 company, a global organization where she deftly aligns IT strategy with global corporate objectives. With over 25 years of experience supporting large corporations across engineering, resources, and government service industries.

In her role, Lisa leads with passion and determination, fostering cross-functional teams across continents and pushing boundaries to deliver results that not only meet but exceed strategic business goals. Whether it's managing transitions to new working models or nurturing internal talent for progression within the business, Lisa's leadership style is both innovative and transformational.

One of her recent notable achievements is her strategic approach in reducing corporate spending overheads and negotiating software contracts, which resulted in significant savings for the company.

But don't be mistaken. Lisa's journey began far from the world of IT. She started her career as an Office Manager, taking on roles in quality management, procurement, payroll, and HR, and then she later transitioned to accounting before finding her calling in IT and business management.

Lisa's storied career is a testament to her versatility, business acumen, and relentless pursuit of growth. Her journey is a source of inspiration and lessons for anyone aiming to make a difference in their industries.

So, buckle up as we explore Lisa Pascoe's journey from MBA graduate to a driving force at KBR, her philosophies on leadership, her thoughts on sustainable change, and her insightful experiences from over 25 years in the corporate world.

Today I had the pleasure of talking to Brad Meehan, Managing Director of Strativity ANZ, one of the worlds leading boutique customer strategy consultancy firms. Brad has over 20 years of working with some of the world’s most well-known brands across multiple countries. He’s designed and deployed enterprise-level competitive and customer strategies for several ASX 100 companies and Government Owned Corporations. Brad earned his MBA from Queensland University of Technology in 2007 and has completed Harvard Business School leadership programs in Customer-Centric Strategy and Competitive Strategy and Change.

Jessica Kahl is the Managing Director of Dream Big Australia and Project Manager at SunWater. She is an award-winning engineer, entrepreneur, diversity advocate, and 2021 Young Australian of the Year Shortlisted Nominee. Since entering the industry, Jessica has combined her creative leadership and engineering capabilities to make a difference to society through her work in master planning, resources, and infrastructure. Outside of her day job, she is also passionate about increasing engagement and growth in STEAM to empower education, industry, and innovation. Jessica works closely with investment and collaborative partners, educational institutions, and students to guide positive outcomes which integrate STEAM learning and storytelling from industry leaders into engaging Dream Big Events. Jessica's impact in the diversity space has lead her to be recognised in the QBM’s Top 20 entrepreneurs under 40, in Engineers Australia's ‘100 engineers making a difference’ profile, and listing in “Engineers at the Pinnacle of the Profession”. (Retrieved from https://www.dreambigaustralia.org)

In this episode, we talk to Raja Sahulhammed, Principal - Advisory at Hatch. Starting his career as an engineer before studying for an MBA at the University of Cambridge, Raja then transitioned to consulting and spent 10 years with McKinsey before moving to Hatch. Alongside exploring his MBA studies and his background, we discuss topics of managing professional relationships, international work experience and how to target your next promotion, just to name a few.

On this episode, we’re joined by Mike Tristram who completed his MBA from the Queensland University of Technology in 2012. Mike has been the CEO of the five-generation family business, Trisco Foods, since 2013. Trisco Foods is a food manufacturing business that dates back to 1875 and has recently experienced tremendous growth as they transition into a health and wellness corporation. On this episode, we talk to Mike about the responsibility of running a family business, applying lessons directly from the classroom to the boardroom and explore the recent expansion into the United States.

On this episode we’re joined by John Dumay, Professor at Macquarie University, recognised as Australia’s top researcher in accounting and taxation, and ‘Dad’ in Dad & Dave’s Brewing. 

With an MBA from AGSM and PhD in Economics from University of Sydney, just to name some of John’s qualifications, we spoke with him about his interesting career journey, the challenges in truly eradicating slavery from supply chains, and embracing serendipity. 

Website: https://mbaus.com.au/podcast/

On this episode we’re joined by Janelle van de Velde, Executive Director Shared Services at Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Janelle completed her EMBA from Bond University in 2017 after departing Linc Energy where she was Chief Administration Officer & Company Secretary. In this episode we speak with Janelle about the importance of unlearning the learnings, building resilience, and managing people through a crisis. 

Website: https://mbaus.com.au/podcast/

On this episode we’re joined by Mike Lanzing, General Manager of UniBank, part of Teachers Mutual Bank. Having completed his MBA from the University of Western Sydney in 1995, and bringing over 30 years of experience in banking and finance, Mike speaks with us about wonder, authenticity, and unlocking the value of collaboration. 

Website: https://mbaus.com.au/podcast/

On this episode we’re joined by Alex Chaudhri, Director of Infectious Diseases at The Prince Charles Hospital. Alex brought a wealth of experience in clinical medical to his MBA studies from The University of Queensland, where he graduated in 2016. Through our conversation with Alex we were able to get his insights about COVID-19, the importance of leading from within, and how acknowledging vulnerability can help engender trust.

Website: https://mbaus.com.au/podcast/

Libby Marshall is the CEO and Founder of Steam Capital, Managing Director of Australia New Zealand MBA Directors Forum and an MBA Executive Career Coach at the University of Sydney Business School. Finishing her MBA from the University of Queensland in 2017, Libby brings a wealth of knowledge from a diverse career including tourism, sport, government, not-for-profit, energy and education. On this episode, Libby talks to us about the importance of knowing your value proposition, being brave, backing yourself, and remaining authentic.

Website: https://mbaus.com.au/podcast/