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On this week's episode, I’m joined by David Neal, a leader whose career has been anything but conventional. After a distinguished decade-long military career, Dave didn’t take the usual transition period. Instead, he finished his service on a Friday, and by Monday, he was leading IT projects in the not-for-profit aged care sector.

Fast forward to today, where he's now CEO of The Eighth Mile Consulting. They specialise in training and education - helping businesses build stronger leadership skills, enhance cultural communications and manage conflict more effectively. 

Drawing from his military background, he’s applying battle-tested principles of leadership, strategy and resilience to help these organisations navigate complex challenges and develop high-performing teams.

What stands out about Dave is his practical yet innovative approach to problem-solving. He and his business partner, Jono, don't hail from a typical L&D background and so approach traditional challenges with curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo. This has led his clients to achieve different, more progressive outcomes for their organisations. 

In this episode, we dive into Dave’s unique career journey, the leadership lessons he’s carried across industries, and how structured training and education can transform businesses. Whether it’s honing leadership skills, addressing cultural change, or challenging preconceptions around areas like DEI, this episode is full of practical takeaways.

A key part of Dave’s leadership philosophy has been shaped by books like 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - two classics that offer deep insights into power, control, and human behaviour. Their influence is clear in the way Dave approaches his own management and communication style.

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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On this week's episode, I caught up with the wonderful Dart Lindsley, a visionary leader and trailblazer in workplace design and employee experience. Dart is passionate about transforming how organisations think about work, shifting the focus from simply getting the job done to creating meaningful, fulfilling experiences for employees.

A real thought leader, Dart believes that the key to a thriving organisation is understanding work as a product - one that must be designed with intention, empathy, and purpose. 

His innovative approach combines systems thinking, design methodologies, and a deep understanding of human needs to drive organisational success.

He’s a renowned speaker and host of the "Work For Humans" podcast, where he shares ideas and strategies to rethink the future of work.

In this episode, we explore Dart’s career journey, his philosophy on employee experience design and actionable insights on creating workplaces that inspire, engage and empower. Whether you’re a leader, an employee, or just curious about the future of work, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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It had been a long time coming but, on this week's episode of scalr sagecast, I finally got to chat with Sean Grealy from SellAnything.

Sean’s flair for business started young. Despite coming from a blue-collar family and initially considering a painting apprenticeship, he always seemed destined to become an entrepreneur. His first venture? Selling soft drinks from his school locker during recess at high school - a clear sign he was destined to build something of his own!

That instinct led him to start his first business in 2016, after being mentored by the owner of the bike shop where he worked during his studies. Now, through SellAnything, Sean is focused on helping start-ups establish the right foundations to give them the best chance of success in the Australian market.

What stood out most in our conversation was Sean’s practical, no-nonsense approach to business. He understands that entrepreneurship isn’t just about ideas—it’s about execution, resilience and learning from experience.

In this episode, we break down his journey, the key mistakes start-ups need to avoid, and the realities of building a business from the ground up. If you’re launching something - or even thinking about it - this one’s packed with valuable insights.

Sean came armed with a great list of his go-to books and content: 

• Essentialism (The Disciplined Pursuit of Less) by Greg McKeown
• 100 Million Offers by Alex Hormozi
• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
• Mini documentaries on YouTube - Beau Miles

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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I was thrilled to sit down with Neil Kinnaird on the latest episode of scalr sagecast.

Neil has been at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence for over a decade, embracing its potential long before it became a global focus. As a thought leader in digital adoption, Neil has been instrumental in helping businesses and individuals leverage technology to create meaningful progress.

What struck me most about Neil’s story is how reflective he has been throughout his journey. He’s consciously worked to align “Work Neil” and “Home Neil,” striving to lead with authenticity and becoming the most effective version of himself in the process - a powerful reminder of the value of bringing your whole self to what you do.

In this episode, we explore Neil’s fascinating path, his approach to digital adoption, and his mission to drive positive change. Our conversation is filled with actionable insights for anyone curious about technology, leadership and finding purpose in their work and life.

A common recommendation throughout this series has been for Steven Bartlett's "Diary of a CEO". The book and podcast hit the mark and, as Neil has found, have created thought-provoking discussions and insightful approaches to tackling traditional challenges. 

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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Today’s guest is Sapia.ai's Head of Product, Peter Scott.  

Having started his career as a Systems Administrator, Peter found his passion for creating and building products by chance. He followed this passion and, having led Product teams for many scaling tech businesses, now leads Sapia.ai's charge to revolutionise hiring processes through modern AI tooling. 

Sapia.ai aim to help organisations make smarter, fairer and faster hiring decisions. They bring a human approach to video interviewing, something traditional tools are often criticised for not doing. 

In this episode, we explore Peter’s journey, discuss his insights on AI in hiring and discuss the evolving landscape of talent acquisition. He’ll share his thoughts on trends for 2025 and the biggest lessons he's learned on the way. 

During our discussion, Peter identified the following books as being hugely valuable to his learning and growth so far: 

• Inspired / Empowered / Transformed by Marty Cagan
• Product Management In Practice by Matt LeMay
• Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres
• Build (An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making) by Tony Fadell

This is a conversation packed with actionable advice and cutting-edge perspectives.

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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Today’s guest, Anthony Lakkis, is a shining example of how necessity can inspire success. Over the last few years, Anthony has not only learnt a new trade but also built his business, HighNote Marketing, to an impressive size, navigating the challenges with focus and determination.

Known as a "Master Delegator," Anthony excels at optimising results by honing in on his strengths and empowering those around him. His leadership style is a blend of efficiency and empathy, with a strong commitment to maintaining work-life balance and positive mental health - a balance that many business leaders aspire to achieve.

Anthony’s journey is one of resilience, self-awareness and innovation. In this episode, we’ll uncover how he has transformed challenges into opportunities, his approach to leadership and the systems he relies on to sustain success for himself and his team.

He also shares actionable tips on developing an effective digital marketing plan and offers his perspective on how the market is set to evolve in the coming years.

Anthony credits The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss as a transformative read, one that has profoundly influenced his approach to work and life—making it a must-read for anyone looking to optimise their time and energy.

This is a conversation packed with insight, inspiration, and practical advice. Let’s dive in!

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Happy New Year! We're back with a bang in 2025. Here's to a positive and productive year ahead!

On this week's episode, we’re joined by the wonderful, Ronan Leonard, whose journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. Ronan thrives on learning and growth - he's read over 500 books in the last eight years, which speaks volumes (pun fully intended!) about his dedication to continuous improvement.

He’s a lifelong learner and a mentor with a heart. Through his involvement with Mentoring Men, he’s played a pivotal role in guiding and supporting others.

Before entering the business world, Ronan had a unique career running a casino, which no doubt taught him a thing or two about high-stakes decision-making and human behaviour. These days, he channels his passion for ethics and impact into his business, Intelligent Resourcing. This outsourcing organisation helps companies hire top talent in the Philippines, built on principles of ethical and sustainable practices.

We’ll explore Ronan’s fascinating story, discuss his unique insights into outsourcing, and discuss what it takes to build a business with purpose. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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To steal a quote from one of my favourite films, Groundhog Day, this week's guest is, "Punxsutawney Chris, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Talent Prophet Extraordinary...".

Chris Long has been in the talent industry for over 25 years, even starting when fax machines (remember them, kids?!) were a central part of a recruitment agency's toolkit.

Fast forward to today, where he works at the cutting edge of innovation and is an in-demand speaker at talent conferences around the globe. His presentations about the future of work and how to integrate new technology into existing tech stacks leave audiences wowed and inspired in equal measure.

An avid reader and student of his craft, Chris launched his consultancy, Elev8, in 2019 to help organisations with digital transformation and total workforce planning.

We spoke about his early career in the cut-throat late-90s UK recruitment market, where his passion for new technology came from and what talent trends are we likely to see in 2025.

Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, was accurate 39% of the time. Chris, on the other hand, tends to get it right a lot more regularly, making this conversation well worth a listen.

Chris' recommendation for new tech to try out is Google's NotebookLM, an AI-powered research tool that helps users understand complex information. Enjoy!

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Did you know? B2B companies with Account-Based Marketing (ABM) programs experience 38% higher sales win rates, 91% larger deal sizes, and achieve 24% faster revenue growth.

A well-defined marketing strategy, executed by a seasoned professional, is essential for achieving impactful results.

This week, I had the privilege of speaking with Paola Piccinno, a fractional marketing expert who helps global organisations refine their long-term go-to-market strategies through the power of Account-Based Marketing (ABM).

With a marketing career spanning two decades, Paola has perfected the art of identifying business challenges and delivering tailored solutions that drive measurable outcomes.

In this episode, Paola dives into:

• What ABM really is and how to build a winning strategy.
• The key elements that define effective ABM programs.
• Emerging trends and opportunities are set to shape the ABM landscape in 2025.

This was an interesting insight into a growing and highly effective approach to B2B marketing. Paola’s expertise shines through as she shares actionable advice for businesses looking to align their marketing and sales efforts to drive growth.

In terms of learning, Paola highly recommends checking out her favourite book, Blindness by Jose Saramago, and podcast, The Winning Mentality by Charlie Boscoe.

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

This week's episode is with the wonderful Rohan Watt, founder of Techie Stays. 

Rohan began his career in customer service in Australia before venturing to the UAE to join, what was then, an early-stage Aconex - a company that eventually sold for over $1 billion. 

He was there for over a decade so, five years ago, Rohan made the move to Phuket, Thailand where he started his entrepreneurial journey in earnest. After exploring various ventures, he founded Techie Stays, a platform used by hotels to automate processes and improve sales. 

His innovative approach has been particularly successful in post-COVID Thailand, where the tourism sector, which accounted for 11.5% of the country's GDP in 2019, was severely impacted by the pandemic. 

Beyond his business pursuits, Rohan authored a book about Mosha, a famous Thai elephant with a prosthetic leg, blending storytelling with a message of resilience.

Throughout our discussion, I was struck by Rohan's honesty, humility, and vulnerability. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about his experiences as a founder and the creative spirit that drives him.

The book Rohan raved about during our discussion was: 

• Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara. 
• (Plus his own book) Mosha the Elephant Who Just Would Not Give Up by Aston Heath.

scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

If you're a founder or operator thinking about your next hire, building out a TA function, or just not sure where your hiring process is letting you down - reach out to Matt directly at [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.