scalr sagecast

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A consistent theme I've seen amongst entrepreneurs is the growing impact of mental health concerns. A staggering 72% of entrepreneurs report experiencing mental health challenges, including anxiety, burnout, panic attacks and dealing with at least one mental illness. 

This week’s guest, Amber Ward, has set up her company, Energy Atelier, to focus on a founder's mental fitness and well-being. Amber takes a holistic approach to wellbeing, encouraging founders to:

• Identify your peak performance times: Discover when you're most energised and focused during the day, and tailor your work schedule to maximise these periods for high-priority tasks.
• Eliminate distractions with intentional preparation: Start your day with a purposeful routine that sets the tone—whether through mindfulness, planning, or simply taking a moment to centre yourself—before diving into the demands of the day.
• Prioritise mental fitness and wellbeing: Just as physical fitness is crucial for overall health, mental fitness should be treated as an essential pillar of success, helping you maintain clarity, resilience, and energy throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
• Address mental health challenges proactively: Recognise the signs of mental health decline, such as isolation, loneliness, or burnout, and take proactive steps to manage and seek support before they escalate.

Wellbeing is no longer seen as a "fluffy" nice-to-have in the workplace; it’s a critical need for founders. Amber is helping bring visibility and awareness to this important space.

Amber also recommended two inspirational sources of content that have helped her on her journey:

• Masters of Scale (Podcast)
• Scott Britton - Evolution FM (Book)

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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In Australia, the current contingent workforce (a non-permanent employee who works for an organisation on a short-term basis, or for a specific project) sits at around 30%. With new generations entering the workforce and a post-COVID world where demand for flexibility is even greater, this figure is set to increase further in the coming years. 

Organisations, in tandem, are seeking greater flexibility in their workforce due to the ability to keep tighter control of costs and project-based headcount. 

More companies are creating platforms to help solve problems in the space, none more so than this week's guest, Adam Caines, CPO from Upplft. 

Upplft focuses on helping companies have a singular funnel of contingent talent and hire through the funnel. They bridge the gap between temporary and help organisations treat employees more like permanent staff, but with a lighter touch. Essentially closing the loop between back and front office for contingent workers. 

Adam is someone who, unlike many of the previous sagecast guests, didn't start his career in talent so his perspective on some of the changes in the space was fresh and insightful. 

A great listen and some fantastic advice for us all to remember too.

Adam also recommended two must-read books: 

- Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

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 have some feedback for you...". One of the most anxiety-inducing phrases ever uttered. Generally, the conversation that follows is going to be negative so it was refreshing to speak with this week's guest, Lauren Humphrey, about how her platform, Tandem, is helping to change that. 

Studies conducted by Harvard show that the highest-performing teams have a 6:1 ratio of positive feedback to improvement-focused. Sounds obvious but talking about an individual's strengths reinforces skills and capabilities. 

Tandem is a platform that enables managers, and all employees, to give immediate, consistent and valuable feedback. 

This was a great conversation, and I left feeling more educated and equipped. Lauren's tips and advice on how to deliver more effective feedback and improve communications across dispersed teams were hugely valuable. 

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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Well, this was a fun one! 

On this week's scalr sagecast, it was great catching up with Brandon Burns. In such a short time, I felt like I had learnt so much. 

He has packed a lot into his 40 years, starting his early life starring in films and soaps in Australia, including the iconic Neighbours. His passion for singing then came to the fore, culminating in a semi-final spot in the first season of Australian Idol. He continues to pursue that passion with his own band and regular events.

Since then his career has seen him progress through sales and investing to where he is now: a key part of the Melbourne tech scene and partnerships leader for Teamified. 

A clear passion for him currently is community building, something we have in common. He's built a sizeable basketball networking event that attracts a huge following. 

Having achieved so much already, it was refreshing to hear Brandon reflect on his journey in a very humble and reflective manner. One of the books that helped provide clarity and direction for him was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, one he considers an essential read. 

A lot to cover in this one, 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.

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scalr sagecast - BONUS EDITION! 

I recently caught up with global traveller and thought leader, Hung Lee. To those of us in TA, for the last seven years, he's curated the fantastic recruitingbrainfood.com, a weekly digest on all things talent from around the world. 

I've been fortunate to spend some time with Hung over the years and even had him provide some exceptional insights at a Melbourne Talent Meetup a few years back. 

But who is the real Hung? How did he start his journey? What are the emerging trends for 2025? (Shock: it's AI!) Does he see himself more as a sanitation worker or as a bear by a river?! Have a listen and judge for yourself. 

Hung highlighted the article "Will AI become the new McKinsey?" (by Ted Chiang) as essential reading into the effect of new technology - https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/will-ai-become-the-new-mckinsey - Happy reading!

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 was a real privilege speaking with this week's guest, Richie Williams. He is an inspirational figure in the coaching world. He remains incredibly down-to-earth, engaging, and eager to share what he has learned from over 35 years of coaching.

Having been a high-level footballer in his earlier years, his professional career has followed a central principle around teamwork to achieve successful outcomes. His work has taken him around the world on some high-profile projects but, and this is very telling of the man, when I asked about his greatest achievements, he sees every client engagement as valuable and important as the last. 

During our chat, Richie highly recommended the following resources that supported him on his journey: 

• Customer Comes Second by Diane McFerrin Peters and Hal F. Rosenbluth
• Influence (The Psychology of Persuasion) by Robert Cialdini
• Flow by Roger Hamilton (YouTube Video)

There are so many insights to enjoy and a wonderful journey that unfolded during our discussion, this is a great listen. 

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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When my kids were a little smaller, I found one of them trying to swipe the TV to change the channel, as they'd seen it being done on an iPad. My first family TV was black and white, with four channels and no remote! 

I still find it fascinating the rate of change we're continuing to witness in today's modern, highly connected world. Barely 25 years ago (1997 - I looked it up!), the term 'digital nomad' was popularised due to the rise of technology that could support such a lifestyle. Now 17 million people in the US are digital nomads. 

Before then, it would've been pretty much unthinkable to do what this week's sagecast guest has done in a very short space of time: built a business with global clients that can be serviced from anywhere in the world. 

Amitty Peace is originally from Australia but has spent time living and working overseas in the UK, Europe and parts of Africa. Combining her love for travel, food and adventure, her home is now in Kenya where she continues to grow her newly-rebranded business, Mangrove. 

Having had an early career in risk and resilience, she identified an opportunity to provide a greater level of support in this space with her bespoke consulting services. 

I enjoyed learning a lot more about an unfamiliar space, one that is continuing to grow and develop but one that Amitty is clearly incredibly passionate about. 

Was a pleasure speaking with her, this was a discussion full of insight. 

Amitty's go-to business book is Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Well worth checking out. 

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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This week's guest is Grant Butteriss. 

A real innovator in the clothing and fast fashion space, Grant helped to transform Reform Clothing from a locally based (and well-respected) provider of school apparel in Melbourne to a global business that significantly reduced waste and revolutionised the design and manufacturing process. 

After a decade with Reform, seven at the helm, Grant decided a change was needed and has now started Butterfly Affect, a consulting and psychometric testing services business. 

I was fascinated by the processes and innovations that were created and embedded to grow and scale the business. His insights are hugely valuable, and his journey is a fascinating one. 

The book Grant wouldn't have been a CEO without is: 

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

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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In a recent 'In-House State of the Market' webinar with JobAdder, we explored what feels like a pivotal moment for company culture. As more employers raise expectations around office attendance after nearly four years of remote and hybrid working, how will this shift impact long-term morale and culture?

This week on scalr sagecast, I spoke with the wonderful Felicity De Lang. 

Flic's expertise in working with People teams to pinpoint gaps and optimise processes shone through, offering valuable insights on how organisations can navigate these complexities.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation - Flic’s approach to driving meaningful change in a challenging landscape is inspiring, as is her boldness in striking out on her own.

Her go-to book is Brave New Work by Aaron Dignan.

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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A friend recently sent me a meme of a baboon frantically clicking a mouse with the comment that this is what it's like completing a company's mandatory training. That's how it has always been in my experience and the same goes for any additional learning undertaken too.

So when I heard about Learna, I was intrigued to discover more about how a Melbourne-based entrepreneur was going about creating a potentially game-changing approach to a traditional challenge.

Lisa Lie, my guest this week, described Learna as, "...being like social media for learning…", a user-centred tool that creates and delivers content in a storytelling-based way. Intriguing, right?

I was fascinated to learn more about how she came to develop this innovative approach, drawing on the challenges and roadblocks she encountered in previous leadership roles. As is proving to be the case with her growing customer base, there is a clear need and desire to consume targeted micro-learning. 

The insights and wisdom she provided throughout our discussion were excellent and her book recommendations equally so:

• Surrounded By Idiots – Thomas Eriksen
• The Coaching Habit – Michael Bungay
• The Mom Test – Rob Fitzpatrick
• Atomic Habits – James Clear
• Hooked - Nir

A thoroughly enjoyable listen. 

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.