The Company Road Podcast

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“That's where small companies have a superpower. It's like when you've got a tight-knit group of people who really understand each other and understand what needs to be done, understand how everything works, you can move very fast.”

Matt Doran

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Growing Your Business: How Matt scaled PaperCut from a two-person startup of university friends to a global company with clients like Google

Planning Corporate Strategy: Anchoring the direction of a company & how to meaningfully plan ahead

Building Psychological Safety: Establishing an environment where team members feel comfortable taking interpersonal risks

Maintaining Small Business Cultures: Staying nimble, reactive and open in communication while growing in team size and expectation

Problem-Solving: Learning the art of solving problems & the mindset needed to be balanced, calm & quick in doing so

Key links:

PaperCut

Chris Dance 

Tom Clift 

Google PaperCut Testimonial

WeWork 

Matt’s LinkedIn

About our guest

Matt Doran is the co-founder of PaperCut (https://papercut.com), a global leader in print management software. The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and has offices in the US and the UK, employing over 250 people.

Matt pursued studies in computer science and electrical engineering and spent seven years in software consulting before teaming up with his co-founder, Chris Dance, to establish PaperCut in 2004. Through organic growth and without taking on external investors, they transformed PaperCut into the global market leader in the print management market. 

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hud..., is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. 

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us Fan Mail

“I always want to hear from the people and not just my team. Having those opportunities where you can do that in complete safety, where no idea is a silly idea is so important. You never know what you’re sitting on if you restrict people just to their job description”

Sam Yee

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Realigning Team Mindsets: Shifting attitudes from fear and holding back to taking initiative in change
• Balancing Personal Initiative and People Empowerment: Managing teams in a way that encourages their innovation but doesn’t limit you
• Responding to Disrespect: Dealing with judgement and disrespect as a leader, and as a woman in a male-dominated industry 
• Establishing Inclusive Design Cultures: Empowering teams and individuals from macro scale down in collaborative involvement
• Growth vs Fixed Mindsets: Knowing how and when to prioritise and shift mindset and navigating people’s different operational styles

Key links

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/au/sport

AFL (Australian Football League) https://www.afl.com.au/

EY https://www.ey.com/en_au

What is a Generalist? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/06/03/the-value-of-being-a-generalist/?sh=6bc28a92fc89

The Art of Persuasion https://hbr.org/1998/05/the-necessary-art-of-persuasion

Michelle Bowden https://michellebowden.com.au/

NFL Movies https://www.nfl.com/photos/best-football-movies-of-all-time-09000d5d82952ed3

Product Strategy https://amplitude.com/blog/product-strategy-framework

About our guest

Sam Yee (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samyee1) has spent the last 20 years as a change-driven generalist working in marketing, sponsorship, digital strategy, audience measurement, analytics, market and customer research, data, insights, commercial sales, advertising and more recently, product management in SaaS/OTT subscription video platforms.

She found her niche in taking on challenging roles as part of major media and sports companies like AFL, Kayo Sports, Fox Sports & Seven West Media, and leading digital transformation and insights and product-led growth strategies.

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hud..., is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

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“So a lot of what I think about when I'm doing this in an organisation is that we're not just working in an organisation, we're working with a group of people that are members of a society that are members of a species on this planet that's in trouble. And we need to make space to talk to each other about what we want this society to be, because we've gotta make decisions”

Jaimes Nel

In this episode you’ll hear about :

• Front-Loading the Problem-Solving: Starting strong; intense early-stage problem-solving simplifies complex transformations.
• Cross-Cutting Strategies: Merging strategies across aspects; uncovers capabilities that drive transformative goals.
• Long-Term Visioning: Beyond short-term; envision change's ripple effects and broad context impact.
• Decisive Balancing of Actions: Blend top-down and ground-up, as well as narrow to wide focus for effective change management.
• Catalytic Conversations: Scaling via collective decisions; accelerates a shared understanding and builds more adaptable organisations.

Key links

The 4 Modes of Strategic Change https://pathventures.io/writing/4modesofstrategicchange/

De Bono’s thinking hats https://www.debonogroup.com/services/core-programs/six-thinking-hats/

Design Thinking https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/design-thinking#:~:text=Design%20thinking%20is%20a%20non,solutions%20to%20prototype%20and%20test.

Dave Graeber & David Wengrow https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-dawn-of-everything-9780141991061

MCU - Marvel Cinematic Universe https://www.marvel.com/movies

Sunrise Movement https://www.sunrisemovement.org/

Occupy Wall Street http://occupywallst.org/

Jobs to be done framework https://jobs-to-be-done.com/jobs-to-be-done-a-framework-for-customer-needs-c883cbf61c90?gi=954a91ec6435

Path Ventures https://pathventures.io/

About our guest

Jaimes Nel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimesnel/) founded Path (https://pathventures.io/) in 2021 to help organisations play the long game through  design-led strategy. He began his career designing for the early web, and gone on to develop a practice applying thinking from the social sciences to strategic change.

Jaimes was Head of Insight for pioneering service design agency Livework in the early years of service design practice. 

He’s worked on service transformation for brands such as the NHS, BBC, Aviva, Johnson&Johnson, Ebay, GOV.UK / HMRC and led a transformation design team at Westpac in Australia, delivering their digital mortgage service.

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us Fan Mail

“Dance gave me many things. I've often been called quite gritty so just keeping going until I hit a particular goal or outcome.

And I think that is something that was just naturally in me when I was dancing and trying to be better every single day. Never being put off by the setbacks, actually taking those as learnings. I think I've naturally taken that into my career and I take setbacks day to day as if they're like skittles, learn from them, adapt, try something new.”

Samantha Roberts

In this episode you’ll hear about 

• Synergising Strategy and Action: Flipping to action through strategic development stages to realise transformational success.
• Unleashing Innovation: Harnessing diverse minds to drive more collaborative, breakthrough solutions
• Data Empowered Transformation: Illuminating the path to progress.
• Tailored Transformation: Empowering stakeholders and your teams through personalized approaches.
• Grit and Grace: Sustaining momentum and leading with resilience, with a bit of charm and empathy thrown in along the way. 

Key links

Known Unknowns https://medium.com/@andreamantovani/known-knowns-known-unknowns-unknown-unknowns-leadership-367f346b0953

Barclays Bank https://www.barclays.co.uk/

National Australia Bank (NAB) https://www.nab.com.au/

Hockey Stick graph https://www.techtarget.com/searchcustomerexperience/definition/hockey-stick-growth#:~:text=Hockey%20stick%20growth%20is%20a,shape%20of%20a%20hockey%20stick.

PEXA https://www.pexa.com.au/
 Design Thinking https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/design-thinking#:~:text=Design%20thinking%20is%20a%20non,solutions%20to%20prototype%20and%20test.

Double Diamond https://medium.com/digital-experience-design/how-to-apply-a-design-thinking-hcd-ux-or-any-creative-process-from-scratch-b8786efbf812

Miro https://miro.com/app/dashboard/

About our guest

Samantha Roberts https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-roberts-4205abb3/ was the General Manager - Customer Experience & Strategy for PEXA,  responsible for optimising and transforming customer and employee experiences across all touch points. Over six years she helped taken PEXA from 10% market share to 90%. She’s now a Product and Leader and mentor for emerging start-ups in Australia. 

Sam believes that exceptional experiences not only fuel growth but also cultivate loyalty and enhance employee engagement.

“I’ve had the privilege of developing and delivering voice of customer programs in various organisations.”

This has empowered businesses to better understand their customers' needs and preferences.

Sam has been part of building an ecosystem of products that transformed an entire industry from traditional paper-based systems to cutting-edge digital solutions. Witnessing the positive impact of these products and services has been incredibly rewarding.

“Happy employees equals happy customers”, Sam has championed employee experience programs that have had a profound effect on the entire customer lifecycle. By nurturing a culture of customer-centricity and empowering employees, these programs have not only enhanced customer experiences but also driven operational efficiency. 

With a curious mindset and a collaborative approach Sam uses her expertise in Customer Experience (CX), Product, and Technology to create memorable experiences that captivate

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

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“It's being able to tell the story. It's using data first of all as the starting point. And being able to use that data to articulate a story  in a way that's easy for stakeholders to understand, if they don't how contact centres work. And let's face it, most people don't how contact centres work. So you've gotta cut through all of that.” 

Daniele Iezzi

In this episode you’ll hear about 

• Being brave to quickly learn and showcase new technologies and AI. Instil confidence!
• Staying close to your data. But don’t just show data, convert to stories and present persuasively with passion.
• Speaking the exec lingo and always looking for ways connect service language to commercial outcomes.
• Planning, experimenting, staying agile,  to learn and improve. Never stop to ensure manoeuvrability. 
• Seeking allies from unexpected places, build support, face resistance as one!

We hope you enjoy the show!

Key links

21 Jump Street
David Jones 
Country Road
Purple People

About our guest

Daniele Iezzi is a Customer Service Transformation Strategist.

As the former GM Customer Services at David Jones and Country Road Group, and with a retail career spanning over 25 years, Daniele is on a mission to redefine customer service from its traditional operating model to a seamless omnichannel conversational commerce experience, powered by great people and enabled by AI.  Most recently, Daniele established a digital first contact centre for David Jones and CRG.  He’s excited about the opportunity to expand the scope of customer service beyond the contact centre.

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)

Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.

Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they’re working towards the same organisational goal, it’s this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. 

Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us Fan Mail

‘Write down the challenge you’ve got and where you think you could get to, if you overcame that challenge. Write it into a story or a manifesto or something that shows you are in it for the change. Not just pointing out the bleeding obvious problem! And take it to the most senior leader you can find and read it out to them over that coffee!’
 
Marcus Iles, Manifestive

In this episode you’ll hear about 

• The power of humility within the context of continuous learning
• Open communication leading to foster innovation
• Clear vision and how this will always fuel passion in your teams
• If you embrace change, you embrace growth
• Rewarding innovation, and encouraging risk-taking
• How to lead authentically and build trust
• Investing in employee engagement, to note only educate but inspire

We hope you enjoy the show!

Key links

Caractacus Potts - a cheeky reference I made about Marcus' home office

Manifestive - Marcus’ strategy activation agency 

About our guest

Our guest, Marcus Iles is a globally awarded Creative strategist. He has worked for many globally recognised brands – including HSBC, Renault, Nissan, Heineken, Microfocus, Pfizer and the Bank of England.

Before life in management consultancy, Marcus worked as a Global  Executive Creative Director in advertising where he learned to harness the power of strategy and creativity to change beliefs, mindsets and behaviours. He now works as a consultant and is founder of the strategy catalyst, Manifestive.

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road.

Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.

Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they’re working towards the same organisational goal, it’s this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. 

Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. 

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us Fan Mail

“If people can’t explain you, you’re at massive risk’ 
Mike Dyson

In this episode you’ll hear about 

• Intrapreneurs vs. Innovators
• Essential qualities of an Intrapreneur
• How and where to initiate change
• Self-Assessment and Alignment - Staying on Track
• Understanding Stakeholders and Effective Engagement
• Innovation and Business Goals - Value Alignment
• Fostering a Culture of Innovation - Psychological Safety

We hope you enjoy the show!

Key links

Ryan Rumsey 

Dare by Stan Bush

Lean Six Sigma 

Harriet Wakeman

Cynefin Framework

About our guest

Our guest, Mike Dyson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedysonexpdesign/), was formerly the Head of Capbility & Experience Design at nbn Australia. In the five years since joining nbn, Mike established a cross-functional innovation & design practice who delivered immense value across multiple parts of nbn's operations groups.

Mike has worked in many of the major industies from telecommunications, healthcare, finance, insurance and even waste management. In fact he likes to joke that if he ever wrote a book it would be from Movie Stars to Landfills the Mike Dyson story. 

An expert in numerous facets of Human Centred Design, Business Architecture and Innovation, he uses his passions and knowhow to maximise the talent of teams and changes lives through simple design. 

Mike generously shares his design leadership experience through his public speaking event and his role as a mentor with digital and design with groups like Academy Xi and ADP.

About our host

Our host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)

Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.

Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they’re working towards the same organisational goal, it’s this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. 

Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.

Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/