The Evolved Leadership Podcast

My guest in this episode is Zach Whale. Zach is GM of Policy at Grain Growers, a key representative body for all grain growing farmers in Australia.  

Highlights of our conversation include how a great suggestion from Zach's mum led to his passion for grain growing, riffing with Banjo Patterson, the impact of Trump's tariffs on global trade, the serious issue of international food security, and how the Russia-Ukraine war affects global grains trading. 

Enjoy the conversation.

To find out more about Grain Growers go to: https://www.graingrowers.com.au 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is Michael Engeman. Michael is an experienced business executive and entrepreneur, and is the CEO of the Ainslie Group of companies, one of Australia's most respected bullion and crypto dealers.  

Founded in 1974, Ainslie has grown into one of Australia’s largest and most trusted bullion dealers, later expanding into digital assets. As the country’s only Over-The-Counter (OTC) crypto dealer, Ainslie also launched The Gold & Silver Standard (AUS and AGS) digital tokens backed by securely stored bullion. 

Highlights of our conversation include seeing the opportunity in crypto many years ago, selling physical gold and silver tokens on the blockchain, Trump's impact on crypto, minting a one ton gold coin, and discussing how we might create a more equitable world.

Enjoy the conversation.

To find out more about the Ainslie Group go to: https://www.ainslie.com.au

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

#crypto #bitcoin #bullion #gold #goldbullion #cryptocurrency #blockchain #leadership #evolvedleadershippodcast #evolvedstrategy 

My guest in this episode is Karen Dare. Karen is the CEO of Communify, a not-for-profit dedicated to meeting a range of needs in the community, including child safety, housing, mental health, family support, emergency relief and refugee support. 

Karen has over 30 years of experience working within the community sector, and has been with Communify since 1994. She has seen the organisation grow from a small neighbourhood centre with limited resources to the thriving multi-service hub that it is today. 

Karen also works broadly in the community and has sat on the boards of several prominent community organisations and other representative committees including 4Walls Housing Company,  Suncorp Stadium Advisory Committee and Building Services Authority.

Karen is a recipient of the 2001 Centenary Medal and the Brisbane Australia Day Award for her contribution to the community sector.

Highlights of our conversation include a pattern in the sector of everyone wanting their own charity, the power of not-for-profit team members moving on into influential government roles, how Communify develops their leaders, the importance of coming down from your ivory tower as a leader, and Karen sharing the internal contract she has with herself.  

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about Communify, go to: https://communify.org.au/

 You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dare-99b3b44b/

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/podcast

My guest in this episode is Tim Humphries. Tim is the CEO of Homestyle Aged Care, a Tier 1 aged care provider. Tim was previously the CEO of Provider Assist, a large, aged care consulting service. He has extensive business experience holding previous C-suite roles within finance and IT. 

Tim is the former Chairman of the board of directors for the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. He previously worked on the board of Prestige In-home Care, and the School Council of Wattle Park Primary School. 

Highlights of our conversation include aged care approaching saturation levels, the challenge of being primarily govt funded, exploring why older people aren't being valued, and making sure everyone on the exec team laughs at least once during a meeting.

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about Homestyle Aged Care go to: https://homestyleagedcare.com.au 

You can connect with Tim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-humphries-1435511b/

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is Troy Warfield. Troy is the CEO of The Social Gaming Group, a gastro-gaming venue business, where he has led the company’s rapid global expansion. He is also the Chair of Surf Lakes, a global surf park business.

Troy's prior roles include President of Topgolf International, Executive Director of the Board at British Airways as well as BA's Brands & Customer Experience Director, and Chief Commercial Officer of Avis Budget Group where he led the international franchising of the business. 

Troy was also previously Managing Director of the UK and Ireland for Kimberly Clark, and has held senior roles at Unilever.

He is a very proud father of three children, and enjoys giving back to the community via many charitable roles through his career, coaching his son’s rugby, and being with friends.

Highlights of our conversation include franchise wins in the Middle East for The Social Gaming Group, the benefit of focusing on strategic cluster, dealing with the fact that the more senior you get the lonelier you get, and the leadership benefits of exercise, ice baths and meditation.

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about The Social Gaming Group go to: https://www.thesocialgaminggroup.com

You can reach out to Troy at [email protected]  

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is Tom Larter. Tom  is a seasoned business executive and the CEO of WithYouWithMe, one of the Asia Pacific’s fastest growing tech companies.

WithYouWithMe solves workforce challenges and make a positive social impact through

creating career pathways for diverse communities, including veterans, military families,

neurodivergent individuals and indigenous groups. 

Tom is also an active member of several industry organisations, including the Tech Council of Australia, TechUK and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). 

Highlights of our conversation include your ability to learn being the best predictor of your hire-ability, future-proofing jobs for the future, how execution beats strategy every day of the week, the importance of Involving your leaders in your strategic planning, and making sure your strategy fits on one page. 

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about WithYouWithMe go to: https://withyouwithme.com

You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomlarter/ 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is Tim Dwyer.  Tim is the founder and Managing Director of Tolemy, a brand-led growth agency educating entrepreneurs and business owners on how to design, build and activate a business strategy based on a foundation of core assets aligned with purpose. 

Tim has worked with private industry for over 25 years, supporting thousands of businesses to grow and scale. He believe that by helping business leaders shift mindsets, businesses and industries can shift to benefit our communities and society.

Highlights of our conversation include the Tolemy framework acting as a "Google Map" for your business, making the point that we've all got a purpose, ego being a wonderful servant but a terrible master, and the importance as a leader of working out what your trauma has been.

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about Tolemy go to: https://tolemy.com

You can connect with Karl on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdwyer1

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is John Shegerian. John is the serial social entrepreneur responsible for co-founding Homeboy Industries, FinancialAid.com, Engage and many other impactful organizations. He currently serves as co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the largest recycler of electronic waste in the US.

Highlights of our conversation include hearing John describe starting his work life washing floors at the age of 10 at the dry cleaners, appreciating that all his bosses were mentors, discussing the impact of the Greed Is Good generation, and a strong encouragement to study the great leaders.

John also describes a very impressive Board of Directors at ERI, including JB Straubel who is the founder of Redwood Materials and a co-founder of Tesla, the Koo family who are the founders and owners of LG Electronics, and the aluminium production giant Alcoa. 

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about ERI go to: https://eridirect.com 

You can follow John on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnshegerian 

You can follow ERI at:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-recyclers/

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

My guest in this episode is Paul Hodgson. Paul is currently Chair of Queensland Manufacturing Institute Ltd, and the recent CEO of the Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre, where he secured 97 partners and $163m of cash and in-kind contributions for a Round 24 funding submission. 

He is an Industry Commentator for the Ai Group Podcast “What on Earth”; and a Founding Member and Honorary Fellow of the Global Intrapreneurs Institute. 

Highlights of our conversation include discussing how good leadership grows leaders, not letting the process get in the way of the outcome, the strong manufacturing opportunities in Australia, building coalitions of leaders to get things done, and where hydrogen fits with the complex future that is coming.

Enjoy the conversation 

You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljhodgson  

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au

I'm delighted to have worked with some incredible clients this year, including Grain Growers Limited, Surf Lakes, Deloitte and QLD Health. This has enabled us to provide strategy and leadership development support to our pro-bono clients Sea Shepherd Australia and Opportunity International Australia. 

It has also been a powerful year of fascinating conversations on the Evolved Leadership Podcast.

To complete 2023, check out our final episode of the year as Episode 35, where I speak about the top insights on the show through the year, and also share a personal example of one of my own recent leadership insights.

The story I share in this episode was prompted by an experience of feeling flat while sharing my own top values of Honesty and Enjoyment with my client group, while facilitating a core leadership development program module. I considered afterwards that much time and life experience had taken place since I arrived at those original values, so I took myself through the values reflection and prioritisation exercise again. And this time the highest values that emerged were Freedom and Inner Harmony.

These resonated much more clearly in terms of where I'm at in my own leadership journey and life. I was reminded of how important it is to revisit your values as needed, as much can change over time that causes values to be reprioritised.

There is a major project that is coming as a result of my own reclarifying of my personal values, which I'll share more on early next year.

For now, have a relaxing and rejuvenating break, and see you in 2024.

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au