The Leader Brew Podcast

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and Co-Host Dr. Leslie Hitch in an engaging conversation with former student Dr. Stephen Sim. This episode revolves around a recurring theme of respect and admiration for faculty members expressed by many exceptional students in the global leadership program. Dr. Sim passionately shares his thoughts on Dr. Hitch's profound impact on his journey.

Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Sim emphasizes how Dr. Hitch ignited his passion for teaching by exemplifying the ability to inspire countless individuals to become lifelong learners. She seamlessly brought together people from diverse nationalities and cultures through her captivating storytelling and thought-provoking teaching methods. "Dr. Hitch single-handedly united a wide spectrum of individuals through her teaching style, and her influence on my life and career is undeniable," Dr. Sim acknowledges.

Furthermore, he expresses his deep gratitude towards Dr. Hitch, recognizing that her support played a pivotal role in his accomplishment of becoming a teacher who genuinely cares for his students, both within and beyond the confines of the classroom. Dr. Sim firmly believes that his success in teaching and leadership is, in essence, a testament to Dr. Hitch's achievements. Without her guidance and mentorship, he admits uncertainty regarding whether he would have achieved his lifelong dream.

Dr. Sim's profound appreciation for educators and their impact on shaping future generations drives his work toward building a better world. He underscores the importance of expressing gratitude to those who teach and inspire us, as it fuels his dedication to creating a brighter future for all.

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Dr. Rick catches up with his former student, Ricky Sucitra, from Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss Ricky's experience from the classroom to the realworld leading multicultural teams. In their conversation, Ricky shares how he and his team practice servant leadership in building high-performing teams, prioritizing resiliency, fostering a positive workplace culture, and developing effective strategies. Ricky encourages his employees to adopt a continuous learning mindset, embrace new opportunities, and take action to make a real difference in their work. He prioritizes policies that support work-life balance and wellness and fosters a culture of collaboration and idea-sharing across departments. Ricky emphasizes the importance of developing soft skills such as adaptability, agility, and teachability to prepare recruits for a successful future in the workplace. Ricky believes creating a learning culture ultimately leads to happier employees and a more successful workplace.

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Accompany Dr. Rick as he reconnects with Nathan Luker, a former student from Melbourne, Australia. Nathan shares his reflections on studying leadership with American professors, which offered him a fresh perspective on his educational and professional journey. He discovered that learning goes beyond simply studying textbooks, collecting references for essays, or attaining instant gratification. Instead, he applied his newfound skills to adapt to a different approach to learning. Over the past decade, Nathan has integrated these fundamental learnings into establishing Australia's largest whistle-blowing company to support a more conducive workplace environment. His realization that life is both long and short offers profound guidance on how he perceives his personal and professional roles. Nathan describes it as "life's long," encouraging individuals to dream big, take risks, and learn from their mistakes, and "life's short," encouraging them to enjoy the present and recognize that there is ample time to reshape their narrative.

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Dr. Arrowood is accompanied by Vi Nguyen, a former student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in this episode. The English translation of Ho Chi Minh is "Bringer of Light." Vi, who graduated a decade ago and has since ventured into the real world, is shedding light on the benefits of studying abroad, not only for students but also for professors. She co-founded ProPath, an educational company that assists Vietnamese students in studying in the USA, UK, and Australia while also facilitating global faculty exchanges. Vi reflects on her time in the global leadership courses, particularly the immense diversity present in the classroom. She cherishes the network and social interactions that are typical of Western-style education. "I remember how you instructed us to discard our syllabus and prepare to learn at the beginning of one of our classes. It caught me off guard, but the value it adds to my role as an entrepreneur today is immeasurable."

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Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and guest Kristal Jericho as they explore self-discovery, motivation, and strategy. Kristal shares her personal and professional journey from the classroom to the real world, reflecting on the significance of self-belief, adaptability to change, and the courage to leave a workplace that isn't a good fit. Through her experiences, Kristal gained invaluable insight, even working in an environment that didn't align with her goals. However, she notes that real change requires a greater reliance on belief in oneself, motivation, and perseverance. In doing so, she's landed in a perfect place working in social policy for the Victorian Government.  

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Dr. Rick Arrowood and Dr. Leslie Hitch are joined by Ruta Kothare, a former student from India, to discuss her perspectives on the cultural nuances of living and teaching in Australia and China. During the conversation, Ruta emphasizes the importance of being aware of differences and similarities, being open to vulnerability, and acknowledging that it's okay not always to be strong.

The discussion covers various topics, including how students were less likely to ask for help before the global pandemic and were more focused on constantly achieving. However, Ruta shares her observations post-pandemic, where students are more likely to ask for help, prioritize mental health, and embrace vulnerability. Ruta provides valuable advice on overcoming the fear of vulnerability, which includes staying true to oneself, surrounding oneself with warmth, managing expectations, and absorbing knowledge. She also encourages individuals to live life to the fullest, embrace others, and not be afraid to get messy playing in the mud.

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Dr. Rick Arrowood invites you to an extraordinary conversation with guest Andrew Joycey as they explore his life journey from the classroom to the real world. Andrew shares his insightful reflections on growing up in Papua New Guinea and Australia and how these experiences profoundly impacted his outlook and fostered his curiosity. He emphasizes the importance of finding purpose during challenging times and highlights the need to pause and reflect. Andrew also stresses the value of surrounding oneself with a diverse group of quality friends, acknowledging that life can be challenging, complex, and unfair. Still, he encourages others never to give up, remain adaptable, and maintain a desire to learn from others. Andrew speaks openly about the importance of mental health and urges individuals to seek support from others when needed.

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Join Dr. Rick and his guests, Mohssen Owlad and Sanaz Bin, two former students from Iran who reside in Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Mo and Sang share their stories of perseverance, tenacity, and courage in their pursuit of passion as entrepreneurs. Sanaz describes her journey of self-discovery as one that requires a positive outlook and continuous learning. Mo shares that following your passion and purpose sometimes means altering your path. In the face of ongoing challenges, this dynamic duo remain firm in their Iranian roots, but have learned how to combine their values with an openness and nonjudgmentalness as they approach life. This episode is perfect for students traveling from abroad to study, while demonstrating practical applications for learning a new language, blending in with different cultures, and pursuing your dreams. 

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Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest Ivan Mootoosamy in this engaging discussion about leading others by understanding their personality and personality preferences. Ivan's departure from the small island nation of Mauritius to Australia unleashed his curiosity to learn, explore, engage, and adapt. Even when told many years ago in the classroom, his story of arriving in Australia at the age of 18 illuminates his genuine belief in people, an undeniable propensity for curiosity, and self-exploration outside his comfort zone.   

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Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest Dilini Kithsiri in this fascinating discussion about how to swim with your strengths in unchartered waters.  Dilini, an aquatics athlete, shares her transition from a trained competitor to learning how to collaborate in the transportation industry.  She knew at an early age what it meant to compete and how to work on a team, but the leadership classroom and her current work took adaptability to a whole new lane. She encourages others to take risks while maintaining focus and learn from any shortcomings. Her willingness to try something new, to dive into the deep end, so to speak, showcases her strengths in team building, cultural awareness, and the importance of celebrating the success of others.         

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