The Secret Life of Leaders

In this episode, David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia, takes us on his journey into the leadership of environmental activism. We explore the power of collaboration in driving impactful outcomes at scale,  the vital role of trust-building in creating lasting change, and the necessity of forging strategic partnerships with like minded collaborators to support a sustainable future.

I was most inspired by David’s personal congruence with his mission, how artfully he expresses his vision to lead his organisation and strategically affects massive change, and his openness about personal sustainability in the face of long term challenges.

You’re going to love hearing about how purposeful leadership and meaningful, intentional collaboration can catalyse transformative impact in our communities and beyond.

In this episode:

• David’s journey from lawyer to Greenpeace CEO
• His desired impact on the world
• Affecting change at scale through collaboration
• Signs of positive change in responsible engagement
• Challenges in affecting change at scale
• Institutional challenges and systemic change
• Leadership and culture at Greenpeace
• Personal resilience and leadership responsibilities

Links:

David Ritter LinkedIn

David Ritter Book: Loving – Living with the Anthropocene

In this episode, we talk to Nick Rakis, a Venture Architect and partner at Accelio, about stakeholder engagement for complex projects. We discuss the key elements for a successful collaborative process as well as the importance of designing for desired outcomes and the challenges of different groups. 

We also delve into Nick's personal approach to helping leaders drive positive change. Learn how you, too, can create a positive and engaged stakeholder experience through this conversation.

In this episode:

• The importance of stakeholder engagement
• Clarifying the purpose and goals of facilitated workshops
• Different types of leaders and their approach to facilitation
• The misconceptions about collaboration, and the need for process discipline and standards 
• Collaboration within a structured container for effective workshops
• Trust, accountability, and transparency in a high-stakes project 
• The evolution of Accelio
• Nick's leadership style and wellbeing approaches 

Links:

Nick Rakis LinkedIn

Accelio LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Wittwer, CSM, an international consultant promoting gender equality, particularly in the peacekeeping and security context. We discuss the importance of addressing gender inequality and harassment in the military, along with increasing women's representation, personal growth, self-leadership and creating an inclusive environment for everyone to thrive. 

In this episode:

• Jennifer’s dedication to gender equality in peacekeeping and opening opportunities for Women in the Military
• Valuing diversity and reshaping Militaries for effective Peacekeeping
• Adapting the military to reflect diversity and changing needs
• Achieving equality by breaking barriers and changing perspectives
• The challenges of Gender Equality in organisational settings
• Building trust and providing hope in leadership
• Achieving tangible results and collective change.

Links:

Jennifer Wittwer website

Jennifer Wittwer LinkedIn 

Jennifer Wittwer Twitter

In this episode, Professor Cheryl Desha, a renowned leader in the fields of resilient communities and resilient infrastructure, shares her unique perspective on resilience, emphasising the importance of flexibility, adaptability and understanding the systems and context in which we live. Her mission is to drive positive change in decision-making processes and make a global impact. A significant part of Professor Desha's work involves helping communities plan for and recover from disasters. 

Join us as we learn more about Professor Desha’s leadership style and her appetite for building leaders and nurturing community. 

In this episode:

• Professor Desha’s journey and passion for sustainable development and resilience
• Creating a space for learning and inquiry
• The need for integrated decision support systems
• Collaboration and alliances for addressing complex problems
• Finding inspiration and purpose in disaster management and resilience
• Professor Desha’s personal Growth - leading others, building community, and nurturing research.

Links:

Professor Cheryl Desha LinkedIn

Griffith Disaster Management Network  

Queensland Disaster Research Alliance (QDRA)

Article on Professor Desha’s journey

In this episode, Larelle McMillan, a sustainability leader at CSIRO's Agriculture and Food Business Unit shares her journey towards sustainability change and the importance of collaborative efforts in the agri-food system. With 20 years of experience, she has contributed to national and globally significant projects in this space. Learn more about Larelle’s leadership approach and her results in leading complex programs of sustainability change that spans disciplines and industry domains, geographies, levels of government and communities.

In this episode:

• Larelle tells us about her background and what led her to devote herself to sustainability change
• The story of how she started leading a program of nearly a hundred researchers in CSIRO
• The impact that Larelle desires to have in the world and why she is so passionate about it
• Larelle’s biggest wins in deploying scientific research to solve complex sustainability problems, especially when it comes to agri-food
• Encouraging signs of change in the agri-food system and how the collaborations she leads are helping this
• The biggest challenges she and her team face around sustainability change and the lessons they are learning along the way
• Larelle’s secrets to staying committed, passionate and inspired.

Links:

Larelle McMillan LinkedIn

CSIRO Website

In this episode, we speak with Nick Palousis, an engineer and climate-tech entrepreneur. Join us as we delve into Nick’s journey into sustainability, where he unveils his endeavours in catalyzing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) transformation. Nick shares his mission to guide businesses on the path to achieving net zero emissions. Find out Nick's approach to consulting to industry on ESG and what drives him in that process.

In this episode:

• Nick shares his background and what led him to devote himself to sustainability change
• The biggest wins of change that he has had in helping organizations build roadmaps to get to net zero
• Nick’s process and approach to help big businesses to create change
• The stages that businesses move through as they begin to incorporate ESG into their framework
• Nick’s thoughts on balancing the ESG agenda with profit
• The biggest challenges about leading complex ESG change in business and the lessons he has learned so far
• Social sustainability and personal sustainability
• Improving his self-leadership over the years
• The most important thing being required of someone as a leader bringing about positive change in the world

Links:

Nick Palousis LinkedIn

2XE Website

In this episode, Jesse Richardson shares his unique way of teaching the next generation how to think independently. Jesse encourages the future leaders to challenge the mainstream way of thinking, and apply both divergent and convergent thinking. By asking questions openly, and not defensively, we can generate positive mindset and cultural shifts. When it comes to business and leadership, Jesse believes these three character traits are important: dogged determination, grandiose ambition and having a vision.

In this episode:

• What is missing in the education system and how it frustrates the progress of divergent thinkers 
• Jesse’s epiphany moment that led him to founding the School of Thought in 2015
• The importance of synthesizing the divergent (ie creative) and convergent (ie analytical) thinking
• The biggest successes of Jesse’s various ventures, including being featured in the World Economic Forum and Forbes
• The Scout Mindset vs. The Soldier Mindset
• The challenges in leading the complex social change around critical thinking
• Jesse’s experience of neurodiversity and its impact on his life
• Jesse’s approach to self-leadership as a neurodivergent thinker
• How business has changed after the pandemic
• The most important leadership traits we need to bring about positive change in the world

Links

Jesse Richardson Website

Jesse Richardson LinkedIn

Websites:

The School of Thought: School of Thought

‘Your Logical Fallacy Is’ website: Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies (yourlogicalfallacyis.com)

Books:

The Scout Mindset, by Julia Galef: Julia Galef

How Minds Change, by David McRaney:  How Minds Change — David McRaney

In this episode of The Secret Life of Leaders, Tom White joins us to share his experience and knowledge in leading large-scale humanitarian programs in conflict zones. His interesting story of transforming lives and providing aid to vulnerable populations will definitely ignite a spark of inspiration. Join us as we unravel stories and secrets of impactful leadership in challenging environments. 

In this episode:

• The story of how Tom landed his role as the Director of the United Nations Refugee Agency for Palestinian Refugees. 
• Tom shares his passion about making an impact in the world, particularly in Gaza. 
• The challenges of working in a complex environment. 
• Encouraging signs of change in this environment and how their programs of work are helping people. 
• How they maintain the balance of their long-term and short-term interventions. 
• The biggest lessons Tom has learned working in this environment as an individual and a leader. 
• The biggest wins across his career in humanitarian aid leadership over the last 20 years. 
• Unhelpful assumptions that he would like to see addressed. 
• How Tom stays passionate and inspired with leading an organization of 13,000 people. 
• Advice for Emerging Humanitarian Leaders: Learn and Communicate Effectively 
• Tips from Tom on how to keep your focus and improve self-leadership. 
• Experiencing burnout in his role and how he overcame it. 
• Reflecting on challenges in the world. 

Links:

Equenti website

Angela Koning LinkedIn

In this episode of the Secret Life of Leaders, Professor Bronwyn Harch shares her experience on how she leads and gets results from complex programs of change. Professor Harch delves into the keys to successful collaborative projects, highlighting the crucial role of multidisciplinary teams and shared leadership. Get a glimpse into Professor Harch's unique leadership approach, emphasizing the value of authenticity and self-care when confronting complex problems. 

In this episode:

• Professor Harch shares her experience from a few of her projects. 
• Examples of large-scale collaborations. 
• Navigating complexities as a leader. 
• The encouraging signs of change and how collaborations can help. 
• The types of problems Professor Bronwyn is interested in leading at the moment. 
• Her approach to complex problems. 
• Her thoughts on self-care as a leader. 
• Top things required from a leader to bring positive change in the world. 

Links:

Fixed va Growth Mindset video by Carol Dweck (Stanford)

Equenti website

Angela Koning LinkedIn

Welcome to The Secret Life of Leaders, where we give you unprecedented access to the world of environmental, social, and governance change. Here, we rehumanize the experience of life and leadership and create a platform for us to learn and grow together.

In this first episode, I'll share the mission and purpose behind this podcast. Our goal is to explore the lives of the quiet heroes, the change-makers who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place. We aim to provide a supportive space for leaders driving positive change in our society. This podcast is for individuals with a heart for goodness who want to create a positive impact on our planet.

Through engaging stories and real-world examples, we'll delve into the strategies these leaders employ to navigate the complexities of sustainability change. We'll also explore how they strengthen their leadership approaches, maintain their well-being, and avoid burnout.

In this episode:

• Introducing "The Secret Life of Leaders" podcast
• Who is this podcast for?
• The Inspiration behind the Podcast
• Curiosity about Sustainability Change Leaders
• Introduction and Invitation to Subscribe

Links:

Equenti website

Angela Koning LinkedIn