In this episode of Tonka Talks, Simon Traynor, a former CEO and current Non-Executive Director (NED) across four diverse boards, including Kookaburra Sport, Paddle Australia, and the portfolio of Quiksilver/Billabong brands, shares his journey of balancing passion and a demanding professional career. Simon, whose career goal was to work for Nike, reflects on the gratification of achieving that goal early on and the subsequent career evolution into his current portfolio of NED roles.

He recounts the turbulent experience of losing his role during a major restructuring, offering the sage advice that "Your role is made redundant, not you as the person." He also details the deliberate criteria he uses when choosing a board, focusing on cultural alignment, the chair, the P&L, and the product's connection to his head and heart.

The conversation delves into the value Simon brings to a boardroom, specifically highlighting the gap he fills as a NED in his 40s, offering more executive relevant experience than many older directors. With a former Chief Marketing Officer background, he stresses the critical factor for brand success is to intimately understand the consumer both rationally and emotionally.

Simon discusses the impact of his board service on the Movember Foundation, reflecting on the organisation's role in giving men permission to show vulnerability and discuss their health. Finally, he shares his philosophical approach to his professional life, driven by consistency and discipline, aiming for progress and prioritising a professional life that allows him the personal freedom to pursue his passions, especially surfing.

Laura Bogar, the Acting Director of the Capability Partnering and Strategy team (substantively Senior Manager of Organisational Development) at La Trobe University, shares her extensive experience in leadership, performance, and strategy within the higher education sector. She delves into the critical role of managing an acting position, highlighting the need to balance a roadmap for change with navigating unexpected challenges.

Laura advocates for a leadership style characterised by extra transparency - sharing the internal decision-making process with the team to enhance empowerment and engagement, particularly among high performers. She also reflects on the early career perception of being "bossy" and how she reframed it as a strength in being confident and direct.

The conversation touches on Laura's commitment to the higher education sector, driven by its purpose of impacting the student experience and its potential to address areas of leadership immaturity. She details La Trobe's successful, methodical, and internal approach to strategic workforce planning (SWP), emphasising that working slowly and intentionally helps initiatives land better across the organisation and creates internal advocates.

She also explores the evolving demands on leaders to master both the art (empathy, psychological safety) and the science (strategic planning, discipline) of leadership. Finally, Laura discusses the current reality of AI adoption, noting the contrast between her own comfort with the technology and the fear felt across the sector, and shares her excitement for the launch of the La Trobe Leadership Academy.

Amy Sznicer, the Chief Retail Officer at Michael Hill Australia, shares her extensive experience in retail leadership. She delves into the critical role of a CRO, highlighting the importance of strong leadership, a results-driven mindset, and the unique excitement of the retail industry.

Amy discusses the challenges and strategies involved in successful brand repositioning, emphasising the importance of effective communication and a clear vision. She also explores the impact of COVID-19 on the retail market, particularly within the bridal sector, and the key metrics that drive retail success, including sales, margin, average transaction value, conversion rate, and customer data.

The conversation touches on the success of Michael Hill's loyalty program and the impact of celebrity partnerships, such as the collaboration with Miranda Kerr. Amy provides insights into the leadership style of Sir Michael Hill and the company's commitment to sustainability and women's empowerment.

Finally, Amy emphasises the importance of collaboration within the executive team and offers valuable advice for both seasoned retail leaders and aspiring professionals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy's Journey in Retail

04:06 Amy's Career Path and Achievements

11:12 The Thrill of Retail and Leadership

15:04 Evolving Leadership Styles

19:39 Role of Chief Retail Officer at Michael Hill

23:36 Brand Repositioning and Customer Experience

28:36 Navigating Post-COVID Challenges

29:58 Post-COVID Retail Recovery

30:00 Data-Driven Decision Making

32:07 Brand Evolution and Customer Engagement

34:03 The Influence of Sir Michael Hill

36:04 Leadership Insights from Daniel Bracken

38:52 Market Dynamics: Canada vs Australia/New Zealand

42:07 Navigating Public Company Challenges

42:57 Communicating Bad News Effectively

44:59 Corporate Responsibility and the Foundation

48:49 Team Engagement and Customer Response

51:12 Leadership Challenges in Retail

54:13 Building a Cohesive Executive Team

56:06 Advice for Early Career Professionals

In this episode of Tonka Talks, Jane Street shares her insights on leadership, purpose, and personal growth. With a diverse career spanning biotech, healthcare, and higher education, Jane offers unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders today. Listen as she discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, cultural impact, and transformational change. This episode is a must for anyone seeking inspiration and practical advice.

00:00 Introduction to Jane Street's journey

02:41 Career path: from biotech to leadership

07:54 The importance of purpose in work

12:46 Emotional intelligence in healthcare leadership

18:57 Cultural impact of leadership conversations

23:29 Transitioning from health to higher education

26:20 Challenges in higher education today

27:41 Exploring positive psychology and societal negativity

30:30 Navigating financial challenges in education

33:49 Transformational change in organisations

38:34 Understanding change and its emotional impact

40:25 The importance of clarity in change management

44:43 Bravery and vulnerability in leadership

50:26 Overcoming imposter syndrome

53:20 Transitioning to freelance consulting

Empowering People and Building Culture: Michelle Young on Tonka Talks

Tune in to Tonka Talks as Michelle Young, Melbourne Storm's GM of People and Culture, shares her inspiring journey – from overcoming personal challenges to building a thriving family-oriented culture within the high performance world of the Melbourne Storm.

Introduction (2:30 - 9:20)

Meet Michelle - Introduction and her connection to Melbourne Storm

Shared history - Michael and Michelle reminisce about their teenage years

Michelle's journey - Upbringing in New Zealand, life in Melbourne, and family

Career Path to Melbourne Storm (9:59 - 16:14)

From David Jones to teaching - Michelle's early career exploration

Defining career goals - Finding the right path

Success and Workplace Dynamics (17:24 - 29:54)

Qualities for Michelle's role - What makes her excel?

Work friendships - Can colleagues be friends?

Difficult conversations at work - Addressing challenges

Melbourne Storm experience - Joining the club in 2014 and its strong family values

Team knowledge test - Fun quiz on Michelle's Rugby League knowledge

Unique environment - Differences between Melbourne Storm and other organisations

Enjoying the agility - Working in a nimble and entrepreneurial setting

The Role of GM People & Culture (30:40 - 37:20)

Deep dive into the role - Strategic and operational aspects

Supporting the team - Detail and care for each member's journey

Family values at Melbourne Storm - Importance of care, support, inclusion, and unity

Organisational Structure (37:35 - 39:30)

A look at the Melbourne Storm organisational chart

Proud Achievements (39:50 - 46:00)

Highlighting some of Michelle's proudest moments in 9 years

Sunshine Coast Lightning Acquisition (46:00 - 50:30)

Discussing the acquisition of Sunshine Coast Lightning by Melbourne Storm

Building High-Performance Teams (50:40 - 53:33)

Exploring the elements of a high-performing team culture

This month on Tonka Talks, Michael dives deep into Communicative Intelligence with author and expert Professor Kendall Zoller. Together, they've tackled the challenges of virtual training during COVID, and now they're here to share their insights with you.

Discover the three key areas of Communicative Intelligence:

Plus, don't miss Kendall's heartwarming message to his 14-year-old self!

This episode is packed with practical tips to help you become a more confident and effective communicator, no matter the situation.

In this podcast episode, Michael talks with Mark Ronan, the CEO of Adairs. They discuss Mark's remarkable career path, emphasising the transition from accounting to a leadership role in the retail sector. Mark shares valuable insights on leadership, job satisfaction, and customer-centric strategies. Additionally, he offers tips for effective presentation skills. Tune in for this insightful discussion.

See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.

Discover valuable insights in this episode of Tonka Talks as we chat with Kate Solly, Sales Director and Marketing Manager at CAPI, an Australian family-owned bottled water and beverage company on the rise. Join the dynamic conversation between Kate and Michael as they explore strategies to enhance meeting efficiency, CAPI's impressive growth in the past year, and Kate's innovative approach to navigating life and hosting dinner parties during the COVID era.

Throughout the discussion, Kate reveals her passion for the wholesale industry, sharing her journey of creating opportunities and fostering growth with emerging businesses. Her robust professional background makes her a seasoned authority in the industry.

If you're a professional in sales and marketing eager for insights, this podcast featuring Kate Solly is essential listening. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from a distinguished industry authority.

See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.

·       (1:40 – 2:40) - Michael and Kate discuss her recent feature in the Australian Financial Review regarding CAPI's 40% sales increase over the past year.

·       (2:41 – 8:50) – Kate talks about her life, adjusting to post-COVID normalcy, her new dog Molly, taking things a bit easier, virtual dinner parties during COVID, and her favourite types of dress-up.

·       (9:00 – 15:00) – Kate shares her career journey before joining CAPI, including her experiences in retail, call centres, and self-improvement while working.

·       (18:19 - 22:03) – Kate elaborates on her fashion career at SABA, and the first time she met Michael at a Senior Managers Program, and her unique perspective on the commercial industry, retail, and wholesale.

·       (23:30 – 25:37) – Managing workplace meetings and innovative feedback methods.

·       (25:55 – 27:30) – Exploring the distinctions between State and National Manager roles.

·       (28:00 - 30:22) – Kate's role at Elwood, a family-owned business, and her accomplishments in wholesale, buying, and planning. Emphasising the advantages of being a generalist in a small business.

·       (30:30 - 35:00) – Kate's international role at T2 as Retail Operations Manager, involving store launches in London, the USA, and online expansion.

·       (35:18 – 37:15) – Kate's early career role model and her current leadership style.

·       (37:46 - 49:15) – How Kate secured her position at CAPI, her inspiration from working with the founders, and the uniqueness of CAPI's natural beverages.

·       (50:21 - 51:38) – Wrapping up with Michael asking Kate for advice on helping teams reach their targets and managing leadership without feeling overwhelmed by sales goals.

Join us as we sit down with Paul Burness, the Managing Principal at Worrells, an Australian based insolvency fund. From savouring the delights of food, wine, and travel, to diving into the intricacies of staff engagement and business success strategies, this episode explores what truly propels enterprises forward. Paul unveils the secrets behind nurturing unwavering staff commitment and igniting the spark that drives a business to new heights. This conversation promises to inspire and entertain, encapsulating the essence of thriving businesses and engaged teams.

See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.