Season 4

  • Episode 9: Kristal Kinsela, Owner, Kristal Kinsela Consulting

    A voice for Aboriginal women in business - Kristal is a proud Jawoyn and Wiradjuri woman with close to two decades of business expertise. She works with corporate and government organisations, helping bridge the many gaps between Indigenous people and other Australians in the business landscape.

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  • Episode 8: Tracey Spicer AM, Chair, NED, Journalist and Author

    Taking a step back to leap forward - Tracey’s latest book explores how machine learning is reinforcing gender bias and the opportunities we have to change our future landscape for good. In this conversation she shares how and why we must learn from lessons of the past and shift into collective action to be stronger together.

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  • Episode 7: Felicity McGahan, Group Chief Executive Officer of Strand

    Adapting in adversity with a focus on the future  - By-the-book crisis management went out the door for many leaders when the pandemic hit. Felicity and her leadership team knew they had to stay calm to navigate the uncertainty, instead of focusing on what was out of their control.

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  • Episode 6: Tarsi Luo, Founder of Seed Planet and M&A Special Adviser 

    Diversity is the new normal - On Tarsi's career journey to CEO, she’s had to navigate leadership through a cultural lens. In balancing her Eastern and Western identities, she was faced with two options: change her name to mask her identity or start her career over from scratch.

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  • Episode 5: Michele Adair, CEO of Housing Trust, Chair and non-executive director

    The grace of life's lessons - Michele takes us on her zigzag leadership journey sharing heartwarming stories of generational strength and the lows of falling on hard times with homelessness. This is a conversation that will have you reflecting on creating the kind of world that you want to live in.

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  • Episode 4: Genevieve Bell AO, Director of the School of Cybernetics, Founder of 3A Institute and non-executive director

    The three elements of leadership - From the depths of academia to scaling high level leadership in Silicon Valley and navigating the breadth of boardrooms, Genevieve shares how leadership is about three elements. 

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  • Episode 3: Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, astrophysicist, author and Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador

    Where art and science collide - Lisa shares how we can propel the pathways for young women in STEM and how influential family and community are when it comes to engaging children in a more gender-balanced way. 

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  • Episode 2: Alisi Tutuila, Founder and Managing Director of Aspire Indigenous and Chairperson of Aboriginal Housing Company

    Influencing outcomes for community - Alisi's leadership journey sparked at an early stage. Driven by her deep sense of responsibility, today she is harnessing the power of communication to influence outcomes for indigenous youth.

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  • Episode 1: Angela Priestley and Tarla Lambert, Co-founders of Agenda Media

    Finding your mission - Angela and Tarla are Co-founders at the helm of a 100% women-owned independent media company. They share their journey from early career uncertainty to tapping into their purpose, finding their flow and entrepreneurial spirit.

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Season 3

  • Episode 10: Amanda Healy, CEO and Founder, Kirrikin and Founder of Warrikal

    Creating impact through business - Amanda Healy, an Aboriginal woman of the Wonnarua nation and CEO and Founder of Kirrikin and Founder of Warrikal, is taking the fashion world by storm and giving back to the community in the process. Amanda talks about drawing deep connections to country through fashion, leading by example, and encouraging us all to be fierce. 

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  • Episode 9: Shivani Gopal, CEO and Founder, The Remarkable Woman

    Leveraging the power of mentoring - On a mission to create a more equal world, Shivani has blazed a remarkable trail as an entrepreneur, speaker, advocate and business thought leader. Hear Shivani speak on how women bursting with ambition and ability must be the rose and the gardener of their career, continuously standing out while nurturing their growth. 

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  • Episode 8: Josephine Sukkar AM, Principal, Buildcorp

    What makes an effective leader - Josephine's leadership experience spans over 35 years and continues to influence and shape the business landscape across commercial, sporting, the arts and the not-for-profit arenas across Australia. Sharing an insightful story on service-based leadership Josephine delves into the importance of staying relavent at the coalface of business.

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  • Episode 7: Shelley Reys AO, CEO, Arrilla Indigenous Consulting, Partner and Board Member, KPMG Australia

    On driving change and leaving a legacy - Shelley shares her vision on creating a culturally inclusive Australia, one workplace at a time. Shelley insists that diversity is not simply challenging the status quo, it is about having more informed discussions leading to making more informed decisions.

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  • Episode 6: Sallie Jones, Co-Founder and Director, Gippsland Jersey

    Finding comfort in the uncomfortable - Sallie discusses her leadership journey, promoting a fair go for farmers, driving social change in rural mental health and encouraging a culture of kindness. Hear how Sallie forges her leadership by having courageous conversations, embracing the power of the breath and the role a humble piece of butchers paper plays to ignite change.

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  • Episode 5: Jane Adams, Executive General Manager, Human Resources for Technology Operations, CommBank 

    People leadership - Jane discusses the impact of working at two speeds, how ambition drives growth and the importance of giving girls in STEM relatable experiences. Jane also talks about focusing on the compass, not just the clock, the value of career sponsorship and how your skills sit in a box called your mindset.

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  • Episode 4: Sally-Ann Williams, CEO, Cicada Innovations

    Thriving in ambiguity - Sally-Ann shares how she seeks out the murky ambiguity in her roles and champions lifelong learnings to effect change for people, planet and prosperity. Sally-Ann also talks about her passion for changing Australia’s economic base and blending her purpose-based leadership style and self-awareness to step up when others believe in her.

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  • Episode 3: Lucy Foster and Catherine van der Veen, General Manager Strategy and Growth, Challenger Limited

    Redefining the leadership narrative - Lucy and Catherine talk about combining their formidable yet distinctive leadership styles to redefine the narrative of leadership and designing their roles to suit them. 

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  • Episode 2: Di Mantell, CEO, Celsus, the Royal Adelaide Hospital

    Inclusive leadership - Di talks about blazing the trails from leadership to building sustainable social infrastructure and dissolving the hierarchy from the very top. Di also shares how she champions diversity, challenges the norms of what leadership should look like and celebrates every win of her team along the way.

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  • Episode 1: Tory Archbold, CEO and Founder, Powerful Steps

    Owning your story - Tory shares how her values, passion and integrity drives everything she does. From launching the world's biggest retail names like Zara in Australia to coffee dates with the White House, Tory shares the power of your networks, owning your own story and trusting your intuition.
     

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Season 2

  • Episode 10: Stella Avramopoulos, CEO, Good Shepherd

    Disruptive innovation and holding the hope torch – Stella shares how she relentlessly drives innovation to disrupt systemic road blocks and how we can all find a golden thread in someone to start an authentic conversation to build a shared purpose.

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  • Episode 9: Kathy Richardson, Executive Director, Our Community

    Leading with curiosity – Kathy Richardson talks about her have-a-go attitude, curiosity and a team shared manifesto guiding her leadership and her insights into the staggering $100 billion world of not-for-profit grants.

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  • Episode 8: Samantha Read, CEO, Chemistry Australia

    Leading with strategic thinking – Samantha talks about manufacturing, diversity and mentorship. She also shares the power of backing yourself, leading with strategic thinking and creating formidable partnerships to ensure a more sustainable future.

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  • Episode 7: Brigid Price, Founder, Rural Resources Online

    Leading an intergenerational rural family business – Brigid talks about diversity in agriculture and leading an intergenerational rural family business.  She also shares insights on the value of storytelling, the responsibility of stepping up and the role technology plays in the succession of emerging leaders.

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  • Episode 6: Clare Morgan, Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Commonwealth Bank

    Redefining success – Clare Morgan shares how redefining success supports self-leadership, lessons in leading from the eye of a GFC storm and the one simple factor that can derail your leadership.

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  • Episode 5: Judith Barker, CEO, St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc.

    The crucial role that empathy plays – Judith Barker shares her experience on the power of saying yes, the crucial role that empathy plays and how leadership can come from anyone at any time in the workplace.


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  • Episode 4: Gill Minervini, Director, Vivid Sydney and Gill Minervini Creative

    The importance of bringing stakeholders on the journey – Gill Minervini shares how she creates memories that last long after the lights go out, the importance of bringing stakeholders on the journey and her simple superpower that gets her through everything.
     

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  • Episode 3: Tanya Van Der Water, CEO, Buckaroo Leatherworks

    The responsibility of delivering quality Australian-made products - Tanya Van Der Water talks about the advantages of failing fast, the power of a brand story and the responsibility of delivering quality Australian-made products.
     

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  • Episode 2: Kelly Taggart, CEO, Roses Only Group

    Leading with Creativity and Intuition - Kelly Taggart talks about leading teams with a focus on results and outputs, the importance of a considered hiring process and onboarding experience, and how instilling an owner's mindset encourages the team to thrive.
     

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  • Episode 1: Cecily McGuckin, CEO & Managing Director, Queensland Steel & Sheet

    Building leadership confidence - Cecily McGuckin is the only female CEO in the steel manufacturing industry. She leads with integrity, gut instinct and a no-ego rule as the foundations for a successful culture and talks about building leadership confidence through tough experiences.
     

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Season 1

  • Episode 9: Shadé Zahrai, Director and Chief Positive Influencer, Influenceo Global Inc

    Shifting the focus on women's leadership - Shadé Zahrai shares her experience and research on imposter syndrome, women's tendency to focus on the gaps and what's possible when we play to our strengths.
     

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  • Episode 8: Tanya Denning-Orman, Director of Indigenous Content, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia

    Blending culture and leadership - Tanya Denning-Orman on the importance of bringing your whole self to work and how respect, inclusion and a focus on the legacy we’re leaving should factor into every decision we make. 
     

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  • Episode 7: Priscilla Rogers, Director and Co-Founder, DOFTEK

    Smashing stereotypes, thriving in risk and infusing empathy into creating real-life solutions - Priscilla Rogers combines the excitement of delivering vital solutions, the challenges of navigating career junctures, and the tactics to thrive in high risk and high stakes environments.
     

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  • Episode 6: Sian Lewis, Group Executive Human Resources, Commonwealth Bank

    Career sequencing, the power of transferable skills and making brave calls - Sian Lewis shares insights into the opportunities of career sequencing, the power of transferable skills, making brave calls and backing your decisions.
     

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  • Episode 5: Mary Hamilton, CEO, Hugh Hamilton Wines

    Embracing transitions and tenacity in leadership - Mary Hamilton shares her unique leadership path with stories of tenacity, sideways transitions and embracing mistakes to find your place in leadership.
     

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  • Episode 4: Louise Adams, Chief Operating Officer – Australia and New Zealand, Aurecon

    The power of visibility for leading in a new era - Louise Adams shares how authentic and collaborative leaders create a followership, and the power of visibility for leading in a new era.
     

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  • Episode 3: Caitlin Figueiredo, Founder and CEO, Jasiri Australia

    The importance of emerging leadership - The inspirational Caitlin Figueiredo shares the key to shaping our democracy, the power of the collective and her magical moment with Meghan, yes, Duchess of Sussex, that will inspire us all.
     

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  • Episode 2: Julie Drago, CEO, Hero Properties

    Relationship based leadership - Julie Drago builds on the value of relationships, how to be seen and heard in a male-dominated industry, and the importance of being involved at an industry level.
     

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  • Episode 1: Anna Marsden, Managing Director, Great Barrier Reef Foundation

    Leadership for purpose - Anna Marsden dives into navigating lightning strike moments in leadership, quietening our inner critic, and embracing dual psychology to thrive in the new normal of business. 
     

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About the podcast

Together we can shift business leadership from aspirational to actionable. We know diversity in leadership doesn’t just make sense, it strengthens overall business performance and drives economic growth. When we activate leadership for women, we redefine our business landscape.

Join season hosts Shivani Gopal, CEO and Founder of Elladex (Seasons 3 - 4), Rebekah Campbell, serial entrepreneur, author, speaker and mentor (Season 2) and Shade Zahrai, award-winning business woman and leadership expert (Season 1) as they reach beyond ‘business as usual’ to unearth the human stories and rich, relatable experiences of women leading business across the country. Access the practical tips, actionable frameworks and stories of smart risk-taking to ignite your leadership.

Whether you’re a business leader, emerging leader, or passionate about supporting leaders to redefine the business landscape, this podcast is for you.

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Things you should know

  • Guests featured in the podcast are speaking from their personal experiences only. As this podcast has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should, before acting on the content consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. CommBank does not necessarily endorse the views of a particular individual or guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.