We've changed things up a little on the podcast this week, with two guests, Co-Founders of Bellroy, Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw. Bellroy design and manufacture innovative Wallets, Bags, and phone cases for today’s workers and tourists. They are an accredited B Corp, were awarded #1 in the small business category in 2021’s Australia’s 50 Best Workplaces 2021, and are committed to using environmentally sustainable fabrics including recycled and plant based materials. They have also recently raised $12 million from venture capitalists. Not bad for a company that was founded in 2010 around a kitchen table in Bells Beach Victoria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stephane Grenier, Founder and Lead Innovator at Mental Health Innovations (MHI) Canada is one of the world’s leading authorities on mental health peer support programs. He is also our first international guest on The Caring CEO Podcast. MHI are our North American partners for WeCARE365 - simple scalable programs to prevent mental health issues.Stephane started his career in the Canadian Defence Force where he spent 29 years which included deployments to Rwanda and Afghanistan. Returning with PTSD, he then spent 10 years changing the military mental health system from within. This work and his ongoing work with MHI (introducing peer support programs for several large government departments) earned him an Order of Canada in 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kyle McDowell, bestselling author of Begin With We and former Fortune 10 executive, reshapes leadership with his powerful framework, The 10 WEs. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience leading tens of thousands of employees, Kyle shares how shifting from “I” to “WE” can dismantle dysfunction, reignite purpose, and transform organisational culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brendan Maher is the CEO of St John Ambulance Australia. With nearly 20 years of leadership across Lifeline, R U OK?, and Movember, Brendan shares powerful insights on community care, mental health, and building stronger, more connected societies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Melissa Reynolds is the CEO of State Trustees. Her extensive leadership in financial services and utilities is driven by a passion for client-focused transformation and inclusive, high-performing teams. With a career spanning AGL, NAB, Westpac, and more, Melissa shares valuable insights on leading with empathy and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Award-winning speaker and author Amanda Stevens shares how valuing employees is key to delivering exceptional customer experiences, drawing on powerful examples from her book Radical Customer Obsession. From her leadership insights with Richard Branson to her personal journey of resilience, Amanda reveals how curiosity, care, and culture can drive meaningful business transformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Melissa Dinwiddie, is a Juilliard-trained dancer turned creativity coach who helps teams at companies like Google and Salesforce unlock innovation through play, experimentation, and imperfection. Drawing from her rich background as an artist, jazz musician, and improviser, Melissa shares how embracing creativity can transform leadership and collaboration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pam Buchannan, former Managing Director at NASDAQ, spent nearly 15 years working with leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Despite her success, she realised true fulfillment required more than physical and mental health—it called for what she now calls Soul Health, connected to spirit and life force. As founder of Quantum Sense, she now helps high-achievers find deeper meaning and purpose beyond material success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Richard Boele, Chief Purpose Officer at KPMG, has an incredible journey shaped by purpose. At 21, he found himself in Tibet during a brutal crackdown, igniting his lifelong commitment to human rights. Richard stepped into his current role, helping individuals and teams connect their personal purpose to organizational impact. Richard’s passion shines through as he talks about KPMG’s “Purpose Weeks” and the power of aligning personal, team, and company purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gemma Sisia is the Founder of St. Jude’s School in Tanzania which she founded over 20 years ago with just three students. She has now grown the school to 1,500 students. And What Gemma has built is just quite extraordinary. Gemma has practices in place for continual improvement. Gemma fosters a culture of respect, responsibility, honesty, and kindness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Damien Mu is the CEO of AIA Insurance, one of Australia’s leading life insurers with over 2,000 employees. Damien’s journey is one of resilience and determination. His leadership is deeply rooted in purpose and care. Not just for his team and customers, but for the broader Australian community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wayne Turmel was a pioneer in long-distance and virtual leadership over 18 years ago —long before remote work became the norm. Wayne has dedicated his career to mastering effective communication in virtual environments. Wayne has worked with Fortune 500 companies worldwide, and leadership legend Marshall Goldsmith calls him "one of the most unique voices in leadership today." Wayne brings a lot of wisdom to the table. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council, Victoria, shares valuable ideas with his leadership team in which they decided to prioritise three core values: kindness, connection, and gratitude.This initiative encouraged everyone in the organisation to embrace these values in their own unique ways, fostering a culture of support and positivity throughout our community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. John Demartini, a world-leading human behavioral specialist, author, and global educator, has lived an extraordinary life aboard a ship, traveling the world and delivering programs to tens of thousands of people, both in person and remotely. For 37 years, Dr. Demartini has diligently maintained a gratitude journal, showcasing the transformative power of this practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Passionate about building mental fitness and helping us navigate life's challenges, James Wright, CEO of Havas Creative Group Australia and the Chair of Gus Worland's Gotcha for Life Foundation, encourages all of us to build our mental fitness so we can better cope with life's ups and downs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sandra Martinez's lifelong connection with Nestle began at the age of seven, when she met a man from the company who sparked her passion to work for them, and this encounter shaped her journey and led her to become the CEO of Nestle Oceania.Sandra's diverse career started in her native Ecuador and took her to various countries around the world. Now, her international experiences have shaped her leadership approach and contributed to her success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chris Cummings, the Group CEO of Wellbeing at Work, firmly believes that wellbeing goes beyond wellness initiatives. It involves a fundamental rethinking of work, leadership, and culture. Chris and his team are passionate about encouraging organisations to prioritise wellbeing as a strategic initiative — focusing on community, connection, and knowledge.Chris and his team at Wellbeing at Work have been delivering trusted and independent content from global experts. Their aim is to empower clients to create successful initiatives that yield proven results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Amanda Cattermole is the CEO of Australian Digital Health Agency. She believes that a safe workplace is key in allowing our people to thrive and feel valued. A place that truly cares is fueled by passion and commitment. For Amanda, it's essential to view most things as fixable. Reflecting on her own experiences, she found that the moments that initially felt overwhelming were often retrievable in some way. She shares how this has worked for her in the past, and reflects on the value of a positive mindset even on a bad day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tareef Jafferi is the CEO and Founder of Happily.ai, an organisation that has created a platform to provide real time feedback for managers and employees to learn how to work better together. Tareef discusses his evolving perspective on care, emphasising the importance of allowing individuals to express their true selves and offering support rather than trying to solve every problem. He also underlines the importance of creating psychological safety in nurturing a genuinely caring work environment where employees can contribute effectively. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Martin McNamara takes a very structured approach to building a culture of care across their not-for-profit organisation focussed on using evidence to develop policies to improve health and wellbeing. A recent engagement survey shows they are on the right track with 86% of staff saying they know what they need to do to be successful in their role and 91% say they are proud to work for the Institute. Martin believes that these high scores come from active listening and encouraging all to share their ideas and opinions. Martin shares what they have done to keep those scores high in the new world of hybrid work. Martin is also the Chief Investigator for the 45 and Up Study, one of the largest studies in the world, tracking the health and wellbeing of over 267,000 people in NSW. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.