Future Directors Podcast

All You Could Possibly Need To Know About The Future   In this latest episode of Boardroom Hustle, Paul Smith talks to Dr. Fern Evitt, a highly esteemed strategist, expert innovation specialist, futurist, business improvement consultant, start-up advocate and a Ph.D. in open innovation. Dr. Evitt has extensive experience in tech, collaboration, transformation management, and leading companies into the future with the best possible outcomes.   Dr. Evitt is a fascinating guest due to her naturally futuristic perspective on life and business, and if you've ever found yourself wondering what it is a futurist actually does, then this podcast is for you. Dr. Evitt discusses futurism, social scientists, the importance of long-term viewing, a disrupted board dynamic and how to build knowledge and awareness around the future.   They also touch on things like:   The difference between Applied Futurism and Predictive Futurism How far forward should a board focus to get the best results? How to futureproof your boardroom What to do when you come across someone who refuses to accept change Technology's impact on companies, their mechanics, responsibilities, and roles The perils of 'short-termism' Negative narratives around futurism, and why it isn't all dystopia and evil robots Receptive ways of teaching, and how Dr Evitt incorporates them into her work How institutions can build better trust with all stakeholders   Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Dr. Fern Evitt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fern-evitt/

Welcome to the final instalment of Boardroom Hustle for 2018! Our guest this episode brings such motivation and positivity that it's truly the perfect way to end the year; esteemed board director and entrepreneur, Cassandra Kelly. Cassandra is a very highly experienced international board director, acknowledged by the US Directors & Boards journal as a director to watch, listed in the Top 10 Chairpersons of Australia, and noted as one of Australia's most influential business woman. Cassandra has a zest for life that inspires awe in just about everyone. She's a champion for equality and diversity, aiming to bring humanity back to leadership in a time where it's severely lacking. Fearless in doing what she feels is right and brave in standing up for what she believes in, Cassandra shares a wealth of intelligent insight with us in an episode so full of quotable material it's been hard to pick just a few. Discussing subjects such as how to bring fun and humanity back to the boardroom, improving a lacklustre board, the importance of culture in the boardroom and shifting gears to drive faster towards diversity, this is an episode you won't want to miss. They also touch on topics like: How the role of a director has evolved over time Should the board pack be redesigned? In what ways could that be done? Why board roles are no longer a comfy resting place for the C-Suite The importance of cultivating an inspiring culture within the boardroom, and creating a knock-on effect that inspires the entire company too Simple tactics Cassandra employs in order to bring humanness to the forefront of boards Observations towards how board dynamics are shifting, the glacial pace in which this shift is occurring, and effective ways you can speed up the change How to bring out the best in your colleagues, and why it's so important to do so Changing the entire feel of the boardroom by simply choosing hugs over handshakes Clever advice for start-ups regarding governance, compliance, and the things they should be focusing on The important aspects that should be embedded in the DNA of any business, that many people often simply forget about Three things you need to start encouraging within your boardroom that will increase your performance tenfold (and they’re super easy, too!) Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Cassandra Kelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandrakelly/ Cassandra Kelly Website: http://www.cassandrakelly.com/

The latest instalment of Boardroom Hustle has co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne discussing something that affects every single one of us. Something that many of us aren’t even aware of…...cognitive bias. Our episode is a sort of follow-on of the fifth episode of Boardroom Hustle, The Elephant in the (Board)room, where we talked about cultivating clearer decision-making, but focusing on how cognitive biases affect our decision-making, not just as directors in the boardroom, but as people in life! But first, what is a cognitive bias? Simply put, it refers to the mental shortcuts our brains take when we make decisions. The brain is an enormously intelligent piece of machinery that has created a way to jump to conclusions rather than spend precious energy trying to sort through the never-ending stream of information that is constantly being downloaded. While cognitive biases often have a bad reputation, they’re actually quite useful – to a point. We live in such a rich, complex, stimulating environment that, in order to be more efficient, our brains collect a number of cognitive biases (or shortcuts) about a wide aspect of topics in order to help us make decisions faster. So, how can we make our cognitive biases work for us? Have a listen to the episode to find out. Anna and Paul also discuss things like: The biggest thing that impacts cognitive bias Are biases infectious? How can a boardroom environment influence individual biases? One particular bias that can be hugely detrimental to the boardroom Following the peanuts; how our emotional elephants encourage us to jump to conclusions and how we can train them to make better, more effective decisions The different types of biases we experience, such as social, information, confirmation and anchoring, and how we can make them work for us rather than against us The best strategy you can implement in your boardroom/s, to unpack cognitive bias and create a more powerful method of decision-making How integrative AI may eventually be able to assist us in recognising and deleting any bias from our decision-making The five killer questions you can ask yourself and your board to discover any existing biases you might have and begin to overcome them Links:Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ NeuroPower Website: http://neuropowergroup.com  Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/  

On the latest episode of Boardroom Hustle, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne talk to Brian Stafford, the CEO and President of Diligent Corporation, whose company provides governance management software to almost half a million users and organisations worldwide, making it the largest in the world. Diligent is a portal that allows simple, functional cloud management with security, allowing boards to mitigate risk while enabling effective governance in a way that’s easy, yet empowering. Paul and Anna talk to Brian about a wide range of topics, including the increasingly demands on board directors, the need for more technology knowledge in the boardroom, the driving motivation behind why people seek out directorships in the first place, and how that motivation changes over the years. Furthermore, they answer a common question so many novice board directors have; what’s the best time to speak up as a new board member? If you’re wondering how to use technology to advance your board, or how to be seen and heard as a first-time board director, then listen to this episode, where you’ll also find the answers to other burning questions like: What are the benefits of having new directors who don’t have any prior boardroom experience? At what point in your board career should you feel comfortable speaking up in meetings? What’s the biggest hurdle new directors are most likely to come across, and how can they overcome it? What is the one thing many boards know they need to improve on? What trends are being seen in the ways boards communicate? How can you use technology in a way that keeps your board data and information secure and safe? Is there a ‘right number’ of boards you should sit on? At what point are you sitting on too many, and in what ways can that impact your effectiveness as a director? What are some of the things Brian is excited about regarding future technology in the boardroom? Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Brian Stafford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-stafford-048aba1/ Diligent Corporation: https://diligent.com/

Some of the brightest minds in the boardroom feel out of their depth when it comes to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics, but few readily admit to it. That’s why unique individuals like our latest podcast guest, Crystal Dilworth, are essential. Dr Crystal Dilworth is a science communicator, presenter and business consultant, recognised worldwide for her work in translating very complex technical jargon that comes with STEM industries into simplified language that just about anyone can understand. Her wildly successful TEDxYouth talk, “The Myth of the Scientist”, TV and movie roles have seen her excel in an industry that has long seemed mysterious and enigmatic. She’s interviewed some of our most famous STEM celebrities, including Elon Musk. Now, she gets to be on the other side of the mic. Through Crystal’s work, she is able to facilitate dialogue, build consensus and create understanding around the science side of business, removing that mystery. Breaking down barriers is her forte, and she has a knack for making science enjoyable all. This ability comes at a time when science and technology are infiltrating all aspects of our lives, and having even a very general understanding of them is imperative to progress. Do you want to know how you can better understand and appreciate science and technology? Listen to this episode. Co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne also quiz Crystal on things like: The communication problems most often seen in boardrooms How and why these problems occur, and what we can do to diminish them How information can so often be misconstrued The lack of any deliberate structure around how professionals in business communicate with one another, and why this creates new difficulties What are the more imaginative ways we can teach new information in boardrooms? When does communication become exclusive in the boardroom? How your board can enhance communication skills and take them to the next level The benefits of better communication How generational gaps can create communication errors Crystal’s tips and recommendations for anyone struggling to become more literate with STEM concepts Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Crystal Dilworth Twitter: https://twitter.com/PolycrystalhD?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Crystal Dilworth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-dilworth-phd-4405659b/

Ignorance might be blissful for some, but it certainly doesn’t help a successful career in the boardroom. If there’s one thing directors need, it’s the ability to remain forever curious, open-minded, and both internally and externally aware. Without these, ignorance flourishes. But if you want to combat that ignorance, then listen to the latest instalment of Boardroom Hustle. In this episode, Paul chats to Jeff De Cagna, author of Foresight is the Future of Governing, who gives us the most effective antidote to common ignorance: foresight. Jeff is the CEO of Foresight First LLC that aims to improve the way non-profit and association boards perform by cultivating their use of foresight. For over 15 years, Jeff has taught people how to encourage foresight, helping them use it effectively. He provides actionable advice that allows individuals to apply their learned skills to director roles in order to improve and better the performance of both themselves and their boards. Paul and Jeff also discuss the positive ways that foresight impacts diversity, the best perspective to view voluntary (not volunteer!) director positions in a way that gets the most out of them, and why fear can be used as a highly effective motivational tool. This podcast episode is perfect for you if you’re also wondering: What is foresight and how you can encourage it in your own thinking How boards can utilise foresight to make themselves the best possible decision-makers for their companies or organisations The fundamental changes that need to occur in the boardroom right now, in order to begin really making a difference Why a ‘bigger’ boardroom doesn’t actually always mean ‘better’ How you can help your board look beyond the present scope to consider all things future, without becoming futurists The opportunity we’re facing at the moment that will allow us to redesign the boardroom in a way to make it really compelling, satisfying and rewarding How boards can invest their capabilities even more effectively to make the best impact on the important issues, and how foresight is such an integral part of this And, an insight into Jeff’s own foresight, namely, what issues does he think boards will come up against in the near future? Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Jeff’s eBook: http://futureofgoverningbook.co Foresight First: http://foresightfirst.io/ Jeff De Cagna LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/foresightfirst

In this episode of Boardroom Hustle, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne flip the script and interview Anna herself, to discuss her fascination with decisioning – the cognitive process we undergo with every single choice we make. But how much of this process is subconscious? Are we really making decisions based on new information, or are we merely running on autopilot? And could technology possibly replace decision-making for us? Understanding this intricate process is key in unlocking higher cognition, which can lead to making better choices and, ultimately, creating a greater impact in what we do. Anna has an avid interest in cognitive neuroscience, and she takes us on an interesting journey in which she explains the importance of “training an elephant” to cultivate clearer decisioning. Anna developed a love of neuroscience at a young age, thanks to her mother’s psychiatric career path, and she has such an easy, natural way of explaining tricky subjects – like the mechanics of the brain – that just about anyone can understand. So, if you’re eager to hear more about this elephant and peek behind the curtain to see how we make decisions, as well as how you can apply certain tricks and tips to your own cognitive thinking to create the best possible outcome for your life, and how you can improve your board through doing so, give the episode a listen. You’ll also dive deep into the following: Decisioning, the cognitive process that leads us to choose the things we choose Why we can lose up to 75 percent of our cognitive functioning if we try to avoid how we’re really feeling The positive and negative impacts that technology can potentially have on human-based decision making How we can use technology to enhance, rather than replace, our humanness Why we need to understand the complex, fascinating process of decisioning, and how we can use it to our advantage The three lenses we use to view decision-making Common problems that are often seen in small groups of powerful people (and what you can do to solve them!) The danger in constantly referring back to habitual perspectives How our brains are controlled by two systems that have very different approaches to problem-solving Changing your narrative so you can take on a brand new perspective Wasting valuable bandwidth with emotional reactions, and how we can get more time by taking control of our decisioning Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ NeuroPower Website: http://www.neuropowergroup.com  Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/  

Welcome back to season two of Boardroom Hustle. This season, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne are switching gears to focus more on the future of boardrooms. They’ll hypothesise and theorise about the technological changes that we’ll be seeing, the regulation that will come with it, and how societal influences and a rapidly shifting status quo will serve to better the boardroom. The guest on this episode is Amon Woulfe, founder of Collective Minds, an organisation that works with people and teams across the globe in various situations, helping them to boost their performance, especially in high pressure and stressful environments. Amon has a refreshing, enormously intelligent perspective when it comes to improving mental resilience, understanding how to train the mind, and the tools and skills most necessary in order to do so. If you’re looking to enhance your own performance, or you’re in a leadership role and are wanting to give your team an added edge, give the podcast a listen. Not only will you find out how to start upgrading your brain and avoiding professional burn-out, you’ll also find out the answers to things like: How to improve your mental cognition The knock-on effect that can occur when you and/or your team isn’t performing at their peak The three aspects of your mind that you need to cultivate in order to start really winning at life Neuro-rigidity, neuroplasticity, and why your brain dislikes being wrong The potential positive and negative impacts that come from biometric technology Theories behind how the future boardroom might approach the use of bio-technology Alpha, Beta and Gamma brain waves, and which one is the best for creativity, innovation and better performance Why we’re all walking around in various states of stress and anxiety What influenced Amon to work with human potential, and the one thing he thinks this planet needs more than anything else Actionable steps that you can take today to help elevate your mental and emotional performance Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Amon Woulfe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amonwoulfe/?originalSubdomain=au Collective Minds Website: https://www.collectivemind.com.au/

We’ve heard the warnings - machines are coming to take our jobs! But is that really how it’s going to happen? What impact will Artificial Intelligence have on the boardroom? Anna Byrne and Paul Smith discuss the new technology that is around the corner, the impact it could have on businesses and boards, and what it could mean for you.   In this episode, we discuss: [3:05] The three types of Artificial Intelligence (assisted intelligence, augmented intelligence, and autonomous intelligence) [4:30] Paul’s views on the most exciting implication of AI in the Boardroom [4:55] Harnessing AI to improve diversity in recruiting [7:45] Reducing ‘groupthink’ [10:30] Using AI as an ‘observer’ to monitor decision making, as well as the quality of discussion [12:02] Adherence to policies, ethical frameworks and codes of conduct [15:30] Issues around privacy and confidentiality [17:15] What types of activities would be best monitored by AI? [19:40] Carefully designing ecosystems to ensure there are no misaligned incentives and unintended consequences [20:55] AI at an individual level: AI as a ‘coach’ or ‘manager’   If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at psmith@futuredirectors.com or Anna at anna.byrne@neuropowergroup.com.

After Paul Smith from the Future Directors Institute spent Season 1 interviewing successful board directors, the tables have been turned: now, Paul finds himself on the other end of the microphone. Anna Byrne interviews Paul about his upcoming presentation at a conference in Savannah, Georgia in the USA.   Paul is in the enviable position where he has many options that he COULD talk about during his presentation, so now he needs to works out what he SHOULD say. The presentation is for The International Policy Governance Association and is targeted to look into new possible governance models and the future of governance in general. Paul was approached to give the closing keynote for their 2018 Annual Conference. If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at psmith@futuredirectors.com or Anna at anna.byrne@neuropowergroup.com.

Welcome back to the Boardroom Hustle podcast for Season 2. Boardroom Hustle is the only podcast dedicated to serving all types of board directors at every stage of their journey, all around the world. Whether you’re aspiring to one day join a board, or you’ve just started your board journey, or you can confidently claim that you’re an effective and innovative future director, this show is for you.   Season 1 was centred around inspiring leaders and we spoke about their passions and their work inside and outside the boardroom. Season 2 is purely focus on the future.   There is plenty of hype around governance in the future. Change is coming, both technological and societal, and directors need to always be looking ahead to what will shift the status quo. It’s all about constantly upskilling to better serve your organisation and its stakeholders. We’ll be looking specifically at how these changes will impact directors inside the boardroom and what it means for their abilities and responsibilities. Today’s episode is an introduction to Season 2 where we begin our discussions around what the future might look like. If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at psmith@futuredirectors.com or Anna at anna.byrne@neuropowergroup.com.

The Best of Season 1: "Disrupting the Status Quo" This episode makes the end of Season 1, which I’m retrospectively titling ‘Disrupting the Status Quo’.   We’ll be kicking off Season 2 in a couple of weeks. I’ll be co-hosting this season with previous Anna Byrne (episode 5), and we’ll be focusing on the FUTURE of the boardroom and the things that are coming on the horizon that will impact boardrooms and how board members need to constantly adapt change.   This episode features five of my favourite snippets from the guests we had on the show in the first season of Boardroom Hustle:   [1:55] Penelope Twemlowe (episode 6). The importance of saying ‘no’, being selective in what you do so that you can dedicate more time and energy to fewer things (stop spreading yourself so thinly - say no to little things so that you can say yet to the big ones).   [6:00] Alan Jones (episode 3). Career inflection points and answering the question ‘what’s making you feel most vulnerable right now? (heart arrhythmia, transition point in life)   [11:20] Alison Rowe (episode 4). ‘Fail early, then try again’ (tips for building resilience and dealing with imposter syndrome, importance of learning from failure, injecting fun and work-life balance, confidence in decision-making without 100% information, managing risk in the boardroom)   [16:30] Raph Goldsworthy (episode 7). The ‘art and science’ of the boardroom, most problems in the boardroom are perennial because we still haven’t addressed them properly   [22:00] Parrys Raines (episode 1). Finding your passion, trying things on the side, determining what works best for you

Geoff Hetherington is ‘The Clarity CEO’, helping business owners to de-clutter their ideas (and their lives) with his compassionate but no-nonsense approach. He is also a Chairman and an advisory board director to several Australian companies.   In this episode, we dive into topics such as: Being brutally selective with your focus and your energy The importance of having a regular ‘reset’ Advisory boards VS Governance boards The ideal size for an effective board Stepping back before deciding how to react Observe -> Understand -> Identify -> Decide The four stages of learning The importance of putting away your privilege Key ground rules for directors And much more!   Links LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/geoffhetherington Website: http://geoffhetherington.com/about/ Dancing Blind Man consulting: http://dancingblindman.com/   Top Quotes “My Dad always said to me the only thing you’ve got to strive to achieve in life is to be happy at the guy who looks back at you from the mirror every morning” “The hard thing for young people is to figure out how to avoid playing the politics” “It is so hard to find people that actually run businesses to come and sit on the board. That’s the other thing that’s happening with boards - the people that make up the boards are not necessarily the best or the brightest: they are the most available”. “If you understand or at least you can identify what is wrong, you can then make a conscious decisions about what you’ll do or how you’ll react” “Really good directors have the ability to step back and observe what’s happening. They are also smart enough to understand that nothing makes you do anything, because you have the choice of how you react to external stimuli”. “There’s four stages of learning: you start off unconsciously incompetent, you become consciously incompetent, then you become consciously competent, then you become unconsciously competent”. “What I say to my clients is: ‘don’t hire staff’. What you should be hiring for is for talent. You can always teach talented people something”.

One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face is authenticity, not least of all in the boardroom. This is a topic that my guest today knows all too well. Ronsley Vaz is the founder of the award winning Amplify agency, author of Amplify: Raise Your Voice, Boost Your Brand and Grow Your Business, and host of Bond Appetit - Australia’s #1 food podcast. He’s also the creator of the We Are Podcast conference - the largest podcast conference in the Southern Hemisphere. And throughout his illustrious journey, one of his biggest learning curves has been confronting himself in difficult situations.   Top 3 quotes: "That is what’s fascinating now about about business - that everyday I find out how much I don’t know". "Every time I’m exposed to someone, I learn more about myself". "Be yourself so much that people want to hang out with you and appreciate you for who you are, then you don’t have to impress anyone".   We also get into all of this too... Ronsley’s top inspirational quotes The different definitions of success, and how they vary from one entrepreneur to the next Why you have to be selfish to be an entrepreneur The importance of having the right people around you How to stay in the present, rather than being in the past or living in the future Why fear won’t go away, and how to deal with it when it comes along Learning how to appreciate the problems you come up against as an entrepreneur Ronsley’s legacy, and the importance of questioning everything How Ronsley’s personality has fitted into the boardroom Why being authentic in the boardroom is so important The values of millennials and why it matters in business and the boardroom Effective listening as a critical part of how we interact with the world around us     Our Mission is to empower, support and connect a generation of directors steering meaningful change from the boardroom. Check us out at https://futuredirectors.com.au/   Links Amplify Agency Ronsley’s book, Amplify: Raise Your Voice, Boost Your Brand and Grow Your Business The Bond Appetit Podcast Should I Start A Podcast We Are Podcast Conference LinkedIn Facebook Twitter  

Anne-Marie Elias is a force of nature. Her title is ‘Chief Disrupter’ and she’s spent three decades challenging the status quo and breaking down the cycle of social disadvantage. Disruption runs in her DNA. She’s worked as an adviser to government ministers, in the NGO sector, in the private sector, and in the boardroom. Anne-Marie shows us that we need to realise that what we might think is ‘the best that we can do’ is a long way off our best - we need to embrace change, disrupt what isn’t working, and build toward a better future for all. In this episode, we dive into topics such as: The essence of disruption: challenging the status quo The difference between ‘disruption’ and ‘destruction’ Telling stories to humanise real problems beyond statistics Inspiring action and moving toward a greater cause Being aware of those that fear change and feel threatened Reimagining ‘the best we can do’ (we’re currently not doing it) Productivity in the workplace and rethinking work hours to solve traffic congestion Collaborating virtually and working remotely Reconnecting with reality Boards taking a ‘long hard look at themselves’ Getting more things done And much more! Links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefdisrupter/ Chief Disrupter - https://chiefdisrupter.com/ Disruptor’s Handbook - https://disruptorshandbook.com/ Techfugees (Australian Chapter) - https://techfugees.com/chapters/australia/ Spark Festival - http://sparkfestival.co/   Top Quotes “I’m not apologetic to disrupt the hell out of whatever’s going on because we’re failing people” “We have to look out for everybody, and that’s where the real disruption happens” “I think people that fear change think disruption is destructive” “We are so disconnected from reality at every level of society”

Dale Simpson is one of the Principals of Bravo Consulting, which is a blend of executive coaching, systems design, leadership and boardroom development, and operates across Australia and India. Dale was a suggestion from one of our previous Boardroom Hustle guests, Alison Rowe.   In this episode, we dive into topics such as: Shifts in our mentalities The search for more meaning in our work The difference between coaching and mentoring Curiosity as a learning tool The importance of forgiveness as well as humility The benefits of imperfection Harnessing vulnerability Working in India And much more!   Links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalepsimpson/ Bravo Consulting - http://bravoconsulting.com.au Bravo Blog - http://bravoconsulting.com.au/blog/   Top Quotes “I think the first thing that precedes any foreign intervention or help that we seek is knowing when to seek help, that’s what makes us humans – is knowing when to seek help.” “I don’t want us to feel that we are somehow obligated to be perfect, we just need to also know what happens and what we need to do when things don’t work out the way we intended.” “We live in a world where we value extraverts as vital to leadership, but in fact, there are many, many great leaders who aren’t” “What you want at any table is diversity. Not just in gender, race and ability, but also diversity in thinking” “Good coaches are the ones that teach people how to coach themselves” “We in the west think we will be happy if we are successful. The Hindus, Buddhist and Jains have taught us the opposite: we will be successful if we are happy.”   Action Items Seek out work or experience in an unfamiliar area. Try and join a project in which you are not already an expert. Always be curious and stay humble - that allows you to ask more questions, which unlock the door to learning.

Raph Goldsworthy is the Managing Director of ‘Better Boards’, an organisation that provides professional development around being a board director. Raph is someone who has had very little interest in actually sitting on boards himself, but understands the power boards have on shaping the future. He feels he isn’t personally suited to the boardroom, but has been instrumental in impacting boards through his curation of the annual ‘Better Boards’ conference, the ‘BoardWise’ online program, and providing resources to help directors with their professional development in their own journeys. In this episode, Raph and I talk about: Growing the ‘Building Better Boards’ conference to 600 annual attendees The ‘art and science’ of the boardroom How directors in the NFP sector can connect with those that can help them on their journey How to address the reoccuring, perennial problems of the boardroom Thinking about how we can learn from history Leaving your ego at the door Embracing risk and stepping outside the comfort zone The power of asking questions Impacting boards without sitting on boards Specialists vs Generalists Diversity and the future of boards And much more! Links LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/raphgoldsworthy Better Boards - http://betterboards.net/ Upcoming Better Boards conference: http://conference.betterboards.net/ Sign up to the Better Boards newsletter - http://betterboards.net/newsletter/ BoardWise - http://www.boardwise.net/ Sprout - http://sprouthq.net/ Sprout Podcast - http://sprouthq.net/podcast/

Penelope Twemlow has a lengthy list of positions and accolades. Just a few include: CEO, Energy Skills Queensland Project and Change Manager, Glencore Co-Founder and Chairperson, Women In Power Ambassador, White Ribbon Australia 2016 Queensland Telstra Businesswoman of the Year (Social Enterprise & Not-For-Profit) 2016 APAC Insider CEO of the Year   Penelope spent almost 11 years in the Australian Defence Force before transitioning to a ‘civilian life’. Whilst the myriad of skills and qualifications she’d built up in the ADF didn’t directly transfer, she was able to lean on a few key mentors that helped her apply the abilities she’d developed and quickly climb the ranks. In recent years, she has flourished, winning multiple awards and being appointed to new positions.   In this episode, we dive into topics such as: The current ‘No’ crisis How we can avoid being pulled in too many different directions How to be more selective in our approach to what we choose to do (or more importantly, NOT do) Giving others the ability to step up and take on greater responsibility Tools and tips for time management & productivity Scheduling time for yourself to clear your mind and get some space to do some thinking How her medically-diagnosed insomnia has helped her think strategically and put new plans into action The TRUE role of a CEO (hint: it doesn’t begin until 5:30pm when everyone else has gone home) The importance of professional mentors and advisors Breaking out of your pigeon hole and broadening your experience And much more!   Links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-twemlow-40012246/ Glencore - http://www.glencore.com.au/EN/Pages/home.aspx Women In Power - http://womeninpower.org.au/ White Ribbon Australia - https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/ 2016 Telstra Business Woman of the Year - https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/brilliant-business-women/past-winners/

Anna Byrne specialises in solving complex people problems and shaping mindset decisions and behaviours. She is a Partner at Neuro Power group and is a strategic advisor to boards and CEOs. Anna began her own board career at the age of 17 when she joined the United Nations Youth Association.   Anna has always been fascinated by how humans operate, and she brings a combination of neuroscience and behavioural economics to understand the deeper experiences that shape how we see the world.   Anna published a book called ‘Behavioural Economics for Business’ in 2016, and is currently working on another book called ‘Boardroom (R)evolution’, to be launched in 2018.   In the conversation, we discuss: The characteristics of ‘complex systems’ Behavioural economics and Cognitive biases Experimenting within a board career The different filters through which we all see the world How board members can get to know each other better Ways to increase your ability to perform And much more!   Links: Neuro Power Group ‘Behavioural Economics for Business’ book LinkedIn

Alison Rowe is the CEO of the Moreland Energy Foundation and the inaugural Chairwoman of the Future Business Council, among other Executive and Non-Executive Board Directorships. Having started her working life in the Navy and finding herself driving warships at the age of 22, Alison brings a strategic approach to the organisations she is involved with.   From an early age, Alison learned the benefits of failing fast, failing early, and most important, trying again. It takes time to build courage and resilience, but these are vital characteristics of an effective CEO and Director. You need to be willing to try innovative things and be willing to failing in order to achieve something great.   We get into a wide range of topics, including...   Techniques for building and developing resilience and accepting failure Unintentionally becoming a non-conformist Having trusted advisors outside of the boardroom that you can reflect with and get any feedback you need Having courage and making decisions when you don’t have all of the information Being comfortable with the fact that you will never have 99.9% of the inputs, and how you can harness your skills and experience to still achieve the desired outcomes Developing a ‘Risk Appetite Statement’ to allow you to walk the tightrope between managing risk appropriately but maintaining innovation and entrepreneurialism Having multiple pathways and a complex web of stakeholders through which you can influence outcomes, so that you don’t have any single point of failure Having an appropriate Decision Making approach so boards members feel empowered The different size boards required for different stages of growth in startups And much more!   Links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonrowe1/ Moreland Energy Foundation - https://www.mefl.com.au The Future Business Council - http://www.futurebusinesscouncil.com Climate Alliance - https://www.climatealliance.org.au