15 Minutes with the Boss

One of Anubha Sahasrabuddhe’s proudest moments was getting Chinese consumers to drink Coca-Cola – and lots of it. Earlier in her career, Sahasrabuddhe, now the chief executive of brewing giant Lion, was asked to go to China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics and take on the competition, Pepsi. Sahasrabuddhe’s stint was a success, but there were also failures. The experience led the chief executive to adopt a strategy she says the tech industry has mastered. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the boss of Australia’s second biggest brewing company to find out how past mistakes have shaped future wins.

Mary Wooldridge, the outgoing chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s.  While her time at Kerry Packer's company, Consolidated Press Holdings, taught her some invaluable skills, Wooldridge found it unmotivating. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out why the former politician traded a Packer deal-making role for public policy.

When Allison Rossiter was offered a dream job, she had just one hesitation: she was terrified of public speaking. But not wanting to walk away from the opportunity, the budding executive asked for a public speaking coach. On this week’s episode, the president for Novartis in Australia and New Zealand tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how a new coach, a hypnotist and a Hollywood movie helped her tackle one of her biggest fears.

For any arts production, reviews are a crucial metric of success. But for Brett Sheehy, what the critics have to say means very little. For him, it’s all about the audience. On this week’s episode, Vivid Sydney's festival director tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how he's determined his own way of measuring success.

As the managing director of Franklin Templeton in Australia and New Zealand, Felicity Walsh has done her fair share of job interviews. In that time, the local head of the global asset manager has figured out what candidates should – and should not – do during the process. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the top executive to find out her tips on researching prospective employers and potential interviewees, and when to ask about working from home.

The chief executive of Gurner Group and former boss of Australia Post says his morning routine has been transformational. Ahmed Fahour says he now thinks more clearly, has lost 13 kilograms over the past two years and has discovered the best productivity hack: sleep. On this week's episode, the top executive tells BOSS editor Sally Patten how a new start to the day has helped drive high performance at work.

Vikram Pawah has loved cars since he was a child. Or more specifically, engines. From Honda to Harley Davidson and now BMW, the chief executive has worked for some of the biggest car and motorcycle brands in the world. And it was through motorcycle riding that the luxury car company CEO learnt how to avoid making rash decisions: “Sometimes what your reflex is telling you is the wrong thing in motorcycle riding – it might make you crash.” On this week’s episode, the CEO of BMW in Australia and New Zealand sits down with BOSS editor Sally Patten to explain how the “sleep test” helps him make tough decisions.

When Jess Saxby became the chief executive of Banjo’s Bakery Cafes, she went "hell for leather". Taking over the family business, the new CEO was always chasing the next big thing for the chain. Until she realised she couldn't switch off. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the bakery boss to find out how Saxby overcame burnout and the boundaries she's put in place since.

Turning around a business never comes down to just one thing, says Shane Bracken.  The chief executive of Subway in Australia and New Zealand believes three key steps have been critical to expanding the sandwich brand across the country. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this CEO continues to grow the largest fast-food chain in Australia.

The founder of online retailer Kogan.com firmly believes that mistakes are an “additional asset” that any company can learn from. But the entrepreneur says there was one “existential mistake” he made that stands out. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the chief executive to find out how he came to value decision-making and the missteps along the way.

Lisa Chiba’s first executive role was “a bit of a rollercoaster”.  After starting in the role of customer service director, the company entered a divestment process – making the entire workforce redundant.  It was an experience that would give the now-Momentum Energy CEO some of big lessons on communication and transparency. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the chief executive to find out about the skills that helped Chiba navigate the path to executive leadership.

When it comes to banking, Joseph Healy has seen it all.  After a long career holding executive positions at NAB, ANZ and Citi, the high-profile banker co-founded Australia’s first fintech unicorn, Judo Bank. And beyond the world of financial services, the chief executive also started mental health group Malu Health last year. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what drives this CEO and the most valuable lessons he’s learnt along the way. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page says one of her biggest failures was not speaking up enough early in her career. “I’ve always spoken up if I thought there was an injustice, but one that I feel was a failure was when I fell pregnant," the gallery's chief executive says. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Page to find out about the early challenges she faced before taking on the state's top arts job – and the ones she's navigated since. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.    

When Sanjeev Gandhi was called into the office of German chemical company BASF’s managing director, the young salesman was “tentative and concerned”. It was a meeting that would go on to change the course of his career. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the CEO of mining services giant Orica to find out how an unexpected opportunity paved the way to executive leadership. This week’s episode was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Bronte Campbell knows a lot about high-stress situations. But for the co-founder and CEO of sustainable athleisure company Earthletica, there are a few techniques she draws on no matter the circumstance. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this athlete-turned-chief executive deals with high-stakes events – in the pool and the office. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Managing director Dan White says his first day working alongside his father and brother at Australia’s largest real estate company was surreal. A fourth-generation, family-run business, Ray White dominates the country’s competitive property market. In this week’s episode of the new season of 15 Minutes with the BOSS, host Sally Patten sits down with the property leader to find out the perks and challenges of working with family.

Being in charge of one of Australia’s biggest food and drink companies was never part of Pete Findlay’s plan. But the chief executive of Bega Group knows how beloved the brands are: “Never go messing with the Vegemite recipe. We do not touch that.” In the final episode of season three of 15 Minutes with the Boss, host Sally Patten finds out what this dairy products boss has for breakfast and why it’s not just protein he's focussed on. This podcast was sponsored by Vanta.

Standing up and speaking to a room full of people is a task that many find daunting.  But there are a few tricks that can help you master the art of public speaking. On this week’s episode, National Institute of Dramatic Art CEO Liz Hughes sits down with BOSS editor Sally Patten to reveal her secrets for delivering a top address. This podcast was sponsored by Vanta.

One of the most pivotal moments in Tim Helyar’s career was when he was first put in charge of a project, running a team and a $100 million piece of work. No longer unfamiliar with positions of leadership, Helyar is now the country head of State Street, the world’s fourth-largest asset manager. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how he’s developed his leadership style and why it’s the captain of the Australian men’s cricket team, Pat Cummins, whom he admires most. This podcast was sponsored by Vanta.

Russell Cohen has set up businesses all around the world, and one of the things he says is a constant in all markets is the fear of accountability. “The fear is real … and that’s a global phenomenon,” the chief executive of PEXA says. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the CEO of the real estate settlement giant to uncover the upsides of being candid and the cultural ramifications of evading responsibility. This podcast was sponsored by Vanta. 

Working in public health, Rita Butera admits that finding the right candidate for a role can be challenging. The CEO of BreastScreen Victoria says looking beyond technical skills is pivotal to the process. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this chief executive developed her approach to hiring. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Celebrity chef Curtis Stone opened his first restaurant in Beverley Hills more than a decade ago, and it was immediately a smash hit. His next venture, however, quickly taught him how wrong things could go. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out the cookbook writer had to rethink his strategy to turn things around. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra. 

When Therese Frangie was working at Mexican fast-food group Mad Mex, she found herself “butting heads” with the founder. Frangie turned to a business coach to help her work through her frustrations. The coach had one word for her: ego. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what the chief executive of Oporto learnt about ego, conflict management and leadership. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

When Kristian Fok became the chief executive of Cbus, he “knew there was a lot to take on”. One strategy that’s helped him manage issues as they arise is determining the length of a productive meeting. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how the Cbus CEO navigates the various challenges that come with running a $105 billion super fund. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Shelley Dolan is the first one to admit that a career in nursing is “stressful”, but also “hugely enjoyable”. It was during her first experience working in an executive role in the health sector that she learnt about the pressures of leadership and the importance of trusting your instincts. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Dolan to find out how the CEO of Royal Melbourne Hospital learnt to handle high-stress situations. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

The chief investment officer of fund manager Loftus Peak says he only gets one really good idea a year, and that it’s always about business. After looking into the rise of machine learning, Alex Pollak's “one good idea” in 2016 was to buy into Nvidia, which now boasts a market valuation of $US4 trillion ($6 trillion). This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how the local tech investor spots trends to stay ahead of the curve. This podcast was sponsored byAussie Broadband.

When it comes to her morning routine, Carolyn Creswell describes herself as a bit of a “biohacker”, trying out different types of alternative therapies. But it’s not just in the mornings that the founder of Carman’s Kitchen explores new ways to get the most out of each day; the chief executive is also looking to AI to boost the company's productivity. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out about the career and lifestyle hacks of this muesli boss. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

David Koczkar reached exhilarating heights during the launch of Jetstar, but the stressful role came at a cost.  In this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the chief executive of Medibank to find out how he learnt a new, more mindful pace of leadership. This podcast was sponsored by 5 in 5 with ANZ podcast.  

Ready to retire at 45, everything changed for Monika Tu when she met her third husband and took on a whole new career. In this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the founder of property concierge Black Diamondz Group to find out how the celebrity agent rose to the top of luxury real estate. This podcast was sponsored by 5 in 5 with ANZ podcast.

How I Made It is back with new hosts Lauren Sams & Yolanda Redrup. Join us to learn how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

The CEO of Baby Bunting thought he’d end up in corporate finance. In this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Mark Teperson to find out how a chance retail sale changed the trajectory of his career. This podcast was sponsored by 5 in 5 with ANZ podcast.

Clayton Utz chief executive partner Emma Covacevich always tells her grads to keep an open mind: sometimes your career “true love” can arrive in unexpected places. This week, the leader of one of Australia’s top-tier law firms speaks to BOSS editor Sally Patten about how an unexpected move to Melbourne helped propel her to partner at the age of 29. This podcast was sponsored by 5 in 5 with ANZ podcast.

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan is an industry giant, but running some of the best restaurants in the country is not without its challenges. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the leading restaurateur to find out how he soared to the top of Australia’s hospitality scene. This podcast was sponsored by 5 in 5 with ANZ podcast.

In this episode Sally Patten, BOSS editor talks to Kellie Hush, chief executive of Australian Fashion Week and co-founder of The Volte, about how optimism has guided her in life and leadership. Kellie also reflects on a time when the words of a former boss drove her ambition and reveals how she prefers soccer boots to spreadsheets. This podcast is sponsored by Burleigh Heads Property Development.

Editor of Boss Sally Patten talks to Simon Banks, managing director of PayPal in Australia, about how he engages his head and heart to lead, how manual work can reset a bad day, and how he uses empathy to get the best out of people. This podcast is sponsored by Burleigh Heads Property Development.

Editor of BOSS Sally Patten sits down with Christelle Young, the managing director of T2 in Australia, to talk about the importance of being honest with staff, what she learnt from a 10-day silence retreat and why matcha tea is taking the world by storm. This podcast is sponsored by PGIM

In this week’s episode, Chris Andrews, chief executive of La Trobe Financial, joins BOSS editor Sally Patten, to talk about why flitting from one job to another is a bad career move, and the key question he's embedded into meetings to remove ego from the room. This podcast is sponsored by PGIM  

In this week’s episode, Dr Toni Meath, principal and CEO of Melbourne Girls Grammar describes how a devastating moment in her personal life turned Plan A into an incredible Plan B, how introversion is her superpower and why you're probably smarter and braver than you think. This podcast is sponsored by PGIM

In this week’s episode, Graham Kittle, the managing partner of Heidrick & Struggles in Australia, discusses how burnout led him to his dream job, the importance of having lots of coffee meetings and why he starts his day so early. This podcast is sponsored by PGIM

In this week’s episode, co-CEO of Bell Financial Group Arnie Selvarajah, discusses why group success trumps individual recognition, how to simultaneously incentivise individuals and teams, and reveals the question he always asks to ensure he gets the full picture. This podcast is sponsored by PGIM  

Ed Chung from Technology One actively incites company upheaval every 7 to 10 years. In this episode, he describes how this mass change can benefit individuals as well as the company, the work ethic he learned from his mum and dad, and how to master your own diary but still stay flexible.

In this week's episode, Executive Director of the Sydney Dance Company Lou Oppenheim, shares how she unexpectedly moved from computational linguistics into the arts sector. Hear how Lou uses her love of data to illuminate human stories, frame insights and guide her decisions.   

In this episode CEO of Patties Food Group Paul Hitchcock shares his 'rule of three' to help weed out non-performers. Plus, how moving quickly when restructuring a business can save heartache as well as money, and lessons from a product launch that didn't work. Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30.

We've had such a great response to the episode with Boost Juice Founder Janine Allis that we decided to play the extended version. There were so valuable takeaways in this chat that didn't make the original cut, so we hope you enjoy this extended conversation. Janine shares life hacks for productivity and longevity, dismisses imposter syndrome, and emphasises the value of saying "yes" to opportunities. Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30.

We've had such a great response to the episode with Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn that we decided to play the extended version. There were so many great takeaways in this chat that didn't make the cut, so we hope you enjoy this extended conversation. Matt talks about the importance of taking on the hard challenges, his approach to health and fitness and why he sends less than 5 emails a day. Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30.

In this week's episode, Trevor Holland, Australia New Zealand managing director of Lululemon, discusses the fear of walking away from his passion to start a new career, taking lessons from his favourite audio book Atomic Habits by James Clear, and searching out mentors to guide him through his career.  

This week, YHA CEO Paul McGrath talks about being diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia at age 39, why working harder to get ahead is BS and he outlines the three key elements of successful transformation. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

On this week’s episode, Pinterest’s Australian MD Melinda Petrunoff, talks about the importance of feeling uncomfortable for 20% of her role, how communicating her career ambitions led to increased opportunities and she discusses the challenges of raising identical twins. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

In this week’s episode, John Longmire, the executive director of club performance at the Sydney Swans talks about the relentless pressure athletes are under and the strategies they use to help them focus, how sharing the spoils of success can foster a positive work environment and why it's OK for senior leaders to make mistakes. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

In this week’s episode, Holly Masters, CEO of The McGrath Foundation talks about why having a non-linear career path is so enriching, how forming relationships and networking can lead to surprising results and why she left Estee Lauder to work in the for-purpose sector. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.