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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afr.com/boss" data-stringify-link="https://www.afr.com/boss" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Boss</a>&nbsp;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.

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country.

Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.

For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss. 

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country.
Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.

A weekly podcast about  success and failure and everything in-between.

15 Minutes with the Boss

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts. 

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts.&nbsp;

Latest episodes 

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country. 

Each week, AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.

For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss. 

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country. 
Each week, AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.

Simon Banks: How to gain mindfulness from manual work and why leadership requires both the head and heart

Growing up, Kate Reid had always dreamt about working in Formula 1. And in her early 20s, she achieved that dream by joining the Williams team as an aerodynamicist.

But this F1 enthusiast quickly realised the job was not all she'd hoped.

"I imagined it would be an incredibly dynamic, collaborative, exciting job, and all of those things didn't come to fruition for me, and it sent me down a pretty dark path," says Reid.

On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this aerodynamicist applied her scientific rigor to become one of Australia's most well-known pastry chefs.

Further reading:

Daniel Mookhey: My younger self would hate my respect for John Howard

The NSW treasurer opens up about failure, conflict, his political heroes – and why he hates waking up early.

The email that cost this top exec a major deal

Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte – and then she had twins.

Growing up, Kate Reid had always dreamt about working in Formula 1.&nbsp;And in her early 20s, she achieved that dream by joining the Williams team as an aerodynamicist.
But this F1 enthusiast quickly realised the job was not all she'd hoped.
"I imagined it would be an incredibly dynamic, collaborative, exciting job, and all of those things didn't come to fruition for me, and it sent me down a pretty dark path," says Reid.
On this week's episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out how this aerodynamicist applied her scientific rigor to become one of Australia's most well-known pastry chefs.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/daniel-mookhey-my-younger-self-would-hate-my-respect-for-john-howard-20260831-p60t2u?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Daniel Mookhey: My younger self would hate my respect for John Howard</a>
The NSW treasurer opens up about failure, conflict, his political heroes &ndash; and why he hates waking up early.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/from-deloitte-partner-to-climbing-everest-to-regional-boss-20260820-p60q0h?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" data-testid="headlineLink">The email that cost this top exec a major deal</a>
Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte &ndash; and then she had twins.

Why Lune boss Kate Reid traded Formula 1 for croissants

As a teenager, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey loved federal budget day.

“I’m not saying I was popular at high school, but I used to love it when [former Liberal treasurers] Peter Costello and John Howard would hand down the budget,” the self-confessed nerd says.

As a 16-year-old, he may not have liked the Liberal grandees’ politics, but these days Mookhey “is a little bit more sympathetic and understanding of where they were coming from".

On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the Labor politician to find out what eight years of opposition taught him, and the one piece of advice he would give his younger self.

This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

The email that cost this top exec a major deal

Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte – and then she had twins.

Do what others won’t do: AFL great Chris Judd’s formula for success

The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one career rule.

As a teenager, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey loved federal budget day.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying I was popular at high school, but I used to love it when [former Liberal treasurers] Peter Costello and John Howard would hand down the budget,&rdquo; the self-confessed nerd says.
As a 16-year-old, he may not have liked the Liberal grandees&rsquo; politics, but these days Mookhey &ldquo;is a little bit more sympathetic and understanding of where they were coming from".
On this week's episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten sits down with the Labor politician to find out what eight years of opposition taught him, and the one piece of advice he would give his younger self.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/?utm_source=15-minutes-with-the-boss&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=enterprise">Aussie Broadband</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/from-deloitte-partner-to-climbing-everest-to-regional-boss-20260820-p60q0h?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" data-testid="headlineLink">The email that cost this top exec a major deal</a>
Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte &ndash; and then she had twins.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/chris-judd-s-formula-for-outperformance-on-and-off-the-field-20260817-p60p0l?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" data-testid="headlineLink">Do what others won&rsquo;t do: AFL great Chris Judd&rsquo;s formula for success</a>
The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one career rule.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey on property prices, failure and conflict

From a young age, Esther Colwill, a former partner at Deloitte and now country head for Australia at Korn Ferry, dreamt of climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, including, of course, Mount Everest.

Colwill succeeded, emerging with critical lessons that have helped her in both her private and professional life.

On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how having a goal outside work spurred on this executive’s professional career.

This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

Do what others won’t do: AFL great Chris Judd’s formula for success

The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one rule that changed the course of his career.

This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire

Grant Wilckens co-founded G’day Group in 2004 and never looked back – apart from the time when he could have lost everything.

From a young age, Esther Colwill, a former partner at Deloitte and now country head for Australia at Korn Ferry, dreamt of climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, including, of course, Mount Everest.
Colwill succeeded, emerging with critical lessons that have helped her in both her private and professional life.
On this week&rsquo;s episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out how having a goal outside work spurred on this executive&rsquo;s professional career.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/?utm_source=15-minutes-with-the-boss&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=enterprise">Aussie Broadband</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/chris-judd-s-formula-for-outperformance-on-and-off-the-field-20260817-p60p0l?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Do what others won&rsquo;t do: AFL great Chris Judd&rsquo;s formula for success</a>
The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one rule that changed the course of his career.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/this-exec-left-banking-to-buy-a-caravan-park-now-he-runs-an-empire-20260810-p60n19?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire</a>
Grant Wilckens co-founded G&rsquo;day Group in 2004 and never looked back &ndash; apart from the time when he could have lost everything.

Simon Banks: How to gain mindfulness from manual work and why leadership requires both the head and heart

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