Welcome to the 15 Minutes with the Boss summer series edition, where we bring you exclusive extended interviews with some of our favourite episodes. In this week’s episode, we revisit our conversation with Google managing director of Australia and New Zealand Melanie Silva.

In this extended version Melanie shares advice on the power of words and being intentional about the way you make others feel. She also delves into the art of negotiation and highlights the significance of seeing role models who mirror your own identity and how it shapes aspirations. 

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

 

Welcome to the 15 Minutes with the Boss summer series edition, where we bring you exclusive extended interviews with some of our favourite episodes. In this week&rsquo;s episode, we revisit our conversation with Google managing director of Australia and New Zealand Melanie Silva.
In this extended version Melanie shares advice on the power of words and being intentional about the way you make others feel. She also delves into the art of negotiation and highlights the significance of seeing role models who mirror your own identity and how it shapes aspirations.&nbsp;
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/enterprise/" data-stringify-link="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/enterprise/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Aussie Broadband</a>.
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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.

Summer series: Extended interview of Google MD Melanie Silva

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.

Climbing the seven summits taught this executive one big lesson

Asked about a pivotal moment in his career, former AFL star Chris Judd is quick to respond: don’t do what everyone else is doing.

“[The pivotal moment] was taking complete control over my fitness program,” says Judd.

In business, Judd, who is the founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund, a concentrated equities fund that invests primarily in smaller companies, applied the same rule – and it changed the course of his career.

On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how the former West Coast Eagles captain secured a premiership, two Brownlow Medals and is now tackling the world of small caps.

This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

AFL great turned stockpicker Chris Judd just made 20pc returns

One of the greatest to play Aussie rules, Judd has kicked off a second career in fund management buying ASX small-cap stocks. 

‘The phone stopped ringing’: How retirement shock hit this Olympian

In 2016, former Opals star player and Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson was forced to retire. Since then, her life has taken several turns.

Asked about a pivotal moment in his career, former AFL star Chris Judd is quick to respond: don&rsquo;t do what everyone else is doing.
&ldquo;[The pivotal moment] was taking complete control over my fitness program,&rdquo; says Judd.
In business, Judd, who is the founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund, a concentrated equities fund that invests primarily in smaller companies, applied the same rule &ndash; and it changed the course of his career.
On this week's episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out how the former West Coast Eagles captain secured a premiership, two Brownlow Medals and is now tackling the world of small caps.
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/markets/equity-markets/afl-great-turned-stockpicker-chris-judd-just-made-20pc-returns-20250722-p5mgwm?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">AFL great turned stockpicker Chris Judd just made 20pc returns</a>
One of the greatest to play Aussie rules, Judd has kicked off a second career in fund management buying ASX small-cap stocks.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/the-phone-stopped-ringing-how-retirement-shock-hit-this-olympian-20260717-p60gcc?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;The phone stopped ringing&rsquo;: How retirement shock hit this Olympian</a>
In 2016, former Opals star player and Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson was forced to retire. Since then, her life has taken several turns.

Summer series: Extended interview of Google MD Melanie Silva

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