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.

When Sanjeev Gandhi was called into the office of German chemical company BASF&rsquo;s managing director, the young salesman was &ldquo;tentative and concerned&rdquo;.
It was a meeting that would go on to change the course of his career.
On this week&rsquo;s episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> 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&rsquo;s episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/internet/nbn-plans/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Residential-Google-PureBrand-Internet-Australia&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21072568313&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD7HAGDIzUgQoZIoIt5fLsSa1TbMI&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAhaHMBhD2ARIsAPAU_D7BO2GM9bqlpwgA_TMCWkwd15vLHteJ86Ex26Ko8QMY9q8dw1K7WWMaAgyAEALw_wcB">Aussie Broadband</a>.

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.

The promotion that set Orica’s CEO on a path to running the $12b giant

Stuart Gregor has always been a keen storyteller.

From his first job working in journalism as a copy boy to co-founding craft gin brand Four Pillars, this entrepreneur has used his skills to build brands and their narratives.

Now the chief executive of ASX-listed Lark Distillery, the whisky boss is having to tell a new type of story to analysts and fund managers.

In this week's episode, Gregor tells BOSS editor Sally Patten about the various challenges of speaking to consumers, the industry and now the market.

Further reading:

Whisky maker Lark hires Four Pillars Gin co-founder as CEO

The Tasmanian company’s product will be in 700-millilitre bottles for the first time in 33 years as it tackles global brands such as Johnnie Walker.

Four Pillars Gin sold to XXXX’s Japanese owner

The brewing giant behind names such as Furphy and Little Creatures has snapped up the other half of the distiller for an estimated $50 million.

He may not be a ‘whisky guy’, but Larry Emdur’s single malt is good as gold

It began as a bit of birthday fun for the TV personality, but in just two years, The Ben Buckler has become a multi-award-winning brand with an impressive new CEO.

Stuart Gregor has always been a keen storyteller.
From his first job working in journalism as a copy boy to co-founding craft gin brand Four Pillars, this entrepreneur has used his skills to build brands and their narratives.
Now the chief executive of ASX-listed Lark Distillery, the whisky boss is having to tell a new type of story to analysts and fund managers.
In this week's episode,&nbsp;Gregor tells <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten about the various challenges of speaking to consumers, the industry and now the market.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/whisky-maker-lark-hires-four-pillars-gin-co-founder-as-ceo-20250915-p5mv2c?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Whisky maker Lark hires Four Pillars Gin co-founder as CEO</a>
The Tasmanian company&rsquo;s product will be in 700-millilitre bottles for the first time in 33 years as it tackles global brands such as Johnnie Walker.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/japan-s-lion-takes-full-control-of-four-pillars-gin-20230703-p5dlas?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Four Pillars Gin sold to XXXX&rsquo;s Japanese owner</a>
The brewing giant behind names such as Furphy and Little Creatures has snapped up the other half of the distiller for an estimated $50 million.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/food-and-wine/he-may-not-be-a-whisky-guy-but-larry-emdur-s-single-malt-is-good-as-gold-20260601-p602os?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">He may not be a &lsquo;whisky guy&rsquo;, but Larry Emdur&rsquo;s single malt is good as gold</a>
It began as a bit of birthday fun for the TV personality, but in just two years, The Ben Buckler has become a multi-award-winning brand with an impressive new CEO.

This Four Pillars Gin co-founder is taking on whisky – and the ASX

“We’ve had a number of years when there was a huge emphasis on people’s work-life balance. Now it’s about performance,” says Chris Karagounis.

The managing director at executive search firm Alex Kaar says working in the office allows budding leaders to contribute to the culture and community, and to keep learning.

And if they're not there, then they risk falling behind.

On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out from the corporate headhunter what it takes to be a senior leader today, and how aspiring executives should approach issues such as working from home and artificial intelligence.

Further reading:

Four steps to land your first board position

The step into the boardroom is an important milestone, and something many ambitious professionals dream about. But how do you make it happen?

How I convinced Kerry Packer he should hire me

Mary Wooldridge, outgoing CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s. She’s used some of the skills she learnt ever since.

Why job seekers looking for $200k-plus roles should be worried 

After taking a break from her exec role, Diedre Hosking returned to a market offering $100,000 less, as firms swap veterans for cheaper, AI-literate juniors.

 

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had a number of years when there was a huge emphasis on people&rsquo;s work-life balance. Now it&rsquo;s about performance,&rdquo; says Chris Karagounis.
The managing director at executive search firm Alex Kaar says working in the office allows budding leaders to contribute to the culture and community, and to keep learning.
And if they're not there, then they risk falling behind.
On this week's episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out from the corporate headhunter what it takes to be a senior leader today, and how aspiring executives should approach issues such as working from home and artificial intelligence.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/4-steps-to-land-your-first-board-position-20251007-p5n0ov?utm_source=omny&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;amp;utm_content=&amp;amp;utm_term=newsroom">Four steps to land your first board position</a>
The step into the boardroom is an important milestone, and something many ambitious professionals dream about. But how do you make it happen?
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/what-this-exec-learnt-from-working-for-kerry-packer-20260508-p5zv4e?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">How I convinced Kerry Packer he should hire me</a>
Mary Wooldridge, outgoing CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s. She&rsquo;s used some of the skills she learnt ever since.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/careers/why-people-earning-over-200k-should-be-scared-right-now-20260508-p5zv3r?utm_source=omny&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;amp;utm_content=&amp;amp;utm_term=newsroom">Why job seekers looking for $200k-plus roles should be worried</a>&nbsp;
After taking a break from her exec role, Diedre Hosking returned to a market offering $100,000 less, as firms swap veterans for cheaper, AI-literate juniors.
&nbsp;

Ask about WFH and you’ll get dropped from shortlist, headhunter warns

When Sharon Pickering’s husband died, she realised she needed to choose where she directed her energy and focus on what mattered to her.

After years of being a dedicated scholar, the academic made a decision that would set her on a path to becoming the vice chancellor of Monash University.

On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the university boss to find out how a new role shifted Pickering’s career to one of leadership.

Further reading:

‘I’d lost my identity.’ How this exec recovered from redundancy

A new coach, hypnotist and Hollywood movie helped Allison Rossiter tackle one of her biggest fears. Now, the Novartis president shares how they can help you too.

Meet the researchers tackling big problems

Combining knowledge and expertise across disciplines is the new face of successful research in the university sector.

The move this MD calls ‘extremely hard, but I’ve never looked back’

T2 Tea managing director Christelle Young finds that by cutting out reading, writing and talking first thing in the morning, it sets up her day in the right way.

When Sharon Pickering&rsquo;s husband died, she realised she needed to choose where she directed her energy and focus on what mattered to her.
After years of being a dedicated scholar, the academic made a decision that would set her on a path to becoming the vice chancellor of Monash University.
On this week&rsquo;s episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten sits down with the university boss to find out how a new role shifted Pickering&rsquo;s career to one of leadership.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/novartis-alison-rossiter-leadership-public-speaking-20260501-p5zsxf?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;I&rsquo;d lost my identity.&rsquo; How this exec recovered from redundancy</a>
A new coach, hypnotist and Hollywood movie helped Allison Rossiter tackle one of her biggest fears. Now, the Novartis president shares how they can help you too.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/meet-the-researchers-tackling-big-problems-20251113-p5nfag?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Meet the researchers tackling big problems</a>
Combining knowledge and expertise across disciplines is the new face of successful research in the university sector.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/what-this-ceo-took-away-from-a-10-day-silence-retreat-20250807-p5ml4v?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">The move this MD calls &lsquo;extremely hard, but I&rsquo;ve never looked back&rsquo;</a>
T2 Tea managing director Christelle Young finds that by cutting out reading, writing and talking first thing in the morning, it sets up her day in the right way.

The promotion that set Orica’s CEO on a path to running the $12b giant

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