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.

Mary Wooldridge, the outgoing chief executive of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s.&nbsp;
While her time at Kerry Packer's company, Consolidated Press Holdings, taught her some invaluable skills, Wooldridge found it unmotivating.
On this week&rsquo;s episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out why the former politician traded a Packer deal-making role for public policy.

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.

What this executive learnt from working for Kerry Packer

When it comes to the rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace, Sam Nickless, the chief executive of law firm Gilbert + Tobin, has some useful advice for lawyers and executives in the early or middle stages of their careers.

"The first level of advice is don’t freak out about it, but don’t ignore it either," he says.

"Get really good at using it, but also be very attuned to the things that it doesn’t do and that you can do over and above it."

On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what the top lawyer thinks of AI disruption, how it will affect the legal profession and the best way lawyers can protect their jobs.

This podcast was sponsored by Ripple.

Further reading:

Why giving up control was Lune founder Kate Reid’s best business move

An eating disorder shaped the croissant queen’s career. A piece of advice from her father is also one of the secrets to her company’s success.

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.

When it comes to the rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace, Sam Nickless, the chief executive of law firm Gilbert + Tobin, has some useful advice for lawyers and executives in the early or middle stages of their careers.
"The first level of advice is don&rsquo;t freak out about it, but don&rsquo;t ignore it either," he says.
"Get really good at using it, but also be very attuned to the things that it doesn&rsquo;t do and that you can do over and above it."
On this week's episode, <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten finds out what the top lawyer thinks of AI disruption, how it will affect the legal profession and the best way lawyers can protect their jobs.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="https://ripple.com/">Ripple</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/croissant-queen-kate-reid-on-the-secrets-to-lune-s-success-20260907-p60v18?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Why giving up control was Lune founder Kate Reid&rsquo;s best business move</a>
An eating disorder shaped the croissant queen&rsquo;s career. A piece of advice from her father is also one of the secrets to her company&rsquo;s success.
<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.

Gilbert + Tobin CEO Sam Nickless reveals what AI means for junior lawyers

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.

This podcast was sponsored by Ripple.

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.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="https://ripple.com/">Ripple</a>.
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.

What this executive learnt from working for Kerry Packer

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