What does Olympic-level performance teach us about leading people through pressure?

Drew Ginn OAM is a three-time Olympic gold medallist, a member of Australia’s legendary Oarsome Foursome and now General Manager of Marshall White Bayside. In this conversation, Drew takes us behind the medals to explore the trust, honesty and discipline required to build a team capable of performing when the stakes are high.

Drew reflects on joining an already successful Olympic crew at just 21 and questioning whether he was good enough to belong. He shares how the team practised difficult conversations before they reached breaking point, why immediate feedback matters and what leaders can learn from people who understand that discomfort is part of growth.

We also explore the difference between sustainable performance and expecting people to operate at 100 per cent every day. Drew explains why recovery is not a reward for finishing the work, but part of the work itself. He discusses how leaders can remain steady while their people experience the inevitable highs and lows of performance, and why knowing when to challenge someone and when to support them is a critical leadership skill.

The conversation also examines resilience, reinvention, coaching and the loneliness that can come with leadership. Drew shares why culture cannot sit with one person, why everyone must become a culture keeper, and what changes when leaders move beyond their own success and take responsibility for the performance of the whole team.

Originally recorded for Behind the Numbers ahead of Drew’s appearance at the RISE Leadership Breakfast, this is a practical and deeply human conversation about leading under pressure without losing sight of the people beside you.

What does Olympic-level performance teach us about leading people through pressure?
Drew Ginn OAM is a three-time Olympic gold medallist, a member of Australia&rsquo;s legendary Oarsome Foursome and now General Manager of Marshall White Bayside. In this conversation, Drew takes us behind the medals to explore the trust, honesty and discipline required to build a team capable of performing when the stakes are high.
Drew reflects on joining an already successful Olympic crew at just 21 and questioning whether he was good enough to belong. He shares how the team practised difficult conversations before they reached breaking point, why immediate feedback matters and what leaders can learn from people who understand that discomfort is part of growth.
We also explore the difference between sustainable performance and expecting people to operate at 100 per cent every day. Drew explains why recovery is not a reward for finishing the work, but part of the work itself. He discusses how leaders can remain steady while their people experience the inevitable highs and lows of performance, and why knowing when to challenge someone and when to support them is a critical leadership skill.
The conversation also examines resilience, reinvention, coaching and the loneliness that can come with leadership. Drew shares why culture cannot sit with one person, why everyone must become a culture keeper, and what changes when leaders move beyond their own success and take responsibility for the performance of the whole team.
Originally recorded for Behind the Numbers ahead of Drew&rsquo;s appearance at the RISE Leadership Breakfast, this is a practical and deeply human conversation about leading under pressure without losing sight of the people beside you.

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 

There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 


In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 


No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 

Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.

Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au

Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 
There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 
 In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 
 No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 
Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.
Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: <a href="mailto:sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au">sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au</a> 
Or connect on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a>

Future ready leadership strategies to unlock your growth

Future Fit Leadership

'Future Fit Leadership — practical ideas for leaders on AI, the future of work, wellbeing, psychological & psychosocial safety, resilience and inclusive leadership.' 

There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 

In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 

No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 

Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.

Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanajsmiles@gmail.com

Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/ 

We are excited to announce our partnership with Future Leadership and this podcast will sit in their Future Exchange Community where as leaders, CEO's, Directors and executives you can access content, events, live streams and connect with your peers. To join the community click on the following link, membership is free. 

https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official

**Future Fit Leadership acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we record this podcast and we pay our respect to elders - past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

-- 

This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose

www.guideyourlightnetwork.com 

'Future Fit Leadership &mdash; practical ideas for leaders on AI, the future of work, wellbeing, psychological &amp; psychosocial safety, resilience and inclusive leadership.'&nbsp;
There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic.&nbsp;
In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO&rsquo;s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth.&nbsp;
No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry.&nbsp;
Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.
Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: <a href="mailto:sadhanajsmiles@gmail.com">sadhanajsmiles@gmail.com</a>
Or connect on LinkedIn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a>&nbsp;
We are excited to announce our partnership with Future Leadership and this podcast will sit in their Future Exchange Community where as leaders, CEO's, Directors and executives you can access content, events, live streams and connect with your peers. To join the community click on the following link, membership is free.&nbsp;
<a href="https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1683848489703000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2f0TqhapHFy9zLTwwgyebz">https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official</a>
**Future Fit Leadership acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we record this podcast and we pay our respect to elders - past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
--&nbsp;
This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose
<a href="http://www.guideyourlightnetwork.com">www.guideyourlightnetwork.com</a>&nbsp;