Bonus FW series: Leemara Fairgrieve was "too accommodating"

From styling hair to fighting crime, Detective Senior Sergeant Leemara Fairgrieve made quite the switch when she left hairdressing to join Victoria Police. These days, she’s busting major drug syndicates and rising through the ranks. But while she’s tough on crime, Leemara admits she can be tough o…

Summer shortcut: Prime Minister for a day

You shortcut to this season's top leadership advice...  Over the summer, we're playing a special series containing season five's most interesting and practical leadership advice. Each episode revolves around a single question. This week it's: Imagine you are the Prime Minister, what is the one thi…

BONUS FW series: Allegra Spender was "too nerdy": it took her to the top of fashion and politics

Carla Zampatti’s daughter, self-confessed nerd Allegra Spender, never saw herself as a natural fit to lead her late mother’s fashion empire. But that’s where she ended up, before a runway-worthy career-pivot which saw her ride the Teal wave into federal politics. In this episode, Allegra joins Bria…

Back to basics: Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg

This week, we're revisiting our interview with newly minted Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg.  Bennell-Pegg is Director of Space Technology at the Australian Space Agency, and the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag. Back in 2024. she spoke with Helen McCab…

Summer shortcut: The biggest leadership failures

You shortcut to this season's top leadership advice...  Over the summer, we're playing a special series containing season five's most interesting and practical leadership advice. Each episode revolves around a single question. This week it's: tell me about your biggest leadership failure and what …

Summer shortcut: The best career feedback

You shortcut to this season's top leadership advice...  Over the summer, we're playing a special series containing season five's most interesting and practical leadership advice. Each episode revolves around a single question. First up: What's the best piece of career feedback you've received?  Y…

Georgie Holt on why you need leadership anti-values

How often have you thought about your leadership values? Well, what if you flipped that and started thinking in terms of anti-values?  Georgie Holt is the CEO of media start-up Flight Story - the powerhouse behind the Diary of a CEO podcast. She's also spoken a lot recently about AI and her effort…

Paul Roos on what elite sports can teach corporate leaders

What can the corporate world learn about leadership from elite sports teams?  All AFL fans will recognise the name Paul Roos. He was a legendary coach and player who is perhaps best known for ending the Sydney Swan's 72 year premiership drought. But his leadership insights extend well beyond the p…

Back to basics: Wendy McCarthy on the politeness trap

This week, we're revisiting one of our favourite FW Leadership Series episodes.  Do you ever feel shackled by the expectation to be 'polite'? Wendy McCarthy is one of Australia’s leading feminists, businesswomen, activists, and a best-selling author. In this discussion with Helen McCabe, Wendy sha…

Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks on how to stop people pleasing

Does there come a point where you stop worrying about being likeable?  Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks is the founder of media start-up Missing Perspectives. She is also the author of a new book called The Right Hand. In it, she speaks to chiefs of staff to some of the world’s most consequential leaders, …