Episode notes
How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Podcast
15 Minutes with the Boss
The Australian Financial Review · Business · English
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
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S4 · E30 · 24 Aug 2026 · 19 min
Climbing the seven summits taught this executive one big lesson
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…
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S4 · E29 · 17 Aug 2026 · 20 min
Chris Judd’s formula for high performance – on and off the field
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…
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S4 · E28 · 10 Aug 2026 · 17 min
This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire
"I had everything on the wire, on the line," says Grant Wilckens, remembering when the global financial crisis hit. The chief executive and founder of G'Day Group had started his holiday parks business in 2004 when Lehman Brothers collapsed. "It was probably the hardest I've ever worked, the most stressed I've ever been." On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the former investment banker to find out how he survived the GFC, the lessons it taught him and how it fundamentally changed his business. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: The…
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S4 · E27 · 3 Aug 2026 · 17 min
How an exercise physiologist designed her ideal workout routine
“I've really changed my relationship with exercise over the past few years”, says Katie Lyndon, the chief executive of Exercise and Sports Science Australia. The exercise physiologist has made a conscious effort to shift her mindset around workout routines from something she has to do to something she loves. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Lyndon to find out how she designed a workout program that provides physical, mental and professional benefits. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: Inside Ahmed Fahour’s…
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S4 · E26 · 27 Jul 2026 · 22 min
Thomson Reuters CEO on AI bill shock, career risks and his biggest mistake
The president and CEO of Thomson Reuters says the company has had "bill shock this year in the tens of millions of US dollars over and above our budget”. And while Steve Hasker maintains the global technology and information firm, which is valued at $US40 billion ($57 billion), is disciplined financially, the costs are rising. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Hasker to find out how the company is navigating these technological advancements and the benefits of making career mistakes. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: AI bill shock:…
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S4 · E25 · 20 Jul 2026 · 19 min
‘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. She had had 17 knee operations and could not get on top of her injury. “At that point, I was really aware that my identity as a basketball player was gone,” the now-chief strategy and basketball partnerships officer for the WNBL Australia recalls. Since then, Jackson’s life on and off the court has taken several turns. In this week's episode, the former basketball player tells BOSS editor Sally Patten about the challenges she faced when she retired for the first and second time, and…
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S4 · E24 · 13 Jul 2026 · 19 min
Fasting, coffee and no chores: A Young Rich Lister’s success formula
Oscar Ledlin is just 34 years old, but last year he was ranked number 55 on the Financial Review Young Rich List with a fortune valued at $123 million. The founder and chief executive of the Ledlin Group started the company after seeing a gap in the market for small commercial properties during the e-commerce boom. In this episode, the property entrepreneur sits down with BOSS editor Sally Patten and reveals the secrets to his success, including where his best ideas come from and the piece of advice he almost always ignores. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further…
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S4 · E23 · 6 Jul 2026 · 19 min
Why this expert thinks communication is ‘going down the gurgler’
Communications expert Louise Mahler has spent years helping leaders gain confidence, presence, and influence in the way they communicate. However, since the pandemic and the rapid increase of online platforms, Mahler believes people are losing the ability to engage with audiences. But she's hopeful that connection can be restored. On this week's episode, the former opera singers reveals her top public speaking tips to BOSS editor Sally Patten. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: Want to be better at public speaking? NIDA’s CEO shares her tips Chief…
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S4 · E22 · 29 Jun 2026 · 18 min
This Four Pillars Gin co-founder is taking on whisky – and the ASX
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…
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S4 · E21 · 22 Jun 2026 · 17 min
Ask about WFH and you’ll get dropped from shortlist, headhunter warns
“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…
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