Empowering Leaders

Tracy Stockwell OAM is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time world champion, and former world record-holder in three events. None of that would have been possible if at the age of nine, she didn't watch Mark Spitz breaking records at the Games, and she tells us how she engaged the power of visualisation to chase down her dreams in a fearless manner.  Tracy became an honourary Aussie following her days in the pool when she married Mark Stockwell and raised her five children in Australia. She recently held the role of President of Swimming Australia and its incredible to hear her speak so highly and candidly about the leaders who have had a major influence on her career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meggie Palmer is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of global reporting experience. She's the founder and CEO of PepTalkHer, a technology and consulting company focused on closing the gender pay gap. Meggie talks with Luke about finding out from a male colleague exactly how much less she was earning than every man in the newsroom and how fighting for her own pay equity sparked her passion in this space. It was a privilege for Meggie to walk us through the power of moving away from anger and bitterness and choosing to take action instead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anita Jacoby is one of Australia’s most distinguished television producers and media executives. With a career spanning more than 35 years, she has created award-winning content across multiple platforms. A genuine pioneer for female success in Australian media, Anita talks about consistently being overlooked for promotion, as men overtook her on the network ladder time and again despite her experience. You'll hear her thoughts on the world of clickbait and disinformation and we explore the current shortage of the long form, investigative style of journalism Anita made her name with. Anita also tells a story she discovered much closer to home about her father, who had a huge positive influence in her life - a World War II refugee and founder of Sony in Australia - but shortly after his death Anita discovered a dark and tragic side to his life that he had never revealed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest on the Empowering Leaders podcast is Australian basketball legend, Sandy Brondello, from her Manhattan apartment overlooking the New York skyline, where she is the current coach of the New York Liberty in the WNBA. You'll hear Sandy talk about growing up in a sugar cane farm in Queensland and practicing for hours on end on a grass court with a backboard her dad built for her. It's an extraordinary story of her becoming one of the great shooters in women's basketball history. Sandy also talks on the importance of teaching kids the fundamentals instead of over training them, she describes the loneliness of leadership and putting the same amount of energy, enthusiasm and passion into raising her two children as well as leading the next generation of basketball stars. You'll also get an insight into the great wisdom Sandy has received from collaborating with her Aleda Connect group. Sandy's bespoke Aleda Connect team includes Justin Leppitsch - three-time Brisbane Premiership legend and current assistant coach of the Collingwood Football Club, John Bertram - Australian Hall of Fame legend and one of Australia's greatest ever sporting success stories, Daryl Franklin - current chief of staff at the Green Bay Packers, Brad Fittler - rugby league legend from New South Wales and current state of origin coach for New South Wales, and Pat Clifton - the assistant vice president of player health and performance at the NBA. Sandy talks openly about how that shared opportunity to learn, connect and collaborate has been incredibly powerful for her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Shefali has produced groundbreaking work as an author of New York Times best-selling books, that peer through a societal lens to find remedies for over-zealous and highly critical parenting. In this chat, Dr. Shefali looks at what is driving damaging behaviour from parents and institutions and the shifts needed to set our children up for happiness and fulfilment. Dr Shefali's books, The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family, have both been endorsed by Oprah who has championed Dr. Shefali's revolutionary work in promoting conscious parenting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Dimery is the CEO of Alinta Energy. From humble beginnings to where he is today, Dimery lays out the ups and downs he has faced. In this chat, Dimery says Alinta is the biggest single investor in renewable energy in Australia and discusses slashing the defence budget to invest more money, faster, into clean energy so it can become a sustainable and viable option. Jeff also reflects on Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins' decision to distance himself from the Alinta Energy sponsorship of the Australian cricket team and shares personal details about drawing his greatest inspiration from his mother. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Stone is a former AFL footballer, who moved to New York City in 2010. He envisioned Bluestone Lane whilst attending Business School in New York, with the idea of providing a premium coffee experience that can be readily found in Melbourne Australia Has a great connection with his local customers, the teammates that are his staff members, and putting his life force into moving from Australia to America to create Bluestone Lane Cafe. A great Australian hospitality success story. Hear some of the celebrities that regularly frequent Nick's cafe.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephanie Alexander AO is regarded as one of Australia’s great food educators. Her reputation has been earned through her thirty years as an owner-chef in several restaurants, as the author of 17 influential books and hundreds of articles about food matters, and for her groundbreaking work in creating the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation provides inspiration, information, professional development, and support for educators to deliver pleasurable food education to children and young people in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rochelle is Share the Dignity’s founder and Managing Director, though the title she is most proud of though is ‘Pad Lady’. Rochelle has led a team of volunteers collecting millions of period products across Australia. When Rochelle first learned of homeless women going without basic sanitary items during their menstrual cycle, she decided the question was not, “why is no one doing anything” but rather, “what’s stopping me from doing something?”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kemi Nekvapil is committed to making a measurable impact. Working with people and organisations that create good in the world and it is a privilege to do this work. Kemi is one of Australia's leading credentialled coaches for female executives and entrepreneurs, an author and a highly sought after international speaker Subscribe to Empowering Leaders wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.