
Calling Operator with Laura Nicol
Join Laura Nicol (your host) as she dials into the stories of startup operators in the trenches of building and scaling companies. Together, we master the art of ‘building the plane while flying it', drawing on insights from leaders and rising stars at companies like Tracksuit, Canva, Culture Amp, Atlassian, me&u, Airwallex, Eucalyptus, and more. Laura's day job is Chief of Staff to Maxine Minter﹢Co Ventures—all views shared on this podcast are her own.
Latest episodes

Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 10min
Ep 20. Deanna Hood on Becoming a technical leader in Health Tech robotics at Vexev and Inventia, Embracing Learning as a Skill and Shattering STEM Stereotypes.
Find Deanna here:TikTok / @deanna.stemInstagram @deanna.stemhttps://dhood.io/ Resources mentioned: Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talkingBrave not Perfect: Fear less, Fail more and Live Bolderhttps://www.meetup.com/
Guest ideas?Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn. A note from your host, Laura:My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons. Never miss an episode:Subscribe on your favourite platform:SpotifyApple Podcasts(Other) CallingOperator.com

Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 11min
Ep 19. Sam Garven from dreaming of living in the forrest studying gorilla's to people leadership at ZipCo, Kinde + more
You can find Sam here on Linkedin Resources mentioned: WGEA report: Gender Pay GapFair Work amendments 2024 Josh Bersin Podcast
Guest ideas?Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn. A note from your host, Laura:My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons. Never miss an episode:Subscribe on your favourite platform:SpotifyApple Podcasts(Other) CallingOperator.com

Feb 5, 2024 • 48min
Ep 18. Holly Brooks - From Childhood in Doha to Overcoming Early Career Hurdles, Achieving Her Dream Job at Startmate
Resources mentioned in this episode:MKT1 NewsletterHalf of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Guest ideas?Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn. A note from your host, Laura:My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons. Never miss an episode:Subscribe on your favourite platform:SpotifyApple Podcasts(Other) CallingOperator.com

Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ep 17. Nicole Meaker on studying Engineering in adulthood, figuring out what you actually find interesting and working at Marqo as a Product Manager
Listen to this interview with Nicole Meaker and dive into... Unexpected Paths Lead to Rewarding Careers: Nicole's journey into tech was unplanned. Despite an initial lack of interest in math and science, her diverse experiences, including working in bars and a call centre, led her to discover a passion for technology. A reminder to never forget the importance of exploring and being open to unexpected career paths.Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Nicole emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, as seen in her decision to study engineering in her twenties and her varied roles in IT. Listen to hear about how adaptability helps growth in an ever-evolving tech industry.Challenges for Women in Tech: Nicole's experience reflects the challenges women face in tech, including being often the only woman in a team and encountering gender-based barriers and harassment. Her journey underscores the need for and is part of the solution for greater diversity and inclusion in the tech sector.Balancing Parenting and Career in Tech: While admitting she is very tired, we explore concepts of flexibility and Nicole shares how she believes she's become a better operator, and parent thanks to her career. Listen to the full episode and please send any feedback either email me at palomabnewton@gmail.com or ping me directly here on LinkedinAlso get in touch if you or someone you know would be a great guest on the pod! ☎️
Guest ideas?Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn. A note from your host, Laura:My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons. Never miss an episode:Subscribe on your favourite platform:SpotifyApple Podcasts(Other) CallingOperator.com

Sep 10, 2023 • 33min
Ep 16. Alex Crawshaw from boarding school to a grad job at Deloitte and then finally landing a dream role at Halter
Alex Crawshaw is a finance manager and chartered accountant at Halter, a New Zealand AgTech startup on a mission to enable farmers to run more productive and sustainable farms. Alex grew up in NZ and went to boarding school (with her now founder, Craig Piggott!) before university which ended up with her landing a grad job at Deloitte. We chat through Alex's journey, passion for her role at Halter and tips for anyone thinking of making the transition from corporate, to a startup environment. Guest ideas?
Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show?
Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.
A note from your host, Laura:
My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup
operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at
building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself
in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing
the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across
Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode
shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining
moments, successes, failures, and lessons.
Never miss an episode:
Subscribe on your favourite platform:
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- (Other) CallingOperator.com

Aug 21, 2023 • 43min
Ep 15. Dr Izzy Bigio from six years at med-school, to two years as a Doctor and then a massive personal rebrand before landing at Blackbird as a community partner
Dr Izzy Bigio, a doctor turned start-up platform manager, discusses her journey from med school to realizing she didn't want to be a doctor. She shares practical tips for starting a new role and reflects on valuable skills gained in medicine. The episode explores the importance of long-term vision, effective communication, autonomy, and reflection for personal growth.

Jun 26, 2023 • 1h 13min
Ep 14. Gemma Clancy & Will Richards, creators of the Overnight Success newsletter talk about building something from nothing
Interesting in Overnight Success? find them hereResources mentioned: Acquired podcast Tech Safari Acquisitions anonymous Lennys newsletter
Guest ideas?Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn. A note from your host, Laura:My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons. Never miss an episode:Subscribe on your favourite platform:SpotifyApple Podcasts(Other) CallingOperator.com

Jun 12, 2023 • 55min
Ep 13. Monica Masaoka from Airwallex on pushing against the conventional path, going from retail at Mecca to Zip co and finding her place in RevOps at Airwallex
Monica Masaoka discusses her mixed heritage and her journey from retail at Mecca to RevOps at Airwallex. She shares her experience in year 12 decision making and working in customer service at a startup. Monica highlights the challenges and learning opportunities in her strategic role at Airwallex. The podcast also explores universal basic income and influential figures in the field of RevOps. Toughest career lessons and balancing priorities are discussed emphasizing the importance of impactful initiatives.

May 8, 2023 • 44min
Ep 12. Royina Bakshi from Nutromics on turning adversity into a superpower and finding the perfect spot in a MedTech hardware start-up
The podcast features Royina Bakshi discussing her early life in India, her family's military history, and the challenges of being an army kid. She also talks about navigating university admissions, her career challenges, and living with type 1 diabetes. The episode explores the role and purpose of Nutromix in wearable diagnostics and the immigrant struggles and career success at Nutromics. Lastly, it covers building structures and processes in startups and the privilege of access to healthcare.

Apr 18, 2023 • 48min
Ep 11. Carrie Gray from Atlassian on being a humming bird person and using her experience to cross pollinate the world
Carrie Gray from Atlassian reflects on her childhood and early career, highlighting the impact of personal tragedy. She discusses navigating cultural transitions from a corporate job to motherhood and shares insights on setting priorities and visualizing success. The podcast also explores the benefits of making small adjustments in one's career, balancing work and motherhood, and Atlassian as a supportive workplace for parents. The speakers discuss the achievements of Tony Nelson and the transformative potential of AI.