The Wisdom Of... with Simon Bowen

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Bryan Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity, one of America's largest insurance and wealth management firms. From his upbringing in a small-town Texas funeral home to building a company that serves millions of families, Bryan shares profound insights on why technology without humanity creates nothing worth remembering, how small-town values scale to billion-dollar operations, and why the myth of being "self-made" is the biggest lie in business. Discover how legacy is operational, not aspirational, and why AI represents the greatest opportunity to amplify human connection at scale.Ready to systematise wisdom into frameworks that scale your business? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the founding principles from a Texas funeral home08:22 Why naming your company "Integrity" holds you accountable every day15:47 The myth of self-made entrepreneurs and the power of inherited principles23:18 How do you meet with every family? The scaling paradox of human connection31:52 Small-town values in billion-dollar operations: big business done the small-town way39:26 The delegation trap: concepts without context and why scale breaks47:15 AI as human amplifier: the opportunity everyone is missing55:38 The trust breach: when automation replaces people instead of amplifying them01:02:43 Legacy Safeguard and why everyone needs to be remembered01:09:17 Recording his parents' story nine days before his father passed01:15:32 The Integrity Foundation and legacy in action01:19:25 Final wisdom: lean into your parents' lives before it's too lateAbout Bryan AdamsBryan Adams is the Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity, leading the day-to-day operations of one of America's largest insurance and wealth management firms. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Integrity.Bryan is the Founder of Legacy Safeguard, LLC, a company dedicated to helping members leave a lasting legacy and be remembered long after they're gone. He's considered one of the nation's leading experts in the Senior Market and speaks frequently across the country about the importance of helping families on one of the most difficult days of their lives.Prior to founding Integrity, Bryan was Vice President of Corporate Development at Directors Investment Group, Inc., where he became the youngest Vice President in the company's history. He has a degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Bryan and his family live in Highland Village, Texas.Connect with Bryan Adams:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-w-adams-2794b8159/Integrity: http://integrity.com/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organisations, recognising that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organisations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Dr. Isaac Balbin, a technologist, entrepreneur, and educational visionary who holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has expertise across 15+ technology domains, including blockchain, AI, quantum computing, and cannabis science. As founder of GLIDE (Generating Lifelong Interest in Deeper Education) and Executive Director of Green Gold Trading, Isaac bridges the gap between brilliant technology and solutions that actually serve people. Discover why collective intelligence matters more than individual genius, how learning while moving transforms education, why decentralising trust through technology serves humanity, and how to teach critical thinking in a post-truth world.Ready to master the systematic approach to extracting and applying educational and technology wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive Masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and "It's never been a better time to be alive" 02:26 The biggest issues in education: restrictiveness and disincentives to innovate 12:55 Living in a post-truth world: when nothing is true, everything is true 15:24 Technology's rhythm and cadence throughout human history 16:38 Educating people in scientific domains to enable intelligent discussions 17:58 Collective intelligence as humanity's most powerful tool 19:27 Teaching the scientific method through the "How do you know?" question 20:34 Decentralising trust through blockchain and distributed systems 23:28 The GLIDE Method: decentralising education and letting teachers innovate 24:49 Learning while moving: why Confucius and ancient Greeks walked while teaching34:20 Generating Lifelong Interest in Deeper Education (GLIDE acronym explained) 43:04 Healthcare advocacy and the role of technology in patient outcomes51:13 AI enabling entrepreneurs: testing billion-dollar ideas with AI tech teams1:00:51 Using technology while leaving people with their personal agency 1:02:05 Three quick questions: time travel, Einstein's mind, and lessons from setbacksAbout Dr. Isaac BalbinDr. Isaac Balbin is a technologist, entrepreneur, thought leader, and speaker with a vision for how technology can shape our future. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering, where he published articles, won awards, and published patents.  The setback of seeing his academic technology stall before commercialisation became a catalyst. As he moved into entrepreneurship, he encountered blockchain technology, recognising its potential long before it entered the mainstream conversation.Isaac has become a thought leader and expert across 15+ domains, including blockchain, AI, cannabis science, RFID, IoT, quantum technologies, and many more. He is the founder and CEO of GLIDE, a revolutionary educational paradigm that combines "learning while moving" with practical, real-life information, student self-awareness, and societal consciousness. He serves as Executive Director of Green Gold Trading, applying science and technology to advance evidence-based healthcare through cannabinoid therapeutics.Isaac's mission is to share what he knows and envisions with the world, so that no one is left behind as technology accelerates.Connect with Dr. Isaac Balbin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-isaac-balbin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbalbin11/ GLIDE: https://www.linkedin.com/company/91363031/ Green Gold Trading: https://greengoldtrading.com.au/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organisations, recognising that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organisations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Mike Desjardins, CEO of ViRTUS, a leadership expert who has spent more than two decades helping leaders transform not just their businesses, but their people. Mike challenges what we think leadership really is, revealing why emotional intelligence is not a soft skill, but the concrete foundation for every result that truly matters in business. Discover the Leadership Triangle (IQ + EQ + AQ), why "the me has overtaken the we" threatens our collective future, and how curiosity becomes the most powerful tool a leader possesses.Ready to master the systematic approach to extracting and applying leadership wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive Masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and "As go the leaders, so goes the world" 05:11 The first-time leader trap: why personal excellence doesn't equal leadership success 08:47 Why you manage processes but lead people17:18 Teaching EQ practically across industries 24:32 The five components of emotional intelligence and building them in children 34:42 Adaptability Quotient (AQ) and operating with resilience in VUCA environments 37:20 Why subject matter expertise is just table stakes 42:43 The erosion of truth in leadership and untruth by omission 45:04 Expanding emotional vocabulary and the wheel of emotions 47:15 How curiosity builds instant connection 48:11 The $330,000 deal closed in 5 minutes after 55 minutes of genuine connection 54:15 Play and curiosity as the pathway to AI fluency 59:40 From fragmentation to collaboration: "The me has overtaken the we"About Mike DesjardinsMike Desjardins is CEO at ViRTUS, where he drives strategy, growth, and vision. With a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC's Sauder School of Business, a CPHR designation, and over two decades of experience transforming businesses, Mike is a master in strategy and leadership development.From entrepreneurial businesses to large public companies and public-sector organisations, Mike focuses on driving return on investment in every client engagement. He is passionate about leveraging his team to co-create ViRTUS's future vision and using ViRTUS as his vehicle to empower leaders both within the company and among their clients.Mike has been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organisation (EO) since 2002 and served as President of the Vancouver Chapter. He received the Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 Award in 2006 and served on the Board of Directors for CPHR BC from 2010-2016.Connect with Mike Desjardins: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedesjardins/ Website: https://www.virtusinc.com/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1i7yNzzuOnFa3CRf0Oynsf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtus.inc/ About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organisations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organisations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Mark Fitzgibbon, retired CEO and Managing Director of nib Group, who transformed a regional mutual health fund into Australia's fourth largest private health insurer and an ASX 100 company over 22 years. From local government reform to reshaping the clubs industry to building a healthcare empire, Mark shares profound insights on systematic transformation, critical thinking cultures, and why consistent outperformance requires discipline, not just vision. Discover how one leader's methodology works across completely different industries and why questioning everything becomes the foundation for lasting success.Ready to master the systematic approach to capturing transformation wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the three-sector transformation journey 07:18 Why transformation begins with replacing the senior management team 14:52 The "steel pipes moment" and keeping organisations focused on purpose 22:36 Building critical thinking cultures through psychological safety 29:44 The business model challenge method that drives consistent outperformance 37:22 Multi-sector validation and why the same principles work everywhere 44:18 Seeking outlier views over consensus thinking 51:33 The wisdom versus theory tension and staying intellectually curious 58:06 Post-executive reflections on 22 years of sustained transformationAbout Mark FitzgibbonMark Fitzgibbon is the retired CEO and Managing Director of nib Group, where he led the organisation from 2002 to 2025.  During his tenure, nib grew from a smaller regionally-based mutual health fund to Australia's fourth largest private health insurer. In 2007, nib listed on the ASX, rising to become an ASX 100 company with a portfolio of healthcare businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Today, nib covers or supports approximately 2 million people.Mark is well known for his progressive and entrepreneurial approach. nib has a long track record of challenging business models and innovation. Mark began his career in local government, culminating in leading three significant Councils in NSW. He was subsequently recruited as Chief Executive Officer at Clubs NSW and Clubs Australia, where he led an agenda of modernisation and developed responsible gambling practices across the sector.Mark holds an MBA (UTS), MA (MGSM), has attended Harvard Business School and INSEAD, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is now pursuing a post-executive coaching career, sharing his systematic transformation wisdom with leaders navigating complex change.Connect with Mark Fitzgibbon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzgibbon-3754504/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organisations, recognising that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organisations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now:https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Dr. Katherine Hunt,  global leader in financial services ethics and founder of Ardentura Consulting. Katherine shares profound insights on why ethical frameworks drive growth faster than marketing budgets, how psychology explains why some businesses naturally attract talent and clients, and the customized decision-making systems that help companies double revenue while doubling profit. Discover why compliance and ethics are completely different animals, how to turn values into scalable systems, and the frameworks Fortune 500 companies pay millions to understand.Ready to master the systematic approach to building ethical frameworks? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Katherine's journey from academic to ethics practitioner08:15 Why ethics is "purely social" and what that means for growth16:42 The fundamental difference between compliance and ethical frameworks24:28 How Katherine's psychology background revealed the hidden drivers of referrals32:15 The customized ethical decision-making framework methodology40:36 Why staff retention is about purpose alignment, not compensation48:52 Client psychology principles that create automatic referrals56:18 How ethical frameworks multiply everything else you're doing well64:07 The AI multiplier effect and why ethical clarity matters more now72:44 Building ethical frameworks that scale from startup to enterpriseAbout Dr. Katherine HuntDr. Katherine Hunt is the founder and Managing Director of Ardentura Consulting and has been the global leader in financial services ethics for 11 years. She combines expertise in ethics with psychology to lead global growth projects with real-world impact. As Australia's most engaging speaker on ethics, Katherine has spoken in 15+ countries and has coached businesses since 2007.Katherine holds a PhD in Law and Economics, a Bachelor of Psychological Science, a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Planning, and First Class Honours in Finance. She is an award-winning financial planner, a former tenured academic at Griffith University (8 years), author of two ethics textbooks, and a published researcher with 130+ citations across 20+ research papers.Katherine's focus is on helping practices achieve ethical growth through customized decision-making frameworks, combining two decades of business experience with academic rigor. Her clients consistently achieve doubled revenue, doubled profit, better staff retention, and stronger brand visibility through systematic ethical approaches.Connect with Dr. Katherine Hunt:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatherinehunt/Twitter: https://x.com/katherinehuntWebsite: https://www.ardentura.com/ About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Jim Garrison, founder of Ubiquity University and co-founder of the State of the World Forum alongside Mikhail Gorbachev. Jim shares profound insights on why the next five years represent the most consequential period in human history, how wisdom begins as an act of rebellion, and why humanity must learn to integrate four intelligences simultaneously - human, nature, artificial, and cosmic. Discover why questions equalize people while answers subordinate them, and how living large enough to meet this civilizational moment requires the soul to expand, not the ego.Ready to master the systematic approach to capturing transformational wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the childhood moment that cracked open Jim's cosmic egg04:50 Why wisdom begins as an act of rebellion and Plato's allegory of the cave11:00 The skill of transformation: living your truth vs trying to convince people14:30 Thinking in civilization timeframes and the four levels of collapse happening now24:30 Co-founding the State of the World Forum with Mikhail Gorbachev31:00 The four fundamental data points and the multi-intelligence revolution framework44:30 Why 2025-2030 is the most consequential time in human history49:00 Questions equalize people, answers subordinate them - why Plato wrote dialogues54:00 Living in great moments: Buddha, Jesus, and recognizing we're in one right now01:00:00 Meeting the moment without ego - when the soul expands to serve the futureAbout Jim GarrisonJim Garrison is a visionary scholar, social activist, and founder of Ubiquity University, a global learning institution devoted to transforming education and fostering the evolution of human consciousness. His journey spans more than five decades of leadership in international relations, sustainability, and transformative learning.He co-founded the State of the World Forum alongside Mikhail Gorbachev, pioneering new forms of global collaboration through citizen diplomacy. He's dedicated his life to addressing what he calls the civilization challenges of our time: climate change, nuclear risk, and the transformation of human awareness.At the heart of Jim's work lies a simple yet profound idea - lasting change begins in consciousness. He's become one of the world's leading voices on how wisdom, education, and systems thinking can shift patterns of transformation and reveal how civilizations and people within them can evolve.Connect with Jim Garrison:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-garrison-4b414163/State of the World Forum: https://stateoftheworld.forumAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Todd White, CEO of Rescue Mission Alliance and former President, COO, and CFO of Barna Group. With over 30 years of diverse leadership experience spanning startups, Fortune 500s, and faith-based organizations, Todd reveals why celebrating uncertainty beats chasing certainty, how to direct high performers without killing their genius, and the framework for integrating authentic purpose with aggressive business goals. Discover how to build organizations that don't just survive complexity but use it as competitive fuel, and why the best leaders embed their thinking into organizational DNA rather than keeping it locked in their heads.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Todd's transition from for-profit to nonprofit leadership 02:20 Defining true entrepreneurialism: The love of solving complex problems 06:20 Why real solutions are transportable across departments and divisions07:00 Business basics: Starting with stewardship of money, time, resources, and people 11:40 Why your life as a leader becomes a promise to others 14:00 THE 100-DAY FRAMEWORK - Building the visual model live 14:20 The three levers: Revenue, cost controls, and efficiency16:00 Turning over rocks to find gold (not just hunting for problems) 17:30 The four quadrants: Foundation, Reach, Gold, and Priorities23:00 Which quadrant to start with (and why reach comes first) 28:00 The AdCheck story: When tactics change but strategy remains valuable 30:00 Strategy is context and relevance; tactics are concepts 32:00 The Patterson StratOp process and strategic planning 36:00 Scale for contribution vs. scale for commerce 42:00 The power of collaboration over competition 43:00 Culture is a feature; character is the benefit 46:00 Common sense isn't common: The book Todd started writing About Todd WhiteTodd White brings over 30 years of diverse leadership experience to his role as CEO of Rescue Mission Alliance. He most recently served as President, COO and CFO of Barna Group, a Christian research organization that provides data on the trends affecting faith and culture, for more than 10 years.Throughout his career, Todd has held senior leadership positions at various organizations, including serving as CFO and VP of Finance at Gospel Light Publications and as co-founder and President of AdCheck, Inc., a marketing and media company. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from California Lutheran University, and an MBA with an emphasis in Strategy and Economics from the New York Institute of Technology.Todd describes himself as "entrepreneurial-minded," which means he celebrates uncertainty, strives for growth, never stops learning, is always curious, asks tough questions and thoroughly enjoys solving complex problems.Connect with Todd WhiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddawhite/ Twitter: https://x.com/tawhite67?lang=en Rescue Mission Alliance: https://www.erescuemission.org/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs!Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact.Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Matthew Pollard, founder of Rapid Growth and bestselling author of The Introvert's Edge series. From struggling with a visual processing disorder and severe introversion to building five multimillion-dollar businesses before age 30, Matthew reveals how systematic approaches consistently outperform natural talent in every commercial context where outcomes matter. Discover why disadvantages force innovation, how practice creates authenticity, and the critical distinction between hustle alone and hustle within strategic frameworks.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to codify your genius into systematic frameworks: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the power of systematic thinking over natural ability04:32 The visual processing challenge that forced systematic problem-solving09:18 Why introversion became a competitive advantage in sales15:44 From commission-only sales to the number one performer in six weeks21:56 The Leonardo DiCaprio principle: practice creates authentic delivery28:12 How to convert intuitive expertise into teachable frameworks34:08 Why small, agile operations with strong systems outmaneuver larger competitors40:25 The critical insight: you're one tiny skill away from success46:33 Hustle with great strategy versus hustle without direction52:47 Rapid-fire questions and final wisdomAbout Matthew PollardKnown as the Rapid Growth guy, Matthew Pollard is responsible for five multimillion-dollar business success stories, all before the age of 30. His humble beginnings, the adversities he faced, and his epic rise to success demonstrate that anyone, with the right strategies and systematic approach, can achieve extraordinary outcomes.Today, Forbes calls him "the real deal," Global Gurus lists him as a Top 30 Sales Professional, SellingPower Magazine named him their 2023 Sales Kickoff Speaker of the Year, Sales World Magazine lists him as a Top 50 Speaker, and BigSpeak highlights him as an international Top 10 Sales Trainer.He's also the founder of Introvertu.com and the bestselling author of The Introvert's Edge book series, which has sold over 100,000 copies and been translated into 15 languages.With over a decade of experience coaching 3,500+ businesses on rapid growth methodology, Matthew brings a unique perspective to the intersection of systematic process design and commercial strategy. His approach combines rigorous framework development with practical implementation to create solutions that work regardless of natural talent or personality type.Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Matthew represents a new generation of business coaches who are leveraging systematic thinking to challenge the conventional wisdom that success requires extroversion, natural charisma, or innate sales ability.Connect with Matthew PollardLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpollardspeaker/Personal Website: https://matthewpollard.com/Facebook: https://facebook.com/MatthewPollardSpeakerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewpollardspeaker/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewpollardTwitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewPollard_About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Bernie Brookes AM, Order of Australia recipient and Australian Retail Hall of Fame inductee, whose 40-year career has shaped the retail landscape across four continents. From architecting Woolworths' $5+ billion Project Refresh to transforming Myer under new ownership and turning around South Africa's largest non-food retailer, Bernie reveals the systematic approach to business transformation that most leaders overlook. Discover why the best turnaround strategies already exist inside your organization and how focus groups with your own people can unlock billion-dollar insights.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction to Bernie Brookes and his transformation philosophy 05:42 The overlooked power of focus groups in business turnarounds 12:18 Why broken companies already know what's wrong - and how to extract that wisdom 18:29 Building fact-based reality through staff, supplier, and customer insights 24:17 The PMO framework - structuring leadership accountability for transformation 31:45 Communication strategies that turn resistance into momentum 37:23 "Talk to your horse" - multi-channel communication for organizational change 43:56 International expansion lessons from India, China, and South Africa 51:12 The truth principle - why transparency accelerates transformation 58:37 Leadership philosophy and the intersection of people and performanceAbout Bernie Brookes AMBernie Brookes is a Managing Director and CEO with over 40 years of expertise in retail transformation and turnaround excellence. His career spans four continents, leading some of the world's most complex business transformations, including Woolworths' $5+ billion Project Refresh, Myer's complete carve-out and rebuilding under new ownership, and the dramatic turnaround of South Africa's largest non-food retailer.As an Order of Australia recipient, Australian Retail Hall of Fame inductee, and UN 'He for She' ambassador, Bernie combines business acumen with a philosophy of truth and entrepreneurship that has transformed industries across Australia, India, China, and South Africa.Currently serving on multiple boards, including CEO Institute Chair since 2018, and advising private equity firms, Bernie represents the intersection of systematic business transformation and principled leadership that defines the next generation of global business excellence.Connect with BernieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-brookes-am-13570b11a/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Peter Ritchie, the first McDonald's employee outside North America, who transformed a struggling franchise concept into Australia's most respected employer brand. From building systematic training programs that developed 50,000+ careers to expanding across Asia-Pacific and serving on major corporate boards, Peter shares profound insights on leadership development, systematic excellence, and the art of building sustainable business systems. Discover why "the salvation is in the numbers" and how systematic people development becomes the ultimate competitive advantage.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the adventure that launched a franchise empire 07:32 Building systems from scratch - why McDonald's invested in training over marketing 15:47 "The salvation is in the numbers" - people math versus financial math 22:15 The seven-year test - persistence through initial challenges and losses 28:03 International expansion wisdom - commit to local managers and give them responsibility 34:18 Leadership instinct versus learned skills - sporting background meets business 41:26 Why hiring from within beats recruiting experienced managers 48:33 The training philosophy that made McDonald's Australia's best first job55:41 Board experience and bringing McDonald's excellence to other organizations 62:19 Details, structure, and tracking - the foundation of systematic excellence 68:45 Building leaders who build leaders - confidence development at scaleAbout Peter RitchiePeter Ritchie was the first employee of McDonald's Australia and the first employee of the McDonald's system outside North America. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played a major role in every aspect of the company's development, from establishing raw product suppliers to constructing new stores and developing comprehensive training programs. McDonald's Australia grew to more than 500 stores and 50,000 employees during his time as Chief Executive.Peter helped establish McDonald's in most countries across Asia and the Pacific, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Zealand, serving as a founding Board Member for several of these operations. He has served on the boards of numerous listed and unlisted companies, including Westpac Banking Corporation, Seven Group Holdings Limited, and Golf Australia.In 2003, Peter was honored with an Order of Australia award for service to business, education, and industry development. In 2013, he received a Doctor of Business degree from The University of New South Wales in recognition of his eminent service to the community.Connect with Peter Ritchie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ritchie-3719b574/Book: The Magic of McDonald’sAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass