The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal
Vidit Agarwal
The High Flyers Podcast is a global top 10% ranked show, launched in 2020.
Hosted by Vidit Agarwal, our 200+ episodes to date go beyond headlines and fluff to unpack the real journeys behind influential leaders and companies — from their earliest beginnings to the decisions, failures and inflection points that shaped how they think, lead and build.
Listeners often describe the show as “meticulously researched” and say “I learnt more about the guest from this episode, even after knowing them for 10+ years.”
We're proud that more than 60% of our 200+ guests have trusted us for their first-ever public interview — or to go in-depth on their personal story for the first time. These include:
➝ Malcolm Turnbull: Prime Minister of Australia
➝ Jean-Michel Limieux: CTO, Shopify and Atlassian
➝ Jason Collins: Head of BlackRock (Asia Pacific)
➝ Brad Banducci: CEO, Woolworths
➝ Anil Sabharwal: Global VP Product, Google (Built Google Photos)
➝ Elena Verna: Head of Growth, Lovable
➝ Stevie Case: Chief Revenue Officer, Vanta
➝ John Haddock: Chief Business Officer, Harvey
➝ Michael Schneider: CEO, Bunnings
➝ Andrew Penn: CEO, Telstra
➝ Mark Suster: Partner, Upfront Ventures
➝ Bowen Pan: Creator, Facebook Marketplace
➝ Craig Tiley: CEO, Tennis Australia
➝ Peter Varghese: "One of Australia’s most influential architects of foreign policy"
➝ Ben Thompson: Co-Founder & CEO, Employment Hero
➝ Sweta Mehra: Executive GM, NAB; Ex CMO, ANZ Bank
➝ Niki Scevak, Partner, Blackbird
➝ Paul Bassat: Partner, Square Peg
➝ Trent Cotchin: 3x Premiership Winning Captain, Richmond FC
➝ Jack Zhang: Co-Founder & CEO, Airwallex
➝ Holly Kramer: Board Director, Woolworths & ANZ
➝ Sam Sicilia: Chief Investment Officer, Hostplus
➝ Ahmed Fahour: CEO, Citi, NAB & Australia Post
➝ Andrey Khusid: CEO & Co-Founder, Miro
➝ Bill Bartee: Co-Founder Blackbird + Main Sequence
➝ Rod Hamilton: Chief Product Officer, Culture Amp
➝ Brendan Hargreaves: CFO, Officeworks
➝ Simon Baume: COO, Eucalyptus
➝ Osher Gunsberg: Renowned TV personality
➝ Lisa Sthalekar: 4x Cricket World Cup Winner and ICC Hall of Fame Member
Contact us via:
Email: contact@curiositycentre.com
Website: https://highflyerspodcast.com
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/vidags10
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viditag/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehighflyerspodcast/
Hosted by Vidit Agarwal, our 200+ episodes to date go beyond headlines and fluff to unpack the real journeys behind influential leaders and companies — from their earliest beginnings to the decisions, failures and inflection points that shaped how they think, lead and build.
Listeners often describe the show as “meticulously researched” and say “I learnt more about the guest from this episode, even after knowing them for 10+ years.”
We're proud that more than 60% of our 200+ guests have trusted us for their first-ever public interview — or to go in-depth on their personal story for the first time. These include:
➝ Malcolm Turnbull: Prime Minister of Australia
➝ Jean-Michel Limieux: CTO, Shopify and Atlassian
➝ Jason Collins: Head of BlackRock (Asia Pacific)
➝ Brad Banducci: CEO, Woolworths
➝ Anil Sabharwal: Global VP Product, Google (Built Google Photos)
➝ Elena Verna: Head of Growth, Lovable
➝ Stevie Case: Chief Revenue Officer, Vanta
➝ John Haddock: Chief Business Officer, Harvey
➝ Michael Schneider: CEO, Bunnings
➝ Andrew Penn: CEO, Telstra
➝ Mark Suster: Partner, Upfront Ventures
➝ Bowen Pan: Creator, Facebook Marketplace
➝ Craig Tiley: CEO, Tennis Australia
➝ Peter Varghese: "One of Australia’s most influential architects of foreign policy"
➝ Ben Thompson: Co-Founder & CEO, Employment Hero
➝ Sweta Mehra: Executive GM, NAB; Ex CMO, ANZ Bank
➝ Niki Scevak, Partner, Blackbird
➝ Paul Bassat: Partner, Square Peg
➝ Trent Cotchin: 3x Premiership Winning Captain, Richmond FC
➝ Jack Zhang: Co-Founder & CEO, Airwallex
➝ Holly Kramer: Board Director, Woolworths & ANZ
➝ Sam Sicilia: Chief Investment Officer, Hostplus
➝ Ahmed Fahour: CEO, Citi, NAB & Australia Post
➝ Andrey Khusid: CEO & Co-Founder, Miro
➝ Bill Bartee: Co-Founder Blackbird + Main Sequence
➝ Rod Hamilton: Chief Product Officer, Culture Amp
➝ Brendan Hargreaves: CFO, Officeworks
➝ Simon Baume: COO, Eucalyptus
➝ Osher Gunsberg: Renowned TV personality
➝ Lisa Sthalekar: 4x Cricket World Cup Winner and ICC Hall of Fame Member
Contact us via:
Email: contact@curiositycentre.com
Website: https://highflyerspodcast.com
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/vidags10
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viditag/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehighflyerspodcast/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 12, 2022 • 60min
#108 Rowan Simpson (Rare Public Interview): NZ lifestyle, high flyer teachers, scaling success stories in Trade Me + Xero from early days, investing, ambition & more
In this episode #108 w Rowan Simpson, learn about:sunrise in NZ with fond memories of his high school teachers, the real high flyers in societydeep love for sport and being the first in his extended family to attend university.value of ambition in the New Zealand context nd love rowan’s framing of working towards being the “biggest small country in the world"Life changing experiences in early stage tech companies, first Trade Me and then Xerohow the financial success led to creating his family office, Hokuhow wins should be celebratedchips on our shoulderconnection of sport and fast growth startupsgrandparent mindset for investorsre-defining balance and more!Rowan's essay on "world class" is worth a read (here)It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Oct 9, 2022 • 1h 2min
Stew Glynn: Early years in Zimbabwe, Big transition from corporate to family office + meeting Steve Baxter, inside how Ten13 invests in emerging markets of Africa + Columbia
In this episode #107 w Stew Glynn, learn about:Sunrise in Harare, Zimbabwe with political and economic instabilityFun Fact: the peak inflation in Zimbabwe in 2008 was at 230 million percent, incredible! Influences of seeing his entrepreneurial dad run various businesseswhat led to him attending university in AustraliaIntroduction into the tech world first at GE and then KPMGReflections on the transition from KPMG to co-founding a family officeInside how we met Steve Baxter (of Shark Tank fame)How they built out the brand and business in Ten13economics of operating a syndicate modelwhat led to them investing in international markets like Africa and Columbia with a number of successful startups in their portfolioIt’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Oct 3, 2022 • 45min
Investment memo: "COVIU", the all-in-one virtual care engagement platform for better care + creating the video caption function for YouTube!
Today, we're joined by with Silvia Pfeiffer, the co-founder and CEO of COVIU, the all in one virtual care engagement platform for better healthcare. Learn about Silvia’s fascinating journey to date, from Germany to moving to Australia at the turn of the century, studying a PHD in computer science, how she was involved in bringing video technology to the web through her first startup Vequence and then working on video caption functionality for YouTube. All these rich experiences and learnings led Silvia to create COVIU, the success HealthTech business she now leads with over 50 team members in Australia and the US. I asked her about the problem they’re solving, their business model, overcoming physical examination barriers, successful virtual care platforms and more.It’s time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy! ***Find out more about Curiosity Center, including 100+ episodes at www.curiositycenter.xyz Find out more about COVIU at https://www.coviu.com/Share your feedback and discuss sponsorship opportunities with us by directly emailing vidit@curiositycenter.xyzFollow the show on Linkedin / Instagram / Twitter
Sep 28, 2022 • 1h 5min
#105 Simon Cant: Balancing creative and academic side, Co-founding Reinventure at age 45 and why it's never too late to start + being early investors in Coinbase & Immutable!
In this episode #105 w Simon Cant, learn about:Sunrise in Sydney when it didn’t have the big city nature it does todayInfluences of Mum (sociology lecturer) and dad (Qantas pilot)Personal tension between academic and creative side growing upThe family connection to Law, romanticised it and realised it wasn’t for him after working in it for a few yearsPainful learning after his time at social ventures including family challengesStarted Reinventure when he was 45, big lesson that life can take many paths Becoming spiritual and finding peace, know thy selfHow did the Coinbase (one of the most prominent crypto companies) investment happen? Being first Australian investors in ImmutableIt’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Sep 20, 2022 • 1h 4min
Michael Overell: Nuclear family sunrise, learnings building startup for 8 yrs, growth @ Lyft + ClassDojo & more!
In this episode #104 w Michael Overell, learn about:Sunrise in Brisbane, Australia with 3 younger sistersInfluences of Mum, an English teacher and Dad, an accountantDesire to play rugby professionally and source of ambitionHow he left Mckinsey to create his startup, RecruitLoopReflecting on his own founder journey having to step away from RecruitLoop after 8 yearsMoving from Sydney to San FransiscoHow he joined Lyft and now ClassDojoWhat it means to be high performing and successful at a fast growing tech companyForming the angel syndicate, Antipodes with an all star castWhy he didn't get Jetlag till he was 30 and more!It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Sep 7, 2022 • 1h 5min
Jeanette Cheah: Global upbringing and asian heritage + inside how they're bringing fun innovation education for the next gen at HEX!
In this episode #103 w Jeanette Cheah, learn about:Her global upbringing, born in Hawaii and then Japan before settling down in MelbourneChinese and Malaysian heritageHow seeing her parents, with mum an accountant and dad an economist made education the cornerstone of her early yearsStarting career in the banking sector and then realising she didn’t want to play by those rulesHow HEX started with trade missions to san Fransisco with a group of students from AustraliaBeing 3 days away from travelling to Austin, Texas on a big program and the borders shut down when COVID hit in 2020Raising money from investorsFunding challenges for female foundersCurrent economic climate + stay tuned for some very cool info about Jeanette’s assistant and more! It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via OUR WEBSITE or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Sep 2, 2022 • 37min
Investment memo: "CoLab", announcing the merger of restaurant ready meals and 1500+ gourmet pantry products!
Explore your curiosity with Elle and Tash from the newly formed business Co-Lab which brings together restaurant made ready meals and a selection over 1500 pantry products straight to your home! Learn about how a Linkedin message from Tash started this relationship and eventual acquisition, why this made complete sene, how they scaled their business through the pandemic and a deep dive into the acquisition process, biggest surprises and exciting things in the works including same day delivery.It’s time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Find out more about Curiosity Center, including 100+ episodes at www.curiositycenter.xyz Find out more about CoLab at https://www.colab.com.au/Share your feedback and discuss sponsorship opportunities with us by directly emailing vidit@curiositycenter.xyzFollow the show on Linkedin / Instagram / Twitter
Aug 29, 2022 • 1h
Rachel Yang: Youngest of 3 sisters, career changing work w indigenous community & inside building Giant Leap, first 100% impact VC in Aus!
In this episode #101 w Rachel Yang, learn about:Sunrise in Melbourne being the youngest of 3 sisters, being raised by her mum and securing a scholarship to attend a private schoolAsian heritage and how Rachel’s become closer to it with ageWorking in north east arnhem land whilst at KPMG on projects for the indigenous First Nations communityMove into Venture Capital and the connection to an acting classProgressing from associate to partner at Giant Leap, Australia’s first 100% impact focused VC fundSecond and third order effects of impact investingExamples of some startups they’ve backed: Work 180, GoTerra, Great Wrap etcOverseas inspirations to productively use capital for good It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via OUR WEBSITE or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Aug 22, 2022 • 1h 1min
Natasha Interviews Vidit about the origin story, interview process unknowns, 99 learnings, fav guest stories & a suprise!
In this episode #100, Natasha Ong (marketing associate) interviews Vidit Agarwal (Founder & Host)!We cover: Learnings from first job working at a restaurantMum’s influence and being the high flyer in my lifeHow has my perception of a high flyer changed?Society views on celebrating success and how this podcast plays a small role in re-creating thatOrigin story of the podcast and the name "The High Flyers"Personal growth through this podcast over past 2 yearsBehind the scenes of interview prep and research processHow to make guests comfortable to open upRanking in the top #20 shows in Aus, India, Hong KongWhat’s helped grow the podcast?How has the marketing evolved?Advice for budding podcastersRapid fire: Proudest achievement, Guest that surprised you, Piece of advice from a guest, What separates a great podcast, dream guests, Thank you to first believers It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via OUR WEBSITE or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
Aug 17, 2022 • 1h 10min
Michael Tolo: Rich italian heritage, transtition from law to finance & VC, Investing in deep tech founders and creating net new categories of entrepreneurship!
Michael is Principal at Blackbird VC and helps uncover & invest in founders and innovation in Synthetic biology, Embedded commerce, Compute, Healthcare and Robotics.In this episode #99, learn about:Sunrise in Melbourne having rich Italian heritage and influences, with his dad being a chemical engineer and mum starting out as a high school teacher and then becoming a financial planner and always being there for Michael and his younger brother.How speaking different languages is he perfect way to see through a clear window into a cultureHow he started his career in law and then utilised an inspiring learning path to move to finance and then into Venture Capital with Playground VC in the USA (which also has a story behind it) Specific learnings of these 3 transitions and now being back in Australia with BlackbirdWhy Deep Tech investing fascinates himDistilling misconceptions about founders in Deep Tech3 key traits to be a successful VCHow he spends his perfect day off work Michael's one strength and one weaknessIt’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via OUR WEBSITE or email Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show!
