Future Fit Leadership

Leaders are contagious. That is where Michelle McQuaid begins. In this episode we explore how a leader’s state shapes a team’s energy, focus, courage and care, and why self compassion is not a soft option but a competitive advantage. Michelle is a positive psychology expert, best-selling author and LinkedIn Top 10 mental health voice who blends evidence with lived experience. Her latest book, The Perfectly Imperfect Little Girl, unpacks how good girl conditioning still nudges women’s confidence, decisions and leadership, and offers practical ways to lead with authenticity and resilience. We talk secure attachment to self, real psychosocial safety, burnout signals, and the simple habits that steady your nervous system in seasons of change. If you want your team to think clearly and thrive under pressure, this conversation is for you. Please enjoy my exchange with Michelle McQuaid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Fox AM has spent her career asking tough questions about leadership and even tougher ones about the systems that shape it. An award-winning journalist, author, and former editor at Boss Magazine, Catherine has spent decades reporting on power, progress, and the invisible barriers that hold people back. In this conversation, she shares what she’s learned about leadership from the newsroom to the boardroom  from myths that refuse to die, to the moments that redefine what real leadership looks like. We explore the themes from her bestselling books Stop Fixing Women, Seven Myths About Women & Work, and Breaking the Boss Bias and why she believes we’re overdue for a new conversation about power, bias, and what makes a truly self-aware leader. Catherine was bought to you by Saxton Speakers  - https://www.saxton.com.au/speakers/catherine-foxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to keep your energy high, lead through change, and stay future fit in a world that never stops moving? In this conversation, Josh Phegan shares the lessons he learned from growing up surrounded by books and cassette tapes of Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy, through to becoming one of the most recognised performance coaches in our industry. We talk about confidence as a skill you can build, why feedback works best “in the car on the way back from an appointment,” and how leaders can avoid burnout by managing energy, not time. Josh also unpacks his five–step change management process, his rituals for keeping strategy front and centre, and why excellence isn’t a lofty concept but something you practice in every single moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a pineapple farm on Kubi Kubi country to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Renee Wooton’s journey is anything but ordinary. A proud First Nations aerospace engineer, leader in sustainable aviation fuel, and Boss Young Executive, Renee has faced adversity with grit, curiosity, and courage. In this conversation, she shares her story of resilience, breaking barriers in STEM, and how Indigenous wisdom is shaping her leadership philosophy today. We talk about belonging, cultural strength, sustainability, and the future of aviation. Renee’s message is clear: leadership is about staying true to your values, expanding the room for others, and building a future where people, planet, and purpose are in balance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Griffith has spent three decades helping elite athletes and hard-charging executives perform without burning out. In this conversation we unpack why stress is the quiet saboteur of leadership, and why meditation is not a fad but a recovery tool that gives you rest deeper than sleep in just 20 minutes. Steve shares how his six month holistic leadership program builds self leadership, one on one relationships, and accountable teams, and why change only sticks when it is practised, coached, and measured. We talk about the hour of power, staying above the line, integrity with yourself, and what it takes to scale wellbeing across construction sites, local councils, and fast moving real estate teams. We look ahead to a future where self awareness, values, and inner resilience are non negotiable for leaders. Forget the app. Close your eyes. Please enjoy this conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From high school entrepreneur to CEO of one of Australia’s fastest-growing companies, Scott Millar has never played by the rules. Nicknamed the “Teenage Entrepreneur” by the media, Scott turned down the traditional career path to build a business that helps organisations connect with Gen Z and future generations. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, Scott shares how curiosity, courage, and creativity have shaped his journey. We talk about why Gen Z leaders are rewriting the playbook, what it means to thrive in a world of constant change, and why the best leaders of tomorrow will be those who aren’t afraid to rewrite the rules today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you only had 4000 Sundays in your lifetime? And what if the way you work today is quietly stealing them away? In this conversation, Dr Kristy Goodwin takes us inside her own life-altering wake-up call — a moment in a Code Red hospital ward that forced her to confront burnout, mortality, and the “success tax” so many high performers pay. Kristy shares why our bodies keep score, how to stop crawling to Friday and start arriving at Sunday fully alive, and why protecting your focus, energy, and relationships is non-negotiable if you want to lead into the future. This is not just about wellbeing, it’s about the kind of leaders we choose to become — human-first, sustainable, and fiercely intentional. 🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: how many Sundays do you have left, and how do you want to spend them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Mason’s leadership journey is anything but ordinary. From touring with Paul McCartney to leading culture and transformation across global giants like Coca-Cola Amatil, Amcor, and Credit Suisse, Kate has sat at the biggest tables — and now she’s rewriting the rules of leadership with her business, Social Value. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, Kate shares powerful lessons on building diverse CEO pipelines, moving from performative to purposeful leadership, and why culture is more than words on a wall. She opens up about the personal cost of leadership, her lived experience as a lifelong carer, and the insights she brings to helping leaders balance performance with purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with heart, avoid the traps of burnout, and create real social impact — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to lead with impact when the world won’t stop changing? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Holly Ransom — author of The Leading Edge, global speaker, and one of Australia’s boldest leadership voices. Holly shares the lessons that shaped her, from her grandmother’s courage in standing up for others to the mantra that if you “walk past it, you tell the world it’s okay.” We talk about why method — not mindset — is the biggest gap in leadership, why mattering at work transforms culture, and why adaptability, courage, and curiosity will define the leaders of the future. A sharp, energising conversation with insights from Holly’s own journey and her conversations with leaders like Barack Obama and Richard Branson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if optimism wasn’t just a personal trait, but a leadership strategy? In this Spotlight episode, we’re joined by Victor Perton, founder and Chief Optimism Officer at the Centre for Optimism. Victor shares why declining optimism is one of the greatest public policy challenges of our time — and why the leaders of the future must be “magnetic optimists.” He unpacks what it means to lead with infectious energy, how optimism builds trust, resilience, and innovation, and why every CEO should be asking their teams: “What makes you optimistic?” A joyful, compelling conversation for every leader who wants to shape a better future — by starting with belief.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.