The Dynamic Leader Podcast

In this episode, I speak with Jenny Brockis, a Board-Certified Medicine Practitioner and workplace health and leadership consultant, about her book The Natural Advantage and the profound benefits of reconnecting with nature. Jenny works with business leaders, professionals and individuals to inspire positive lifestyle changes that enhance health and wellbeing. We discuss how spending more time outdoors can reduce stress, improve overall health and boost social connections. Jenny highlights the evolutionary bond humans share with nature and the negative impacts of urban living, such as stress, irritability, poor sleep and diminished happiness. She shares practical ways to overcome nature deficiency, no matter our location and explains how nature can transform both body and mind, leading to a richer, more fulfilling life. Grab a copy of Julie's books: https://drjennybrockis.com/shop-2/ Connect with Julie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjennybrockis/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley shop: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

In today’s episode, Shelley welcomes internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and business philosopher Anders Indset to discuss creating a high-performance team culture. A Norwegian-born author of multiple Spiegel bestsellers, deep tech investor and former elite athlete, Anders brings a unique perspective on the intersection of leadership, philosophy and exponential technologies. He argues that in an era of almost unlimited access to knowledge, the ability to anticipate future scenarios, foster deeper understanding and cultivate interpersonal skills has become essential for executives. Shelley and Anders explore the shift from traditional management frameworks to navigating a world shaped by AI and rapid technological growth, where understanding ethics, philosophy and the paradoxes of human thought are crucial for effective leadership. Grab a copy of Anders book: https://andersindset.com/books/ Connect with Anders: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersindset/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In 2025, Shelley’s key focus is sustainability, acknowledging its theoretical simplicity but practical complexity. Sustainability is deeply personal, with no universal approach, as it involves navigating numerous variables to find a balance that aligns with one’s values. Shelley encourages starting by answering a profound question: “What do I truly want for myself?” By imagining life without barriers or constraints, one can identify their genuine desires and vision for an all-encompassing life. Shelley highlights the importance of focusing on what you do want, rather than what you don’t, reinforcing the idea that “energy flows where attention goes.” By aligning your attention with your goals, you can create relevance and connection in your efforts, paving the way toward a more sustainable and fulfilling life. Grab a copy of Shelley's book: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

After a challenging 2023, where Shelley felt like she lost her flow as a business owner, it was a slow start to 2024. It took a few months to regain her rhythm, but surrounding herself with the right people helped her navigate those difficult moments. Now, as Shelley approaches the milestone of her 10th year in business, she shares the lessons and insights she's gained along the way. Shelley draws an interesting comparison between life as a business leader and life as a parent—both filled with learning curves, challenges and growth. Joining her in this reflection is her 9-year-old daughter, Eva. Together, they share their experiences from the past year — Shelley as a business leader and mum and Eva as a grade 3 student navigating her own set of challenges. Tune in as Shelley and Eva offer a heart warming and honest look at what life has been like in their home throughout 2024, highlighting what it’s like to be strong and kind and the resilience, lessons and love that carry them forward. Grab a copy of Shelley's books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop/books Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In this episode, Shelley speaks with Genevieve Hawkins, a commercial collaboration executive, business advisor and author of Shrinking Elephants, about navigating workplace conflict. While conflict is often associated with hostility and threats, Genevieve highlights the pervasive issue of "quiet conflict," where unresolved tensions like frustration, irritation and annoyance silently fester in organisations. Fear of repercussions often prevents employees from addressing these issues, leading to a toxic work environment. Genevieve emphasises the importance of pausing to reflect on our perceptions, questioning the stories we tell ourselves about a situation or person and approaching conflicts with curiosity. She shares foundational skills for addressing conflict in the moment, focusing on building trust and fostering open, constructive conversations. Grab a copy of Genevieve's book: https://genevievehawkins.com.au/shrinking-elephants-book/ Connect with Genevieve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevievehawkins/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In this episode, Shelley is joined by Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-founder of Shilo, a leading HR and consultancy firm. With over 25 years of experience in human resources, transformation and change, Ilona is on a mission to redefine the HR profession by aligning it more closely with strategic business objectives. Together, Shelley and Ilona explore the historical evolution of HR and the persistent perception of the function as primarily process driven. They discuss the critical shift needed for HR to move from a "doing" role to one of strategic enablement, empowering leaders to take ownership of their teams’ performance and unlocking the full potential of an organisation’s workforce. Connect with Ilona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilonacharles/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In this conversation, Shelley speaks with Shivani Gupta, a trailblazing electrical engineer turned entrepreneur and educator, about passion and attracting and retaining the right people. Drawing from her experience scaling businesses to $5 million valuations and mentoring over 250 companies, Shivani emphasises the power of aligning passion with discipline. Inspired by the mentorship of her father and grandfather, both electrical engineers, Shivani advocates for equal opportunities and the pursuit of mastery. She believes passion must go beyond fleeting enthusiasm, requiring sustained effort over 6-12 months to create purpose and leave a lasting impact on others. Grab a copy of Shivani's book: https://www.askshivani.com/author Connect with Shivani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askshivani/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In this conversation, Shelley and Fran Southward, CEO of Auscontact, explore the theme Leading with Impact: Elevating Performance and Customer Excellence, emphasising that impactful leadership is vital for empowering teams to achieve remarkable results. They discuss the importance of creating a workplace where everyone thrives, positively influencing the organisational value proposition and how this translates through to communities and the common misconception that leaders cannot balance strength with kindness, asserting that many outstanding leaders excel by leading from a place of joy, generosity and kindness . They highlight the importance of emotional intelligence, self-awareness and recognising that leadership should not be about personal control but fostering others' growth in impactful ways and that overcoming leadership challenges, and letting go of rigid perceptions will allow an authentic leadership style. Connect with Fran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-southward-82455b49/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

In this episode, Shelley is joined by her sister, Narelle Burke, an award-winning international HR leader, and her son Riley, who has recently turned 13, to discuss the current state of Generative AI. They explore where we are with AI, how we should be using it, whether we’re behind in its adoption and what its future looks like. Narelle brings her extensive experience in strategic HR and business partnering to the conversation, while Riley offers a perspective from the younger generation, who are already engaging with AI in unique ways. Together, they discuss how AI is transforming the workplace, how people are starting to use it intentionally to save time and effort and the risks of relying on AI-generated outputs without fully understanding how it works or what it’s teaching. Connect with Narelle:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/narelleburke/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠

Today, we explore leadership with retired Australian airline captain and author Chris Smith, known for his book Leadership at 43,000 Feet. With decades of senior experience in aviation, now a senior lecturer and aviation counsellor, Chris advocates globally for engagement and mental health in organisations. He draws compelling parallels between piloting and team management, highlighting humility as a leader's "superpower." In aviation, it’s not about titles but specialist knowledge—no one can be an expert in every field. Genuine humility encourages openness, reducing the hierarchy that often stifles growth. Shelley and Chris discuss the paradox of humility in leadership, where leaders frequently trade it for strength, courage and ego, especially as they advance in their roles. He believes dropping the traditional "command and control" facade is crucial for effective leadership. Transforming culture from the ground up remains one of Chris's most rewarding aspects of leadership, fostering genuine change across the organisation. Grab a copy of Chris's book: https://www.aculturalleadership.com/store Connect with Chris: https://www.aculturalleadership.com/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠