

15 Minutes with the Boss
The Australian Financial Review
15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country.
Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.
Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.
Episodes
Mentioned books

9 snips
Sep 1, 2025 • 18min
This chef went broke at 35. Now he’s one of hospitality’s biggest stars
Join celebrity chef Luke Mangan, an influential restaurateur in Australia with nine venues and five cookbooks to his name, as he discusses his remarkable journey through the culinary world. He shares the importance of resilience, revealing how he transformed setbacks into success and advocates for positive leadership and inclusivity in kitchens. Luke also reflects on morning routines that fuel creativity and the importance of detail in dining, emphasizing the need for adaptability and customer feedback in the ever-evolving restaurant landscape.

16 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 20min
Kellie Hush: Never take your eye off the customer and the surprising benefits of mixing sport with fashion
Kellie Hush, the Chief Executive of Australian Fashion Week and co-founder of The Volte, shares insights drawn from her dynamic career in fashion journalism. She reflects on how her former boss inspired her ambition and the optimism that guides her leadership. Kellie amusingly discusses her preference for soccer boots over spreadsheets, highlighting the importance of aligning brand vision with customer aspirations. The conversation also touches on the mixing of sports and fashion, showcasing how diverse interests can enrich one's professional journey.

Aug 18, 2025 • 19min
Simon Banks: How to gain mindfulness from manual work and why leadership requires both the head and heart
Simon Banks, Managing Director of PayPal Australia, leads with a unique blend of intellect and empathy. He shares how manual work helps reset his mind and enhances mindfulness. Simon discusses the necessity of accountability in leadership, emphasizing transparency for team growth. Reflecting on the challenges of expanding a FinTech startup, he highlights the resilience needed in setbacks while maintaining personal passions. His insights on blending emotional engagement with professional responsibilities offer a refreshing perspective on effective leadership.

Aug 11, 2025 • 20min
Christelle Young: Radical transparency and a daily matcha ritual
Editor of BOSS Sally Patten sits down with Christelle Young, the managing director of T2 in Australia, to talk about the importance of being honest with staff, what she learnt from a 10-day silence retreat and why matcha tea is taking the world by storm. This podcast is sponsored by PGIMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 snips
Aug 4, 2025 • 19min
Chris Andrews: Why you should stay in your current job longer and the question that removes ego from the room
Chris Andrews, chief executive of LaTrobe Financial, shares career insights rooted in commitment and patience. He argues that staying in one job longer fosters deep expertise and relationships, essential for professional growth. Morning routines and resilience from his athletic background shape his leadership style. Andrews reveals a powerful question he's introduced in meetings to minimize ego and encourage accountability. He also examines the role of technology in enhancing career paths and productivity in Australia.

Jul 28, 2025 • 19min
Dr Toni Meath: When 'Plan B' eclipses 'Plan A' and the secret powers of an introvert
Dr. Toni Meath, Principal and CEO of Melbourne Girls Grammar, shares her remarkable journey from crisis to empowerment after a personal upheaval led her to redefine success. She explores the advantages of introversion as her superpower, enhancing her analytical skills and strategic thinking. Toni emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, the challenges of leadership, and the value of nurturing supportive networks. Her insights encourage listeners to embrace their unique strengths and find optimism in personal growth.

16 snips
Jul 21, 2025 • 19min
Graham Kittle: Recovering from burnout, building networks and getting up at 4:30am
Graham Kittle, Managing Partner of Heidrick & Struggles in Australia, opens up about how burnout unexpectedly led him to his dream job. He emphasizes the power of early mornings for productivity, mixing in his routine of coffee and surfing. Kittle shares transformative insights from navigating burnout through mentorship and the importance of strong professional networks. He highlights creativity through street photography as a tool for leadership and discusses how AI can enhance professional efficiency while advocating for resilience during tough career challenges.

18 snips
Jul 14, 2025 • 18min
Arnie Selvarajah: The best (last) question to ask and how to generate high value ideas.
Arnie Selvarajah, Co-CEO of Bell Financial Group, shares valuable insights on the importance of group success over individual accolades. He emphasizes the power of asking the right questions to gain a comprehensive view of any situation. Arnie also dives into his dynamic morning routine and pivotal career shifts that shaped his leadership philosophy. He advocates for collaboration and effective communication in navigating complexities, highlighting how thoughtful incentives can drive both individual and team achievements.

24 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 19min
Lou Oppenheim: How data stories drive decisions, changing entertainment patterns & the joy of seeing staff flourish
Lou Oppenheim, Executive Director of the Sydney Dance Company, transitioned from computational linguistics to the arts, merging data with creativity. She discusses how data reveals human stories and influences her decisions. Lou shares her joy in watching her staff thrive and highlights the shift in social dynamics in entertainment post-COVID-19. With a nod to her love for jazz singing, she emphasizes the emotional connections that drive both art and community engagement.

19 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 19min
Ed Chung: The 7 year shift, the AI question you need to ask and how to dominate your diary.
Ed Chung, Chief Executive of Technology One, shares insights on company transformations every seven years to adapt and thrive. He delves into how personal and professional reinvention is essential in the tech industry, shaped by pivotal career moments. Chung discusses mastering productivity while remaining flexible with your schedule. He also highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need to define problems before seeking AI solutions, drawing parallels with the shift to cloud computing.