In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with James Chisholm, co-founder of Peeplcoach, for a conversation that goes well beyond traditional leadership advice.

James shares his journey from leading in a global corporate environment to experiencing a mental health breakdown that forced him to step back and reassess everything. What emerges is not a story of failure, but one of clarity. A shift from chasing results at all costs to building leadership that is human, sustainable and grounded in purpose.

We talk about the reality many leaders don’t speak about. Burnout that goes unnoticed. Cultures where people stay silent. And the pressure to perform that quietly ties self-worth to outcomes.

James challenges the way we think about resilience. Not as pushing through at any cost, but as self-management. Knowing when to step forward, when to slow down, and when to ask for help.

We also explore what leadership needs to look like now. Empathy not as a soft skill, but a commercial one. Coaching not reserved for executives, but essential for emerging leaders. And the growing expectation that people can show up as themselves at work without judgement.

There’s a clear message in this conversation. The old playbook is no longer enough. Human-centred leadership is not optional. It is what will define the organisations that attract, retain and grow the best people.

If you lead people, or aspire to, this is a conversation worth your time.

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What does leadership look like in a world where robots inspect our infrastructure, AI shapes our healthcare, and automation transforms entire industries?

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Dr Sue Keay, one of Australia’s leading voices in robotics, AI ethics and the future of work. Sue began her career as a geologist before moving into robotics and commercialisation, eventually leading major national initiatives in robotic vision and cyber physical systems.

We discuss Australia’s unexpected global strengths in field robotics, from automated ports to autonomous mining vehicles, and why we risk losing our competitive edge if we continue to export our best talent.

Sue shares her perspective on AI adoption in Australian workplaces, the growing divide between early adopters and those resistant to change, and why AI literacy is becoming a non-negotiable leadership capability.

We also explore ethical accountability in AI systems, the importance of keeping humans in the loop, and how robotics can support climate resilience, disaster response and personalised healthcare.

And in a powerful discussion on diversity in STEM, Sue speaks candidly about structural barriers for women in technology and why future systems must be shaped by diverse voices.

Her three words for a future fit leader? Curious, kind and authentic.

This is a practical, forward-looking conversation for leaders navigating rapid technological change and wanting to stay ahead of what’s coming next.

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