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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In this solo episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles steps into the conversation herself.

In this special International Women’s Day episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles offers a candid reflection on the 2026 theme Balance the Scale and what it means in the world we are navigating today.

For several years, Sadhana stepped back from celebrating International Women’s Day, not because progress has not been made, but because progress has not moved fast enough.

In Australia, one woman a week is killed through domestic and family violence. Women retire with significantly less superannuation than men, and older women are the fastest growing cohort experiencing homelessness.

If balance is the goal, it suggests something remains out of alignment.

This episode explores the role leaders play in correcting that imbalance through policy, culture and accountability.

Because balance is not symbolic. It is structural. And it requires action.

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In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Phillip Heath, Head of Barker College, to explore what it truly means to lead a school community in a rapidly changing world.

With more than three decades in education, Phillip shares his vision for future-ready learning — one that goes beyond academic results to shape young people of character, courage and compassion. We talk about digital literacy, global citizenship, Indigenous partnerships, and the role schools play in preparing students not just for work, but for life.

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centres on bullying - how it shows up in modern school environments, the impact of social media, and the responsibility leaders carry in creating cultures where every student feels safe, known and valued. Phillip speaks candidly about the need for proactive leadership, strong community partnerships, and embedding respect as a lived practice, not just a policy.

This is a thoughtful and timely conversation about education, responsibility, and the kind of leadership our young people need now more than ever.

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What does it really take to succeed as a CEO today and what does it take to leave a legacy that lasts?

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Mason, a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and executive teams across some of the most complex organisations in Australia and globally.

Kate shares what she’s seeing at the top of organisations right now. How CEO pathways are changing. Why diverse experience matters more than ever. And why the most successful leaders know they cannot, and should not, do it alone.

We talk candidly about the CEO–board relationship, where trust is built or quietly eroded, the rookie mistakes that derail succession planning, and why starting that conversation too late is one of the biggest risks businesses take. Kate also unpacks the idea of the “glass cliff”, how leaders can assess whether someone is truly ready for the next role, and the question she always asks: how far down the runway are they?

This is a practical, honest conversation about leadership at the top. About empathy, adaptability, forward thinking, and keeping the human at the centre of decision making in an environment that keeps shifting.

If you are a CEO, an aspiring leader, a board member, or someone thinking seriously about what the next generation of leadership should look like, this conversation is for you.

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In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by educator, speaker and author Bethan Winn for a timely and thoughtful conversation about critical thinking in an age shaped by AI, speed and constant information overload.

Bethan’s journey began in a small Welsh town, grounded in language, community and curiosity, before taking her from teaching in London to building a new life and career in Australia. What started as a one year adventure became a long term commitment to education, learning and helping others think more clearly. A personal health scare in 2019 became a turning point, prompting Bethan to step away from traditional roles and focus on the work she now does so powerfully, helping leaders, teams and organisations strengthen judgement, curiosity and courage.

We explore the ideas behind her book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI, including what critical thinking really means beyond the buzzwords, how AI is subtly reshaping the way we process information, and the early warning signs leaders should watch for when thinking starts to slip. Bethan shares practical frameworks, real world examples and a deeply human perspective on why experience, reflection and dialogue still matter.

This conversation is for leaders navigating complexity, change and technology, and for anyone who wants to think well, lead well and stay human in the process.

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More than half of Australian workers say they are quietly cracking. Not burning out. Not falling apart in obvious ways. Just holding it together on the outside while something frays on the inside.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Dr Michelle McQuaid, senior fellow at the University of Melbourne and founder of The Change Lab, to unpack the findings from her latest national research, The Change Lab 2025 Workplace Report. Drawing on insights from more than 1,000 workers across Australia, Michelle shares what “quietly cracking” actually looks like, why younger workers are feeling it most, and how leaders are being impacted in very different but equally challenging ways.

We talk about the supercycle of change leaders are operating within, the cost of living pressures shaping behaviour at work, the hidden risks of poor change management, and why wellbeing initiatives are falling short when they miss the emotional and social realities people are living with. Michelle also shares her HEART framework for leading change, practical ways leaders can support their people right now, and why connection matters more than communication in this next chapter of work.

This is a timely, data-led conversation for leaders who know their people are carrying more than they can see, and who want to lead with clarity, care, and credibility in a decade that will demand all three.

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