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Interview

A Rare CFO – Madeline Ling

  • November 8, 2022November 8, 2022
  • by Claire

Our episode this week features the first Chief Financial Officer we’ve had on the show, however Madeline Ling is not your ‘ordinary’ CFO. 

We don’t think we’ve met a CFO who values diversity and building relationships the way Madeline does, not to mention the articulate and creative way she speaks about the stories the numbers can tell her. 

Madeline has held multiple CFO roles throughout her 20-plus year career to date which has seen her work far and wide, including in the U.S., China, Mexico, Europe, and Thailand. A tech-company veteran, these days she is CFO of US-based Boomi, a fast-growing global SaaS company, focussed on easy software integration, now owned by two blue chip private equity firms.

Before taking on CFO roles, Madeline spent twelve years consulting including the Boston Consulting Group where she was a Principal. She also has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • What Madeline learnt as an impressionable teenager when she moved to the US not speaking a word of English 
  • How she thinks about leveraging her differences to add value
  • Madeline’s recipe for building awesome working relationships; and
  • The two questions she asks herself before changing roles or company. 

In short, this was a fabulous conversation and you’ll really be inspired by the thoughtful and articulate Madeline Ling. 

 

Useful Link

Boomi website

Below you can see how the cake turned out that Madeline talked about in the interview (top right) – looks delicious!

 

How To Episode

How to Get Through the S**ttiest of Times

  • October 18, 2022October 18, 2022
  • by Claire

Our episode this week follows hard on the heels of some personally challenging anniversaries. We share how, even after the s++ttiest news possible, Claire has moved forward and thrived, thanks to some very specific mindset choices. 

She shares those choices and we talk about what’s become her north star in terms of how she views work and life. 

You’ll also hear from our special guest Heidi Hackemer, now Executive Director of the innovation and future focused Oatly Climate Culture Lab in New York. 

Prior to her starting her time with Oatly, Heidi had had an ‘annus horribilis’ where her world fell apart. She shares her key lesson from that time and also what she did and does to get out of tough times. 

You’ll also hear:

  • About four key building blocks to become more resilient
  • How your thoughts have a MASSIVE influence on your quality of life
  • A simple exercise you can do to improve how you look at life, and
  • Why being kind to yourself is absolutely essential to build resilience

Now if you’re thinking this episode will be all sombre and sad, think again – in fact re-frame those thoughts right now coz you be wrong sista! 

Enjoy this episode!

Interview

Championing the Circular Economy – Lisa Saunders

  • October 5, 2022October 5, 2022
  • by Claire

Our episode this week is packed with great advice and stories thanks to our guest, social entrepreneur Lisa Saunders.

Less than three years ago, Lisa and her partner Adrian decided they had to do something to stop so many household goods from being sent to landfill. Specifically, they made a life changing decision to prevent as many electronic appliances and tech products as they could from being thrown away. 

As a result, ‘Arnie’s Recon’ was born. It’s a completely free service that takes your old electronics (think phones, computers, fridges, cables etc.)  and ensures they’re recycled and not sent to landfill. Plus, as you’ll hear, this startup has already created more than 80 different products and spawned others around them to start complementary businesses. 

CEO Lisa’s stories of adapting to start-up life after a career in leadership development and coaching, and particularly getting used to literally getting her hands dirty in her day job are really fascinating.  

Plus you’ll hear:

  • How Lisa’s ten years of doing Karate has helped her to stay mentally calm and not be triggered by difficult people and bullies 
  • Plus, the clever and simple thing she says to herself to stay in that calm state when others around her are not
  • How she and her partner navigate having to pivot as they grow their enterprise
  • The simple thing she does when she needs to think creatively 
  • And the magic of this model that stops so many electrical appliances and tech from going to landfill.

We love the ethos and the business model behind Arnie’s Recon and we think you will too. So enjoy this conversation with the passionate and resilient Lisa Saunders. 

 


 

Useful Links: 

Arnies Recon Website 

Arnies Recon on Facebook

Lisa Saunders on LinkedIn 

Clare Graves Spiral Dynamics Explanation

 

Interview

From Side Hustle to Multi Million Dollar Business –…

  • September 19, 2022September 20, 2022
  • by Claire

Our guest on the show today is a successful entrepreneur who has leveraged the power of social media to grow her one-time side hustle into a multi million dollar business. 

Chi Mai, was born and raised in Hanoi in Vietnam. She came to Australia to study and it was in Melbourne some years later that her career took an unexpected turn. 

Instead of the corporate career she’d always imagined, she ended up with no experience and barely in her 20’s, starting a jewelry business.

In just two short years since its founding in 2018, Chi’s business, called S-kin Studio Jewelry, was taking off.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

  • The marketing strategy that changed everything and created an explosion in the growth of Chi’s business 
  • How and when Chi decided to let go of her day job and devote herself full time to S-kin Studio
  • What she’s learnt as an introvert so she can successfully lead and delegate to her team of 9 staff; 
  • How having a baby has changed her work habits; and 
  • What success looks like for Chi.

Without further ado, enjoy this fascinating episode with the entrepreneurial and passionate Chi Mai.

P.S. You’ll only hear Greta this week as poor Claire lost her voice with a flu virus. 

 

Useful Links

Chi on LinkedIn

S-kin studio website

S-kin studio on Instagram

S-kin studio on Facebook

S-kin studio on Pinterest

S-kin studio on Tiktok

Bonus Episode

The ‘Secret Sauce’ Behind Successful Change

  • September 8, 2022September 8, 2022
  • by Claire

This week’s episode covers surely one of the most topical subjects right now: how to deliver or be part of successful change at work. If the Pandemic wasn’t enough, digital disruption and changing economic and geo-political conditions are certainly ensuring that virtually every business we know of is running a change project of some sort. 

That’s especially true for one of our listeners who got in touch and asked us for any tips or advice we could give her to support a big change project in her workplace.  So we decided what better time to explore this important topic and figure out if there’s a ‘secret sauce’ to successful change? And if there is, what is it? 

You’ll want to listen in because we have the answers to both questions for you in this episode. 

We also hear priceless advice from seasoned change expert, Carole Ashford, who’s spent years helping big corporates implement successful major change projects. Carol also has a Masters of Change and numerous other change qualifications.

In this episode you’ll hear how:

  • None of us are immune to being part of change these days
  • How to respond when change projects impact you
  • How to build your change-ready ‘muscle’, and of course:
  • The Secret Sauce to making sure your change project goes well!

So before you so much as change outfits, why not pop in those ear buds and enjoy this episode!

 

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Keep Moving – Future Proof Me

  • March 1, 2022March 8, 2022
  • by Claire

This week’s mini episode is all about the value of having a mindset of ‘keeping on going’ even when you stumble. Now that isn’t always easy is it? 

One woman who’s really mastered the knack of telling herself constructive stories when things don’t go to plan, is US-based international Uber executive, Julia Paige. Julia is Uber’s global head of Social Impact and she also happens to be a mum of triplets. 

When Julia was on the show 18 months ago we were really struck by how good she is at constructive self-talk and her ability to dust herself off and keep moving. 

At the heart of Julia’s outlook on tackling tough times is the powerful idea that we all control our own stories. We get to write our narrative and we get to say how our stories end – and, for Julia, she makes sure that the story never ends with failure. 

Enjoy this mini episode.

 

Interview

Life is Tough but So is She – Briony…

  • February 22, 2022February 22, 2022
  • by Claire

We’re super excited about our first guest for the year. Speaker, author and storyteller, Briony Benjamin, is known for the amazing and purposeful viral videos she creates, as well as her book, ‘Life is Tough But So are You’, which came out last year. 

Briony is a master at her craft and she’s also incredibly inspiring when she talks about her cancer journey.

In this episode you’ll hear about: 

  • The moment when Briony realised a career in accounting or commerce wasn’t for her
  • How her life changed in an instant with a diagnosis everyone dreads
  • What she thinks about when it comes to getting her creative work out into the world
  • And what habits she cultivates to stay on top of her content game. 

Enjoy this episode with the irrepressible, funny and delightful Briony Benjamin.  

 


Useful Links

Briony on Instagram – @briony_benjamin 

Website: www.brionybenjamin.com

Must Do – watch this amazing viral video from Briony – ‘You Only Get One Life’: 

Briony’s Book – ‘Life is Tough! But so are You’

 

Books Briony mentions:

Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert 

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch!: A Guide for Exceptional Women to Create Outrageous Success by Denise Duffield-Thomas

Atomic Habits by James Clear 

The Artists Way by Julia Cameron

Jerry Seinfeld Interview with Tim Ferriss 

Interview

Stefanie Nissen – Style & Hope Shine Through

  • November 30, 2021November 30, 2021
  • by Claire

Happy December everyone! 

The end of the year can mean travel planning for a lot of people, and business trips and holidays are the bread and butter for the fashion entrepreneur and founder on the show this week, Stefanie Nissen.

California-based Stefanie founded her business ‘Trvl Porter’ with the idea that you would arrive at your destination to find a hand-picked travel wardrobe waiting for you at your hotel. When you’re heading home, you can buy the pieces you love, or return them all simply by leaving them with your hotel. 

The business was starting to take off when Covid effectively put Stefanie’s business into hibernation. All the more frustrating as not only had the business been really starting to get traction, it had also enjoyed some great coverage in the NY Times as well. 

In this episode you’ll hear where Stefanie is at today in figuring out the future for Trvl Porter as well as: 

  • How she started her career in fashion design 
  • The advice her designer employer gave her that made her really change direction 
  • How losing her luggage inspired the idea for a brand new business 
  • And, Stefanie shares how a significant trauma actually led her to have the courage to start her new venture 

This episode shares stories that are both moving and hopeful. So if you’re after some inspiration, hope and courage in your life, don’t miss this one with the resilient and courageous Stefanie Nissen…

 

Useful Links

Stefanie on LinkedIn (Stefanie’s new married name is Barkman)

Stefanie on Instagram

TrvlPorter website

 

Interview

Tessa Clarke – The Difference One Person Can Make

  • November 1, 2021November 2, 2021
  • by Claire

We’re excited to be bringing you an inspiring and very relevant guest this week given world leaders have been meeting at COP26 in Glasgow for vital climate talks as this episode goes to air. 

Tessa Clarke is Co-founder and CEO of the international food sharing and household goods app called OLIO. Her passion for sustainability and for creating simple ways to help all of us to take simple but powerful steps to help the environment is just what we need right now! 

Tessa and her Co-founder (whom she met at Stanford doing her MBA) launched OLIO in 2015 and originally focused on food waste in the home, although now you can find new homes for all kinds of other items as well. 

OLIO has just successfully closed a Series B fundraising round raising $43 million dollars from top tier VC firms who have described OLIO’s 5-fold growth in the past year as phenomenal. More than 5 million OLIO users in 53 countries are now reducing not only food waste but also preventing more than 3 million household goods going to landfill as well.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How Tessa wished she’d made the time earlier in her career to stop and really reflect about what she was passionate about doing in her career
  • How Tessa came up with the idea for OLIO; 
  • Her four tips for female founders raising funds; 
  • How food waste globally results in greenhouse gas emissions that would make it the 3rd largest country in emission terms in the world.
  • And last but not least, Tessa shares how western householders make up for HALF of all that food waste.

So dear fellow citizen of Planet Earth, please make haste and devour this episode with the determined and passionate Tessa Clarke. Enjoy!

 

Useful Links

OLIO website

OLIO in the App store – Google & Apple

OLIO on Instagram

OLIO on Facebook

OLIO on LinkedIn

Tessa on LinkedIn

Tessa on Medium

Dana Kanze TED Talk on the real reason female founders get less funding

 

 

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Career Decisions

  • October 26, 2021October 26, 2021
  • by Claire

Welcome to this week’s mini episode all about how you should think about career opportunities. Making career decisions can be really stressful can’t it? 

One guest who made a big impression on us with her career advice is the well known Australasian leader, Michelle Guthrie. 

Michelle has had an international career including being CEO of Star TV in Asia, a senior executive at Google in Asia, and she was Managing Director of Australia’s national broadcaster the ABC – a term which ended in great controversy and was a challenging time for all involved.

Michelle really believes all of us need to take a few more risks and think about our careers with the long term in mind. She also has great advice on how we need to back ourselves more and trust we’ll figure it out even if it seems really daunting. 

So if you’re in need of some reassurance and perspective on a career decision, then this is ten minutes you need to spend right now! 

 


Useful Links

Our Full Interview with Michelle Guthrie 

Michelle on LinkedIn  

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