My guest in this episode is Karen Dare. Karen is the CEO of Communify, a not-for-profit dedicated to meeting a range of needs in the community, including child safety, housing, mental health, family support, emergency relief and refugee support. 

Karen has over 30 years of experience working within the community sector, and has been with Communify since 1994. She has seen the organisation grow from a small neighbourhood centre with limited resources to the thriving multi-service hub that it is today. 

Karen also works broadly in the community and has sat on the boards of several prominent community organisations and other representative committees including 4Walls Housing Company,  Suncorp Stadium Advisory Committee and Building Services Authority.

Karen is a recipient of the 2001 Centenary Medal and the Brisbane Australia Day Award for her contribution to the community sector.

Highlights of our conversation include a pattern in the sector of everyone wanting their own charity, the power of not-for-profit team members moving on into influential government roles, how Communify develops their leaders, the importance of coming down from your ivory tower as a leader, and Karen sharing the internal contract she has with herself.  

Enjoy the conversation 

To find out more about Communify, go to: https://communify.org.au/

 You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dare-99b3b44b/

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]/podcast

#42 Come Down From Your Ivory Tower, with Karen Dare, CEO of Communify

My guest in this episode is Tim Humphries. Tim is the CEO of Homestyle Aged Care, a Tier 1 aged care provider. Tim was previously the CEO of Provider Assist, a large, aged care consulting service. He has extensive business experience holding previous C-suite roles within finance and IT. 

 

Tim is the former Chairman of the board of directors for the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. He previously worked on the board of Prestige In-home Care, and the School Council of Wattle Park Primary School. 

Highlights of our conversation include aged care approaching saturation levels, the challenge of being primarily govt funded, exploring why older people aren't being valued, and making sure everyone on the exec team laughs at least once during a meeting.

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about Homestyle Aged Care go to: https://homestyleagedcare.com.au 

 

You can connect with Tim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-humphries-1435511b/

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#41 Why Older People Matter, with Tim Humphries, CEO of Homestyle Aged Care

My guest in this episode is Troy Warfield. Troy is the CEO of The Social Gaming Group, a gastro-gaming venue business, where he has led the company’s rapid global expansion. He is also the Chair of Surf Lakes, a US surf park business.



Troy's prior roles include President of Topgolf International, Executive Director of the Board at British Airways as well as BA's Brands & Customer Experience Director, and Chief Commercial Officer of Avis Budget Group where he led the international franchising of the business. 



Troy was also previously Managing Director of the UK and Ireland for Kimberly Clark, and has held senior roles at Unilever.



He is a very proud father of three children, and enjoys giving back to the community via many charitable roles through his career, coaching his son’s rugby, and being with friends.



Highlights of our conversation include franchise wins in the Middle East for The Social Gaming Group, the benefit of focusing on strategic cluster, dealing with the fact that the more senior you get the lonelier you get, and the leadership benefits of exercise, ice baths and meditation.

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about The Social Gaming Group go to: https://www.thesocialgaminggroup.com

 

You can reach out to Troy at troy@oche.com  

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

Social Gaming, Ice Baths, & Franchising, with Troy Warfield, CEO of The Social Gaming Group & Chairman of Surf Lakes

My guest in this episode is Tom Larter. Tom  is a seasoned business executive and the CEO of WithYouWithMe, one of the Asia Pacific’s fastest growing tech companies.

 

WithYouWithMe solves workforce challenges and make a positive social impact through

creating career pathways for diverse communities, including veterans, military families,

neurodivergent individuals and indigenous groups. 

 

Tom is also an active member of several industry organisations, including the Tech Council of Australia, TechUK and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). 

 

Highlights of our conversation include your ability to learn being the best predictor of your hire-ability, future-proofing jobs for the future, how execution beats strategy every day of the week, the importance of Involving your leaders in your strategic planning, and making sure your strategy fits on one page. 

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about WithYouWithMe go to: https://withyouwithme.com

 

You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomlarter/ 

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#39 Why Execution Beats Strategy Every Time, with Tom Larter, CEO of WithYouWithMe

My guest in this episode is Tim Dwyer.  Tim is the founder and Managing Director of Tolemy, a brand-led growth agency educating entrepreneurs and business owners on how to design, build and activate a business strategy based on a foundation of core assets aligned with purpose. 

 

Tim has worked with private industry for over 25 years, supporting thousands of businesses to grow and scale. He believe that by helping business leaders shift mindsets, businesses and industries can shift to benefit our communities and society.

 

Highlights of our conversation include the Tolemy framework acting as a "Google Map" for your business, making the point that we've all got a purpose, ego being a wonderful servant but a terrible master, and the importance as a leader of working out what your trauma has been.

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about Tolemy go to: https://tolemy.com

 

You can connect with Karl on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdwyer1

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#38 We've All Got A Purpose, with Tim Dwyer, Founder and Managing Director of Tolemy

My guest in this episode is John Shegerian. John is the serial social entrepreneur responsible for co-founding Homeboy Industries, FinancialAid.com [http://FinancialAid.com], Engage and many other impactful organizations. He currently serves as co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the largest recycler of electronic waste in the US.

 

Highlights of our conversation include hearing John describe starting his work life washing floors at the age of 10 at the dry cleaners, appreciating that all his bosses were mentors, discussing the impact of the Greed Is Good generation, and a strong encouragement to study the great leaders.

 

John also describes a very impressive Board of Directors at ERI, including JB Straubel who is the founder of Redwood Materials and a co-founder of Tesla, the Koo family who are the founders and owners of LG Electronics, and the aluminium production giant Alcoa. 

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about ERI go to: https://eridirect.com 

 

You can follow John on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnshegerian 

 

You can follow ERI at:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-recyclers/

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#37 Stopping The Fastest Growing Waste Stream, with John Shegerian, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI

My guest in this episode is Paul Hodgson. Paul is currently Chair of Queensland Manufacturing Institute Ltd, and the recent CEO of the Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre, where he secured 97 partners and $163m of cash and in-kind contributions for a Round 24 funding submission. 

 

He is an Industry Commentator for the Ai Group Podcast “What on Earth”; and a Founding Member and Honorary Fellow of the Global Intrapreneurs Institute. 

 

Highlights of our conversation include discussing how good leadership grows leaders, not letting the process get in the way of the outcome, the strong manufacturing opportunities in Australia, building coalitions of leaders to get things done, and where hydrogen fits with the complex future that is coming.

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljhodgson  

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#36 Get Things Done By Building Coalitions Of Leaders, with Paul Hodgson, Chair of The QLD Manufacturing Institute

I'm delighted to have worked with some incredible clients this year, including Grain Growers Limited, Surf Lakes, Deloitte and QLD Health. This has enabled us to provide strategy and leadership development support to our pro-bono clients Sea Shepherd Australia and Opportunity International Australia. 

It has also been a powerful year of fascinating conversations on the Evolved Leadership Podcast.

To complete 2023, check out our final episode of the year as Episode 35, where I speak about the top insights on the show through the year, and also share a personal example of one of my own recent leadership insights.

The story I share in this episode was prompted by an experience of feeling flat while sharing my own top values of Honesty and Enjoyment with my client group, while facilitating a core leadership development program module. I considered afterwards that much time and life experience had taken place since I arrived at those original values, so I took myself through the values reflection and prioritisation exercise again. And this time the highest values that emerged were Freedom and Inner Harmony.

These resonated much more clearly in terms of where I'm at in my own leadership journey and life. I was reminded of how important it is to revisit your values as needed, as much can change over time that causes values to be reprioritised.

There is a major project that is coming as a result of my own reclarifying of my personal values, which I'll share more on early next year.

For now, have a relaxing and rejuvenating break, and see you in 2024.

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#35 The Importance Of Being Clear About Your Core Values, with David McDermott, CEO of Evolved Strategy

My guest in this episode is Chris Eldridge, CEO and co-founder of technology services business 4impact. 

 

4impact serves customers across the eastern seaboard of Australia, in New Zealand and in Papua New Guinea, and employs people in four countries.

 

Chris believes in giving back to the community that has supported him, and is proud to support organisations like Opportunity Australia who provide micro-finance loans to entrepreneurs throughout Asia, and the charity Communify who work in the local community on multiple social initiatives.

 

Highlights of our conversation include the process of setting up a Board and putting a CEO in to run the business, the value of getting emotional commitment to outcomes, the impact of your parents on the leader you are today, the loneliness of the CEO position, and fleshing out the question of what really drives an entrepreneur to start and build a business? 

 

Enjoy the conversation 

 

To find out more about 4impact go to: https://www.4impact.com 

 

You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherpeldridge 

 

To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au [https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au/]

#34 It's Not About The Widget, with Chris Eldridge,  CEO and Co-Founder of 4impact

My guest in this episode is Athena Chintis. Athena is the Group Head of People & Culture at Cliftons Event Solutions, a leading business events provider, which employs a highly flexible workforce across 4 countries and 11 workplaces. Cliftons was recognised as one of AFR/BOSS’s Best Places to Work in 2023.



Athena is a Sydney-based Human Resources leader, bringing over 20 years of experience across multiple fast-paced industries, varying scales of businesses and at different stages  – from startup and high growth to acquisition and turnaround.  



Highlights of our conversation include balancing charitable endeavours with corporate life, being fulfilled at work, creating remarkable experiences, walking through an HR strategic plan, and being recognised as one of AFR/BOSS’s Best Places to Work in 2023.

 

Outside of work, Athena is currently the NSW State President for the Australian HR Institute and has served as a NSW State Councillor since 2015.



To find out more about Cliftons, go to: https://cliftons.com 



You can connect with Athena on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenachintis 



To learn more about what it takes to be an evolved leader, and to check out our other podcast episodes, go to:  https://www.evolvedstrategy.com.au



#33 Being Fulfilled At Work, with Athena Chintis, Group Head of People & Culture at Cliftons Event Solutions

At the Evolved Leadership Podcast, we talk to successful business owners and executives who make the world a better place. David McDermott is the host of the Evolved Leadership podcast. David’s inspiration for the podcast came from a life-changing experience during his involvement in a youth leadership charity in his early twenties that challenged ambitious young leaders to not only achieve personal success as leaders in the world, but to also lead their organisations to give back to humanity in a meaningful way. After that experience David spent two decades coaching and consulting to a wide range of organisations in both the private and social sectors, where it became quickly obvious to him that his most satisfying coaching engagements occurred when he worked with leaders who had a meaningful purpose and mission that they were focused on in the organisations they led. The Evolved Leadership approach combines David's experience of what it takes to lead a successful enterprise, with his deep belief that the definition of a truly effective leader in today's world must include making the world a better place in a meaningful and practical way, at scale. David is also the Principal of McDermott Coaching, a business and executive coaching firm dedicated to empowering leaders to run successful organisations and to demonstrate an Evolved Leadership approach to their work in the world. This includes coaching development work that helps leaders to think strategically, develop a meaningful organisational purpose, and lead high-performing teams. The Evolved Leadership podcast is part of the Evolved Leadership Project, a research study of 100 interviews with successful business owners and executives who contribute positively to the uplift of the planet both as individuals and through the organisations they lead. The study aims to show that leaders and organisations who focus on contribution as well as profit, achieve much more satisfying outcomes for everyone they interact with, both internally and externally. Check out our podcast episodes and enjoy this storehouse of leadership wisdom from successful business owners and executives who are showing the world what it takes live as an Evolved Leader. To browse our wide range of articles and resources, as well as other podcast episodes, go to: https://www.mcdermottcoaching.com.au

David McDermott

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