Be scared and do it anywayCreating belonging in the unknownWhen leadership demands you build what doesn't existThis conversation with Marne Fechner, CEO of AusCycling, speaks to one of leadership's fundamental truths: it meets you exactly where you are, and then it doesn't leave you where it found you.It will reveal who you are and then ask you to choose who it is you wish to become.Eighteen months into one of the biggest leadership challenges in Australian sport, Marne Fechner faced this uncomfortable truth about herself."Be scared and do it anyway. Be underqualified and get in the room anyway."Notebook ready...Play on!
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1:30:26
Cody Royle - 'A second set of eyes'
In this episode of "In the Arena," coach and author Cody Royle explores what might be the greatest irony in leadership: those of us who believe deeply in coaching often refuse to be coached ourselves.Having spent decades in leadership positions, I've experienced firsthand that moment when "the weight of responsibility sits heavy on your chest before your feet even touch the floor." It's the silent experience of leaders everywhere, and it reveals our profound contradiction.Cody shares the deeply personal origins of his powerful book "Tough Stuff" – born from his own pain after losing a player to suicide and finding no resources to help navigate that trauma as a leader. "I went looking for things that could help me with that and found nothing," he told me.Our conversation challenges the mythology we've constructed around leadership that equates self-sufficiency with strength. The true courage isn't found in going it alone—it's found in the vulnerability of acknowledging we don't have all the answers.As Cody wisely notes, "Leadership is an exchange of humanity... it's supposed to be connective and it's supposed to be a shared weight." Join us as we explore why having "A Second Set of Eyes" isn't merely support – it's an acknowledgment that our job isn't to have all the answers but to create spaces where better questions can flourish.Notebook ready...Play on!
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1:09:51
Neil Balme - 'The multiplier effect'.
Neil Balme is one of those people that you immediately feel good about. Charismatic with a big presence, quick and eager to find humour even in the most challenging situations, disarmingly intelligent in the most humble of ways. He cannot help but draw people to him, but somehow he stays fully present with them with wonderful generosity and decency. Yet, as impactful as this is, what makes Neil Balme special is his wonderful capacity to make you feel good about you.We explore the "multiplier effect" that Balme has cultivated throughout his remarkable career – where collective success exponentially exceeds individual contributions, and where genuine care creates championship cultures.As Neil simply puts it: "There's nothing else - it's only people helping each other."Notebook ready. Play on!
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1:19:28
Nick Stone- 'Knowing self. Connecting others.'
I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Nick Stone, whose journey from AFL journeyman to founder of Bluestone Lane, America's fastest-growing premium café brand, exemplifies resilience and authentic leadership.Nick played just 20 games across Collingwood, Hawthorn and St. Kilda over six years, fighting for his career with each one-year contract. What struck me most was how Nick never allowed football to consume his identity, even while giving it everything he had. When his playing career ended—the same day he completed his Monash University degree—Nick embraced this transition as an opportunity rather than dwelling on what might have been.In our conversation, Nick shared how this experience shaped his approach to business and leadership. His philosophy of "unlocking versus extracting" potential and building trust through transparent feedback proved crucial when Bluestone Lane lost 87% of its revenue during COVID-19.Nick's story reminds us that leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about remaining genuinely curious and comfortable with the questions. His ability to balance seemingly opposing qualities—being data-driven while prioritising human connection, maintaining high standards while creating space for vulnerability—offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating leadership challenges.Join us for this thought-provoking discussion about finding your authentic self beyond your professional role, the power of embracing feedback, and the continuous journey of personal growth.Notebook ready. Play on!
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1:37:57
Joe Barr - 'Leading with questions'
"If you are not genuine with people, you won't get anything. You won't get productivity, won't get ideas, you won't get innovation, and you won't get a safe building site." - Joe BarrWhen Joe Barr became CEO of John Holland, he made a decision that would define his leadership journey: to embrace what he didn't know. With little experience in rail and infrastructure, Joe found himself leading one of Australia's largest construction companies.Rather than feigning expertise, he chose authenticity.This, in itself, is an easy choice. Most CEOs would state this intention when taking up their position. Few, however, understand what it truly asks of them, remembering that people do not experience our intentions; they experience our behaviours.Authenticity is an outcome and emerges only through vulnerability, which itself requires genuine bravery.In this case, the vulnerability of waking up to many consequences of leading multi-billion-dollar projects and thousands of employees.The discomfort of ‘not knowing’ marks the place where leadership is most needed.This is a wonderful conversation.Notebook ready...Play on!
Leadership is the Difference Maker On this podcast, former CEO of three AFL clubs and founder of designCEO, Cameron Schwab, unlocks leadership and the lessons earned and learned by the very leaders who dare to fail greatly. This audio encyclopaedia of leadership knowledge borrows and shares the wisdom that can only be learnt In the Arena, allowing the listener to apply uniquely to their own role in work, business and life. Challenge your own leadership conventions and be taken on a journey that meets you where you are but doesn’t leave you where it finds you. Play on!
Ireland