15 Minutes with the Boss

“We’ve had a number of years when there was a huge emphasis on people’s work-life balance. Now it’s about performance,” says Chris Karagounis.
The managing director at executive search firm Alex Kaar says working in the office allows budding leaders to contribute to the culture and community, and to keep learning.
And if they're not there, then they risk falling behind.
On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out from the corporate headhunter what it takes to be a senior leader today, and how aspiring executives should approach issues such as working from home and artificial intelligence.
Further reading:
Four steps to land your first board position
The step into the boardroom is an important milestone, and something many ambitious professionals dream about. But how do you make it happen?
How I convinced Kerry Packer he should hire me
Mary Wooldridge, outgoing CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s. She’s used some of the skills she learnt ever since.
Why job seekers looking for $200k-plus roles should be worried
After taking a break from her exec role, Diedre Hosking returned to a market offering $100,000 less, as firms swap veterans for cheaper, AI-literate juniors.

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When Sharon Pickering’s husband died, she realised she needed to choose where she directed her energy and focus on what mattered to her.
After years of being a dedicated scholar, the academic made a decision that would set her on a path to becoming the vice chancellor of Monash University.
On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the university boss to find out how a new role shifted Pickering’s career to one of leadership.
Further reading:
‘I’d lost my identity.’ How this exec recovered from redundancy
A new coach, hypnotist and Hollywood movie helped Allison Rossiter tackle one of her biggest fears. Now, the Novartis president shares how they can help you too.
Meet the researchers tackling big problems
Combining knowledge and expertise across disciplines is the new face of successful research in the university sector.
The move this MD calls ‘extremely hard, but I’ve never looked back’
T2 Tea managing director Christelle Young finds that by cutting out reading, writing and talking first thing in the morning, it sets up her day in the right way.
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Procter & Gamble’s Australian chief executive, Neal Reed, has been with the global manufacturer for 30 years.
The company behind household brands such as Pampers nappies, Gillette razors and Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoos has long been committed to finding and developing top talent.
But as the CEO has discovered, the strategy presents a temptation to push high performers too hard.
On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this P&G boss learnt he was overburdening senior leaders.
Further reading:
Why this CEO gets his advice from the 20-somethings in the office
As Gen Z swells to a third of the workforce, P&G’s Australia-New Zealand CEO Neal Reed says reverse mentorship keeps him connected, skilled up and relevant.
‘I didn’t realise how far gone I was’: How this CEO survived burnout
Jess Saxby, chief executive of Banjo’s Bakery Cafes, couldn’t stop. She was always chasing the next thing. Until she couldn’t any more.
‘Do you have five?’: This CEO’s trick for managing staff requests
Stefan Leitl, vice president for Australia and New Zealand at Cisco, has to juggle family with fitting into the working hours of the US. Here’s how he does it.
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He’s one of Australia’s most influential chefs and restaurateurs.
But when Neil Perry was faced with the closure of his restaurant, Song Bird, he realised he’d broken his most important rule.
“You've always got to be prepared to walk away," Perry says.
On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what went wrong with the Double Bay restaurant, and what he’s learnt as the culinary giant prepares to open Pizzeria Spotto.
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Praveena Raman, the head of Motorola in Australia and New Zealand, is a self-described yes person.
At the start of her career as an engineer, the “say yes to everything” mindset opened doors to pivotal opportunities that would set her on the path to becoming an executive.
But a crucial piece of advice also made the smartphone boss realise the importance of saying no.
On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the country head of the eighth-largest smartphone manufacturer globally to find out why she decided to shift her mindset.
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