Empowering Leaders

Recorded live overlooking the 18th at LIV Golf Adelaide 2026, Luke sits down with Scott O’Neil, CEO of one of the most talked about organisations in global sport.
Scott has led at the highest levels of the NBA, NFL and NHL, and now finds himself as CEO of LIV Golf, guiding a competition that has challenged golf’s traditions while attracting a new generation to the game.
In this conversation, he reflects on disruption and humility, the balance between innovation and respect for history, and why free agency matters in modern sport. He shares the philosophy behind his book Be Where Your Feet Are, what it means to lead under scrutiny, and how he keeps perspective when the criticism inevitably comes.
From coaching his four daughters in basketball to learning golf at 50 in front of a global audience (a great story!), Scott speaks candidly about ambition, family, pressure and giving grace.
Learn. Lead. Collaborate.
Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today.
Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really take to build a championship organisation in one of the most competitive leagues in the world?
On this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits down with Jon Horst, General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks and one of the most respected executives in the NBA.
From starting as an intern to becoming the youngest GM in the league, Jon shares the mindset that shaped his rise - and the leadership principles that helped deliver an NBA championship and sustained excellence.
He reflects on building a team around Giannis Antetokounmpo, what makes Giannis so rare beyond talent, and why character is non-negotiable when constructing a winning culture.
Big topics:
Jon's reputation for recruitment and the “IP” behind their decision-making process
The balance between analytics and instinct
How clear communication cuts through high-stakes pressure
Why sustained success is about people, not just performance
Jon also speaks about the cross-pollination of leadership across sport - you’ll hear him mention leaders like Matt LaFleur (listen to Matt’s Empowering Leaders episode here) - and how community and shared learning elevate teams beyond what any individual can do alone.
Learn. Lead. Collaborate.
We are privileged to have Jon as part of our Aleda Connect community. Book a discovery call today to find out more about how you can learn and grow alongside people like Jon within our signature leadership program.
Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time.
Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like to be part of a small, trusted leadership group?
Inside Aleda Connect, leaders from more than 20 countries come together each month in small groups to learn, reflect and collaborate.
In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy shares the voices of ten leaders who are part of the Aleda Connect Global Leadership Program. From elite sport to global business, from diplomacy to AI, they offer honest reflections on what it means to step into a trusted leadership community.
You’ll hear from Adam Driussi, Dan Rutstein, Emma Hayes, Jeremy Kodomichalos, Dixie Marshall, Paul Barnes, Sami Whitcomb, Aubrey Pleasant, Jenny Boucek and Jeff Scott - each responding to a simple question:
What’s it actually like to be part of a small, trusted leadership group?
What comes through isn’t theory. It’s lived experience. Conversations about vulnerability, accountability, imposter syndrome, loneliness at the top, and the compound effect of learning alongside people who think differently to you.
We're privileged to work with this incredible collection of leaders who believe growth doesn’t happen in isolation.
Find the full conversations with each of these guests right here:
Aubrey Pleasant: The NFL Coach’s Emotional Intelligence Playbook
Dan Rutstein: British Diplomacy to American Soccer Leadership
Dixie Marshall: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership
Adam Driussi: The Moment AI Saved My Company a Million Dollars
Emma Hayes LIVE from London: For Women, By Women, Football & Beyond
Jenny Boucek: How Servant Leadership Takes You to the Highest Level
Jeremy Kodomichalos: There’s No Standard Path in Life or Business
Paul Barnes: Navigating the Fast Lane of Formula One
Sami Whitcomb: From Undrafted to WNBA Champion
Super Bowl 2025 Leadership: Jeff Scott VP of Football Operations, Philadelphia Eagles
To discover how you can learn and grow alongside leaders like the ones you've heard from today head here.
Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you listen to leaders long enough, certain names keep coming up.
In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke asks a simple question: who has been the greatest leader in your life? The answers are intimate and often unexpected. A television director who kept a young host’s ego in check. A boss who held a job open throughout chemotherapy. A father with “magic dust.” A partner who quietly led the family while the world watched the cricket. A wife building programs for kids with neurodiversity. A dad who could walk with kings and keep the common touch. A dentist who modelled what it meant to run a values-led practice.
It is a moving reminder that leadership is often most present in the home, the clinic, the training track and the everyday conversations nobody else sees.
Find the full episodes right here:
Wil Anderson: "I'm a storyteller, not a documentarian!"
Jamila Rizvi: Leadership, Legacy, and Living With a ‘Broken Brain’
Bec Daniher: Why Action Speaks Loudest — $115M and Counting
Mike Hussey: How to Lead When the Heat Is On
Jeremy Kodomichalos: There’s No Standard Path in Life or Business
Super Bowl 2025 Leadership: Jeff Scott VP of Football Operations, Philadelphia Eagles
Dr Tim McGrath: How to Beat Burnout and Find Balance at the Top
Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program.
Learn. Lead. Collaborate.
Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today.
Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the best leadership wisdom fits on a Post-it note.
In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke asks his guests for the one piece of advice they keep returning to. The answers range from the disarmingly simple to the deeply strategic. “Wake up each day and don’t be a wanker.” Keep the team at the centre but honour the individual. Keep dreaming and prepare for your chance. Catch people doing things right. Coach the way you’d want someone to coach your own kids. Lean into authenticity, even when it costs you. Say yes to leadership, even if you doubt yourself. And get to know yourself properly, especially the things you’d rather avoid.
These are small sentences that shape entire cultures.
Find the full episodes right here:
Natalie Kyriacou: Leadership during the Climate Crisis
Emma Hayes LIVE from London: For Women, By Women, Football & Beyond
Bruce McAvaney: The voice behind the most unforgettable moments in Australian sport
Todd Duncan: The 10 Word Question You Need To Ask Every Client
Mike Brey: From Notre Dame to the NBA
Brad Harrison: A Warrior’s Take on AI, Ayahuasca, and the Future of Defence
Jacinda Ardern: The Cost and the Power of Compassionate Leadership
Pippa Grange: Leading with Soul in a World Obsessed with Winning
Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program.
Learn. Lead. Collaborate.
Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today.
Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.