Kiwis seem to be debating the big issues more than ever before. Whether it’s house prices, the state of the economy, or the performance of our political leaders...
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 33, our guest is Australian rugby referee Angus Gardner. When a back injury forced a young Angus Gardner to give up contact sports at the age of 15, he thought his involvement in the game he loved was at an end. But thanks to a dedicated school teacher who suggested he take up refereeing as a way to stay involved in the sport, that injury created a pathway that would see him become one of the world’s leading rugby referees. Angus Gardner is Australia’s leading rugby referee having officiated in 49 test matches and 118 super rugby matches. Those matches include the 2018 Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Lions, the same year in which he received the World Rugby Referee of the year award, and the semi-final at the 2023 Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Argentina. With a Bachelors of Property Economics, with honours, under his arm, his career started in property development while he balanced a flourishing refereeing career throughout his twenties and early thirties. But the opportunity to become a full time professional in 2015 enabled him to pursue his passion and he has been a full time presence on the global rugby calendar ever since. Angus talks to Bruce Cotterill on the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast about the game he loves and his view from the centre of the action. He talks openly about rugby’s hefty rule book, how long advantage should be played, and the lengthy post-match review that all participating officials go through after every game. And he discusses the memorable players, coaches and teams he’s had the pleasure to work with. Angus Gardner also talks about the challenges for a dedicated family man, who is sometimes traveling for one hundred nights in a single year, and the team behind this one man band that keeps his mind and body on the road. And this passionate Australian has a unique answer to what he would do if he was the Prime Minister of that sports mad country for a day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode 32: Steve Jurkovich
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 32, our guest is Kiwibank CEO, Steve Jurkovich. Banks play an important role in the economy and our everyday lives. And yet, it’s the first time we’ve had a bank CEO as our guest on the podcast. And he doesn’t disappoint. From growing up in Paeroa and Auckland’s North Shore, and a boyhood dominated by sports at Glenfield College, we hear of a fast moving career supported by the mentorship of some of New Zealand’s most well-known business leaders. After leaving school, Steve started at Teachers training college, before deciding to pursue a law degree at Otago University instead. Upon graduating he spent a few years practicing law, but the business of banking beckoned and a move to ASB settled him into a long and enjoyable career. Steve is a passionate leader with a heavy emphasis on purpose, in particular the need for Kiwibank to make a real difference to the lives of New Zealanders. And he believes in the value of a common vision for the country he cares deeply about. During the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast, Steve Jurkovich talks to Bruce Cotterill about the importance of helping businesses to stay afloat during tough times. He notes that the Covid-19 pandemic was not the fault of business owners and talks about setting up outbound call centres during lockdowns to enable the bank to proactively engage with and support struggling businesses. He’s equally passionate as he talks about the impact of Covid-19 on our kids, and how business leaders can play a role in helping today’s graduates catch up on what they missed when the country was locked down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode 31: Winston Peters
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 31, our guest is The Right Honourable Winston Peters. Deputy Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Winston Peters has confirmed that he is keen to run again in the 2026 election, citing the need to finish the job they’ve started. The New Zealand First leader will be 81 when the next election comes around, but he spoke about legendary American investor Warren Buffet, among others, as testament to his belief that age and experience should be viewed as a positive. Blessed with an encyclopaedic knowledge of New Zealand politics that can only come with 45 years of parliamentary life, Peters’ insight into how we can improve the country’s economic fortunes should be compulsory listening. Speaking candidly with Bruce Cotterill on episode 31 of the podcast, Leaders Getting Coffee, Mr Peters canvassed a wide range of issues including the election of President elect Trump, the importance of small countries at the United Nations, and the examples set by other small nations such as Ireland and Singapore that New Zealand should follow as we seek to get our economy back on track. He also speaks about the current geo-political issues facing the world, and his disappointment at the race debate that has resurfaced in New Zealand in recent years. And after last week’s debacle in the house, we hear about his views on the importance of the re-establishment of standards in parliament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode 30: Bridget Snelling
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 30, our guest is New Zealand Country Manager for Xero, Bridget Snelling. Bridget completed her law degree at Auckland University before settling into the traditional first job of graduate lawyer at one of the city’s prestige law firms. Then everything changed. To everyone’s surprise she left the law after only a couple of years and hasn’t looked back. A career that has included a stint at one of the country’s premier Public Relations firms led to seven years at TVNZ where she handled multiple roles before eventually moving to ANZ bank and becoming the head of Brand Marketing and Business Marketing. She moved to Xero as Marketing Manager four years later. The Xero story is one of New Zealand’s great business start-up successes and there is no doubt that Bridget sees her role as something of a privilege. With over 3,000 New Zealand based staff, it’s a massive leadership challenge with people with varied needs and a fast-moving industry. Bridget talks to Bruce Cotterill about the challenges of being a corporate leader and a mum of three children, the oldest of whom is about to embark on high school. She has plenty of lessons for busy parents including an acknowledgement that life is seldom perfect. And we hear her views on productivity, talent, boundaries and what she calls “making accounting cool”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:03:18
Episode 29: Sir Robert McLeod
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 29, our guest is business leader Sir Robert McLeod. Rob grew up near Gisborne on the East Coast of New Zealand and over the last forty years has become one of New Zealand’s most influential business leaders of our time. His career started as a tax specialist at KPMG and subsequently Arthur Andersen before he settled into the firm then known as Ernst & Young. There he became the Chair of the New Zealand Partnership, and subsequently CEO before later becoming CEO of EY Australia. His influence across government policy grew as he took on appointments across a wide range of government appointed taskforces and commissions including Tertiary Education, Justice and an organisational review of the Inland Revenue Department. Most notable was his appointment in 2020 to the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission and in 2001 to the Chair of the New Zealand Tax Review, in what became known as the McLeod tax review. His ability to stride both sides of the pollical spectrum is summed up by the fact that he was also the Chairman of the NZ Business Roundtable, a role supposedly not compatible with the Labour Government of the day, and yet he commanded both the Tax Review and the Roundtable with equal measures of independence and pragmatism. During the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast, Rob speaks with Bruce Cotterill about the wide range of issues affecting the New Zealand economy, including the recent interest in a capital gains tax, the escalating debate about Maori sovereignty and the current challenges within our debt laden economy, including the need to reduce the size of government before implementing meaningful tax reform. And as you might expect, there’s plenty of discussion about what constitutes good leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kiwis seem to be debating the big issues more than ever before. Whether it’s house prices, the state of the economy, or the performance of our political leaders, most of us aren’t lacking for an opinion.
One of the things we don’t talk about that much is the need for good leadership. And it’s not just the politicians that need to take note. Whether you are running a sports team, a small business, a big business, or even a school, good leadership will see goals achieved and better outcomes generated.
Join company director and business adviser Bruce Cotterill as he talks to leaders about leadership.
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