Mindful CIO Podcast

In this episode of The Mindful CIO Podcast, host Nathalie Heynderickx is joined by Simon Reiter, Chief Technology Officer at CareSuper, for a thoughtful and grounded conversation on what it truly means to lead technology teams in a human, sustainable way.With more than 23 years of experience across superannuation, financial services, healthcare, education and government, Simon reflects on the realities of senior leadership — including the self-doubt and nerves that can arise even after years of experience. His openness sets the tone for a discussion that highlights vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness, in modern tech leadership.A central theme of the episode is healthy culture, a core pillar of the Mindful CIO Manifesto. Simon explains why culture must come before strategy and transformation, and introduces his memorable “hamburger culture” metaphor — where leadership sets direction from the top, teams take ownership from the bottom, and sustainable culture is built together.The conversation also explores diversity beyond gender, including diversity of thought, background and neurodiversity, and why inclusive teams are better equipped to solve complex problems. Simon shares how mentoring and sponsorship, particularly for women in STEM, are both deeply human and strategically vital.Simon offers practical examples of how he fosters listening and psychological safety at scale — from skip-level meetings and “CTO Connect” sessions to an anonymous “Ask the CTO” channel and an internal technology podcast.The episode also dives into AI leadership, addressing the pace of change, the risks of shiny-object syndrome, and the importance of clear use cases, strong data foundations and ethical governance. Simon reinforces a critical reminder: technology alone does not create value — people and process do.He closes with reflections on self-care, energy management and why leaders must look after themselves first in order to lead others well._____________________________________🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:00:00 – Welcome to The Mindful CIO Podcast, Introduction and context for the conversation02:10 – Beyond the CV: A Personal Leadership InsightSimon shares a candid reflection from his leadership journey03:00 – Leading at Scale: Staying Grounded on Big StagesPublic speaking, presence and composure in high-stakes environments05:00 – Why Change Management Must Start on Day OneEarly investment as a success multiplier05:20 – The Mindful CIO Manifesto and the Power of “Less Is More” 06:00 – Culture Before StrategyThe foundation of sustainable performance07:40 – The “Hamburger Culture” MetaphorShared ownership from leadership and teams08:50 – Diversity as a Performance AdvantageBeyond gender to lived experience and thinking styles11:00 – Neurodiversity and the Strength of Tech TeamsWhy technology roles suit different cognitive strengths12:30 – Making Change Human and TangibleDriving adoption through communication and storytelling16:50 – Sustaining Energy While Leading Complex ChangeTravel, boundaries and personal rhythms21:20 – Managing Energy, Not Just TimePhysical, mental and emotional energy buckets24:20 – Leadership Role Models and Paying It ForwardMentorship, influence and legacy31:00 – Listening at Scale: Building Trust Across TeamsSkip-levels, CTO Connect and psychological safety36:30 – Navigating the Pace of Change and Responsible AIStrategy, governance and human-centred adoption54:50 – Final Reflections on Sustainable High PerformanceLeadership maturity and long-term impact_____________________________________🎙️LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST✦ Website: ⁠⁠https://mindfulcio.community/podcast⁠⁠/✦ Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205⁠⁠✦ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu⁠_____________________________________ 🔗CONNECT WITH SIMON REITER*Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reitersimon/

In this episode of The Mindful CIO Podcast, host Nathalie Heynderickx is joined by Angela Anthony, Executive General Manager of IT & Digital at DuluxGroup. With over three decades of global tech and transformation experience, Angela offers an inspiring and practical view of what human-centred leadership looks like in the modern CIO role.Angela reflects on her multicultural family, global career, and what it means to lead with presence, empathy, and humility. She discusses the core values of the Mindful CIO Manifesto — particularly diversity, sustainability and humanity — and how they guide her leadership every day.She unpacks the true meaning of diversity — going beyond gender to embrace diversity of thought, background, and neurodiversity. Drawing from roles in aviation, health, and manufacturing, Angela shares how diverse teams outperform by covering blind spots and building richer solutions.We also explore self-care as a leadership practice. Angela reveals her daily rituals — Pilates and regular dog walks — and the importance of reclaiming time for wellbeing in order to show up fully for her team and strategic challenges.A passionate mentor and people developer, Angela shares stories about the leaders who saw her potential before she did — and how she now pays it forward. We discuss how mentoring and coaching aren’t just altruistic — they create stronger, more resilient organisations.From navigating complex stakeholder relationships to driving global transformation, Angela speaks candidly about the non-technical side of tech leadership. She highlights the power of storytelling in building buy-in and bringing change to life across all levels of the organisation.She also tackles the challenges of cybersecurity, data readiness, and the ethical adoption of AI — calling for shared accountability, clear role clarity, and keeping humans firmly in the loop.Angela’s leadership mantra? Be humble, be present, and be a great storyteller._____________________________________🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:00:00 Welcome to The Mindful CIO Podcast01:47 Meet Angela Anthony: Global Tech Leader at Dulux Group03:15 Personal insights: A “United Nations” family story04:47 Why diversity, humanity, and sustainability matter more than ever05:46 Diversity beyond gender - culture, thought, and neurodiversity06:26 Avoiding the “mini-me” trap in leadership10:21 Self-care rituals: Pilates, dog walks, and walk-and-talks14:00 Leadership role models from Barack Obama to workplace mentors17:00 Mentoring future leaders and quieting the inner critic24:18 Leading change with a human-centred lens33:46 Current challenges in AI, data, and cybersecurity at Dulux Group43:00 Responsible AI - ethics, bias, and keeping humans in the loop50:50 Final reflections on humility, presence, and storytelling in leadership_____________________________________🎙️LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST✦ Website: ⁠https://mindfulcio.community/podcast⁠/✦ Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205⁠✦ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu_____________________________________ 🔗CONNECT WITH ANGELA ANTHONY * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelasanthony/

In this episode of The Mindful CIO Podcast, Nathalie Heynderickx sits down with Miranda Ratajski, CIO of Group Business Units at Westpac. With a career spanning 25+ years across global industries, Miranda is recognised for her transformative leadership and her advocacy for diversity and psychological safety in tech. Miranda opens up about her unlikely leadership training — managing 80 teenage girls at Coles as a teen herself — and how that experience shaped her understanding of empathy, communication, and self-awareness. A core focus of the conversation is healthy culture, one of the four pillars of the Mindful CIO Manifesto. Miranda shares how she fosters psychological safety across Westpac, using skip-level meetings, feedback forums, and inclusive listening techniques to ensure every voice is heard — especially those less inclined to speak up. She also talks about her self-care practices, including teaching yoga, walking her dogs mindfully, and allowing herself the grace of imperfection. Her honest take on managing energy — not just time — offers valuable insight for leaders navigating complexity. Miranda reflects on her role in advancing diversity at Westpac, where she sponsors the Diversity in Tech and Accessibility programs. She discusses the success of the “Empower Up” returnship for women re-entering the workforce and Westpac’s long-standing leadership in gender and inclusion. Her mindset: diversity is not optional — it’s a non-negotiable. On the topic of non-technical challenges, Miranda addresses the real work of prioritisation. From managing competingdemands to knowing when to say no, she offers practical strategies grounded in purpose, transparency, and courage. She closes with a reminder that true leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters, sustainably. And her favourite quote from Dr. Seuss says it all: “Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” 🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:00:00 – Introduction to the Mindful CIO Podcast01:00 – Meet Miranda Ratajski: CIO at Westpac03:00 – Early Lessons in Leadership: Managing 80 Teenage Girls04:50 – The Mindful CIO Manifesto and Building a Healthy Culture07:20 – Creating Psychological Safety and Diverse Spaces09:00 – What COVID Taught Me About Energy and Inclusion10:20 – Self-Care Routines, Yoga Practice, and Being Present13:00 – Compassionate Leadership and the Inner Critic15:00 – Great Leadership Role Models: Authenticity, Integrity & Vision18:00 – The Power of Empowerment and Situational Leadership20:00 – Early Resilience: Family, Education and Belief22:30 – Attracting Talent and Winning Investment Through Clarity25:00 – Portfolio Mindset: Prioritisation and Saying No27:00 – Driving Diversity in Tech: Empower Up and Accessibility30:30 – Final Reflections: Sustainable High Performance in Tech Teams 🎙️ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST ✦ Website: https://mindfulcio.community/podcast/✦ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205✦ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu_____________________________________ 🔗 CONNECT WITH MIRANDA RATAJSKI* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirandaratajski/

In this episode of The Mindful CIO Podcast, Nathalie Heynderickx connects with Adam Carthew, Chief Information Officer at Service Victoria and one of Australia’s Top 50 CIOs (2021 to 2023). With a career spanning executive roles at ANZ, Coles Financial Services, and Target Australia, Adam brings a rich perspective on the human side of tech leadership, especially within the shifting dynamics of government and the digital age.Adam shares his compelling transformation from being “the smartest person in the room” as a solution architect to becoming an empowering, people focused leader. He reflects on a pivotal moment when coaching helped him shift his leadership centre of gravity from self-validation to team outcomes, sparking a lasting change in how he develops others.Drawing on personal stories, Adam explores how diversity of thought, managing up as well as down, and responding humbly to feedback are essential traits for today’s CIOs. He unpacks his leadership philosophy using a unique metaphor: the Maremma dog versus the Border Collie, illustrating the difference between trust led leadership and fear-based management.From transitioning between the private and public sectors to navigating AI adoption in government, Adam shares insights on sustainable digital delivery, responsible innovation, and building high performance cultures. He opens up about the pressure of big transformations, leading through crisis, and his belief that “leadership is about behaviour, not title.”This episode is rich with practical advice for aspiring and seasoned CIOs alike on aligning teams to purpose, leading with humility, and creating cultures where discretionary effort thrives.Quote of the episode:"Leadership is about who you are. Management is about what you do." – Adam Carthew🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:00:00 – Introduction to the Mindful CIOPodcast02:50 – Meet Adam Carthew: CIO at Service Victoria03:09 – A Surprising Start: Missionary Work and Early Leadership Lessons04:13 – Reflections on The Mindful CIO Manifesto05:46 – The Power of Diversity and Challenging Your Thinking07:11 – From Architect to People Leader: A Career-Defining Shift11:09 – Coaching, Humility and the Journey from “Smartest” to “Most Effective”11:43 – Managing Up, Building Influence and Navigating Perception12:21 – Staying Grounded: Golf, Family and What Really Matters16:45 – Private vs Public Sector: Leadership Lessons from Both Worlds20:59 – Leading Through Crisis: Building a New Team at Target26:58 – Influence Without Authority: The ANZ Asia-Pacific Story30:23 – Responsible AI in Government and the Role of Policy35:57 – The Maremma Metaphor: Leadership by Trust, Not Fear41:09 – Final Thoughts: Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders 🎙️ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST✦ Website: https://mindfulcio.community/podcast/✦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMindfulCIO-Community✦ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205✦ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu?si=d5c28da86c984e2a___________________🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM CARTHEW LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrcarthew/CIO50 Awards Australia 2023 - https://www.cio.com/awardee/642638/adam-carthew.html

In this episode of the Mindful CIO Podcast, host Nathalie Heynderickx speaks with Jorge Silveira, a multi-award-winning senior executive recognized for his transformative work in healthcare, automotive, government, and technology sectors. Jorge shares personal anecdotes from his childhood in Brazil and reveals his lesser-known passions for painting, sculpting, and songwriting. The conversation delves into the principles of the Mindful CIO Manifesto, particularly the support for leaders' growth, and how Jorge fosters a culture of trust and empowerment within his teams. He emphasizes the importance of passion, belief, and behaviour alignment in leadership. The discussion also explores the role of CIOs and CDOs in the age of AI, stressing the need for multidisciplinary oversight and business acumen. Jorge highlights the critical need for organizations to understand their core purpose and align their AI strategies accordingly. This episode offers profound insights into leadership, vulnerability, and the responsible implementation of AI in tech.🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:00:00 Introduction to the Mindful CIO Podcast00:15 Meet Jorge Silveira: A Visionary Leader03:14 Personal Insights: Beyond the LinkedIn Profile04:45 The Mindful CIO Manifesto04:52 Empowering Leadership and Growth09:00 The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership17:02 Self-Care Strategies for High-Pressure Roles22:00 Building Strong Team Relationships22:51 The Sinkhole Metaphor: Supporting Each Other28:10 Childhood Lessons33:03 Inspiring Leadership: Role Models and Mentors38:48 The Importance of Purpose inCareer Choices41:50 Non-Technical Aspects of TechLeadership47:44 Learning About a New Organisation51:23 The Ownership of AI in Organisations56:55 Keys to Leading High-Performing TechTeams01:05:21 Final Thoughts and Farewell___________________🎙️LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST✦ Website: https://mindfulcio.community/podcast/✦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMindfulCIO-Community✦ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205✦ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu?si=d5c28da86c984e2a___________________🔗 CONNECT WITH JORGE SILVEIRA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgesilveira/ AI Leadership Series S1E3: TheRise of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO):  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-leadership-series-s1e3-rise-chief-artificial-officer-silveira-vpa7c/?trackingId=bPbEBZdODt3Jk9M3eeabbw%3D%3D Music Lyrics - (Under MichaelO’Brandel artistic name) Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0bvXEjTbsv0O39gFljLlbK?si=229xEYVJRAy9xb_aJ_TkXw Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/au/artist/michael-obrandel/1784747087 Video Clips: Valentine https://youtu.be/Xy5Kr0e_v8Y?feature=shared Sculptures: Australian BoabTrees Website - https://www.iamboab.com