Carolyn Curtis: Understanding the Human Side of Leadership

In this episode of The CEO Advantage Podcast, host Paul Edginton sits down with Carolyn Curtis, former CEO of The Australian Centre for Social Innovation and a long-time collaborator at The CEO Advantage. They talk openly about leadership in the not for profit and community sectors, what it means to carry the weight of a CEO role, and how identity, wellbeing and purpose shape the experience of leading. The discussion explores how to recognise when it is time to move on, how to let go of a role that defines you, and what comes next after stepping away from the top job.Carolyn shares how her focus has shifted to helping organisations understand culture by looking beneath the surface. She and Paul discuss the difference between compliance and culture, how burnout and psychosocial risk are now key leadership issues, and why trust, connection and communication matter more than ever. Together they reflect on power, decision making and the changing expectations of a modern workforce, offering grounded insight from their own years in leadership.In this episode:• How stepping away from a CEO role can redefine identity and purpose• The difference between compliance and culture in shaping performance• Why burnout and psychosocial risk now sit at the heart of leadership• How power and influence shape behaviour inside organisations• What generational change means for leadership and communicationThis episode is for anyone in leadership, governance or social impact who wants a clear and practical look at the human side of leading people and the realities of working within complex systems.