EP 16: Leadership, Culture, and Building High-Performance Teams with Henry Arundel

In this deeply reflective and highly strategic episode, Saurabh Jain sits down with Henry Arundel, former CEO of Programmed Property Services, to explore the realities of leadership, career reinvention, and what truly drives high-performing organizations.With more than 35 years of experience across construction, engineering, facilities management, outsourcing, and property services, Henry shares his extraordinary journey—from working as a builder and plasterer in the UK to leading large-scale businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.The conversation centers on a pivotal question Henry is now asking himself after stepping away from his most recent executive role: What kind of leadership role truly creates fulfillment, impact, and long-term meaning?Together, they unpack the deeper realities behind executive leadership, including team dynamics, organizational culture, empathy in management, strategic transformation, and why many companies fail to unlock performance because they overlook people. Henry reflects candidly on personal adversity, the loss of his father at a young age, and how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and deep sense of empathy.The discussion also explores how CEOs can build high-performing executive teams, drive long-term transformation, and create organizations where people genuinely want to contribute and succeed.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHenry Arundel’s journey from construction trades to global executive leadershipWhy empathy can become a leadership superpowerThe importance of executive team alignment in business transformationHow culture impacts performance, retention, and long-term growthWhy many companies fail due to short-term thinkingThe role of autonomy and trust in leadership successHow great leaders build high-performing teamsWhy organizational transformation starts with people, not strategyThe difference between short-term management and long-term leadershipHow personal adversity shapes leadership behavior and emotional intelligenceWhy CEOs must stay connected to frontline employees and operational realityThe challenge of balancing strategy, execution, and organizational complexityWhy mentorship, support, and psychological safety matter in leadershipAbout Programmed Property ServicesProgrammed Property Services is a leading provider of property maintenance, facilities management, and workforce solutions across Australia and New Zealand. The company delivers services across commercial painting, building maintenance, electrical services, open space management, and facilities management for government, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and commercial sectors.About Henry ArundelHenry Arundel is an experienced executive leader with more than three decades of leadership experience across property services, facilities management, construction, engineering, and outsourcing businesses throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.Throughout his career, Henry has led complex business transformations, large-scale operational turnarounds, and high-performing executive teams across multiple industries. He is known for his people-first leadership approach, long-term strategic thinking, and ability to build strong organizational cultures that drive sustainable growth and performance.Links & ResourcesConnect with Henry ArundelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-arundel/Programmed Website: https://programmed.com.au/Connect with Saurabh JainLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhjain10Website: https://ceowhisperer.au/Email: [email protected] the PodcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and subscribing:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ceo-whisperer-by-saurabh/id1862989706Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rbvHV1FEDxq91bERv1h8vYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CEOWhisperer.auYour support helps more founders, CEOs, and investors discover the show.