PODCAST · business
Future Fit Leadership
by Sadhana Smiles
Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: [email protected] connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/
Episodes
-
How Leaders Create Consistent Performance with Curtis Sprouse
What separates a team that performs well from one that consistently delivers exceptional results? And how much of that comes down to the person leading it? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Curtis Sprouse, Founder and CEO of Eureka Connect, who has worked with more than...
-
If AI Takes The Entry Level Jobs, Who Becomes Tomorrow's Leaders? Jennifer Selby Long
The way we work has changed dramatically. But has the way we lead kept pace? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Jennifer Selby Long, founder and CEO of Selby Group, who has coached senior leaders and executive teams across organisations including Airbnb, LinkedIn, Cisco and...
-
The Leader You Think You Are, Isn't Always The Leader They Experience
Why do good people sometimes become leaders they never intended to be? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Preetie Boler, founder of Empowered by Design and creator of the Shiftcode™ methodology, to explore what really happens to our behaviour when pressure rises. Preetie’s...
-
The Steady Leader: Performing Under Pressure Without Losing Your People| Drew Ginn OAM
What does Olympic-level performance teach us about leading people through pressure? Drew Ginn OAM is a three-time Olympic gold medallist, a member of Australia’s legendary Oarsome Foursome and now General Manager of Marshall White Bayside. In this conversation, Drew takes us behind the medals to...
-
Fix Work, Not People: The Work Design Reset with Organisational Psychologist Dr Kat Pagewith Dr Kathryn Page
When people struggle at work, organisations often respond by trying to make them more resilient. But what if the problem is not the person? What if it is the way the work has been designed? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles is joined by organisational psychologist Dr Kat...
-
Useful Belief: Choosing How You Lead When You Can't Control What Happens || Chris Helder
What if positive thinking isn’t always the answer? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles sits down with speaker and author Chris Helder for a wide-ranging conversation about the beliefs we carry, the stories we tell ourselves and how both shape the way we live and lead. Chris...
-
Stop Fixing People. Start Fixing The System : Felicity Furey
What if the biggest leadership problem isn’t your people, but the system they’re working within? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles speaks with engineer, entrepreneur, author and founder of five businesses Felicity Furey about what it means to design leadership for impact....
-
Where We're Failing: A Frank Conversation on Domestic Violence Prevention with Cassandra Kalpaxis
Domestic violence is not a fringe issue. It is not a private matter. And it is not someone else’s problem. In this episode, I sit down with family lawyer Cassandra Kalpaxis for a direct and deeply confronting conversation about domestic and family violence in Australia. Cassandra shares that in…
more -
Who Are You Becoming As a Leader While You're Building Success with Kenny Lange
Leadership is often measured by what we build: the business, the team, the results and the growth. But Kenny Lange believes there is a more important question leaders need to ask: Who are you becoming while you build it? Kenny is a leadership and scaling coach, entrepreneur and host of How…
more -
Brilliant Minds, Rigid Systems: The Case for Neuro-Inclusive Leadership with Frankie Berkoben
What happens when highly capable people can solve complex problems but struggle with tasks the workplace considers simple? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I speak with executive coach Frankie Berkoben about neurodiversity, executive functioning and what leaders misunderstand about…
more -
From Taiwan to Silicon Valley- The Mindset That Refused To Accept No with Anya Cheng
What does it take to build a career that spans some of the world's biggest technology companies before launching your own AI start-up? For Anya Cheng, it wasn't a perfectly mapped career plan. It was curiosity, resilience and an unwillingness to accept the first "no." Born and raised in Taiwan,...
-
What Happens When AI Does Half The Thinking with Maximos Lih
Technology is changing faster than leadership. As AI reshapes the way we work, many organisations are focused on becoming more efficient. But what if they're asking the wrong question? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with executive coach and former Google Ventures leader...
-
Work Is What We Do Not Where We Go - Leading Beyond Hybrid with Karren Ferris
For years, the debate around working from home has centred on one question: where should people work? But perhaps we've been asking the wrong question all along. As Victoria moves to legislate new work-from-home rights, the conversation has shifted beyond organisational policy and into public...
-
What 60 Countries Taught Me About Leadership with Monika Guzek
Leadership today isn't just about managing people. It's about understanding people. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I am joined by global leadership and intercultural expert Monika Guzek, who has worked with leaders across more than 60 countries helping organisations navigate the...
-
Are We Chasing The Wrong Numbers? Rethinking How Leaders Measure Success with Radhika Dutt
Are we measuring success in a way that's actually holding innovation back? For decades, organisations have relied on goals, KPIs and OKRs to drive performance. But what if those very frameworks are encouraging short-term thinking at the expense of long-term innovation? In this episode of Future…
more -
The Thinking Recession: Is AI Creating Better Productivity or Worse Leaders? | Penny Locaso
Is AI making us more productive... or quietly making us worse leaders? As artificial intelligence transforms the way we work, most of the conversation has focused on efficiency. But what if we're asking the wrong question? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with behavioural...
-
Leading Across Borders: Why Difference is a Leadership Advantage with Ritu Mehrish
We've all experienced times in our careers when we've felt stuck. From the outside everything appears to be going well. The results are there, the goals are being achieved, but internally something has changed. The energy has faded, the excitement has disappeared, and you begin to wonder if…
more -
The 2030 Leader: Why Resilience is Your Most Vital Skill with Russell Harvey
What does resilience really look like in a world that never seems to slow down? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with resilience coach, speaker and facilitator Russell Harvey to explore one of the most important leadership capabilities of the decade. As workplaces face rapid...
-
Hugo Toovey: Turning a Cancer Journey into a Movement
At 21 years of age, Hugo Toovey discovered a small lump. Like many young men, he ignored it. What followed was a life-changing cancer diagnosis, months of chemotherapy, major surgery, and a lesson that would ultimately shape the rest of his life: never ignore the signs when something doesn't feel...
-
The Physical Toll of a Toxic Workplace with Jane Phipps
What happens when the workplace that is meant to support you becomes the very thing that breaks you? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Jane Phipps, author of The Heart-Centered Leader, to explore a topic that affects more people than we often realise: toxic workplace...
-
Moving From Execution to Creation Is The New Leadership Role : with Matt Hart
Leaders as Creators, Not Controllers In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Matt Hart, founder of Better Ideas Faster, innovation strategist, and creative thinker who has worked with some of the world's most recognised brands across media, technology, education, and...
-
The $3.5 Trillion Handover - Leadership, Legacy and Letting Go with Kirsten Taylor Martin
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Kirsten Taylor Martin from Grant Thornton to unpack one of the biggest leadership and economic shifts facing Australian business today. Over the next 20 years, more than $3.5 trillion is expected to transition from one generation to the…
more -
Aisle 10 at Bunnings - The Day Everything Changed for Mark Jones
Mark Jones shares the moment his life changed in Aisle 10 at Bunnings. What started as a routine weekend errand quickly became a frightening wake-up call. A panic attack brought on by years of pressure, stress, exhaustion, and a belief that he simply had to keep going. But this conversation is...
-
Holly Ransom — Courageous Leadership & Leading from the Edge: Practical Steps to Lead Through Constant Change
What does it take to lead with impact when the world won’t stop changing? Holly Ransom (author of The Leading Edge) shares how to lead with courage and mattering while navigating constant change. Learn practical habits and decision steps for leading from the edge, building influence, and creating...
-
Fractional People Leadership for Growth, Change & Reset — Human & Commercial Focus with Robyn Djelassi
Host Sadhana Smiles talks with Robyn Djelassi about fractional leadership and what it means for businesses navigating growth, change or reset. Learn how fractional people leadership balances human-centred and commercial priorities, why fundamentals like clarity and accountability still matter…
more -
Leverage Over Hustle: How A Billionaire Wealth Coach Designs Careers That Compound with Emmy Sobieski
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Emmy Sobieski, a former fund manager who ran the number one fund in the world and now coaches high performers on how to build real, lasting wealth. Her career is anything but linear. It is shaped by sharp decisions, missed opportunities,...
-
Leadership Lessons from a 1,400 km Run Across Thailand — Resilience & Endurance with Peter Baines
What does leadership look like when there’s nothing left in the tank? In this episode, I sit down with Peter Baines following one of the most physically and emotionally demanding challenges of his life - running 1,400 kilometres across Thailand over 26 days to mark twenty years since the Boxing…
more -
Clarity Over Noise - The Practice of Intentional Leadership
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Christina Howard, a former Fortune 100 HR leader and founder of Intently, to explore what it really means to lead with intention. Christina’s career spans large corporate environments, executive leadership, and coaching senior leaders…
more -
Leadership, Identity and Knowing When Its Time To Pivot with Dr Taryn Fletcher
What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer fits? In this episode, I speak with Dr Taryn Fletcher, a former school superintendent who led 18 schools and dozens of leaders before making a significant shift into entrepreneurship and leadership coaching. From an early age…
more -
The Power of Storytelling in Leadership Communication with Carmen Sederino
What makes a message land? In this episode, I sit down with Carmen Sederino, founder of Illuminated Story, to explore why storytelling is one of the most underused leadership skills today. Carmen brings a rare perspective. With a background in performing arts and nearly two decades in corporate...
-
From Breakdown to Purpose: James Chisholm's New Lens on Leadership
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with James Chisholm, co-founder of Peeplcoach, for a conversation that goes well beyond traditional leadership advice. James shares his journey from leading in a global corporate environment to experiencing a mental health breakdown that forced...
-
Leading in a World of Robots, Risk and Rapid Change with Sue Keay
What does leadership look like in a world where robots inspect our infrastructure, AI shapes our healthcare, and automation transforms entire industries? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Dr Sue Keay, one of Australia’s leading voices in robotics, AI ethics and the future…
more -
Where We're Failing: A Frank Conversation on Domestic Violence Prevention with Cassandra Kalpaxis
Domestic violence is not a fringe issue. It is not a private matter. And it is not someone else’s problem. In this episode, I sit down with family lawyer Cassandra Kalpaxis for a direct and deeply confronting conversation about domestic and family violence in Australia. Cassandra shares that in…
more -
How Do We Balance the Scale When the World Isn’t Balanced? International Women's Day Special
In this solo episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles steps into the conversation herself. In this special International Women’s Day episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles offers a candid reflection on the 2026 theme Balance the Scale and what it means in the world we are...
-
Beyond the School Gate: The Fight Against Bullying and the Power of Community with Phillip Heath
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Phillip Heath, Head of Barker College, to explore what it truly means to lead a school community in a rapidly changing world. With more than three decades in education, Phillip shares his vision for future-ready learning — one that goes...
-
Why CEO's Fail and Succeed: Insights from Kate Mason
What does it really take to succeed as a CEO today and what does it take to leave a legacy that lasts? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Mason, a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and executive teams across some of the most complex organisations in…
more -
The Human Edge - Rethinking Critical Thinking in an AI World with Bethan Winn
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by educator, speaker and author Bethan Winn for a timely and thoughtful conversation about critical thinking in an age shaped by AI, speed and constant information overload. Bethan’s journey began in a small Welsh town, grounded in language,...
-
Quietly Cracking - Why Half of Australian Workers are Struggling with Dr Michelle McQuaid
More than half of Australian workers say they are quietly cracking. Not burning out. Not falling apart in obvious ways. Just holding it together on the outside while something frays on the inside. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Dr Michelle McQuaid, senior fellow at the...
-
From an Instagram Story to Changing how a Nation Understands Consent with Chanel Contos
What began as a single Instagram story became a national reckoning. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, to talk about how thousands of young people sharing their experiences forced Australia to confront what it was not teaching…
more -
4000 Sundays: Burnout, Brain Drain, & Why Leaders Must Walk the Wellbeing Talk with Dr Goodwin - Holiday Replay
What if you only had 4000 Sundays in your lifetime? And what if the way you work today is quietly stealing them away? In this conversation, Dr Kristy Goodwin takes us inside her own life-altering wake-up call — a moment in a Code Red hospital ward that forced her to confront burnout, mortality…
more -
The Future of Work is Family Friendly - with Jodi Geddes - Holiday Replay
In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Jodi Geddes – co-founder of Circle In, keynote speaker, and a passionate advocate for caregivers in the workplace. Jodi shares her remarkable journey of building (and selling) a global platform that supports working parents and caregivers...
-
Scent & Sensibility - The Future of Fragrance in Business with Suji & Jeeva Sanjeevan- Holiday Replay
What if your brand had a signature scent that made clients feel exactly what you wanted them to feel — trust, luxury, energy, nostalgia? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with doctors-turned-entrepreneurs Suji and Jeeva, co-founders of BrandScent, the game-changing business...
-
Storytelling, Leadership, and Crafting a Global Brand with Matt Jones - Holiday Replay
In this episode, we’re excited to feature Matt Jones, the co-founder of Four Pillars Gin, a brand that has redefined the craft gin industry in Australia and beyond. Join us as we delve into Matt's journey from political advisor to brand strategist, exploring how storytelling and authentic...
-
The Active Workday Advantage with Lizzie Williamson - Holiday Replay
Are you tired of feeling sluggish, achy and uninspired at work? The solution may lie in embracing micro movements throughout your day. Lizzie Williamson, a former professional dancer and wellness expert, shares her transformative approach to revitalizing the workday through simple, yet powerful...
-
What you put in your body matters with Dr Matt Tredgetsmith - Holiday Replay
Wellness has become a priority for many in this post COVID world and many of us are more health conscious than ever before and with the rise of the hybrid world of work, wellness is becoming a critical organisational pillar. We all know that our health is our most important asset and that without...
-
Untrashing the Planet, One Pair of Sunglasses at a Time with Nik Robinson from Good Citizens - Holiday Replay
What happens when a family decides to turn plastic waste into stylish, sustainable eyewear? Meet Nik Robinson and his children, who are revolutionising recycling through their brand, Good Citizens. In this inspiring episode, Nik shares the incredible journey of transforming 600ml plastic bottles...
-
The Conversations That Shaped 2025 Leadership - A Wrap on the Year
As we close out the year, this final episode of Future Fit Leadership brings together the themes and insights that defined our conversations in 2025. Leadership continues to shift at speed. We are the generation of leaders who guided our people through COVID and are now navigating the rapid rise…
more -
The Olivia Pope of Real Life: Crisis Lessons with Stephanie Craig
Crisis is rarely the headline. It is the quiet gap between what happens and how leaders respond. And few people understand that gap better than Stephanie Craig, President of Kith, former political insider, and the woman some call the Olivia Pope of crisis communications. In this conversation,...
-
Lessons from the 7% Club on how to scale your business beyond $2m - Jenny Stilwell
In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and very grounded Jenny Stilwell, a woman who has spent her life helping businesses move from surviving to scaling. Jenny has led companies through complexity, run her own advisory firm, and written the book The 7 Percent Club, which reveals why only…
more -
When the FBI knocked - What Blind Spots Cost One Leader - Kevin McCarthy
When the FBI knocked on Kevin McCarthy’s door one morning in 2002, everything he thought he knew about integrity, loyalty, and trust shattered. What followed was a federal conviction for a crime he didn’t mean to commit, spending 33 months in prison that changed his life forever. In this deeply...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: [email protected] connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/
HOSTED BY
Sadhana Smiles
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Future Fit Leadership have?
Future Fit Leadership currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Future Fit Leadership about?
Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. In this podcast you will hear and connect with...
How often does Future Fit Leadership release new episodes?
Future Fit Leadership has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Future Fit Leadership?
You can listen to Future Fit Leadership on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Future Fit Leadership?
Future Fit Leadership is created and hosted by Sadhana Smiles.
URL copied to clipboard!