PODCAST · business
Leader Scout
by Tom Millington
Your host, Tom Millington, CEO and Founder of People8, brings you a podcast dedicated to delivering valuable insights on technology, talent acquisition, leadership, and strategies to boost staff retention in your business.We’re here to share our journey and real world learnings with you. Tune in fortnightly for the latest episode!
Episodes
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18. Learning to Lead Differently with Robert Scott
Robert Scott joins Tom Millington on Leader Scout to share the lessons from nearly three decades across civil engineering, local government and regional infrastructure. From being given opportunities before he felt ready to developing engineers within his own teams, Robert reflects on what it…
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17. Keep Your Goals Fixed, Your Plan Flexible | Richard Carson | Leader Scout Archives
From the Leader Scout archives, Tom revisits a 2024 conversation with Richard Carson about building a career for the long term.Richard reflects on progressing from project engineering into senior leadership, why taking on responsibility early matters, the value of knowing your own strengths, and...
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16. What Actually Makes Someone Employable in 2026?
It’s getting easier to look employable. That doesn’t necessarily make it easier to identify the right person. In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom looks beyond the polished CV to what actually gives him confidence that someone can do the job. From technical experience and transferable skills to...
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15. You Can't Rush a Career with Deni Campbell | From the Leader Scout Archives
From the Leader Scout archives, Tom revisits a 2024 conversation with Deni Campbell about building a career without having everything figured out from day one. Deni shares the moves that worked, the one she knew almost immediately was wrong, what helped her progress quickly, and why some of the...
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14. The Employee You Can’t Afford to Lose
The people a business relies on most are often the ones carrying more than anyone realises. In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom looks at what actually makes good people become open to leaving, why it’s often not just about money, and the conversations leaders should be having long before there’s...
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13. The Engineers We Need Next with Steve Adamthwaite
Australia has the infrastructure pipeline. The harder question is whether we're developing enough capable people to deliver it. Steve Adamthwaite, ANZ Water Business Leader at Arup, joins Tom to talk engineering careers, leadership, retention, mentoring and why solving tomorrow's skills shortage...
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12. Salary Isn't One Number. It's Four.
Salary gets uncomfortable when two people walk into the conversation with completely different numbers. And too often, businesses don't find that out until they've already found the person they want to hire. In this episode, I break down what I'm seeing in salary conversations across the market…
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11. Thinking Differently with Alastair Blenkin | ProcurePro
Construction leaders know their businesses need to change.The harder part is actually making it happen.In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom sits down with Alastair Blenkin, Founder and CEO of ProcurePro, to unpack what he’s learned building a construction technology business from Australia to...
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10. Your Hiring Process Is Talking for You | From the Leader Scout Archives
Every conversation, every update, every delay, and every piece of feedback tells candidates what it's really like to work for your business. In this episode, I revisit three hiring habits that continue to separate businesses that consistently attract great people from those that keep missing out.…
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9. Not Every Promotion Is Progress
We've convinced people there's only one way to have a successful career. Get promoted.Manage people.Lead a team. But what if that's exactly where we're getting it wrong? In this episode, I explore why some of the industry's most important roles are becoming the hardest to fill, what I've learnt...
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8. The Most Dangerous Phrase in Business: "We've Always Done It This Way"
Every business wants to grow. But growth becomes difficult the moment it asks us to change the way we've always done things. In this episode, I unpack why businesses resist change, what it's really costing them, and how the best leaders know when to challenge the status quo before it becomes a...
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7. What Building People8 Taught Me About Leadership
I've shared my thoughts on hiring, leadership, retention, alignment, and building better businesses on previous episodes. This week, I wanted to take a step back and explain where those ideas actually came from, and what building People8 has taught me about leading people, growing a business, and...
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6. AI in Hiring: Co-pilot Not Replacement
AI isn't coming. It's already here. The question isn't whether you'll use it. The question is whether you'll learn to use it well while keeping people at the centre of your hiring decisions. In this episode, I break down where AI adds real value to the hiring process, where it falls short, and…
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5. Why Your First Interview Should Be an Alignment Discussion
Too many businesses try to assess capability, sell the role, discuss salary, and make a hiring decision all in one conversation. The result is two polished sales pitches instead of an honest discussion about whether both sides are actually the right fit. In this episode, I explain why I've…
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4. The 5 Candidate Red Flags Hiring Managers Should Look For
Most bad hires don't surprise you. The warning signs were there long before they started. The challenge is spotting them before urgency takes over and a decision gets made. In this episode, I break down five candidate red flags I've seen repeatedly throughout my career and the questions hiring...
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3. 300,000 Workers Short: What That Number Actually Means for Your Next Hire
Australia's construction and infrastructure market is heading into a serious workforce squeeze. Infrastructure Australia is projecting a 300,000 worker shortfall by 2027, but that number will not hit every business evenly. It will affect project managers, engineers, site leaders, tradespeople,...
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2. Why Experienced Candidates Ignore Your Job Ads
If attracting experienced people feels harder than ever right now, the problem might not be salary, competition, or the skills shortage.Your job advert could be sending the wrong signals. In this episode of Leader Scout, I break down why experienced project managers, engineers, construction...
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1. Leader Scout Is Back: What Happened, What's Changed & What's Next
I stepped back to focus on building People8, improving how we deliver for clients, and figuring out exactly what this podcast needed to become. Now we're back. In this episode, I explain what happened during the break, what's changed in the market, and what you can expect from Leader Scout moving...
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S1E2 -Why Your Hiring Process Is Quietly Losing Top Talent
Many businesses believe they’re losing great candidates because of salary or a tight labour market. In reality, most top talent disengages much earlier — because the hiring process itself signals confusion, risk, and indecision. In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom Millington breaks down why...
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S1E1 — Why Good People Leave Well-Designed Businesses
Some of the businesses losing their best people have strong brands, impressive offices, and genuinely meaningful work — so why are people still leaving? In this Season 1 opener of Leader Scout, Tom Millington breaks down why good people don’t usually leave suddenly, but disengage first and how...
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#5 Why ‘Good Culture’ Is a Terrible Interview Answer
In this episode, Tom unpacks a deceptively simple hiring red flag: “I’m just looking for a good culture.” It sounds harmless but it’s often a sign of vague expectations, misalignment, or reactive career moves. Tom walks through how to dig deeper in interviews, what questions to ask, and why...
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#4 Why No One Wants to Lead Anymore (And Why It Matters)
In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom dives into one of the industry’s biggest unspoken truths: leadership roles are becoming less desirable and it’s costing teams big. From promoting great operators without any training, to offering more pressure with barely any support, leadership in…
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#3 It’s Not a Labour Shortage. It’s a Hiring System Problem.
Everyone’s blaming the labour shortage right now but the real issue? Most businesses don’t have a hiring system. They’ve got chaos. In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom unpacks what he is seeing across construction and infrastructure: Good people are hard to find but not impossible The teams…
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#2 Stop Throwing Employee Perks at the Problem
In this episode of Leader Scout, Tom Millington challenges common misconceptions in the hiring process, emphasising that perks like fancy offices and free snacks do not equate to a strong company culture. He discusses the importance of empowerment, effective leadership, fair pay, recognition, a...
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#1 Fast, Clear, Human: Hiring That Builds Your Brand
In this episode, Tom Millington discusses the critical elements of an effective hiring strategy in the construction and engineering industries. He emphasises the importance of communication, feedback, and speed in the hiring process, outlining how these pillars can significantly impact a…
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Top LinkedIn Hacks for Engineering and Trade Professionals
In this episode, Tom Millington discusses strategies for standing out in the competitive trades and engineering job market. He emphasises the importance of a polished resume and a strong LinkedIn profile, which he describes as a live interactive resume. Tom provides practical tips on what to...
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Your Resume is Costing You Jobs! Here’s What Every Trades and Engineering Pro Must Include
In this episode, Tom Millington discusses how to stand out in the competitive trades and engineering job market by crafting an effective resume and LinkedIn profile. He emphasizes the importance of tailoring resumes to specific job applications, highlighting key projects, using statistics to...
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I always had the desire to make things more efficient, Norm Doxankis | Season 1
In this episode of the Leader Scout podcast, Tom Millington interviews Norm Doxanakis, who shares his extensive career journey in the mining industry, culminating in his current role as Maintenance and Engineering Manager at MMG Limited. Norm discusses his transition from a maintenance fitter to...
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Leadership requires understanding team dynamics and individual motivations, Brendan Day | Season 1
In this episode of the Leader Scout podcast, Brendan shares his extensive career journey in engineering, highlighting his transitions from construction to mining, and eventually into leadership roles. He discusses the importance of networking, taking on new challenges, and the value of people...
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Innovation can arise from necessity, especially during crises, Luca Garagnani | Season 1
In this episode of the Leader Scout podcast, Tom Millington interviews Luca Garagnani, the COO of Machine Monitor. They discuss Luca's journey from a warehouse worker in Italy to a service engineer and eventually to a leadership role in Australia. Luca shares insights on the importance of...
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Find your passion and align your career, Deni Campbell | Season 1
Deni discusses her career journey from recruitment to working in the not-for-profit sector and eventually landing a role in sustainability and climate change at Deloitte. She emphasises the importance of aligning work with personal values and finding passion in the job. Deni also highlights the...
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Your personal brand is everything, Richard Carson | Season 1
Richard Carson, General Manager at InQuik, discusses the company's international expansion and product portfolio diversity. InQuik specialises in accelerated construction, using a self-supporting system that allows for rapid construction without the need for temporary formwork or support...
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Land your dream job with our Job Application Method! | Season 1
In this episode, Tom Millington discusses the critical stage of the job application process known as the stage two method. He explains why this stage is important and provides tips on how to master it. The key components of the method include tailoring your resume for the specific job role,...
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2/2 Frequently asked questions for career growth with Kylie Harris & Steve Ebejer | Season 1
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is subjective and depends on individual preferences and goals. It involves understanding what you want and finding a balance between work and personal life. Setting boundaries and prioritizing family time are important aspects of achieving work-life…
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1/2 Frequently asked questions for career growth with Kylie Harris & Steve Ebejer | Season 1
In this podcast episode, Tom Millington discusses how to negotiate a higher salary or better benefits, effectively set and achieve career goals, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Steve suggests that to negotiate a higher salary, one should go above and beyond their job description,...
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The Chapters of Trades & Engineering | Season 1
The conversation discusses the different chapters or stages of a career in the trades and engineering industry. Chapter 1 is the exploration stage after graduation, where individuals can experiment and find their niche. Chapter 2 is specialization, where individuals should focus on their niche…
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2/2 How to demonstrate your value to your employer, Sushil Patil & Nick Evans | Season 1
We asked leaders Nicholas Evans & Sushil Patil 6 frequently asked questions which could support individuals trying to progress in their career or start in their career. These questions were; What skills are most important for career advancement? Should I pursue further education or certifications...
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How increase your chances of getting a response from your job applications | Season 1
In this conversation, Walter discusses the best practices for beating an ATS system (Applicant Tracking System). He emphasises the importance of tailoring your resume to each application, including relevant keywords and using the correct format (Word document). Walter also mentions that it is...
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1/2 How do I ask for a promotion? Sushil Patil & Nick Evans | Season 1
We asked leaders Nicholas Evans & Sushil Patil 6 frequently asked questions which could support individuals trying to progress in their career or start in their career. These questions were; What skills are most important for career advancement? Should I pursue further education or certifications...
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Optimise your LinkedIn headline so you never miss an opportunity | Season 1
In this episode of the Leader Scout podcast, Walter shares three simple steps to create a shiny LinkedIn headline. He emphasises the importance of getting the headline correct and making it searchable with relevant keywords. The three steps include highlighting the size of teams led and the…
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Say yes to everything when learning early into your career, Em Rose | Season 1
Em shares her journey from being a social media intern to becoming a credible social media coach in the Australian market. She emphasises the importance of internships and gaining experience, even if it means working unpaid. Em highlights the value of saying yes to opportunities and being open to...
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We fear the unknown but this is also the space for growth, Diane Avice | Season 1
Diane Avice shares her journey from being an employment consultant to becoming a leader in the NDIS sector. She emphasises the importance of being open to change and seeking out new opportunities. Diane highlights the value of mentorship and personal development in career growth. She also…
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Understanding how you learn can help you grow in different ways and accelerate your growth, Kathryn Shepherd-King | Season 1
Kathryn Shepherd-King started her career as a marketing intern at EMI Music. She realised that traditional university education wasn't for her and preferred hands-on learning. She gained experience in various marketing roles, including at the Autism Association and Photo Corporation of Australia....
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Write a professional resume to stand out in the competitive job market, Faiz Alam | Season 1
Faiz Alam, a leading career coach in Dubai, shares his journey from HR intern to career coach. He gained valuable experience in HR and recruitment while working in India and Saudi Arabia before moving to Dubai. Faiz started his career coaching business by creating videos and LinkedIn posts to…
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Once you get that validation from a big platform, more people are likely to find you a subject matter expert, Utkarsh Manocha | Season 1
Utkarsh Manocha shares his career journey, from studying in Australia to working in various roles, including project management and consulting. He emphasizes the importance of gaining experience through internships and part-time jobs while in university. Utkarsh also discusses the challenges he...
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If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together, Ben Whitaker | Season 1
Ben Whitaker shares his career journey from being a teacher to becoming a freelance consultant and contractor. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, networking, and putting oneself out there. Ben discusses his experience in keynote speaking, consulting, and content creation. He also…
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I don't believe in regularly scheduled meetings because all they do is waste time or accomplish anything, Jeff Bogensberger | Season 1
In this conversation, Jeff shares his experience in business development, starting from his early selling ventures as a child to his career in startups and smaller companies. He emphasizes the importance of direct communication and personal connections in sales, and how he achieved success by...
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If you're super keen and you can demonstrate that, it actually goes a really long way, Samuel Blank | Season 1
Sam Blank shares his impressive career journey in product design, starting from studying industrial design to working at a multinational organisation that designs and manufactures toys for McDonald's. He emphasises the importance of taking advantage of placement years and being persistent in...
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You don't necessarily wait for permission. If you think it's the right thing to do, do it, Matthew Mackey | Season 1
Matthew Mackey shares his journey from being a project surveyor in the UK to his current role in Australia. He started as a graduate at Garner and Theobald in London, where he gained a lot of responsibility early on. He then moved to Manchester and climbed the ranks to become an executive…
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Very rarely will the right position find you so you need to put yourself in a position to be found, George Vatis | Season 1
George Vatis shares his career journey, starting as a Fitter and Turner and transitioning into the family tool-making business. He then pursued his passion for photography and worked as a wedding photographer while still in the factory. George later owned and operated video stores, leveraging his...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Your host, Tom Millington, CEO and Founder of People8, brings you a podcast dedicated to delivering valuable insights on technology, talent acquisition, leadership, and strategies to boost staff retention in your business.We’re here to share our journey and real world learnings with you. Tune in fortnightly for the latest episode!
HOSTED BY
Tom Millington
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Leader Scout have?
Leader Scout currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Leader Scout about?
Your host, Tom Millington, CEO and Founder of People8, brings you a podcast dedicated to delivering valuable insights on technology, talent acquisition, leadership, and strategies to boost staff retention in your business.We’re here to share our journey and real world learnings with you. Tune in...
How often does Leader Scout release new episodes?
Leader Scout has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Leader Scout?
You can listen to Leader Scout 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 Leader Scout?
Leader Scout is created and hosted by Tom Millington.
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