Gold Coast Speakers: In Conversation

Mark Pope, a leadership expert, discusses the rediscovery of purpose, challenges in team performance, the importance of truth in business, setting expectations for success, pragmatic and authentic leadership, balanced decision-making, self-awareness, embracing discomfort for growth, effective leadership conversations, universal truths in leadership, building trust in organizations, purpose and fulfillment in life, trust-building and integrity, adding value through presentations, and finding meaning and purpose. Mark's insights emphasize the importance of trust, authenticity, and balanced leadership in achieving high performance and fulfillment in both personal and professional life.TakeawaysRediscovering purpose after retirementBalancing stretch and support for high performanceChapters00:00 Rediscovering Purpose06:33 Authentic Leadership14:15 The Importance of Coaching and Development19:51 Universal Truths in Leadership26:26 Trust-Building and Integrity31:43 Connecting with Mark Pope

Kate Osborne shares her transformative experience learning from Mr. Zollinger, her unique ability to connect with diverse audiences, insights on sales, and observations on the changing landscape of conferences.TakeawaysConnecting with diverse audiencesSales Made SimpleThe changing landscape of conferences

Leon Purton, a leadership expert and author, shares his personal journey and insights on leadership, human behavior, and the impact of self-awareness. He emphasizes the importance of leading oneself, the three rooms of leadership, and the significance of difficult conversations in leadership. Leon's goal is to help individuals show up as better leaders the next day, and he focuses on weaving empathy, actionable data, and actionable takeaways into his speaking engagements.TakeawaysSelf-awareness is pivotal in leadershipLeadership happens in three rooms: leading oneself, leading the team, and leading the cultureDifficult conversations are essential in leadership and require empathy, actionable data, and actionable takeawaysChapters00:00 The Journey to Leadership10:38 The Impact of Self-Awareness21:20 Normalisation in Leadership

Christie Perrin, the founder of Gwen Creative and Busy Girl Social Club, shares her journey of starting a successful marketing agency and a community for career-driven women. She discusses the challenges, achievements, and the impact of her work.TakeawaysBuilding a successful business in your 20s• The importance of community and connection in business

The conversation covers the evolution of marketing and personal branding, emphasising the importance of authenticity and human connection in the age of AI. Melissa Scott shares insights on the shifts in marketing over the past 25 years and the critical role of personal branding in connecting with audiences.TakeawaysPersonal BrandingAuthenticityChapters00:00 The Evolution of Marketing and Personal Branding

The conversation with Craig Tolson delves into the journey of personal growth, the impact of isolation on mental health, taking responsibility for mental health, supporting mental health in high-pressure industries, and addressing mental health in the workplace. Craig shares his personal experience and insights, shedding light on the challenges and solutions related to mental health and personal development.TakeawaysPersonal growth from lived experienceImpact of isolation on mental healthChapters00:00 The Journey of Personal Growth15:18 Taking Responsibility for Mental Health

The conversation covers the impact of childhood experiences on adult life, the difference between thriving and surviving, the importance of listening to the inner voice, the normalization of burnout in the workplace, the relationship between resilience and burnout, and the effectiveness of combining storytelling with information in presentations.TakeawaysChildhood impact on adult lifeThriving vs SurvivingListening to the inner voiceNormalization of burnoutResilience and burnoutCombining story with informationChapters00:00 The Impact of Childhood on Adult Life07:15 Normalization of Burnout20:14 Resilience and Burnout

What happens when we stop treating mental health like a corporate checkbox… and start talking about it like real humans?In this episode, Tracey Leak sits down with Jodi Brown for an honest conversation about the way mental health, confidence, stress, and personal growth show up in our workplaces, communities, and the lives of young people.Drawing on his lived experience, Jodi shares why traditional approaches to mental health conversations often miss the mark — and what actually helps people engage, reflect, and make meaningful change.Together they explore:• The moment Jodi realised mental health needed to be spoken about differently• The biggest challenges he sees across businesses, communities, and youth today• Why audiences often switch off from traditional mental health education• How lived experience changes the way conversations land• What organisations often get wrong when trying to address mental health• The role confidence, stress, and responsibility play in modern life• And the small shifts that can create powerful personal changeThis is a thoughtful, practical, and refreshingly real conversation about mental health — one that moves beyond buzzwords and into conversations that genuinely connect.If you organise events, work with teams, support young people, or simply want to understand mental health conversations in a more human way, this episode will give you plenty to think about.🎙️ Featuring Jodi Brown, interviewed by Tracey LeakFrom the Gold Coast Speakers Podcast — showcasing the voices shaping conversations across our region.