“You have to respect the orthodoxy of the culture that you’re operating within, because it will absolutely hold the way in which things are done. And you will know when you come up against that culture—you will feel it.” - Louise Higgins

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In this episode, we’re joined by Louise (Lou) Higgins. Lou joined ANZ in January 2020 as the Chief Financial Officer of Technology and Enablement. She was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Australia in May 2021 and Managing Director of Suncorp Integration in September 2022. In September 2023, she was appointed to lead the Australia Retail Strategic Delivery function in conjunction with her Suncorp Integration responsibilities until February 2024. Lou currently leads the Strategy and Transformation for the Australian retail business.

In this role, Lou partners closely with the Group Executive, Australia Retail, and the Australia Retail leadership team to deliver a significant and complex transformation and prepare the business for the future.

Lou has a diverse set of skills and experience, having worked across multiple industries during her 20+-year career. She commenced her executive career in London before relocating back to Australia to work as an associate director with Macquarie Bank. In 2010, she became the Chief Operating Officer for Nova Entertainment. In January 2017, Lou was appointed Chief Financial and strategy Officer for the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC), where she oversaw the design and implementation of a significant technology transformation of the broadcaster.

Lou also has a diverse Non-Executive Career, having worked for Commercial Radio Australia, Visit Victoria, Qudos Bank, Canteen Australia, OneTwo Finance, and Enero Group Limited.

Our conversation with Lou explores the intricate dynamics of leadership and cultural transformation, set against the backdrop of her recent work leading the strategic Suncorp acquisition. Her candid insights reveal the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and strategic alignment in driving successful change.

She reminds us that effective leadership isn’t just about achieving outcomes—it's about how we lead others to those outcomes.

(00:00) Introduction

(06:15) Why do you think effective partnerships between finance and technology are so rare?

(11:39) What do you mean by the word transformation?

(15:18) How do you hold the tension between transforming the business and keeping it functioning while you do it?

(21:29) What stood out to you when you travelled the world studying banking acquisitions?

(29:49) How do you balance between knowing the whole answer yourself and slowly finding the answer together?

(35:19) What are some of the tools you use to paint the future for your people?

(41:47) How do you encourage the people that work for you?

(46:53) What’s the role of likeability in leadership?

(53:39) How do you navigate the clash of cultures during an integration?

(56:57) How do you deliver hard messages about the need for change as a leader?

(59:03) What’s the one piece of advice you’d give others approaching significant transformations?

“Just as delegation is a skill that can get taught to leaders and often is, the ability to take ownership is a skill that needs to be developed in people, and organizations often do not invest in training that.” - Evan Leybourn

In this episode, we are joined by Evan Leybourn, the founder and CEO of the Business Agility Institute. Evan has been a thought leader in the realm of Business Agility since 2008, advocating for organizations to rethink how they operate, lead, and govern to become more human-centric and adaptable in the face of constant change.

Evan's journey began with a realization that organizations needed to move beyond traditional agile practices confined to IT and software development. In 2016, he established the Business Agility Institute, aiming to create a global community dedicated to redefining business structures and cultures. The Institute has since become a hub for research, thought leadership, and collaboration among professionals striving to transform their organizations.

During our conversation, Evan delves into the fundamental differences between agile and Business Agility, emphasizing that Business Agility extends beyond methodologies to encompass organizational behaviors and mindsets. He shares insights from recent research studies conducted by the Institute, including "Bridging the Divide" and "The Balancing Act," which explore the challenges organizations face in collaboration, prioritization, and leadership.

Evan discusses the decline in organizational collaboration observed between 2022 and 2023, attributing it to factors like fear-based leadership and siloed structures exacerbated by economic uncertainties. He highlights the importance of moving towards human-centric governance and leadership models to foster organizational resilience and unity.

Through candid reflections, Evan offers valuable advice on breaking down silos, aligning goals, and investing in leadership development. He underscores organizations' need to build the muscles required to respond effectively to change, no matter how unexpected.

In this episode, we cover:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (04:07) What led to the founding of the Business Agility Institute?
• (10:15) What differentiates Business Agility from agile?
• (17:20) What emerged from the institute’s recent research study on trends in organizational collaboration?
• (24:40) What did the onset of the pandemic teach us about organizational agility?
• (33:24) What did the “Balancing Act” study on prioritizaton reveal?
• (39:50) What lies behind the struggle to act on the gap between supply and demand for strategic capacity?
• (45:30) What’s the secret to sustainable change?
• (52:21) How do leaders create time for change?

Throughout the episode, Evan emphasizes that change is inevitable and constant. Organizations that proactively develop the capabilities to adapt and respond to change are better positioned to achieve their purpose and succeed in today's dynamic environment.

Cast:

Evan Leybourn
Eric Willeke
Mark Richards

References:

• Good to Great - Jim Collins
• Reinventing Organizations - Frederic Laloux
• Integral Theory - Ken Wilber
• Switch - Chip and Dan Heath
• The Principles of Scientific Management - Frederick Winslow Taylor
• Crucial Influence: Joseph Grenny et al

“Often, there’s a real lack of clarity about where we are now. And it can be a very uncomfortable, painful set of truths that people don’t want to face. But to create progress, you need to face uncomfortable truths and understand where you’re starting from." - Natalie Field

In this episode, we’re joined by Natalie Field. Nat recently commenced as CEO of Informed Decisions and has accrued a wealth of portfolio leadership experience over the course of her career. Highlights include serving as the Chief Digital and Data Officer for BUPA Asia Pacific, Chief Technology Officer at Belong, and General Manager of the digital portfolio at Australia Post.

Nat is a customer-centric leader with 20 years of global experience in innovation, customer, product, digital, data, and technology. A catalyst for change, she has worked across multiple industries, including health, telecommunications, and services. She has a proven track record of leveraging digital, data, and technology to increase the impact of existing business models and unlock new growth opportunities.

She is recognized for her ability to work across organizational silos to create an ambitious vision and bring that vision to life in a way that creates customer and commercial growth while focusing on operational excellence.

Her passion for leadership and accessing excellence in others is combined with a fierce determination to exceed expectations.

During our conversation, Nat delves into the realities of leading large portfolios and navigating executive roles. She shares hard-won lessons about balancing quick wins with long-term vision, building outstanding leadership teams, tapping into their strengths, and using metrics to drive strategic outcomes. Through candid reflections, Nat offers valuable advice on creating clarity, building resilient teams, and managing the delicate balance between purpose and progress. Her approach to leadership is shaped by a clear focus on empathy, transparency, and aligning people with purpose.

In this episode, we cover:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (04:02) Where do you focus first when you take on a new portfolio?
• (10:15) Why try to bring the biggest naysayers closer?
• (13:46) How do you balance the tension between sustainable change and rapid results?
• (19:43) What role do you feel metrics play in strategy?
• (27:31) What about purpose?
• (35:58) What stereotypes did you have about the role of a CEO back when you didn’t have it?
• (43:03) What’s the secret to sustaining energy for the vision in the face of day-to-day reality as a leader?
• (46:58) How do you pick your advisors?
• (51:31) Can you provide an example of using a strengths finder to inform your leadership approach?

References:

• Good to Great - Jim Collins
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - Patrick Lencioni
• Reality is Broken - Jane McGonigal
• The Power of Full Engagement - Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
• Gallup StrengthsFinder