Frontline To Boardroom Martin Brooker

What does it mean to make way in leadership? For former Royal Australian Navy Captain Will Martin, progress as a leader has demanded humility, communication savvy, and above all - a commitment to mission.

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I speak with Will Martin, a veteran of over 30 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy and a third-generation Naval Officer. With Command of two ships and operational service in the Middle East and on our borders, he also served as the senior Navy representative in the Australian High Commission in London. In his final full-time posting in the Navy, Will was responsible for all aspects of warfare training across the Navy. Along with his wife Helen, he now runs Waterline Leadership - a leadership development practice focussed on senior teams and emerging leaders.

What I loved about our conversation was Will’s humility and willingness to get down and dirty to discuss some of the leadership challenges of today. His extensive real-world experience isn’t merely retrospective; he’s focused on paying forward hard-won insights through emerging leader development, irrespective of industry.

Join Will to hear how lessons from the command of two Navy ships have charted his course as a leadership consultant. Gain insights on unifying teams, focusing through crisis, and developing the self-awareness required of those called to command and lead others.

Losing a job you worked so hard to get into and has defined a significant portion of your life can lead to a pervasive sense of loss and confusion. While the struggle to reconcile the person who you once were with the uncertain realities of the present exists, this also serves as an opportunity to discover truths to lead yourself and begin a new journey.

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I speak with Elizabeth McCormick, a decorated US Army Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot who flew air assault, command and control, top-secret, intelligence, and VIP transport missions. She served in the 10th Mountain Division, including service in support of the humanitarian mission in Kosovo.

Elizabeth’s journey into and out of the military is proof that life is indeed filled with opportunities and having the right mindset and courage to go after these will always be rewarded.

From the moment she decided to join the army, to the crucial decision to join corporate America and eventually ventured out to keynote speaking, these instances showcased that although things may take an unexpected turn, it may just be the transition needed to embark on a new chapter.

Elizabeth’s captivating story from soaring military success to achieving remarkable professional achievements tells about her commitment to resilient leadership that inspires others to seize the reins of their destiny and carve their own paths to success.

Acting and leadership seem like entirely separate domains at first glance. Still, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the skills and qualities of a talented actor can significantly overlap with those of an effective leader.

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I talk with Claire Baldwin, a former member of the Royal Australian Navy whose career highlights include deployment in the Middle East, roles in Navy Culture, and key staff positions before she pursued an acting career.

Throughout the conversation, Claire emphasises that the skills she developed as an actor have served her well in leadership roles. The ability to communicate effectively, inspire and motivate others, and adapt to change has been instrumental in her success.

This episode of Frontline to Boardroom serves as an inspiring testament to the transformative power of diverse experiences and the valuable lessons they bring to leadership. Let's dive in!

Leadership is an ever-evolving concept that shapes the world we live in. It is a force that drives progress, inspires change, and empowers individuals and communities to achieve extraordinary feats. In leadership, there is a crucial element that often goes unnoticed but holds tremendous power—the power of collective collaboration.

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I chat with Tom Larter, a former Captain in the Australian Army. Tom had a distinguished 13-year military career before he transitioned to the private sector and became one of the early leaders at WithYouWithMe, one of Asia Pacific’s fastest-growing tech companies.

Tom shares his insights on the importance of collective collaboration in leadership and how it has shaped his experiences both in the military and the private sector. He also shares the importance of data in making informed decisions and driving organisational success.

What truly resonated with me during our conversation was the valuable insight into our daily leadership challenges. It reminded me of the importance of pausing and reflecting briefly before leaping into action. This seemingly simple yet powerful habit can give us a fresh perspective and enhance our decision-making process.

In today's ever-changing world, leaders need to become more innovative in their leadership. It is not enough to rely on traditional methods of leadership that may have worked in the past because the challenges of the modern day are very different. Therefore, what better way to apply science and scientific approaches when leading a team?

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I chat with Dennis Franklin who served in the Royal Australian Navy for 10 years as a logistic officer before being transferred to the Reserves to continue service in Naval Intelligence, IT Systems, and Business relationships.

Dennis shares his experience utilizing science-based leadership to successfully resolve key challenges in the Navy. He talks about how science-based leadership can assist in developing a team’s culture of collaboration and interdependence.

Dennis's insights apply to all types of leaders, from frontline troops to boardroom executives. Listen to this episode now to learn how to lead with a scientific approach and optimize your team’s potential.

Failure often comes with a negative connotation in our society, but the truth is that it plays an important role in success. In fact, failure is not only necessary for growth; it actually paves the way for achieving greater levels of success and fulfillment both personally and professionally.

In this episode of Frontline to Boardroom, I chat with Ben Seesink who served in the Royal Australian Engineers, Australian Army. After a post military career in consulting and project management, Ben founded his own business, BOUW, a company that helps businesses win defence contracts and provides bespoke solutioins for the design and operations of shooting ranges and training facilitiesfor the Australian Defence Force and other security agencies.

Ben shares the leadership lessons from his lived experiences in the military and how they can be applied to business. He talks about how failure is essential for growth and how it can provide insight into the direction you should take to reach your goals.
Ben's story is an inspiring reminder that failure can often be a learning opportunity, and using those experiences to propel you forward is important. He also speaks about how leaders need to cultivate an environment of trust and understanding for their team members to feel secure enough to take risks and learn from their mistakes.

If you want to learn how to turn failure into success, this episode of Frontline to Boardroom is a must-listen. Tune in to hear Ben's story and discover failure's vital role in achieving success.