Tonka Talks Michael Tonkin

This month on Tonka Talks, Michael dives deep into Communicative Intelligence with author and expert Professor Kendall Zoller. Together, they've tackled the challenges of virtual training during COVID, and now they're here to share their insights with you.



Discover the three key areas of Communicative Intelligence:


Cognitive: Sharpen your thinking and understanding.
Emotional: Master the art of reading emotions (yours and others').
Behavioural: Adapt your communication style for maximum impact.

Plus, don't miss Kendall's heartwarming message to his 14-year-old self!

This episode is packed with practical tips to help you become a more confident and effective communicator, no matter the situation.




0:59 - 2:53 - Kendall introduces himself and Sacramento
2:54 - 4:40 - Virtual workshop experience during COVID-19 (200+ co-facilitated) & Kendall's global consulting adventures
4:50 - 6:59 - Kendall's recent travel as a consultant (London, Hong Kong, Bali, Germany, Shanghai) & airplane encounters
7:00 - 9:45 - Understanding Communicative Intelligence
9:52 - 12:03 - Global cultural differences in communication (eye contact, gestures, language)
12:25 - 20:00 - Making presentations fantastic: differentiating presenters & facilitators
20:20 - 24:02 - Building connection and a strong group while facilitating
24:19 - 25:14 - Kendall's dream dinner guests (dead or alive)
25:54 - 28:15 - Leadership preferences: systems thinking, values-driven leaders & Kendall's inspirations
28:35 - 39:53 - Shifting leadership styles, evolving education, and creating change
42:20 - 48:04 - Reflecting on 4 years of global virtual workshops

Test Tube Triumphs: Michael quizzes Georgie on her time at Oxford (Chemistry!) and the privilege of studying at a historic UK university. (4:41 – 7:34)
JANA Journey to CEO: Georgie reflects on her 15 years at JANA, her lifelong curiosity, and embracing diverse roles instead of a fixed career plan. (8:02 - 10:47)
Inside JANA: Georgie sheds light on the company's business model. (11:15 - 12:36)
The Changing Investment Landscape: Michael and Georgie discuss how investing is evolving. (12:38 - 13:55)
Investing Today: Opportunities, Risks & Real-World Impacts: Explore the exciting possibilities, potential pitfalls, and real-life consequences of investing in today's market. (14:10 - 17:19)
Georgie's First Year at the Helm: Georgie shares her experiences during her initial 12 months as CEO. (17:30 - 19:57)
New CEO Advice: Valuable tips for those stepping into the CEO role for the first time. (20:21 - 23:00)
Fast Forward: If Georgie could revisit her first year as CEO, what would she do differently? (23:53 - 25:20)
Demystifying the JANA Equity Model: Georgie explains how JANA's employee ownership structure works. (27:24 - 31:04)
Charting the Course: Planning & Business Strategy: Michael and Georgie delve into planning and business strategy. (31:48 - 35:05)
Sustainability at JANA: How sustainability is woven into the company's business strategy. (35:11 - 38:57)
The CEO and the Board: The crucial relationship between the CEO and the board of directors. (40:03 - 42:30)
Building a Value-Driven Team: How to inspire your team to add value and champion the company's core purpose. (43:17 -49:06)

In this podcast episode, Michael talks with Mark Ronan, the CEO of Adairs. They discuss Mark's remarkable career path, emphasising the transition from accounting to a leadership role in the retail sector. Mark shares valuable insights on leadership, job satisfaction, and customer-centric strategies. Additionally, he offers tips for effective presentation skills. Tune in for this insightful discussion.



See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.


(3:17 – 7:16) – Mark talks about Adairs Retail Group, highlighting variations in average sales and team focuses within the business, along with insights into their growth plans for the upcoming year.
(7:35 – 10:31) – Mark delves into the early days of his career, from his background as a chartered accountant at Deloitte, his transition to River Capital, and his experiences as an operational manager at a hotel group. He shares his journey from running pubs in Gold Coast, Bendigo, and Federation Square in Melbourne to joining Adairs as a finance and operations manager.
(10:50 – 12:41) – Mark draws inspiration from influential figures who guided his early days at Adairs, offering valuable insights into their impact on his journey.
(13:01 - 16:00) – Mark's transition to CEO is explored, from preparations for the role to the shift from a second-in-command (2IC) to CEO. He provides insights into his dual focus as CEO, which involves strategy and team management.
(17:36 - 18:36) – Mark navigates the rhythms of being a new CEO, shedding light on the early stages of leadership in this role.
(18:51 – 21:48) – Mark discusses the post-pandemic landscape for the business and identifies the strengths that helped Adairs weather the pandemic storm.
(24:00 – 26:01) – Mark shares the story of Adairs' commitment to suppliers during the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the company's sales.
(26:14 - 29:50) – Insights into the unique challenges of leading a publicly listed company as a CEO.
(30:10 – 32:03) – Mark reveals his favourite moments of the year, offering a glimpse into what brings him joy in the business calendar.
(33:15 – 36:07) – The exploration of Adairs' approach to utilising AI to enhance business productivity and efficiency.
(36:28 - 38:40) – Mark emphasises the importance of recognising one's leadership strengths.
(39:10 – 41:17) – Insights into the role of open communication and feedback in the life of a CEO, including strategies for managing the feedback cycle.
(41:34 - 48:43) – Mark delves into the qualities that define an exceptional Executive Assistant (EA) and shares his perspectives on sustaining energy and passion in the role of a CEO.
(49:10 - 52:40) – Learn the secrets to delivering outstanding presentations as Mark shares his expertise in this domain.

Discover valuable insights in this episode of Tonka Talks as we chat with Kate Solly, Sales Director and Marketing Manager at CAPI, an Australian family-owned bottled water and beverage company on the rise. Join the dynamic conversation between Kate and Michael as they explore strategies to enhance meeting efficiency, CAPI's impressive growth in the past year, and Kate's innovative approach to navigating life and hosting dinner parties during the COVID era.

Throughout the discussion, Kate reveals her passion for the wholesale industry, sharing her journey of creating opportunities and fostering growth with emerging businesses. Her robust professional background makes her a seasoned authority in the industry.

If you're a professional in sales and marketing eager for insights, this podcast featuring Kate Solly is essential listening. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from a distinguished industry authority.



See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.

·       (1:40 – 2:40) - Michael and Kate discuss her recent feature in the Australian Financial Review regarding CAPI's 40% sales increase over the past year.

·       (2:41 – 8:50) – Kate talks about her life, adjusting to post-COVID normalcy, her new dog Molly, taking things a bit easier, virtual dinner parties during COVID, and her favourite types of dress-up.

·       (9:00 – 15:00) – Kate shares her career journey before joining CAPI, including her experiences in retail, call centres, and self-improvement while working.

·       (18:19 - 22:03) – Kate elaborates on her fashion career at SABA, and the first time she met Michael at a Senior Managers Program, and her unique perspective on the commercial industry, retail, and wholesale.

·       (23:30 – 25:37) – Managing workplace meetings and innovative feedback methods.

·       (25:55 – 27:30) – Exploring the distinctions between State and National Manager roles.

·       (28:00 - 30:22) – Kate's role at Elwood, a family-owned business, and her accomplishments in wholesale, buying, and planning. Emphasising the advantages of being a generalist in a small business.

·       (30:30 - 35:00) – Kate's international role at T2 as Retail Operations Manager, involving store launches in London, the USA, and online expansion.

·       (35:18 – 37:15) – Kate's early career role model and her current leadership style.

·       (37:46 - 49:15) – How Kate secured her position at CAPI, her inspiration from working with the founders, and the uniqueness of CAPI's natural beverages.

·       (50:21 - 51:38) – Wrapping up with Michael asking Kate for advice on helping teams reach their targets and managing leadership without feeling overwhelmed by sales goals.

Join us as we sit down with Paul Burness, the Managing Principal at Worrells, an Australian based insolvency fund. From savouring the delights of food, wine, and travel, to diving into the intricacies of staff engagement and business success strategies, this episode explores what truly propels enterprises forward. Paul unveils the secrets behind nurturing unwavering staff commitment and igniting the spark that drives a business to new heights. This conversation promises to inspire and entertain, encapsulating the essence of thriving businesses and engaged teams.



See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.


(1:22 – 6:41) - Michael and Paul kick-off the podcast discussing Paul’s food, wine and travel recommendations.
(6:41 – 12:20) - We dive into the world of Worrells - who they are, what they do, and their successful alignment and change management.
(12:20 - 17:35) - Paul shares the fascinating origins and growth of Worrells Victoria, reflecting on both the biggest achievements and regrets along the way.
(17:35 - 28:55) - We touch upon the impact of COVID-19 on the insolvency industry and how Worrells adapted. Paul provides valuable insights into the company's unique culture, which has contributed significantly to its success.
(28:55 – 33:29) - Discover what makes Paul Burness an exceptional leader, his role in driving change, and how he provides opportunities for
growth within Worrells VIC.
(33:29 – 41:25) - In the closing segment, we reflect on why Worrells has remained successful for so long, and what the future holds for both Paul and Worrells.