Empowering Leaders

Aleda
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In this series, Luke Darcy is joined by iconic leaders to unpack learnings and life lessons from these game changers in their chosen field, whether it’s sports, art, business or education. We’ll break down the fundamentals of the new style of leadership, such as collaboration, integrity and innovation, through the stories of these iconic leaders.

  1. Inside Aleda Connect: Leaders on Learning Together

    1D AGO

    Inside Aleda Connect: Leaders on Learning Together

    What’s it like to be part of a small, trusted leadership group? Inside Aleda Connect, leaders from more than 20 countries come together each month in small groups to learn, reflect and collaborate. In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy shares the voices of ten leaders who are part of the Aleda Connect Global Leadership Program. From elite sport to global business, from diplomacy to AI, they offer honest reflections on what it means to step into a trusted leadership community. You’ll hear from Adam Driussi, Dan Rutstein, Emma Hayes, Jeremy Kodomichalos, Dixie Marshall, Paul Barnes, Sami Whitcomb, Aubrey Pleasant, Jenny Boucek and Jeff Scott - each responding to a simple question: What’s it actually like to be part of a small, trusted leadership group? What comes through isn’t theory. It’s lived experience. Conversations about vulnerability, accountability, imposter syndrome, loneliness at the top, and the compound effect of learning alongside people who think differently to you. We're privileged to work with this incredible collection of leaders who believe growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Find the full conversations with each of these guests right here: Aubrey Pleasant: The NFL Coach’s Emotional Intelligence Playbook Dan Rutstein: British Diplomacy to American Soccer Leadership Dixie Marshall: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership Adam Driussi: The Moment AI Saved My Company a Million Dollars Emma Hayes LIVE from London: For Women, By Women, Football & Beyond Jenny Boucek: How Servant Leadership Takes You to the Highest Level Jeremy Kodomichalos: There’s No Standard Path in Life or Business Paul Barnes: Navigating the Fast Lane of Formula One Sami Whitcomb: From Undrafted to WNBA Champion Super Bowl 2025 Leadership: Jeff Scott VP of Football Operations, Philadelphia Eagles To discover how you can learn and grow alongside leaders like the ones you've heard from today head here. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  2. Success Leaves Clues: Greatest Leader

    FEB 10

    Success Leaves Clues: Greatest Leader

    When you listen to leaders long enough, certain names keep coming up. In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke asks a simple question: who has been the greatest leader in your life? The answers are intimate and often unexpected. A television director who kept a young host’s ego in check. A boss who held a job open throughout chemotherapy. A father with “magic dust.” A partner who quietly led the family while the world watched the cricket. A wife building programs for kids with neurodiversity. A dad who could walk with kings and keep the common touch. A dentist who modelled what it meant to run a values-led practice. It is a moving reminder that leadership is often most present in the home, the clinic, the training track and the everyday conversations nobody else sees. Find the full episodes right here: Wil Anderson: "I'm a storyteller, not a documentarian!" Jamila Rizvi: Leadership, Legacy, and Living With a ‘Broken Brain’ Bec Daniher: Why Action Speaks Loudest — $115M and Counting Mike Hussey: How to Lead When the Heat Is On Jeremy Kodomichalos: There’s No Standard Path in Life or Business Super Bowl 2025 Leadership: Jeff Scott VP of Football Operations, Philadelphia Eagles Dr Tim McGrath: How to Beat Burnout and Find Balance at the Top Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  3. Success Leaves Clues: Great Leadership Advice

    FEB 3

    Success Leaves Clues: Great Leadership Advice

    Sometimes the best leadership wisdom fits on a Post-it note. In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke asks his guests for the one piece of advice they keep returning to. The answers range from the disarmingly simple to the deeply strategic. “Wake up each day and don’t be a wanker.” Keep the team at the centre but honour the individual. Keep dreaming and prepare for your chance. Catch people doing things right. Coach the way you’d want someone to coach your own kids. Lean into authenticity, even when it costs you. Say yes to leadership, even if you doubt yourself. And get to know yourself properly, especially the things you’d rather avoid. These are small sentences that shape entire cultures. Find the full episodes right here: Natalie Kyriacou: Leadership during the Climate Crisis Emma Hayes LIVE from London: For Women, By Women, Football & Beyond Bruce McAvaney: The voice behind the most unforgettable moments in Australian sport Todd Duncan: The 10 Word Question You Need To Ask Every Client Mike Brey: From Notre Dame to the NBA Brad Harrison: A Warrior’s Take on AI, Ayahuasca, and the Future of Defence Jacinda Ardern: The Cost and the Power of Compassionate Leadership Pippa Grange: Leading with Soul in a World Obsessed with Winning Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  4. Success Leaves Clues: Collaboration

    JAN 27

    Success Leaves Clues: Collaboration

    True collaboration is not just getting along. It is committing to a mission together. In this episode of the Empowering Leaders Success Leaves Clues, Luke talks with people who have lived collaboration in very different ways. Peter Rea explores character, growth and post-traumatic growth. Mikel Arteta reflects on a simple object, a football, and how it can change a life and even a country. Adam Driussi explains why his most important business relationship feels like a marriage. Paul Barnes talks about clarity and communication under race pressure. Dixie Marshall shares what happens when creatives, strategists and data people actually listen to each other. Lucinda Hartley and Andy Walshe bring in cross-sector collaborations that reimagine housing, cities and human performance. It is a wide-ranging look at what happens when you put different experiences in the same room and ask them to build something together. Find the full episodes right here: Dr. Peter Rea: Ask Your Kids This Instead - The 3 Questions That Cut Anxiety & Build Character Steve Kerr & Mikel Arteta LIVE: The Leadership Playbook Adam Driussi: The Moment AI Saved My Company a Million Dollars Paul Barnes: Navigating the Fast Lane of Formula One Dixie Marshall: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership Lucinda Hartley: How Our Spaces Shape The People We Become Andy Walshe: Has Human Potential Peaked? Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  5. Success Leaves Clues: Communication

    JAN 20

    Success Leaves Clues: Communication

    Everyone says communication is important. But how do you master it? In this episode of the Empowering Leaders Success Leaves Clues, Luke brings together people who think deeply about how words land. Dan Rutstein talks about the power of three. Julian Treasure shares why listening is a radical act. Steve Kerr explains why he sometimes writes letters instead of speeches. Michael Cheika leans into honest conflict. Yasmin Poole walks toward hard truths. Suzanne Eyler Williams reminds us to say less and hear more. And Gilbert Enoka talks about the internal shift that needs to happen before any external change can stick. It’s a collection of stories about communication that is clear, human and often uncomfortable, but always in service of something bigger than ego. Find the full episodes right here: Dan Rutstein: British Diplomacy to American Soccer Leadership Julian Treasure: The Real Power Move? Saying Less, Listening Better Steve Kerr & Mikel Arteta LIVE: The Leadership Playbook Michael Cheika: Leading Across Cultures - What Business Can Borrow From Sport Yasmin Poole: How to Speak Up - Even When It’s Hard Suzanne Eyler Williams: Cushioning the effects of concussion and repetitive impact Gilbert Enoka: The Mind Behind the All Blacks Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  6. Success Leaves Clues: Curiosity

    JAN 13

    Success Leaves Clues: Curiosity

    Some leaders feel the pressure to have all the answers. The most interesting ones stay curious instead. In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits with people who’ve built entire careers on asking better questions. From future-of-work expert Dr Ben Hamer to AI advisor Dr Ayesha Khanna, cave diver Craig Challen, Paralympic champion Curtis McGrath, artist Vincent Fantauzzo and coach Lorena Bernal, they all talk about staying open, not finished. They share how curiosity makes you more agile, more humble and more collaborative, whether you’re trying to save lives, win gold or create something beautiful. It’s a celebration of leaders who don’t pretend to know everything, and who enjoy the process of learning as much as the outcome. Find the full episodes right here: Dr. Ben Hamer: AI + Gen Z = the End of Business as Usual Dr Ayesha Khanna: How to Build Big with AI and Lead with Humanity Dr Craig Challen: Leadership When the Stakes Are Life and Death Curtis McGrath: Finding Purpose When the World Falls Apart Vincent Fantauzzo: The bravery, beauty and brilliance of a neurodivergent mind Lorena Bernal: Authenticity Over Perfection Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  7. Success Leaves Clues: Self Leadership

    JAN 6

    Success Leaves Clues: Self Leadership

    In leadership, everyone talks about high performance. Fewer people talk honestly about what it actually costs. In this Success Leaves Clues episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke brings together a powerful mix of coaches, athletes and leaders who all start in the same place: self leadership. From the NFL to elite netball, from politics to BMX gold, they talk about managing energy, filling your own cup, and knowing who you are before you try to lead anyone else. You’ll hear about meditation, vitamins and morning routines, but also about boundaries, honesty and the strange balance between being selfish enough to pursue a dream and selfless enough to use it to help others. It’s a reminder that before you lead a team, a family or a country, you have to learn how to lead yourself. Find the full episodes right here: Aubrey Pleasant: The NFL Coach’s Emotional Intelligence Playbook Jack Preddey: Training Your Mind Like an Elite Athlete Jenny Boucek: How Servant Leadership Takes You to the Highest Level Tyson Ballard: Innovating at the crossroads of Law, AI & Lifestyle Tania Obst: From 23 Losses to Double Championship Glory Behind the Politics: Peter Dutton on Family, Leadership, and Australia’s Challenges Saya Sakakibara: Turn Your Fear into a Superpower Many of the leaders featured in this episode are members of our Aleda Connect community. To discover how you can learn and grow in a group alongside leaders like them, book a discovery call today and learn more about our signature program. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  8. AI EDITION: How Leaders Rise in an AI World

    12/28/2025

    AI EDITION: How Leaders Rise in an AI World

    This special episode of Empowering Leaders brings together some of the world’s most forward-thinking voices to explore one of the biggest shifts of our time: artificial intelligence. Across dozens of conversations on the show, we’ve been asking leaders how they’re navigating this moment. Their answers are honest, energising, sometimes confronting... and full of clues about what great leadership will require next. You’ll hear from Andy Walshe, Adam Driussi, Dr Ben Hamer, Tyson Ballard, Brad Harrison, Julian Treasure, Dr Ayesha Khanna, Jeremy Kodomichalos and Dan Rutstein - each offering a unique perspective on what AI means for creativity, decision-making, responsibility and the future of work. From what these leaders have told us, as powerful as AI becomes, the future will still belong to people who can listen, adapt, stay curious, and lead with clarity. This collection invites you to pause, look ahead, and consider how you want to show up in this new era. Listen to the episodes in full below: Andy Walshe: Has Human Potential Peaked? Dr Ayesha Khanna: How to Build Big with AI and Lead with Humanity Jeremy Kodomichalos: There’s No Standard Path in Life or Business Adam Driussi: The Moment AI Saved My Company a Million Dollars Dan Rutstein: British Diplomacy to American Soccer Leadership Brad Harrison: A Warrior’s Take on AI, Ayahuasca, and the Future of Defence Julian Treasure: The Real Power Move? Saying Less, Listening Better Dr. Ben Hamer: AI + Gen Z = the End of Business as Usual Tyson Ballard: Innovating at the crossroads of Law, AI & Lifestyle Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
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Trailer

About

In this series, Luke Darcy is joined by iconic leaders to unpack learnings and life lessons from these game changers in their chosen field, whether it’s sports, art, business or education. We’ll break down the fundamentals of the new style of leadership, such as collaboration, integrity and innovation, through the stories of these iconic leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    Aleda
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    232
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Aleda
  • Show Website
    Empowering Leaders

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