Future Fit Leadership

Sadhana Smiles
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Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit!  There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic.  In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth.  No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry.  Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives. Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au  Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/ 

  1. Beyond the School Gate: The Fight Against Bullying and the Power of Community with Phillip Heath

    5D AGO

    Beyond the School Gate: The Fight Against Bullying and the Power of Community with Phillip Heath

    In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Phillip Heath, Head of Barker College, to explore what it truly means to lead a school community in a rapidly changing world. With more than three decades in education, Phillip shares his vision for future-ready learning — one that goes beyond academic results to shape young people of character, courage and compassion. We talk about digital literacy, global citizenship, Indigenous partnerships, and the role schools play in preparing students not just for work, but for life. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centres on bullying - how it shows up in modern school environments, the impact of social media, and the responsibility leaders carry in creating cultures where every student feels safe, known and valued. Phillip speaks candidly about the need for proactive leadership, strong community partnerships, and embedding respect as a lived practice, not just a policy. This is a thoughtful and timely conversation about education, responsibility, and the kind of leadership our young people need now more than ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    58 min
  2. Why CEO's Fail and Succeed: Insights from Kate Mason

    FEB 22

    Why CEO's Fail and Succeed: Insights from Kate Mason

    What does it really take to succeed as a CEO today and what does it take to leave a legacy that lasts? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Mason, a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and executive teams across some of the most complex organisations in Australia and globally. Kate shares what she’s seeing at the top of organisations right now. How CEO pathways are changing. Why diverse experience matters more than ever. And why the most successful leaders know they cannot, and should not, do it alone. We talk candidly about the CEO–board relationship, where trust is built or quietly eroded, the rookie mistakes that derail succession planning, and why starting that conversation too late is one of the biggest risks businesses take. Kate also unpacks the idea of the “glass cliff”, how leaders can assess whether someone is truly ready for the next role, and the question she always asks: how far down the runway are they? This is a practical, honest conversation about leadership at the top. About empathy, adaptability, forward thinking, and keeping the human at the centre of decision making in an environment that keeps shifting. If you are a CEO, an aspiring leader, a board member, or someone thinking seriously about what the next generation of leadership should look like, this conversation is for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  3. The Human Edge - Rethinking Critical Thinking in an AI World with Bethan Winn

    FEB 15

    The Human Edge - Rethinking Critical Thinking in an AI World with Bethan Winn

    In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by educator, speaker and author Bethan Winn for a timely and thoughtful conversation about critical thinking in an age shaped by AI, speed and constant information overload. Bethan’s journey began in a small Welsh town, grounded in language, community and curiosity, before taking her from teaching in London to building a new life and career in Australia. What started as a one year adventure became a long term commitment to education, learning and helping others think more clearly. A personal health scare in 2019 became a turning point, prompting Bethan to step away from traditional roles and focus on the work she now does so powerfully, helping leaders, teams and organisations strengthen judgement, curiosity and courage. We explore the ideas behind her book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI, including what critical thinking really means beyond the buzzwords, how AI is subtly reshaping the way we process information, and the early warning signs leaders should watch for when thinking starts to slip. Bethan shares practical frameworks, real world examples and a deeply human perspective on why experience, reflection and dialogue still matter. This conversation is for leaders navigating complexity, change and technology, and for anyone who wants to think well, lead well and stay human in the process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  4. Quietly Cracking - Why Half of Australian Workers are Struggling with Dr Michelle McQuaid

    FEB 8

    Quietly Cracking - Why Half of Australian Workers are Struggling with Dr Michelle McQuaid

    More than half of Australian workers say they are quietly cracking. Not burning out. Not falling apart in obvious ways. Just holding it together on the outside while something frays on the inside. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Dr Michelle McQuaid, senior fellow at the University of Melbourne and founder of The Change Lab, to unpack the findings from her latest national research, The Change Lab 2025 Workplace Report. Drawing on insights from more than 1,000 workers across Australia, Michelle shares what “quietly cracking” actually looks like, why younger workers are feeling it most, and how leaders are being impacted in very different but equally challenging ways. We talk about the supercycle of change leaders are operating within, the cost of living pressures shaping behaviour at work, the hidden risks of poor change management, and why wellbeing initiatives are falling short when they miss the emotional and social realities people are living with. Michelle also shares her HEART framework for leading change, practical ways leaders can support their people right now, and why connection matters more than communication in this next chapter of work. This is a timely, data-led conversation for leaders who know their people are carrying more than they can see, and who want to lead with clarity, care, and credibility in a decade that will demand all three. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr
  5. From an Instagram Story to Changing how a Nation Understands Consent with Chanel Contos

    FEB 1

    From an Instagram Story to Changing how a Nation Understands Consent with Chanel Contos

    What began as a single Instagram story became a national reckoning. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, to talk about how thousands of young people sharing their experiences forced Australia to confront what it was not teaching about consent, sex and power. Chanel takes us back to the moment she asked one simple question online, the flood of responses that followed, and the twelve month sprint that led to consent education being mandated in schools across the country. We talk about rape culture as a system, not a single act, why consent cannot be taught as a one off lesson, and how silence quietly protects harm. We also explore the harder conversations. Porn literacy. Online influence. The rising hostility she sees in some young men. The emotional cost of carrying thousands of stories. And what real leadership looks like when culture change, not comfort, is the goal. This is a conversation about courage, responsibility, and what it takes to turn anger into action. Not just for educators and parents, but for leaders everywhere who shape culture whether they intend to or not. Please enjoy this powerful and deeply important conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  6. 4000 Sundays: Burnout, Brain Drain, & Why Leaders Must Walk the Wellbeing Talk with Dr Goodwin - Holiday Replay

    JAN 25

    4000 Sundays: Burnout, Brain Drain, & Why Leaders Must Walk the Wellbeing Talk with Dr Goodwin - Holiday Replay

    What if you only had 4000 Sundays in your lifetime? And what if the way you work today is quietly stealing them away? In this conversation, Dr Kristy Goodwin takes us inside her own life-altering wake-up call — a moment in a Code Red hospital ward that forced her to confront burnout, mortality, and the “success tax” so many high performers pay. Kristy shares why our bodies keep score, how to stop crawling to Friday and start arriving at Sunday fully alive, and why protecting your focus, energy, and relationships is non-negotiable if you want to lead into the future. This is not just about wellbeing, it’s about the kind of leaders we choose to become — human-first, sustainable, and fiercely intentional. 🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: how many Sundays do you have left, and how do you want to spend them? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr
  7. The Future of Work is Family Friendly - with Jodi Geddes - Holiday Replay

    JAN 18

    The Future of Work is Family Friendly - with Jodi Geddes - Holiday Replay

    In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Jodi Geddes – co-founder of Circle In, keynote speaker, and a passionate advocate for caregivers in the workplace. Jodi shares her remarkable journey of building (and selling) a global platform that supports working parents and caregivers across life stages – from parental leave to menopause and beyond. We talk about the reality of returning to work after children, what true empathy in leadership looks like, and how burnout can creep up on even the strongest among us. Jodi opens up about her personal experiences with burnout, the power of vulnerability, and why creating a psychologically safe, family-friendly workplace isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential. We also explore how leaders can role model care, build trust through storytelling, and rethink flexibility in a hybrid world. This is a must-listen for leaders ready to embrace whole-person leadership and for anyone navigating the beautiful, messy juggle of career and caregiving. 🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
  8. Scent & Sensibility - The Future of Fragrance in Business with Suji & Jeeva Sanjeevan- Holiday Replay

    JAN 11

    Scent & Sensibility - The Future of Fragrance in Business with Suji & Jeeva Sanjeevan- Holiday Replay

    What if your brand had a signature scent that made clients feel exactly what you wanted them to feel — trust, luxury, energy, nostalgia? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with doctors-turned-entrepreneurs Suji and Jeeva, co-founders of BrandScent, the game-changing business behind some of Australia’s most memorable branded fragrances. From maternity leave side hustle to Shark Tank and scent tech innovation, their journey blends science, storytelling, and serious startup grit. We explore how scent influences behaviour, memory, and brand loyalty — and why scent might just be your most powerful (and overlooked) branding tool. If you’ve ever said, “This place smells like success,” this episode is for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
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About

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit!  There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic.  In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth.  No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry.  Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives. Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au  Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/ 

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