Fireside Leadership Podcast

Aegis Leadership
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Every leader has a story. The Fireside Leadership Podcast explores the decisions, challenges and lessons that shape exceptional leaders across business, sport, the military and public service. Presented by Aegis Leadership, our mission is to make practical leadership conversations freely available to anyone who wants to lead better. Every episode delivers real-world lessons from people who have earned the right to speak through experience.

  1. 5d ago

    When Pressure Hits, Preparation Takes Over | Dougal Allan

    Pressure rarely arrives when life is orderly. When it hits, the quality of your preparation matters more than how confident or motivated you feel. Dougal Allan is a two-time Coast to Coast champion, endurance coach and America’s Cup winner. Across more than 20 years of elite competition, he learned how to remain present through pain, recover from failure and perform when the stakes were at their highest. In this conversation, Dougal explains why the process matters more than the finish line, what a failed Team New Zealand power test taught him about comparison, and how trust and role clarity operate inside a world-class team. He also shares how years of preparation allowed him to perform during the America’s Cup while facing significant upheaval in his personal life. This episode explores how to build preparation that survives pressure, uncertainty and self-doubt, so you can continue delivering when others depend on you. ABOUT DOUGAL ALLAN Website: https://dougalallan.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougal_allan/ Lake Hāwea Epic: https://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/ ABOUT FIRESIDE LEADERSHIP Fireside Leadership shares honest conversations and practical ideas to help you become a better leader tomorrow. Learn more about leadership training, coaching and Aegis Leadership: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz Thanks to our mates at Dark Horse Coffee for powering the podcast, you can check them out at: https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/ Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, high-performing teams and decision-making under pressure.

  2. Aug 15

    Why Trying to Have All the Answers Is a Leadership Trap | Marius van der Pol

    Marius van der Pol has operated inside two environments where weak leadership is quickly exposed: the NZSAS and Emirates Team New Zealand. In this conversation, Marius explains why effective leadership is not about having every answer. It is about setting clear standards, remaining calm under pressure and trusting capable people with genuine ownership. He shares what happened when he encountered a problem effort alone could not solve, why micromanagement removes accountability and how calm communication helped Team New Zealand respond to setbacks and dangerous moments. Marius also discusses discipline, fear of judgement and why taking a chance on someone’s potential can create extraordinary commitment. This is a practical conversation for leaders learning to relinquish control without lowering their standards. CONNECT WITH AEGIS LEADERSHIPLeadership coaching, team development and decision-making under pressure:https://www.aegisleadership.co.nzSubscribe to Fireside Leadership Podcast for genuine conversations and practical ideas that will help you become a better leader tomorrow.With thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for supporting Fireside LeadershipCheck out their new blends at https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/

  3. Aug 9

    You Don’t Need Confidence to Start Again | Nichole Lewis

    You do not need to feel confident before starting again. Sometimes action is what rebuilds belief. After losing her income, property portfolio and family home during the Global Financial Crisis, Nichole Lewis had to decide whether to retreat into safety or rebuild from the ground up. Her starting point included selling horse manure for $2 a bag while working out how to return to property with no money. In this conversation, Nichole explains how the right coach helped restore her sense of possibility, why values should guide major decisions and how she turns fear into a practical process of examining emotions, facts, choices and risk. Nichole and Chris also explore why doing nothing still carries risk, how small wins create momentum, the importance of measuring progress backwards and why worthwhile opportunities must be followed through to a definitive outcome. This is a practical conversation about starting again, acting before you feel ready and rebuilding self-belief one decision at a time. Connect with Nichole: https://www.thepropertylifestyle.com Q4 Property: https://www.q4property.co.nz/ Explore Aegis Leadership: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz With thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for supporting Fireside Leadership. Check out their new blends at https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz This conversation shares personal experiences and general information. It should not be treated as personalised financial advice.

  4. Jul 28

    Inside the Mind of NZ's Top Enlisted Soldier: The 3-8-2 Thinking Rule - Wiremu Moffitt

    The best leaders don't react faster. They think better. After more than 30 years in the New Zealand Defence Force—and now serving as the Warrant Officer of the Defence Force, New Zealand's senior enlisted leader—Wiremu Moffitt has learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating the time and space to think clearly, empower others and make better decisions under pressure. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with Wiremu to explore the 3-8-2 Thinking Rule, a practical framework he uses to deliberately protect time for strategic thinking. Along the way they discuss humility, influence, trust, high-performing teams, adaptability, communication and the responsibility that comes with leadership. This isn't a conversation about military tactics. It's a conversation about becoming a better leader. The 3-8-2 Thinking Rule for protecting your thinking timeWhy humility creates stronger teams than egoHow trust is built through consistent behaviourWhy the best leaders ask more questions than they answerHow to simplify complex decisions under pressureThe role of curiosity in leadership growthWhy adaptability is a modern leadership superpowerHow to create cultures where people willingly give discretionary effortWarrant Officer Wiremu Moffitt is the Warrant Officer of the New Zealand Defence Force (WODF), the senior enlisted leader in the NZDF. A former member of the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS), he has spent more than three decades developing leaders, advising senior commanders and strengthening organisational culture across the Defence Force. NZ Defence Force: https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership. Fuelled by Dark Horse Coffee https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz

  5. Jul 28

    Why Your Best Leaders Should Let the Business Have a Bad Quarter - Jerry Beale

    Strategy matters. But culture determines whether it succeeds. Leadership consultant and culture strategist Jerry Beale believes the biggest mistake leaders make is focusing on performance before people. Organisations don't thrive because of better strategies alone—they thrive when trust, belonging and genuine human connection create the conditions for people to do their best work. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with Jerry to explore what great workplace cultures actually look like. They discuss trust, psychological safety, communication, leadership presence, belonging, rhythm and why the most effective leaders spend more time listening than talking. Whether you're leading a team of five or an organisation of five thousand, this conversation offers a different perspective on building cultures where people genuinely want to contribute. Why culture is every leader's greatest competitive advantageHow trust is built—and quietly lost—inside organisationsThe four pillars of high-performing workplace culturesWhy belonging drives better performance than engagement aloneHow great leaders read the "signals" in every roomThe role rhythm plays in creating psychological safetyWhy listening is one of leadership's most underrated skillsHow to challenge people without damaging trustJerry Beale is a brand strategist, culture consultant and founder of Cultureate and Wolf Strategy. He works with organisations to strengthen leadership, organisational culture and trust, helping businesses build workplaces where people feel connected, valued and able to perform at their best through practical, human-centred leadership. Website: https://cultureate.nz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-beale/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership: www.aegisleadership.co.nz

  6. Jul 28

    Why Your Work Isn't Speaking For Itself - Rochelle Moffitt

    Your work doesn't always speak for itself. Sometimes, you have to. Many talented leaders stay invisible because they believe good work alone will be recognised. Leadership strategist Rochelle Moffat argues that influence isn't about self-promotion—it's about making your ideas visible, building genuine relationships and creating opportunities before you need them. In today's world, if people don't know what you stand for, they can't recommend you, trust you or follow your leadership. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with Rochelle to explore personal branding, networking, influence and why relationships remain one of the greatest competitive advantages in leadership. They discuss LinkedIn, building authentic networks, creating momentum, developing executive presence and the practical habits that help leaders become known for the value they create. Whether you're looking to grow your career, attract opportunities or expand your influence, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for standing out without losing authenticity. Why your work alone isn't enough to build influenceHow personal branding creates opportunities before you need themThe difference between having a network and having influenceWhy giving value first builds stronger professional relationshipsHow to overcome imposter syndrome and start showing upPractical ways to build momentum on LinkedIn and beyondThe SHINE framework for growing your career and influenceWhy opportunity finds people who are already taking actionRochelle Moffat is a personal branding strategist, entrepreneur and founder specialising in executive visibility, influence, relationships and community building. She works with leaders, founders and executives to help them build authentic personal brands, expand their professional networks and create opportunities through strategic communication and relationship building. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellemoffat/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochellemoffat/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership: www.aegisleadership.co.nz

  7. Jul 28

    What If You Have To Perform Without Confidence? - Dane Cleaver

    Confidence isn't something you find. It's something you build. Professional cricketer Dane Cleaver knows that confidence comes and goes. In elite sport, performance is your currency, and there are days when self-belief is low but the expectation to deliver never changes. The difference isn't feeling confident—it's trusting your preparation, controlling what you can and continuing to perform anyway. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with Dane to explore the mental side of high performance. They discuss resilience, preparation, process over outcomes, learning from failure, managing pressure, staying present and why consistency beats motivation every time. Whether you're leading a team, building a business or simply trying to perform better under pressure, this conversation is packed with practical lessons that extend far beyond the cricket field. Why confidence isn't required to perform at a high levelHow elite performers separate process from outcomesThe role preparation plays in handling pressureWhy failure is essential for long-term successPractical techniques to stay calm under pressureHow reflection accelerates improvementWhy consistency beats motivation over timeWhat it takes to keep showing up when things aren't going your wayDane Cleaver is a New Zealand international cricketer, Central Districts Stags wicketkeeper-batsman and high-performance athlete. Across a long professional career, he has developed a reputation for resilience, professionalism and leadership, sharing practical lessons on preparation, mental performance and building confidence through consistent daily habits. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danecleaver/ Central Districts Cricket: https://www.cdcricket.co.nz/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership. Fuelled by Dark Horse Coffee. https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz

  8. Jul 28

    From Cut Player to Operations President: Dillon Boucher's Comeback

    Championships aren't won on game day. They're built in the daily grind. Four-time NBL champion and New Zealand Breakers President of Basketball Operations Dillon Boucher has spent decades inside elite teams—as a player, captain and executive. His biggest lesson? High-performing teams aren't defined by talent. They're defined by discipline, culture and the willingness to do the hard, often unseen work that success demands. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with Dillon to unpack what separates winning teams from everyone else. They explore culture, resilience, preparation, leadership, handling setbacks, maintaining high standards and why the best performers embrace the daily process instead of chasing the spotlight. Whether you're leading a business, managing a team or striving to perform at a higher level, this conversation offers practical lessons from one of New Zealand's most respected sporting leaders. Why championship teams are built through daily habits, not big momentsThe role discipline and work ethic play in sustained successHow strong cultures outperform talented teamsWhy setbacks and rejection can become your greatest advantageThe importance of preparation, routines and visualisation under pressureHow great leaders maintain high standards without losing their peopleWhy purpose creates stronger teams than performance aloneThe sacrifices required to achieve long-term successDillon Boucher is the President of Basketball Operations for the New Zealand Breakers and one of New Zealand's most accomplished basketball figures. A former Tall Black and four-time Australian NBL champion, Dillon transitioned from an elite playing career into executive leadership, where he continues to build high-performing teams and develop winning cultures at the highest level of professional sport. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillonboucher24/ New Zealand Breakers: https://www.nzbreakers.basketball/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership: www.aegisleadership.co.nz

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Every leader has a story. The Fireside Leadership Podcast explores the decisions, challenges and lessons that shape exceptional leaders across business, sport, the military and public service. Presented by Aegis Leadership, our mission is to make practical leadership conversations freely available to anyone who wants to lead better. Every episode delivers real-world lessons from people who have earned the right to speak through experience.

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