The Evolution Partners

Evolution Partners
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A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers. The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

  1. E81 | Why Growth Stalls Around $50 Million (Summer Series)

    5D AGO

    E81 | Why Growth Stalls Around $50 Million (Summer Series)

    Developing strong second-level leaders is essential for any organisation aiming to break through its next growth ceiling. Richard Peake, Andres Zylberberg and I examine the predictable points where companies stall, and the leadership evolution required to move beyond them. Common warning signs – including swamped executives, constant decision bottlenecks, and missed market signals – show why the old way of operating stops working as a business grows.  We discuss how to empower emerging leaders with true functional ownership, how mindset shifts drive organisational maturity, and why proactive development must begin long before the pain appears.  Takeaways   Strong second-level leaders are key to breaking through growth ceilings.  Sharing real responsibility keeps the executive team from becoming a bottleneck.  Leaders need to shift from doing everything to growing the people around them.  When managers are overloaded, it’s a sign the structure isn’t keeping up.  Clear ownership helps everyone make better decisions and move faster.  Growing leaders early makes growth smoother when things start ramping up.  Teams perform best when leaders coach instead of constantly putting out fires.  Evolving your mindset is essential to scale beyond what got you here.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  2. E80 | Quarterly Performance Reviews (Summer Series)

    DEC 14

    E80 | Quarterly Performance Reviews (Summer Series)

    Quarterly performance reviews are often dreaded by employees and managers alike, largely because they’re treated as bureaucratic, last-minute tasks rather than meaningful coaching conversations. However, done properly, performance conversations can be one of the most powerful tools to consistently grow your people and your business.  This is the first episode of a summer series, where I am joined by Andres Zylberberg and Richard Peake. We explore how performance reviews should be intentional, generous and part of a broader people system – from hiring to onboarding to regular check-ins – that frees individuals to focus on doing their best work.  Takeaways  Quarterly reviews work best as supportive coaching conversations, not bureaucratic tasks.  Clear role scorecards provide expectations, reducing surprises and aligning staff effectively.  Scheduling reviews early encourages preparation, fostering trust and constructive performance discussions.  Independent red-amber-green ratings create structure, enabling objective conversations about progress ongoing.  Regular quarterly rhythms surface issues sooner, supporting continuous improvement across teams.  Structured discussions help clarify misunderstandings, distinguishing capability problems from misaligned expectations.  Generous, intentional feedback strengthens relationships and accelerates long-term momentum within organisations.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  3. E79 | The Healthy Hundred with Dr Peter Larkins

    DEC 7

    E79 | The Healthy Hundred with Dr Peter Larkins

    If you want to stay sharp, energetic and high-performing well into your later decades, you need to deliberately invest in your healthspan, not just your lifespan. Sport and exercise physician Dr Peter Larkins is a former Olympic middle-distance runner and one of the pioneers of sports medicine in Australia. Across his career, Peter has worked with elite athletes, AFL clubs, national teams and major media networks.  Peter breaks down the five pillars of healthy longevity, the real-world benefits of movement and strength training, how to eat well on the road, the role of sleep and mindset, and what the most successful leaders who age well all have in common.  Takeaways  Healthy longevity comes from deliberately investing in your healthspan, not just your lifespan.  Movement is medicine, and even small amounts of consistent activity dramatically improve long-term health.  Strength training delivers powerful metabolic benefits far beyond simply building bigger, stronger muscles.  Sleep is critical recovery, directly influencing energy, cognition, mood and daily performance capacity.  Nutrition works best when your plate is colourful, simple and mostly plant-focused each day.  High-performing leaders who age well share drive, mindset discipline and consistent personal health habits.  Incidental activity – stairs, walking, standing – adds meaningful benefits for time-poor entrepreneurs and executives.  A balanced approach, not extreme protocols, creates sustainable wellbeing and long-term high performance.  Follow Dr Peter Larkins https://www.drpeterlarkins.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpeterlarkins/  Books on this episode The Healthy Hundred by Dr Peter Larkins https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpeterlarkins/ Good to Great by Jim Collins https://amzn.to/3XaAr2m Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles https://amzn.to/4riJADO  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  4. E78 | How Entrepreneurs Avoid Destructive Divorce with Catherine Leach

    NOV 30

    E78 | How Entrepreneurs Avoid Destructive Divorce with Catherine Leach

    Strong marriages don’t succeed by luck -- they succeed by design. Leading family lawyer and Leach Legal founder Catherine Leach shares the patterns she’s seen over 35 years that determine whether a relationship thrives or falls apart. Recognised nationally for her strategic approach to family law, she has guided thousands of couples through complex transitions and brings a rare blend of empathy, clarity and realism to the topic.  Beyond her legal practice, Catherine has held senior governance roles with the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation in Asia-Pacific, co-founded the Family Law Association of Victoria, and mentors entrepreneurs navigating both business and family pressures. She reveals the real reasons marriages fail, why some endure, and what entrepreneurs must understand to protect both their relationships and their wealth.  Takeaways  Strong marriages thrive on steady communication, mutual respect and choosing the right battles.  Small unresolved grievances compound over years and quietly erode even stable relationships.  Entrepreneurs often struggle because obsessive work patterns push family connection aside.  Financial imbalance fuels mistrust when one partner avoids or fears understanding the numbers.  Strategic divorces start with transparency, calm process and resisting emotional escalation traps.  Long-term relationship success requires deliberate planning, shared vision and consistent everyday effort.  Follow Catherine Leach https://leachlegal.com.au/ Books on this episode The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe https://amzn.asia/d/4NJFZ8C  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review.  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  5. E77 | First Meeting Differentiator with Lee Salz

    NOV 23

    E77 | First Meeting Differentiator with Lee Salz

    The first meeting can make or break a sale. Discovery-style meetings – where salespeople focus on gathering data – often fail to deliver meaningful value. Instead, Lee Salz introduces the consultation mindset, where sales professionals lead with insight, empathy, and emotion to create momentum from the very first conversation.  Lee Salz is one of the world’s leading voices in sales differentiation. As founder of Sales Architects, he helps companies design sales strategies that win more deals at higher prices. Lee shares frameworks for empathetic expertise, consultation cliffhangers, and how to systemise a first-meeting process that transforms the sales experience and strengthens long-term relationships.  Takeaways  The first meeting determines whether a deal gains traction or fades away completely.  Salespeople must shift from discovery to consultation to deliver real, meaningful value early.  A consultation mindset focuses on insight and leadership, not interrogation through endless questions.  Empathetic expertise creates emotional connection, helping buyers feel genuinely understood and supported.  Stories outperform features and benefits by engaging emotion and improving message retention.  Consultation cliffhangers build curiosity and momentum, ensuring buyers want a second meeting.  Recap emails written in the buyer’s language reinforce understanding and trust.  A strong sales process – not just strong salespeople – creates scalable, consistent success.  Follow Lee Salz https://salesarchitects.com/  https://www.assessmysales.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LeeBSalz https://x.com/salesarchitects https://www.instagram.com/theleesalz/ https://www.youtube.com/@theleesalz/videos  Lee’s books The First Meeting Differentiator: Transforming Sales-Focused Discovery Into Client-Centric Consultations https://amzn.to/405ZtBn Sales Differentiation: 19 Powerful Strategies to Win More Deals at the Prices You Want https://amzn.to/4ecBINZ Sell Different!: All New Sales Differentiation Strategies to Outsmart, Outmaneuver, and Outsell the Competition https://amzn.to/4e0kGT4  Books recommended Selling From The Heart by Larry Levine https://amzn.asia/d/f83bQw6 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  6. E76 | Curious, Connected & Calm with Stephanie Bown

    NOV 16

    E76 | Curious, Connected & Calm with Stephanie Bown

    High-performing organisations aren’t built on strategy alone – they’re built on leadership teams that stay curious, connected and calm. That’s the core message from organisational psychologist, author and leadership expert Stephanie Bown, who has spent 20+ years helping founders, startups, scale-ups and market disruptors embed high-performance habits and culture. Stephanie works with leaders to strengthen trust, alignment, and performance through science-backed behavioural systems like the LSI. Stephanie explains how strategy, culture, and leadership interlock to create enduring success, why developing mid-level leaders is critical for growth, and how silence in meetings can be the first warning sign that a culture is beginning to drift. Takeaways  High-performing organisations thrive when leadership teams stay curious, connected and calm under pressure. Culture, strategy and leadership must operate as one interconnected system for real performance. Silence in meetings is often the first signal that trust is breaking down. Great leaders grow their people instead of doing the work themselves. A culture drifts when honesty is replaced by politeness or avoidance. Systems create habits, and habits determine whether performance endures or fades. High-performing teams are independent thinkers who build collective capacity together. Better businesses focus on sustainability, trust and alignment – not just growth for growth’s sake. Follow Stephanie Bown https://stephaniebown.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebown1/ https://www.instagram.com/stephiefromthebay/#  Books on this episode Curious, Connected and Calm by Stephanie Bown https://amzn.asia/d/craeCTh Purpose, Passion and Performance by Stephanie Bown https://amzn.asia/d/2nK6u2A Fierce Conversations: Achieving success in work and in life, one conversation at a time by Susan Scott https://amzn.to/47ul0qu  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    51 min
  7. E75 | 5-Star Employee Hiring with Danielle Mulvey

    NOV 9

    E75 | 5-Star Employee Hiring with Danielle Mulvey

    The key to building a thriving business is surrounding yourself with what Danielle Mulvey calls “five-star employees” — the top 15% of talent who think and act like owners. Danielle has scaled multiple businesses generating over $50 million annually while working only around 10 hours a week, thanks to her proven hiring system.  Drawing on 25 years of experience, Danielle reveals the five essential criteria for identifying five-star talent, how to design a hiring gauntlet that attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones, and why clear metrics and cultural alignment are non-negotiable. She also shares practical steps to upgrade an average team without disrupting what works — and how the right hires can be the catalyst for sustained growth and profitability.  Takeaways  A clear hiring gauntlet helps attract high performers and repel low-quality candidates.  Core values alignment is the foundation for building a strong, cohesive team culture.  Testing skills before hiring prevents costly mistakes and ensures candidates can deliver results.  Clear success metrics empower employees to self-manage and drive consistent performance.  Toxic employees drain productivity and morale, making timely exits essential for growth.  Hiring for aptitude and cultural fit is more important than filling a vacancy quickly.  Great hires produce at least 3.5 times their salary in business value.  Follow Danielle Mulvey https://theallincompany.com/ https://daniellemulvey.com/  Books on this episode  How great leaders build unstoppable teams with Michael Michalowicz https://amzn.to/4lPEtba HR Magic by Danielle Mulvey will be released in October. Details: https://daniellemulvey.com/ You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden's Teaching Principles and Practices by Swen Nater https://amzn.to/4ofryRu  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  8. E74 | The Four Forces of Growth with Kevin Lawrence

    NOV 2

    E74 | The Four Forces of Growth with Kevin Lawrence

    Some companies keep climbing, while others plateau – and the difference often comes down to where leaders focus their time and energy. Kevin Lawrence is founder of Lawrence & Co, co-author of Scaling Up, and my co-host for 166 episodes of The Growth Whisperers.  Kevin explains why growth only happens when CEOs stay in the cockpit, fix their eyes on opportunity, and summon the courage to push forward – especially when the business starts to feel comfortable. Improvement is necessary, but it’s not enough. Real growth requires being future-focused, externally engaged, and bold enough to make the tough calls.  Takeaways  CEOs must stay in the cockpit, focused on opportunity, not internal distractions.  Improvement matters, but without growth initiatives, companies eventually lose momentum and stall.  Courage fuels growth—fear pulls leaders into safety, comfort, and missed opportunities.  Many strategic plans look impressive but fail to drive real customer expansion.  Earned growth comes from delivering value so exceptional that clients do the selling.  Loyalty to underperforming team members can quietly kill momentum and stall progress.  The best CEOs spend most of their time engaging directly with the market.  A strong team allows leaders to focus on long-term vision, not firefighting.  Follow Kevin Lawrence https://lawrenceandco.com/  The Growth Whisperers podcast https://evolutionpartners.com.au/podcast-tgw/  Books on this episode The Four Forces of Growth by Kevin Lawrence https://a.co/d/iNhnHlI Your Oxygen Mask First by Kein Lawrence https://a.co/d/dyxsA4F Better Simpler Strategy by Felix Oberholzer-Gee https://amzn.to/4qmPaoe  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    51 min
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A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers. The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

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