Astute Leadership Podcast

Garry Browne

I’m Garry Browne, Astute Leadership Podcast, and author of 'Brand New Brand You.' In this monthly podcast series, I'll be interviewing a broad selection of people from different walks of life and at different stages of their career, branding, relevance and impact journey, and discussing key themes around the idea of building your personal brand and reputation. If you’re looking to develop better skills around managing your personal brand in order to achieve your career goals and broaden your impact, then this podcast series is for you.

  1. 12/01/2025

    40 Years of Brutally Honest Business & Branding Advice (from Peter Switzer)

    In this episode, Gary Browne sits down with Peter Switzer, one of Australia’s most recognised business and financial commentators and founder of the Switzer Group. Peter shares how his journey from schoolteacher to media entrepreneur was guided by a simple principle: stay curious and act with integrity. He talks about recognising your competitive advantage, why values must always come before value, and how consistency builds credibility that lasts decades. He also reflects on the power of lifelong learning, from insights he’s gained interviewing leaders like Jerry Harvey and Mark Bouris, to lessons from authors such as Jim Collins,  and how mentorship can happen anywhere if you’re willing to learn. Finally, Peter opens up about the personal side of leadership: the influence of family, the discipline learned through sport, and why true legacy is measured not by success alone but by the people you help grow along the way. If you’re interested in building a trusted personal brand and leading with clarity, humility, and purpose, this conversation is not to be missed. — Connect With Me: Website: https://garrybrowne.com.au/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Garry-Browne-AM-128667246043006  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-browne-am-bba118/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmBLvthjUa7nwrpIIqjbAQ  Connect With Peter Swizter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pswitzer/

    1 hr
  2. 05/11/2025

    How One Minister Took Government From Paper to Platform feat. Victor Dominello

    In this episode, we’re joined by Victor Dominello, former NSW Government Minister, legal professional, and global pioneer in digital service transformation. Recognised as one of Australia’s Top 100 Innovators, Victor led groundbreaking reforms in digital government, customer service, and data transparency during his 12 years in cabinet.  He spearheaded initiatives like Service NSW, the Department of Customer Service, and the Digital Restart Fund, earning international recognition for humanising and modernising public services. During our conversation, we explored the mindset shift from citizen to customer, why digital transformation is really about service transformation, and how his personal values shaped his brand as a trusted reformer and servant leader. Victor also reflects on the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and humility in building a leadership legacy, as well as why empowering teams, embracing inclusion, and designing with ethics are critical to earning public trust in the digital age. This episode features a powerful conversation about values-driven leadership, navigating pushback, and building lasting reform. _____ Timestamps: 00:00 - INTRO 02:02 - VICTOR ON BUILDING HIS NAME, REPUTATION, AND BRAND 05:54 - ENVIRONMENT THAT TAUGHT VALUES AND PRINCIPLES 09:10: - THE DATA MONKEY 13:32 - I SEE MYSELF AS A BRAND 16:40 - THE VALUES 18:45 - THE IMPORTANCE OF REPUTATION 23:14 - FOCUS ON THE POLICY AND TRYING TO GET THE RIGHT OUTCOMES 27:18 - TRYING TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY 32:53 - SPRITE PRINCIPLE 36:40 - A TIME WHEN VICTOR'S VALUES WERE TESTED 38:44 - VICTOR'S LEADERSHIP STYLE 42:01 - VICTOR'S LEADERSHIP VALUES 43:45 - VICTOR'S SKILLS AND TRAITS TO BE AN ASTUTE LEADER 46:13 - MENTORS WHO HELPED VICTOR TO MAKE AN IMPACT 48:20 - OUTRO _____ Connect With Me: Website: https://garrybrowne.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Garry-Browne-AM-128667246043006 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-browne-am-bba118/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmBLvthjUa7nwrpIIqjbAQ  Grab a copy of my book ‘Brand New Brand You’: https://garrybrowne.com.au/books Book me as a speaker for your next conference or event: https://garrybrowne.com.au/contact  Connect With Victor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordominello/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHonVictorDominello/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victordominello X: https://x.com/VictorDominello  _____ Produced by Social Wave https://www.socialwave.com.au

    49 min
  3. 03/20/2025

    How to Master Authentic Leadership (Even Without Direct Power) feat. Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO

    Today, we are joined by Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, former Australian Ambassador to the United States, Cabinet Minister, and a respected authority in public policy, economic strategy, and global affairs. Arthur has built a career defined by trust, resilience, and strategic leadership, serving at the highest levels of government and diplomacy.  Now, as Partner and Chair of The Asia Group’s Australian practice, he helps organisations navigate geopolitical risks and business strategy in the Indo-Pacific. In this episode, Arthur reflects on his journey from working behind the scenes as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister to representing Australia on the global stage.  He shares how he built his personal brand as a trusted advisor, the fragility of reputation in public life, and the leadership lessons that have shaped his career. We also discuss his insights on staying relevant in a changing world, the balance between integrity and compromise in politics, and his best advice for young professionals looking to build a meaningful career. — Connect With Me: Website: https://garrybrowne.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Garry-Browne-AM-128667246043006 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-browne-am-bba118/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmBLvthjUa7nwrpIIqjbAQ  Connect With Arthur: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-hon-arthur-sinodinos-ao-5b688445/ X: https://x.com/A_Sinodinos  Time Stamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:11 - They See Me as a Brand/Authenticity Is Important 05:35 - Moving Into Different Roles 08:44 - The Importance of Reputation 13:15 - Change in the Mindset of Broader Population 16:58 - Navigating Geopolitics, Business, and Policy in the Indo-Pacific 22:57 - Values Emerge in Practical Situations 24:55 - They’re Not Going to Do Everything That You Want 29:24 - Different Values 31:55 - Maintaining Relevance in a Changing Global Landscape 33:56 - Leading With Transparency, Trust, and Integrity 39:22 - Mentors and Role Models 41:43 - Guidance and Leadership in Diplomacy 43:49 - Advice to Young People 47:30 - Outro

    49 min
  4. 03/12/2024

    Episode 18: Quitting a High-Profile Job to Build a Business Empire from Her Spare Room feat. Gemma Tognini

    Today, we are joined by Gemma Tognini, a well-respected figure in the business and media sectors and founder of GT Communications.  With a career spanning over three decades, Gemma is not only an award-winning entrepreneur, recognised by the Telstra Business Women's Awards, but also a seasoned journalist, having worked with the Seven Network.  Her corporate advising and media commentary expertise, covering diverse topics from gender pay parity to family challenges, has made her a highly sought-after strategic advisor.  In this episode, we talk about Gemma's unique journey from a seasoned journalist to a leading figure in strategic communications, her process of shaping her personal brand, and the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way.    — Connect With Me: Website: https://garrybrowne.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Garry-Browne-AM-128667246043006 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-browne-am-bba118/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmBLvthjUa7nwrpIIqjbAQ  Connect With Gemma: LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/gemma-tognini-27a4094 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemmatognini_/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GemmaTognini Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/GemmaTogninWriter/ GT Communications Website: https://www.gtcommunications.com.au/ GT Communications Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtcommunications/ GT Communications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtmedia/

    46 min

About

I’m Garry Browne, Astute Leadership Podcast, and author of 'Brand New Brand You.' In this monthly podcast series, I'll be interviewing a broad selection of people from different walks of life and at different stages of their career, branding, relevance and impact journey, and discussing key themes around the idea of building your personal brand and reputation. If you’re looking to develop better skills around managing your personal brand in order to achieve your career goals and broaden your impact, then this podcast series is for you.