The Ready Podcast ReadyTech

In the latest episode of the Ready Podcast, we embark on an insightful journey into the life and advocacy of Wayne Herbert, a distinguished presenter, author of Anecdotes of a Disabled Gay, and all-round global rockstar recognised extensively for his work in championing disability rights and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
In this episode, Marc delves into Wayne’s personal journey, professional pursuits, and visionary insights into how we can all contribute to shaping a more inclusive workplace and society. From his upbringing in regional NSW to his tireless advocacy work, Wayne shares candid stories and profound reflections on the intersections of disability, identity, and social progress.
Throughout this episode, listeners will be captivated by Wayne's resilience and ability to engage an audience and inject humour into discussions surrounding even the most complex societal issues. Through his lived experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal role of family support, the pervasive challenges of discrimination, and the transformative power of inclusive employment.
Marc and Wayne cover everything from pressing topics such as the Disability Royal Commission, to the critical role of disability employment services, and the imperative of diversity in shaping a more just and equitable world. The episode offers a rich tapestry of insights and conversations, illuminating the journey toward breaking down barriers and fostering genuine inclusivity.
Join us as we challenge assumptions, amplify diverse voices, and envision a future where every individual's unique contributions are valued and celebrated!

From the boardroom to the barbeque, the transformative opportunity of AI has taken centre stage in recent times, captivating minds and sparking debate and conversations that resonate far and wide. But as the dust settles on arguably the defining technology of our time, how should we look to harness the full potential of AI to augment the ways in which we work and live?
 
In this enlightening episode of the Ready Podcast, Marc sits down with Rachel Bondi, Regional Vice President at Microsoft Asia to explore AI revolutionary impact on work, education, customer experience, and of course – the skills required for the future.
 
From enhancing productivity to improving the quality of work life, Rachel and Marc share their unique insights into how AI has evolved from a novel concept to a powerful force reshaping the way we work and engage with our teams – exploring its real impact on work, learning, and human interaction to become ‘the ultimate procrastination killer’.
 
Drawing on her impressive tenure at Microsoft, Rachel offers invaluable advice for leaders seeking to accelerate their AI journey – emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of experimentation and embracing failure, and reinforcing the imperative mindset of lifelong learning, staying adaptable, and upskilling to stay ahead.
 
Whether you're a tech enthusiast, industry professional, or simply captivated by the allure of the AI frontier, this episode offers valuable insights and a glimpse into the transformative power of AI, offering practical insights for leaders, professionals, and anyone intrigued by the AI revolution.

The justice system is filled with institutions that are both revered and steeped in tradition. But is this proud history a barrier or an enabler to access and innovation?
Michael Talbot has devoted much of his career to innovating and challenging new ways of thinking in the justice sector. As former NSW Deputy Secretary Courts & Tribunals, he led a successful agenda of change and transformation in the state’s administration functions within this space. 
In today’s episode of The Ready Podcast, Michael and Marc Washbourne explore how legal institutions can marry up deep tradition with effective change and digital transformation, and innovate so that every member of our community –  no matter their station or location – can access justice whenever they need it. 
They also: 
Uncover the key principles guiding the adoption of new technology within the sector – and draw on best-practice examples to help institutions apply these principles to their own change and transformation journeys.
Delve into the ways that organisations and leaders within other sectors, too, can apply these insights to drive their own effective digital transformation journeys, and build trust and access with their stakeholders and communities. 

Surfacing, engaging and retaining talent in a time of critical skills shortages is a front-of-mind concern for many of us. It certainly is for Dr Jo Ingold, who has dedicated decades of her life to researching employability and connecting employers with under-leveraged talent. And Jo isn’t stopping anytime soon. ​
In this episode of the Ready Podcast, we caught up with Jo for a timely discussion on how to cast your recruitment net wider, and adopt a more inclusive approach to talent acquisition. ​
Tune in for Jo’s thought-provoking and inspiring conversation with ReadyTech CEO Marc Washbourne. You’ll also learn: ​
Why ‘right now’ is the moment to rethink our approach to the makeup of our workforce ​
Why inclusive recruitment is good for business​
How we can think and work towards a better business and fairer society. 

Emma Weston’s journey to success wasn’t a linear one.  
From her fresh-out-of-uni career in law, to her time as an agribusiness executive and director of various industry associations, Emma’s ‘patchwork quilt’ of experiences has led her to where she is today: staking her claim as CEO and co-founder of AgriDigital, one of Australia’s emerging agtech and fintech companies.  
In this episode, Emma sits down with ReadyTech CEO Marc Washbourne to share her inspiring story, and explore how we can proactively: 
Address the digital skills shortage
Improve access to tech roles for women and regional talent
Navigate disruption, and
Rethink diversity.
How can we build more mean meaningful careers, companies, and teams of people ready to innovate and make a dent in the world? Join Marc Washbourne with Emma Weston, as they show you how.  

Digital transformation still confuses leaders and organisations. But ask W3.Digital CEO Mark Cameron what it is and how to do it, and you can expect to strap in for an illuminating tour through decades of digital experience and evolution, to ‘connect the dots’ and turn a complex challenge into something simple you can act on in your organisation today. 
And that’s just what you get in this episode of The Ready Podcast (formerly WorkED). 
In this special Mini Digital Transformation Masterclass (based on the real Masterclass content Mark teaches on Digital Transformation Leadership at Deakin University), Mark helps us understand the what and why of transformation, what great strategy looks like, how to overcome investment hurdles and how to lead a program that actually works. 
Stepping through three stages – before, during and after (spoiler alert: there is no real end point!) – Mark shares his learnings on the role of leadership and culture, how to navigate change management and overwhelm, whether you should choose incremental steps or a ‘big bang’ approach in 2022, what talent you’ll need along the way, and much more. 
Why is the change we’re living through now ‘orders of magnitude’ greater than the GFC? Is successful transformation about technology or people? What does a digitally transformed future actually mean for leadership decision making and automation? And which does Mark think will promote genuine human flourishing – Facebook’s metaverse or Apple’s Siri? 
Join our Mini Digital Transformation Masterclass – and let your transformation begin!