Workplace Conversations Podcast

AIMWA

Real people. Real stories. Real workplaces. Work is changing. The people navigating it have a lot to say. Workplace Conversations is the podcast from AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute. Each episode, we sit down with leaders, professionals and experts from across industries to talk about leadership, career development, workplace culture and the future of work. These are honest conversations with people who are living it. Hosted by Sandra Holloway. Featuring regular guest Professor Gary Martin.

Episodes

  1. Jul 22

    From Social Worker to CEO: Leading a Trauma-Informed Workplace - with Dr Jennie Gray

    From Social Worker to CEO: Leading a Trauma-Informed Workplace - with Dr Jennie Gray One in three women. Hundreds of thousands of Australians. And most workplaces still treat it as a personal problem. In this episode of Workplace Conversations, AIMWA host Sandra Holloway sits down with Dr Jennie Gray, CEO of Women's Legal Service WA, to unpack how gender and family violence shows up at work, what employers are legally required to do, and what it actually takes to build a trauma-informed workplace. Jennie's career spans marketing, social work, a PhD, ten years in the Kimberley and Broome, and now leading one of Western Australia's most important legal services for women. This conversation goes deep. ABOUT YOUR GUEST AND HOST Dr Jennie Gray is CEO of Women's Legal Service WA, a specialist community legal centre supporting women at the intersection of family violence, family law, sexual violence and workplace discrimination. She holds a PhD in social work and has spent decades working with women experiencing gendered violence across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia. Sandra Holloway is Chief Customer Officer at AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute. TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome to Workplace Conversations[00:05] Meet our guest: Dr Jennie Gray[01:19] Jennie's career: from marketing to social work to CEO[03:52] What Women's Legal Service WA actually does[05:53] The barriers women face when accessing legal help[08:22] What success looks like at Women's Legal Service[10:06] Balancing media, confidentiality and women's safety[12:42] How Women's Legal Service is funded[16:55] Gender violence as a workplace issue[19:34] The legal requirements every employer needs to know[20:24] What best practice actually looks like beyond compliance[22:32] The statistics every workplace needs to know[24:21] One message for HR and people and culture teams[26:45] How to have the conversation when you suspect someone needs help[28:38] The cycle of violence explained[29:48] Why workplaces need more education on this[30:36] Leading an organisation slammed with trauma every day[32:36] Building a trauma-informed workplace: the framework[33:06] Supervision groups, trauma free zones and self-care checklists[38:08] What trauma actually looks like at work[40:53] Staff turnover and what keeps people at Women's Legal Service[42:44] What Jennie looks for when recruiting[44:42] What society still does not understand about gendered violence[46:17] What Jennie wants to see in workplaces in the next five years[47:44] What keeps Jennie believing change is possible CONNECT WITH AIMWA Website: aimwa.comLinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/school/aimwa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aim_westernaustraliaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AIMWestAusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMWesternAustralia CONNECT WITH DR Jennie GRAY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-gray-71676284/ ABOUT AIMWA AND WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS AIMWA is Western Australia's leading workplace development institute and a not-for-profit registered charity. We deliver practical learning that builds real capability across leadership, management and business. Workplace Conversations is a podcast presented by AIMWA. Real people, real stories, real workplaces. We bring together sharp minds from across Australian business to talk about the issues that matter most at work. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

  2. Jun 30

    Chiropractor to Breakfast Radio: A Career Reinvented Without a Plan - with Natalie Locke (Part 1)

    Chiropractor to Breakfast Radio: A Career Reinvented Without a Plan - with Natalie Locke (Part 1) You have heard of a non-linear career path. But what does it actually look like when you live it? In this episode of Workplace Conversations, AIMWA host Sandra Holloway sits down with her long-time friend Natalie Locke, breakfast host on Nova 937, to unpack the non-linear career path: how an unexpected opportunity becomes a new career, and how to know when it is worth the risk. Natalie shares the real story behind her move from chiropractic practice to breakfast radio, including the audition no one warned her about, the imposter syndrome that came with it, and why she kept her chiropractic practice running for 12 years before fully committing to radio. This is part one of a two-part conversation. Part two continues with more from Natalie's career and the lessons she has picked up along the way. ABOUT YOUR GUEST AND HOST Natalie Locke is the breakfast host on Nova 937 Perth, where she has been on air for over two decades. She also writes a weekly column for STM, The West Australian's Sunday magazine. Before her career in radio, she spent years as a chiropractor, running her own practice in Fremantle while building her broadcasting career alongside it. Sandra Holloway is Chief Customer Officer at AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute. TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome to Workplace Conversations[00:18] Meet our guest: Natalie Locke[02:00] Why Natalie became a chiropractor[04:34] Looking back: do you recognise who you were then?[06:23] The real story of how Natalie was discovered[09:11] The phone call that changed everything[11:07] Auditioning for breakfast radio with no experience[14:21] Starting work within a month[16:55] Running a chiropractic practice and breakfast radio at once[18:44] What imposter syndrome felt like on air[22:03] The skills Natalie had to learn fast[24:17] Why she closed her practice instead of selling it[28:54] What the transition taught her about taking a leap of faith CONNECT WITH AIMWA Website: aimwa.comLinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/school/aimwa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aim_westernaustraliaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AIMWestAusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMWesternAustralia CONNECT WITH NATALIE LOCKE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natty_nat_nat/ ABOUT AIMWA AND WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS AIMWA is Western Australia's leading workplace development institute and a not-for-profit registered charity. We deliver practical learning that builds real capability across leadership, management and business. Workplace Conversations is a podcast presented by AIMWA. Real people, real stories, real workplaces. We bring together sharp minds from across Australian business to talk about the issues that matter most at work. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    Chiropractor to Breakfast Radio: A Career Reinvented Without a Plan - with Natalie Locke (Part 1)
  3. Jun 30

    "Are You the Right Leader for Right Now?" Contextual Leadership - with Dr Shaun Ridley

    "Are You the Right Leader for Right Now?" Contextual Leadership - with Dr Shaun Ridley   You have heard of leadership styles. But what if the leader who was brilliant yesterday is the wrong leader for today?   In this episode of Workplace Conversations, AIMWA host Sandra Holloway sits down with Dr Shaun Ridley, who spent over three decades at AIMWA, to explore contextual leadership: the idea that great leadership is not one fixed skill, but the ability to read the moment and adapt.   From Winston Churchill's wartime triumph and post-war defeat to Jacinda Ardern's crisis leadership and its limits once the crisis passed, Shaun unpacks why the right leader for one season can be the wrong leader for the next.   ABOUT YOUR GUEST AND HOST   Dr Shaun Ridley FAIM is a facilitator, speaker, consultant and nationally-recognised workplace mediator. He spent 35 years at AIMWA, including as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, before serving as Chief Operating Officer until 2023. He now leads Ridley Insights, a boutique consulting practice, and is the author of three books: One Small Step for Leaders, One More Small Step for Leaders, and I Wish I'd Said That.   Sandra Holloway is Chief Customer Officer at AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute.   TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome to Workplace Conversations[01:49] Meet our guest: Dr Shaun Ridley[03:19] What is contextual leadership?[04:27] Winston Churchill: the right leader, then the wrong one[05:25] Jacinda Ardern and the limits of crisis leadership[06:51] How different organisations need different leadership styles[09:39] How to judge what kind of leader a business needs[11:38] What to do when your leadership style is not working[13:16] How to read the room as a leader[18:34] How Covid forced leadership styles to change overnight[22:44] The impact of mismatched leadership on team and culture[26:09] Final advice for leaders navigating change  CONNECT WITH AIMWA Website: aimwa.comLinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/school/aimwa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aim_westernaustraliaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AIMWestAusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMWesternAustralia  CONNECT WITH DR SHAUN RIDLEY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shaun-ridley-faim-2b109116/  ABOUT AIMWA AND WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS   AIMWA is Western Australia's leading workplace development institute and a not-for-profit registered charity. We deliver practical learning that builds real capability across leadership, management and business.   Workplace Conversations is a podcast presented by AIMWA. Real people, real stories, real workplaces. We bring together sharp minds from across Australian business to talk about the issues that matter most at work.   Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    "Are You the Right Leader for Right Now?" Contextual Leadership - with Dr Shaun Ridley
  4. Jun 30

    "You're Overreacting": How Gaslighting Shows Up at Work - with Professor Gary Martin

    "You're Overreacting": How Gaslighting Shows Up at Work - with Professor Gary Martin   You have heard the word thrown around. But do you actually know what gaslighting looks like when it is happening to you?   In the debut episode of Workplace Conversations, AIMWA host Sandra Holloway sits down with AIMWA CEO Professor Gary Martin to break down one of the most talked-about but least understood workplace behaviours.   Gary's article on gaslighting became one of his most-read pieces globally. This conversation goes deeper.   ABOUT YOUR GUEST AND HOST   Professor Gary Martin FAIM is Chief Executive Officer of AIMWA, Emeritus Professor, keynote speaker, workplace strategist and columnist. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice and widely recognised for his work spotting and shaping workplace trends.   Sandra Holloway is Chief Customer Officer at AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute.   TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome to Workplace Conversations[01:37] Meet our first guest: Professor Gary Martin[02:38] What is gaslighting? Where did the term come from?[04:23] Why gaslighting is replacing traditional bullying at work[05:14] Gaslighting vs poor communication: how to tell the difference[07:16] The impact on your confidence and mental health[09:39] What to do if you think you are being gaslit[11:23] What organisations and leaders can do to prevent it[13:40] Why Gary's article resonated globally[15:47] Final advice for leaders and teams  CONNECT WITH AIMWA Website: aimwa.comLinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/school/aimwa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aim_westernaustraliaYouTube: Australian Institute of Management WAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMWesternAustralia  CONNECT WITH PROFESSOR GARY MARTIN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professorgarymartin/  ABOUT AIMWA AND WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS   AIMWA is Western Australia's leading workplace development institute and a not-for-profit organisation. We deliver practical learning that builds real capability across leadership, management and business.   Workplace Conversations is a podcast presented by AIMWA. Real people, real stories, real workplaces. We bring together sharp minds from across Australian business to talk about the issues that matter most at work.   Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    "You're Overreacting": How Gaslighting Shows Up at Work - with Professor Gary Martin

About

Real people. Real stories. Real workplaces. Work is changing. The people navigating it have a lot to say. Workplace Conversations is the podcast from AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute. Each episode, we sit down with leaders, professionals and experts from across industries to talk about leadership, career development, workplace culture and the future of work. These are honest conversations with people who are living it. Hosted by Sandra Holloway. Featuring regular guest Professor Gary Martin.