Chunk Of Change by The Royals

Episode 12: Brendan Tansey, Managing Director of Viking Cruises

Brendan Tansey’s insatiable curiosity has seen the marketeer-come-viking chief journey around the globe whilst working with some of the biggest change-makers of the 20th century, including Andy Grove, Lester Wunderman and Tor Hagen.

Over the past 30-years, Brendan has helped guide many of the world's biggest brands through some of the most tumultuous times imaginable - but his biggest challenge was waiting in the wings.

After taking on a new role as Managing Director of Viking Cruises in China, 2020 threw more than a few curveballs... all of which allowed him to put years of experience to the test, successfully navigating the business through the pandemic and somehow managing to keep his sense of humour along the way.

Episode 11: Chris Murphy, CEO - North America, Thoughtworks

Thoughtworks is a global technology consulting firm that’s successfully ridden the digital transformation wave since the late 80’s. This interview with the North American CEO, Chris Murphy, took place prior to last week’s IPO that raised US$344 million and valued the company at nearly US$9 billion. Over the past two decades, Thoughtworks has been a major influencer of key trends in IT such as agile development, blockchain technology and microservices, all of which has lead to ‘Thoughtworkers’ publishing more than 100 books. As Marc Andreessen famously said, "Software is eating the world" and with spending on digital transformation forecast to double by 2025, Chris and the Thoughtworks team are set to ride the digital wave for many years to come.

Episode 10: Sam Davy, Founder and Creative Director, Park Social Soccer Co.

Sam Davy is Founder and Creative Director of Park Social Soccer Co., a social impact brand designed to change the world through a global love of sport and the language of art. He was previously Global Creative Director at Apple, where Steve Jobs shared with Sam his idea of doing well while doing good. Sam also spent time at Crumpler as Head of Brand, Marketing and Product, but nothing could prepare him for what happened after he searched 'how to make a soccer ball' on YouTube. 10,000 balls and millions of soccer games later, Park SSC is proof of what's possible when you combine a love of sport, creativity and an unwavering desire to give back.

Episode9: David Christie, co-CEO, Baker's Delight

In this, our final episode of Chunk of Change for the season, we speak with David Christie, co-CEO of international bakery franchise, Bakers Delight. Originally from South Africa with a degree in History and Literature, David’s journey to running one of Australia’s most successful franchise groups began after meeting his wife Elise (daughter of co-founders, Roger and Leslie Gillespie) and being tasked with growing the business through North America without a crumb of baking experience. One fortieth birthday and millions of Cheesymite scrolls later, the Baker’s Delight and COBS brands are amongst the most recognised bakeries in the world. With over 650 stores in four countries, David speaks openly about how he and his wife Elise are co-authoring the next entrepreneurial chapter in this family owned success story.

Episode 8: Michelle Terry, CEO, Movember

2020’s been a tumultuous year for most, but for newly appointed Chief Executive Officer at Movember, Michelle Terry, it’s been a veritable whirlwind of change.  Michelle joined the rockstar not-for-profit earlier this year from Treasury Wine Estates (where she was Global CMO) at a time when Movember’s work in the area of men’s health and suicide prevention was more important than ever.  In the process Michelle lead the reengineering of Movember’s fundraising and program delivery platforms in 20-countries around the world, just as she reengineered the schooling environment for her two young daughters at home.  All this has made for some challenging Mo-ments but through it all Michelle’s stayed focussed on what matters most: having fun; staying humble; and doing good.

Episode 7: Perry Cross, CEO, Accessible Homes Australia and the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation.

On episode 7 of Chunk of Change we speak with "Australia's Superman", Perry Cross, founder and CEO of Accessible Homes Australia and the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation.

At the age of 19, Perry was severely injured in a rugby tackle and told he would never walk or breathe on his own again and would require 24/7 medical care. However just two years later he became Australia’s first motivational speaker on life support and began work on his life’s mission – to find a cure for paralysis.

Perry's dogged determination has seen him dedicate his life to helping others with a disability, raising awareness of spinal injuries and creating a movement that has seen tens of thousands of people support the need for urgent research to help cure paralysis.

Speaking with the assistance of a ventilator, Perry reminds us that the loneliness and isolation we've felt during COVID-19 lockdowns is a normal daily experience for many Australian’s living with a disability. And as someone who's defied the odds over and over again, Perry's philosophy on how to make the 'impossible possible' is a timely lesson on the mindset required to overcome life’s greatest challenges.

Donations to Perry's foundation can be made at: www.pcsrf.org.au/donate

Episode 6: Paul Donaldson, Global VP Strategy, Anheuser-Busch InBev

It was Steve Jobs who said, “You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

Paul Donaldson’s clean and simple approach to strategy at the world’s largest consumer goods company has served him well. Having built the foundations of his career in sales, marketing, innovation and operations, Paul went on to establish new Strategy divisions at two of the world’s best-known brewers: first at CUB; then at its much larger parent, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Paul’s forthright approach to business provides a refreshing take on the much-maligned world of corporate strategy, distilling a lifetime of experience in consumer goods into a remarkable ability to identify key opportunities for growth at scale.

An avid surfer and devoted family man, Paul’s story’s also one of personal growth, having moved his family from the world-famous surf coast of Victoria to New York City where he’s been based since 2018.

A marketeer at heart who’s expanded his ability to influence over-time, Paul provides a plain-speaking account of why marketing’s not the centre of the universe, along with the sacrifices that are necessary to deliver the sort of change that can revolutionise businesses and brands. Or, as Farragut once said, “Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead!’

Episode 5: Michael Kennedy, CEO, Snow Australia

Our guest on episode five of Chunk of Change is Michael Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of Snow Australia. A certifiable powder hound from the age of two who became Australia’s longest serving sports administrator, Michael shares his unique perspective on how to turn your lifelong passion into a prosperous and rewarding career.

 

In his 18-year tenure as CEO, Michael has overseen the most significant transformation of the governance and operations of snow sports in Australia's history. His vision for using high performance sport to create a pathway for athletes has resulted in Australian competitors delivering multi medal outcomes in all four of the last Olympics and he's overseen a restructure that’s successfully merged all state associations under one unified, national umbrella.

 

Michael inspires with the lightness of a person at one with their chosen path, contrasted by a steely determination to speak the truth as a business leader and coach. An exceptional storyteller, Michael honours the impact and legacy of his friend Chumpy Pullin and lets us in on the argument he had with Alisa Camplin just seconds before her gold medal winning jump!

Episode 4: Karen Lawson

In Episode 4 of Chunk of Change we speak with recently departed Spotify MD, Karen Lawson, about her new found freedom in lockdown, the art of graceful exits and the value of a good side hustle. Karen is one of Australia's most interesting and multitalented technology leaders, having also led online career marketplace, CareerOne and corporate accelerator, Slingshot prior to joining Spotify in early 2019. Karen's natural inclination towards creativity and authenticity in leadership are omnipresent as she discusses everything from the key ingredients of successful scale-ups, to the under representation of women in venture capital, plus how food and travel writing has helped sustain her rocket-propelled career.

Episode 3: Carolyn Creswell, Managing Director, Carman's Fine Foods

In this episode of Chunk of Change, we speak to Carolyn Creswell, founder and Managing Director of Carman’s Fine Foods. In the 28-years since Carolyn started her artisanal muesli business, she’s managed to turn the Carman’s brand into an international breakfast and snacking powerhouse that now exports to over 30 countries. During this candid conversation, Carolyn reveals herself to be a self-aware and heartfelt leader, one who's as determined as ever in her quest to shake up the food industry well beyond the cereal aisle. Her 'drive it like you stole it' approach to business, combined with a meticulous approach to innovation has meant that Carman's has successfully dislodged much larger competitors time and again for the past 20+ years. Carolyn is authentic and generous with her advice for others - qualities that she fosters through a combination of gratefulness and an unwavering commitment to never shy away from tough conversations.