15 Minutes with the Boss

Hosted by The Australian Financial Review

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country. Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers. For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 19, 202618 min

This investment guru backed Nvidia in 2016. Here are his other tips

The chief investment officer of fund manager Loftus Peak says he only gets one really good idea a year, and that it’s always about business. After looking into the rise of machine learning, Alex Pollak's “one good idea” in 2016 was to buy into Nvidia, which now boasts a market valuation of $US4 trillion ($6 trillion). This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how the local tech investor spots trends to stay ahead of the curve. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 12, 202618 min

How this CEO has created his own personal board of advisers

On this week's episode BOSS editor Sally Patten chats to Stefan Vermeulen, the local CEO of Nespresso. Vermeulen shares how to develop your unique, and authentic leadership style by collecting leadership traits, learning from mentors and stealing ideas from anywhere. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: ‘One of the worst markets I’ve seen’: Property CEO fears job cuts Jellis Craig head Andrew McCann reveals what it’s like inside the real estate downturn and why agents are having to deliver hard truths to sellers. How elite performers stay sharp, according to Rob Coombe The high-profile executive chairman of Generation Life understands how to get to the top and stay there See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 5, 202618 min

This top exec knows how to get ahead of the pack, and stay there.

Rob Coombe, executive chairman Generation Life, planned his career moves meticulously and made sure not to trample on colleagues to climb the corporate ladder. Now Coombe is at the top of the corporate tree, he has tools and habits to help him stay there. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten joins Coombe to discuss creating a high performance culture, how to survive it, and why EQ is so important for leaders. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: What makes this CEO drop everything in the middle of a meeting Natalie Culina, boss of iconic hat manufacturer Akubra, talks children, imposter syndrome, branding and what not to do when you are tapping new export markets. ‘One of the worst markets I’ve seen’: Property CEO fears job cuts Jellis Craig head Andrew McCann reveals what it’s like inside the real estate downturn and why agents are having to deliver hard truths to sellers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 28, 202618 min

How this CEO shook off imposter syndrome

Akubra chief executive Natalie Culina has over 20 years working with some of the most recognised and iconic Australian brands. When managing imposter syndrome she says that "you cannot forget that you have to master a skill in something, have to have a black belt in something. And that's something that you can always reach down into your core to draw upon". When she did, it faded away. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Culina to find out who is in her inner circle, how she overcame imposter syndrome and the one reason she will interrupt a meeting. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: ‘One of the worst markets I’ve seen’: Property CEO fears job cuts Jellis Craig head Andrew McCann reveals what it’s like inside the real estate downturn and why agents are having to deliver hard truths to sellers. What this top lawyer wishes he had done early in his career Sam Nickless, chief executive of Gilbert +Tobin, says young lawyers and executives have more control over their time than they think. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 21, 202617 min

‘One of the worst markets I’ve seen’: Property CEO fears job cuts

Jellis Craig chief executive Andrew McCann has been a real estate agent for almost 30 years, and he reckons "this is one of the worst markets" he's ever seen. "It's very hard for vendors to adjust to price changes, and it's very hard sometimes for agents to pick up the pace of change," he says. "And because of that, it's a challenging environment to navigate." On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the real estate boss to find out how he is navigating the property downturn, the effect it's having on staff and whether he expects it to change any time soon. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: What this top lawyer wishes he had done early in his career Sam Nickless, chief executive of Gilbert +Tobin, says young lawyers and executives have more control over their time than they think. Why giving up control was Lune founder Kate Reid’s best business move An eating disorder shaped the croissant queen’s career. A piece of advice from her father is also one of the secrets to her company’s success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 14, 202616 min

Gilbert + Tobin CEO Sam Nickless reveals what AI means for junior lawyers

When it comes to the rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace, Sam Nickless, the chief executive of law firm Gilbert + Tobin, has some useful advice for lawyers and executives in the early or middle stages of their careers. "The first level of advice is don’t freak out about it, but don’t ignore it either," he says. "Get really good at using it, but also be very attuned to the things that it doesn’t do and that you can do over and above it." On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out what the top lawyer thinks of AI disruption, how it will affect the legal profession and the best way lawyers can protect their jobs. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: Why giving up control was Lune founder Kate Reid’s best business move An eating disorder shaped the croissant queen’s career. A piece of advice from her father is also one of the secrets to her company’s success. Daniel Mookhey: My younger self would hate my respect for John Howard The NSW treasurer opens up about failure, conflict, his political heroes – and why he hates waking up early. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 7, 202621 min

Why Lune boss Kate Reid traded Formula 1 for croissants

Growing up, Kate Reid had always dreamt about working in Formula 1. And in her early 20s, she achieved that dream by joining the Williams team as an aerodynamicist. But this F1 enthusiast quickly realised the job was not all she'd hoped. "I imagined it would be an incredibly dynamic, collaborative, exciting job, and all of those things didn't come to fruition for me, and it sent me down a pretty dark path," says Reid. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how this aerodynamicist applied her scientific rigor to become one of Australia's most well-known pastry chefs. This podcast was sponsored by Ripple . Further reading: Daniel Mookhey: My younger self would hate my respect for John Howard The NSW treasurer opens up about failure, conflict, his political heroes – and why he hates waking up early. The email that cost this top exec a major deal Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte – and then she had twins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 31, 202622 min

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey on property prices, failure and conflict

As a teenager, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey loved federal budget day. “I’m not saying I was popular at high school, but I used to love it when [former Liberal treasurers] Peter Costello and John Howard would hand down the budget,” the self-confessed nerd says. As a 16-year-old, he may not have liked the Liberal grandees’ politics, but these days Mookhey “is a little bit more sympathetic and understanding of where they were coming from". On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the Labor politician to find out what eight years of opposition taught him, and the one piece of advice he would give his younger self. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: The email that cost this top exec a major deal Esther Colwill, president of Asia-Pacific at Korn Ferry, loved her job at Deloitte – and then she had twins. Do what others won’t do: AFL great Chris Judd’s formula for success The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one career rule. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 24, 202618 min

Climbing the seven summits taught this executive one big lesson

From a young age, Esther Colwill, a former partner at Deloitte and now country head for Australia at Korn Ferry, dreamt of climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, including, of course, Mount Everest. Colwill succeeded, emerging with critical lessons that have helped her in both her private and professional life. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how having a goal outside work spurred on this executive’s professional career. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: Do what others won’t do: AFL great Chris Judd’s formula for success The former sports star and founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund has one rule that changed the course of his career. This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire Grant Wilckens co-founded G’day Group in 2004 and never looked back – apart from the time when he could have lost everything. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 17, 202620 min

Chris Judd’s formula for high performance – on and off the field

Asked about a pivotal moment in his career, former AFL star Chris Judd is quick to respond: don’t do what everyone else is doing. “[The pivotal moment] was taking complete control over my fitness program,” says Judd. In business, Judd, who is the founder and portfolio manager of Cerutty Macro Fund, a concentrated equities fund that invests primarily in smaller companies, applied the same rule – and it changed the course of his career. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out how the former West Coast Eagles captain secured a premiership, two Brownlow Medals and is now tackling the world of small caps. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: AFL great turned stockpicker Chris Judd just made 20pc returns One of the greatest to play Aussie rules, Judd has kicked off a second career in fund management buying ASX small-cap stocks. ‘The phone stopped ringing’: How retirement shock hit this Olympian In 2016, former Opals star player and Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson was forced to retire. Since then, her life has taken several turns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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