15 Minutes with the Boss

Hosted by The Australian Financial Review

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 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

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.

August 10, 202616 min

This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire

"I had everything on the wire, on the line," says Grant Wilckens, remembering when the global financial crisis hit. The chief executive and founder of G'Day Group had started his holiday parks business in 2004 when Lehman Brothers collapsed. "It was probably the hardest I've ever worked, the most stressed I've ever been." On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the former investment banker to find out how he survived the GFC, the lessons it taught him and how it fundamentally changed his business. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: The key trait private equity looks for when hiring a CEO Thomson Reuters president Steve Hasker shares HR tips and why the soaring cost of AI tokens might just save your job. Fasting, coffee and no chores: A Young Rich Lister’s success formula Oscar Ledlin reveals the secrets of his success, including where his best ideas come from, his morning routine and the advice he almost always ignores. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 3, 202616 min

How an exercise physiologist designed her ideal workout routine

“I've really changed my relationship with exercise over the past few years”, says Katie Lyndon, the chief executive of Exercise and Sports Science Australia. The exercise physiologist has made a conscious effort to shift her mindset around workout routines from something she has to do to something she loves. On this week’s episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Lyndon to find out how she designed a workout program that provides physical, mental and professional benefits. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: Inside Ahmed Fahour’s high-performance morning routine The chief executive of Gurner Group and former boss of Australia Post says the way he starts his day has been “transformational”. Morning sun, and eat your vegies first: 19 habits for a healthier life Exercise and nutrition are vital, but which specific habits offer the greatest bang for buck? Five doctors and a physiologist share their top longevity secrets. The 20-minute ‘power’ fix missing from midlife workouts Muscle power helps us perform basic everyday tasks but declines twice as quickly as strength during the ageing process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 27, 202621 min

Thomson Reuters CEO on AI bill shock, career risks and his biggest mistake

The president and CEO of Thomson Reuters says the company has had "bill shock this year in the tens of millions of US dollars over and above our budget”. And while Steve Hasker maintains the global technology and information firm, which is valued at $US40 billion ($57 billion), is disciplined financially, the costs are rising. This week, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with Hasker to find out how the company is navigating these technological advancements and the benefits of making career mistakes. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: AI bill shock: Corporates revolt against costly models AI usage is paid in tokens that represent how difficult a given task is, but the cost per token varies wildly for different models. Five CEOs reveal the best piece of career advice they’ve ever received The start of a new year is an opportunity to set fresh goals, create new routines and map out work objectives. Five business leaders share their morning routines and tips for getting ahead. Use of AI ‘tech stacks’ driving demand for lawyers The more artificial intelligence is used within a law firm, the more professionals are needed to vet the technology’s outputs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 22, 20260 min

Trailer: How I Made It returns July 29

How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 20, 202618 min

‘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. She had had 17 knee operations and could not get on top of her injury. “At that point, I was really aware that my identity as a basketball player was gone,” the now-chief strategy and basketball partnerships officer for the WNBL Australia recalls. Since then, Jackson’s life on and off the court has taken several turns. In this week's episode, the former basketball player tells BOSS editor Sally Patten about the challenges she faced when she retired for the first and second time, and how she forged a new career path after exiting the sport. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: Ex-Opals star on the secret weapon transforming women’s sport Lauren Jackson is now leading strategy for the Womenʼs National Basketball League and she has a front-row seat to the money flowing into the game. How this four-time Olympian and CEO handles high-stress situations From injury heartbreak to Earthletica co-founder, Bronte Campbell shares the radical shift in goal-setting that fuelled her transition from elite sport to start-up. Basketball-playing MD: ‘We get hit in the face and we get back up again’ Humanity Health Group’s Dr Kylie Henderson has been playing the sport since primary school. Here’s how the game has shaped her management style. She answers our Time Out Q&A. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 13, 202618 min

Fasting, coffee and no chores: A Young Rich Lister’s success formula

Oscar Ledlin is just 34 years old, but last year he was ranked number 55 on the Financial Review Young Rich List with a fortune valued at $123 million. The founder and chief executive of the Ledlin Group started the company after seeing a gap in the market for small commercial properties during the e-commerce boom. In this episode, the property entrepreneur sits down with BOSS editor Sally Patten and reveals the secrets to his success, including where his best ideas come from and the piece of advice he almost always ignores. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: Young property entrepreneur gets set in green concrete start-up Oscar Ledlin, who ranks number 55 on the Young Rich List, has launched a company specialising in sustainable concrete production, with ambitions to IPO. This developer cracked the Young Rich List by making warehouses sexy Oscar Ledlin has tapped into the Instagram generation to build his fast-growing commercial property empire, but there have been stumbles along the way. Billionaire property whisperer Monika Tu spills her secrets Ready to retire at 45, everything changed for this immigrant from humble beginnings when she met her third husband – and discovered her purpose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 6, 202618 min

Why this expert thinks communication is ‘going down the gurgler’

Communications expert Louise Mahler has spent years helping leaders gain confidence, presence, and influence in the way they communicate. However, since the pandemic and the rapid increase of online platforms, Mahler believes people are losing the ability to engage with audiences. But she's hopeful that connection can be restored. On this week's episode, the former opera singers reveals her top public speaking tips to BOSS editor Sally Patten. This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta . Further reading: Want to be better at public speaking? NIDA’s CEO shares her tips Chief executive Liz Hughes has a few secrets when she is preparing a speech, such as leaving marks to show the parts that need to be delivered with high energy. The speaking tips these execs use to own the room, and get ahead Female executives suffer from a “gravitas gap” but some are learning to project greater confidence and authority, helping them to move up the corporate ladder. ‘I’d lost my identity.’ How this exec recovered from redundancy A new coach, hypnotist and Hollywood movie helped Allison Rossiter tackle one of her biggest fears. Now, the Novartis president shares how they can help you too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 29, 202618 min

This Four Pillars Gin co-founder is taking on whisky – and the ASX

Stuart Gregor has always been a keen storyteller. From his first job working in journalism as a copy boy to co-founding craft gin brand Four Pillars, this entrepreneur has used his skills to build brands and their narratives. Now the chief executive of ASX-listed Lark Distillery, the whisky boss is having to tell a new type of story to analysts and fund managers. In this week's episode, Gregor tells BOSS editor Sally Patten about the various challenges of speaking to consumers, the industry and now the market. Further reading: Whisky maker Lark hires Four Pillars Gin co-founder as CEO The Tasmanian company’s product will be in 700-millilitre bottles for the first time in 33 years as it tackles global brands such as Johnnie Walker. Four Pillars Gin sold to XXXX’s Japanese owner The brewing giant behind names such as Furphy and Little Creatures has snapped up the other half of the distiller for an estimated $50 million. He may not be a ‘whisky guy’, but Larry Emdur’s single malt is good as gold It began as a bit of birthday fun for the TV personality, but in just two years, The Ben Buckler has become a multi-award-winning brand with an impressive new CEO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 22, 202617 min

Ask about WFH and you’ll get dropped from shortlist, headhunter warns

“We’ve had a number of years when there was a huge emphasis on people’s work-life balance. Now it’s about performance,” says Chris Karagounis. The managing director at executive search firm Alex Kaar says working in the office allows budding leaders to contribute to the culture and community, and to keep learning. And if they're not there, then they risk falling behind. On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten finds out from the corporate headhunter what it takes to be a senior leader today, and how aspiring executives should approach issues such as working from home and artificial intelligence. Further reading: Four steps to land your first board position The step into the boardroom is an important milestone, and something many ambitious professionals dream about. But how do you make it happen? How I convinced Kerry Packer he should hire me Mary Wooldridge, outgoing CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, worked for the media tycoon in the late 1990s. She’s used some of the skills she learnt ever since. Why job seekers looking for $200k-plus roles should be worried After taking a break from her exec role, Diedre Hosking returned to a market offering $100,000 less, as firms swap veterans for cheaper, AI-literate juniors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.