Arete Podcast with Richard Triggs

Hosted by Richard Triggs

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227

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Arete is a Greek word that essentially means “the fulfilment of one’s full potential”. Or as the famous Greek author Homer wrote, “where heroes gather to realise their full potential”. The Arete podcast is designed to showcase the careers of leading CEOs, Chairs and other successful senior leaders. Rather than a formal interview, this is a relaxed “fireside chat” style conversation, where Richard Triggs talks to the guest about their careers, key achievements, lessons learned along the way, and other interesting elements about how their careers have unfolded over the years. The idea is that aspiring and incumbent C-Suite executives and Non Executive Directors will have the ability to listen to those “who have walked the path before them”, in order to gain some insights and wisdom, and thereby accelerate the listener’s own career to its fullest potential. Richard is the Managing Partner of Arete Executive, a boutique executive search firm based in Brisbane. Richard Triggs’ new book “Uncover the Hidden Job Market – How to find and win your next Senior Executive role” was released in 2015.

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September 14, 202644 min

234 Errol Leboydre – AI, Information Governance and Keeping Business Human

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Errol Leboydre, Managing Director of WyldLynx, to explore information governance, AI, business growth and what technology might mean for the future of work. Errol’s career has taken him from the Royal Australian Air Force and aircraft electrical systems to the family fuel business, IT and ultimately the creation of WyldLynx. While the industries have changed, one theme has remained consistent: a fascination with systems, technology and finding better ways to make organisations work. Today, WyldLynx works predominantly with government organisations across information management, records, compliance, privacy and data governance. Errol explains why these foundations are becoming even more important as organisations begin adopting AI and agentic technologies. Richard and Errol discuss the uncertainty many leaders feel around AI, and why organisations need to balance innovation with security, governance, auditability and sensible guardrails. Rather than treating AI governance as an entirely new challenge, Errol argues that many of the same first principles organisations have relied on for years still apply. The conversation also moves beyond the technology itself. In this episode: 04:06 – Building a deliberately small, highly skilled team 05:08 – Errol’s early ambition to become a photographer 07:58 – Nine years in the Air Force and discovering a love of systems 09:45 – Joining the family business, Mini Tankers 14:06 – Starting his own technology business 17:41 – Meeting co-founder Chris McLaren and the beginnings of WyldLynx 20:24 – Building a business around long-term relationships and trust 22:59 – A major Queensland Government information system project 26:20 – AI, governance and getting the fundamentals right 29:08 – Is the response to AI fear or uncertainty? 32:52 – Could technology give us more time to be human? 35:29 – Why more technology hasn’t always made communication better 39:01 – The right to disconnect and the pressure of constant communication 45:31 – Moving beyond the AI hype to practical implementation WATCH THE FULL VIDEO PODCAST ON OUR YOUTUBE - https://youtu.be/PDTeRQo-6Do USEFUL LINKS: Errol Leboydre on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/errol-wyldlynx/ WyldLynx – https://wyldlynx.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive – https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/

September 1, 202637 min

223 Mark Brand – Finding Your Tribe: Leadership, Peer Advisory and the Power of Vistage

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Mark Brand, Vistage Practice Chair, executive coach and leadership facilitator, to explore the value of peer advisory, the realities of leadership and why having the right people around you can make such a difference in business. Mark currently leads multiple Vistage peer advisory groups across Brisbane and South East Queensland, working with CEOs, founders, business owners and senior executives. Alongside his work with Vistage, he continues to contribute to leadership development and coach training across Australia and New Zealand. Mark shares his varied career journey, from starting his own business in his early twenties to working across technology, labour hire, career transition and executive coaching before ultimately becoming a Vistage Chair. Richard and Mark explore the distinction between coaching, mentoring and advisory work, and how leaders benefit from having access to people who can challenge their thinking while still supporting their success. Mark describes Vistage as a place where executives can have conversations they may not be able to have anywhere else, supported by confidentiality, accountability and the shared experience of other business leaders. They also discuss the vulnerability required from CEOs and founders, the importance of challenging limiting beliefs and the concept of “carefrontation” — confronting someone’s thinking from a genuine position of care. The conversation also explores what sustainable business growth can look like, why some leaders struggle to receive challenge from within their own organisations and how experienced executives can continue contributing to the business community later in their careers through coaching, mentoring and peer advisory roles. In this episode: 03:36 – Mark’s career journey 07:08 – How careers evolve through unexpected opportunities 08:25 – Coaching vs mentoring 10:58 – What makes peer advisory valuable? 14:42 – Vulnerability and “carefrontation” 17:45 – Supporting leaders through business challenges 20:03 – Balancing personal support with business accountability 24:22 – Common limiting beliefs among CEOs and founders 28:38 – What motivates Mark as a Vistage Chair 33:29 – How to experience Vistage 34:39 – Life outside of business 36:57 – Mark’s final advice: find your tribe WATCH THE FULL VIDEO PODCAST ON OUR YOUTUBE - https://youtu.be/qI7bIiGOR6s USEFUL LINKS: Mark Brand on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-brand/ Vistage Australia - https://www.vistage.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive - https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/

August 24, 202633 min

232 Jason Malouin – Personal Presence, Powerful Images and Showing Up as Yourself

Jason Malouin – Personal Presence, Powerful Images and Showing Up as Yourself In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Jason Malouin, founder of Superpower Portraits, to explore professional photography, personal presence and what it means to create an image that genuinely feels like you. Jason shares his unconventional journey from live theatre and wilderness guiding to moving to Australia, buying a camera and building a highly specialised photography business from scratch. Although these chapters may seem disconnected, each taught him how to guide people through unfamiliar experiences and bring something meaningful to life. The conversation explores why a professional portrait should do more than make someone look good. For executives, business owners and professionals entering a new chapter, their images need to communicate credibility, intention and personality across LinkedIn, websites, podcasts, books and speaking engagements. Jason also explains his “mic drop and pin drop” approach, his calibration process for uncovering what makes someone distinctly themselves, and why AI can create content that looks like you without necessarily creating something that feels like you. This is a fascinating conversation about identity, authenticity, reinvention and the power of showing up as the person you know yourself to be. Key Timestamps 2:40 – Jason’s work with executives and business owners 4:35 – Creating the “mic drop” and “pin drop” moments 6:36 – From live theatre to wilderness guiding and photography 8:52 – Moving to Australia and building a new career from scratch 10:46 – How Jason’s previous careers shaped his photography 12:51 – Finding his niche in professional portraiture 15:12 – Why so many people dislike being photographed 19:08 – Why professional images need to do more work 23:27 – Using physical direction to create genuine presence 28:17 – The calibration process and uncovering what makes someone distinct 32:01 – AI imagery and the difference between content and context WATCH THE FULL VIDEO PODCAST HERE - https://youtu.be/3t2NspK09gY USEFUL LINKS: Jason Malouin on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmalouin/ Superpower Portraits - https://www.superpowerportraits.com/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive - https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/

August 19, 202631 min

231 Brian Cooke – Angel Investing, AI and the Power of Diversification

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Brian Cooke, Co-Founder of MooCoo Ventures and a key figure in the Brisbane Angels community, to explore angel investing, AI, risk and the realities of backing early-stage companies. Brian currently works with investors through a venture syndication platform connected closely with Brisbane Angels, helping people participate in early-stage startup investment without needing to be Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. The conversation explores Brian’s experience building and listing an online gaming company, only to see around 70 per cent of its market disappear almost overnight following US regulatory change. It was a defining lesson in how quickly regulation can reshape a business, especially in emerging or technology-led markets. Richard and Brian also discuss AI, why Brian sees the current moment as similar to the internet-era inflection point, and why he believes the largest companies in the world in ten years will be AI companies. They also explore the difference between digital AI and physical AI, including driverless cars, intelligent devices and the next wave of technology-led disruption. This is a practical and fascinating conversation about technology, investment, risk, community and how to think intelligently about the companies that may shape the future. Key Timestamps 0:32 – Brian’s current work with MooCoo Ventures and Brisbane Angels 2:31 – Why angel investing does not require enormous personal wealth 4:54 – Brian’s early life in Ireland and move to Australia 8:21 – Moving into online gaming and digital commerce 12:02 – Losing 70 per cent of the market after US regulatory change 12:56 – Strategy consulting, PwC and the move into technology investing 15:18 – Why AI represents another major inflection point 21:43 – Digital AI versus physical AI 25:35 – Understanding risk, return and early-stage investment 30:09 – Why diversification is essential in angel investing Useful Links USEFUL LINKS: Brian Cooke on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/briancooke MooCoo Ventures - https://moocoo.vc/ Brisbane Angels - https://www.brisbaneangels.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive - https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/ SUBSCRIBE HERE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

August 5, 202643 min

230 Brad Church – Wealth, Values and Building a Successful Life

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Brad Church, Chief Executive and Senior Advisor at Goodman Private Wealth, to explore wealth, values, wellbeing and what it really means to build a successful life. Brad has been with Goodman Private Wealth for 28 years, having joined as the third person in the business after attending only one job interview. Today, he leads a small, privately owned firm that works closely with financially successful individuals and families across South East Queensland. The conversation explores the evolution of Goodman Private Wealth, from a more traditional investment advice business into a comprehensive private wealth firm. Brad also shares the succession journey that saw the business transition across management, client relationships and ownership, each requiring its own distinct plan. Richard and Brad discuss why financial advice should begin with values, not products. Brad explains the financial roadmap process Goodman uses with clients, starting with the question: “What’s important about money to you?” From there, the conversation moves into goals, current financial position and the bigger picture behind better decision-making. Brad also shares his philosophy of wellbeing, which moves beyond the traditional idea of work-life balance. Instead of trying to balance work against everything else, Brad focuses on eight areas of wellbeing: physical health, inner and emotional health, environment, generosity, recreation, relationships, business and career, and financial wellbeing. They also explore philanthropy, values-led leadership, recruitment, culture and what it takes to build a workplace people genuinely want to be part of. Brad explains why Goodman hires for fit and trains for skill, and how its recruitment process begins with a values conversation rather than a traditional skills-based interview. This is a thoughtful conversation about money, meaning, consistency, curiosity and the importance of building success across every part of life, not just the financial one. Key Timestamps 0:58 – Brad’s role at Goodman Private Wealth and the clients they serve 2:21 – Joining the business in 1998 after only one job interview 4:45 – The succession journey from founder-led business to second-generation ownership 7:37 – Curiosity, leadership development and the value of Vistage 11:51 – Why Brad moved beyond the idea of work-life balance 16:23 – The financial roadmap process and why it begins with values 22:37 – Why successful people still struggle to organise their financial records 25:49 – How values shape money, leadership and business decisions 29:35 – Philanthropy, generosity and the impact of giving 33:45 – Hiring for values fit and building a great place to work USEFUL LINKS: Brad Church on LinkedIn Goodman Private Wealth Website Richard Triggs on LinkedIn Arete Executive Website

July 27, 202641 min

227 John Lewis – Construction, Technology and Building What Does Not Yet Exist

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with John Lewis, Co-Founder of Lewis Woolcott and Lware, to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and the changing future of major infrastructure projects. John’s career began on construction sites in the UK after he left university early. He later returned to study construction law, moved through senior commercial and project leadership roles with organisations including ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy and GE, and eventually recognised that he was better suited to building businesses than navigating a traditional corporate career. Today, John leads two connected but very different businesses. Lewis Woolcott provides commercial, project controls and dispute advisory services across major construction, infrastructure and mining projects. Lware develops technology designed to give project teams better visibility, stronger analytics and faster insight into cost, delay and performance. Richard and John discuss the realities of growing two businesses, why construction has been slow to adopt new technology, and how combining industry expertise with software can solve problems traditional consulting has struggled with for decades. They also explore the impact of AI on consulting, the tension between billable hours and greater efficiency, and why human judgement will remain essential even as data analysis becomes faster and more sophisticated. This is a conversation about recognising opportunity, challenging accepted ways of working and having the confidence to build something the market has not seen before. Key Timestamps 1:45 – How Lewis Woolcott and Lware work together 4:02 – Supporting major infrastructure, construction and mining projects 11:36 – John’s journey from leaving university to senior project leadership 16:15 – Realising he was naturally suited to entrepreneurship 18:09 – Why the consulting and technology businesses became separate brands 24:19 – The moment an Uber journey inspired a new approach to construction data 26:52 – How AI is changing consulting and billable-hour models 31:51 – Why major projects experience cost and schedule blowouts 34:44 – Using technology to predict delays and improve project performance 39:25 – The next stage of growth across Australia, the UK and the US USEFUL LINKS: John Lewis on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/john-b-lewis Lware's Website - https://lware.com/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs Arete Executive Website - https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/

July 27, 202653 min

228 Dr Meg Hooper – Culture, Collaboration and Leading People Through Change

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Dr Meg Hooper, organisational psychologist and founder of Carousel Consulting, to explore workplace culture, collaboration and what it takes to lead people successfully through change. Meg has a PhD in organisational psychology and works with organisations navigating structural, technical and cultural transformation. She explains why meaningful change requires more than a new strategy, system or set of values. It requires clear behaviours, supportive environments and leaders who understand how people actually experience change. The conversation explores why purpose alone is not enough to sustain a healthy organisation, particularly within the not-for-profit sector, and how even positive qualities such as care and commitment can become “overdone strengths”. Richard and Meg also discuss her Collaboration Maturity Model, known as CM2, which helps organisations understand why collaboration cannot rely solely on individual goodwill. Incentives, leadership behaviour, systems and organisational structures must all support the way people are expected to work together. They also examine psychosocial risk, the responsibility organisations have to create psychologically healthy workplaces, and the accidental change managers who are often expected to lead their teams through disruption without any formal preparation. Beyond her consulting work, Meg shares the story of founding Circus Ipswich, which has grown from eight young participants into an inclusive community of more than 60 enrolments. Through circus, she is helping young people build confidence, take safe risks, experience belonging and realise their potential. This is a wide-ranging conversation about change, leadership, culture, community and the environments people need to thrive. Key Timestamps 2:04 – How Carousel Consulting helps organisations navigate workplace change 3:17 – Building values and cultural frameworks that translate into behaviour 6:09 – Why purpose and goodwill are not enough to sustain an organisation 8:38 – How positive qualities can become “overdone strengths” 9:52 – Measuring cultural change, engagement and organisational outcomes 15:19 – Introducing the CM2 Collaboration Maturity Model 20:51 – Why organisations struggle to create genuinely collaborative cultures 24:20 – Understanding and managing psychosocial risks in the workplace 31:51 – Supporting the “accidental change managers” leading teams through disruption 39:41 – The story and purpose behind Circus Ipswich USEFUL LINKS: Meg Hooper on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/meg-hooper Carousel Consulting - https://carouselconsulting.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs Arete Executive Website - https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/team/richard-triggs/

July 22, 202646 min

229 Tim Dwyer – Business Alignment, AI and Navigating the Next Era of Growth

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs reconnects with business strategist and author Tim Dwyer to discuss business alignment, cultural transformation and how organisations can prepare for the opportunities and disruption created by AI. Tim shares the thinking behind his new book, which brings together more than 25 years of experience working with businesses across different industries, sizes and stages of growth. Using a nautical framework, he explains how market forces act like the wind while culture operates like the current beneath the surface. When strategy and culture are aligned, businesses can move quickly and confidently. When they are pulling in different directions, even strong organisations can experience resistance, confusion and unnecessary internal friction. Richard and Tim explore the importance of understanding a business’s current position before introducing significant change. Tim explains why AI does not fix poor strategy, weak culture or leadership misalignment. Instead, it amplifies what already exists. They also discuss the changing nature of work, the challenges facing younger professionals, and why mentorship, relationships and human judgement will become even more important as technology transforms traditional career paths. This is a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, business transformation and the responsibility organisations have to prepare their people for the next era of work. Key Timestamps 1:20 – Tim’s new book and the thinking behind its business philosophy 2:41 – Why Tim uses navigation and sailing as a model for business 4:15 – Supporting established businesses, entrepreneurs and owners preparing to exit 8:13 – How navigation gives businesses a shared starting point and destination 11:12 – Why alignment removes internal drama and accelerates implementation 14:02 – Understanding the relationship between market forces and workplace culture 20:08 – How businesses can respond quickly when facing a crisis 23:23 – Why strategic and cultural alignment must come before AI implementation 29:34 – AI, changing career paths and the future of entry-level work 41:26 – Productivity, shorter working weeks and revaluing people

June 8, 202648 min

226 Richard Palmer - Building Businesses That Are Actually Worth Something

In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Richard Palmer, Co-Founder and Partner at Qurate Advisory, to explore what it really takes to build a business that has lasting value. Richard has spent more than 25 years across corporate advisory, investment, governance, technology, M&A and executive leadership. His career has taken him from New Zealand to the UK and Australia, through high-growth technology, venture capital, funds management, CEO roles, board advisory and now Qurate Advisory, where he helps Australian business owners prepare for growth, succession, acquisition and sale. This conversation is a practical and honest look at the reality of business ownership. Richard and Richard discuss why so many owners start with the dream of building an asset, but end up creating a job for themselves instead. They explore why most businesses never sell, what makes a business genuinely valuable, and why value is ultimately about cash flow, risk and transferability. They also unpack the human side of business transition. Richard explains why many deals fail not because the business lacks value, but because owners, families or shareholders are not aligned on what they actually want. The conversation covers succession, trust, resilience, leadership, business owner pressure, Vistage, AI, tax, capital readiness and the importance of preparing for exit long before you want to exit. At its heart, this episode is about building with intention. It is a reminder that business owners can create income, impact and a valuable capital asset, but only if they start thinking about value early and treat readiness as a discipline, not a last-minute event. Key Timestamps 2:37 - Why Qurate Advisory exists and the problem it solves for business owners 5:49 - Lessons from the high-growth technology world at Orange 9:39 - Why running a business is very different from investing in one 18:10 - How Qurate Advisory began and why business transition starts with people 21:42 - The simple equation behind business value: cash flow and risk 27:00 - Why misalignment between owners, families and shareholders kills value 35:40 - How AI is changing risk, valuation and exit planning 47:02 - Why business owners should be capital ready every day, not just at sale USEFUL LINKS: Richard Palmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmpalmer1/ Qurate Advisory: https://qurate.com.au/ Richard Triggs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/ Arete Executive Website: https://www.areteexecutive.com.au

June 1, 202637 min

225 Teva Smith - Creativity, Personal Brand and the Courage to Be Seen

In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Teva Smith, communications strategist, content creator and fractional communications consultant, to explore the power of creativity, personal brand and human connection in a world overloaded with digital noise. Teva’s career has moved across countries, industries and creative disciplines. From growing up in South Africa and spending almost a decade in the UK, to building a strong professional background in pharmaceutical PR, marketing and independent education, her path has been anything but linear. Today, she brings together more than 20 years of communications experience with a bold, funny and highly human online presence that has opened new professional doors. Richard and Teva discuss the rise of fractional work, why more businesses are looking for senior expertise without the risk or cost of a full-time hire, and how experienced professionals can bring value quickly across different organisations, projects and industries. They also explore the growing need for executives and business leaders to develop a more compelling online presence, not just as a polished career summary, but as a genuine expression of who they are. The conversation then moves into Teva’s own creative journey. She shares how making videos started as a personal outlet, why humour and vulnerability have helped her content resonate, and how authenticity, when handled with integrity, can become a serious professional advantage. This is a conversation about more than social media. It is about courage, creativity, reputation, reinvention and the importance of staying human in business. For leaders, executives and aspiring C-suite professionals, Teva offers a clear reminder: people do not just connect with credentials. They connect with personality, story and trust. Key Timestamps 1:46 - Teva’s work across fractional communications, content creation and creative projects 2:16 - The rise of fractional work and why businesses are using senior expertise differently 6:07 - Teva’s journey from South Africa to Australia, the UK and back to Brisbane 8:00 - Creativity, storytelling and human connection as the thread through Teva’s career 10:09 - How Teva started creating online videos and developed her distinctive voice 13:04 - Balancing professional reputation with personal expression online 20:24 - How leaders and business owners can start building a stronger personal brand 34:58 - Teva’s final message on bravery, creativity and having more fun in business USEFUL LINKS: Teva Smith on LinkedIn Teva Smith's Website Richard Triggs on LinkedIn SUBSCRIBE HERE: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Subscribe on Android | Player.fm | RSS | Spotify