Optimal Conversations

Hosted by Optimal Life Solutions

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an exceptional leader? Join us as we dive into the many layers of leadership with inspiring voices from all walks of life sharing personal stories behind their journey to the top. I'm Mary Wong, founder of Optimal Life Solutions, and over the past 20 years, I've been helping people become better leaders and communicators. Join our podcast for some solo insights and incredible guest conversations. Optimal Conversations - Real People, Real Conversations.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 5, 2026Episode 6533 min

EP 65 - Lurinda Vollmer - Joyful Productivity

Send us Fan Mail For so long, society has believed that if you aren't productive every moment, you must be lazy. Our guest, Lurinda Vollmer, turns this on its head, arguing that laziness, when done well, makes us joyfully productive. Listen and learn how you, too, can build time out into your schedule to make productivity a joy-filled experience. Find out more about Lurinda here: Website: https://www.perspectivebylurinda.com Facebook: https//www.facebook.com/LurindaPFH Insta: https//www.instagram.com/perspectivebylurinda/ LinkedIn: https://https//www.linkedin.com/in/lurinda-vollmer-268516411/ Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

October 22, 2026Episode 6416 min

Ep 64 - Mary Wong - Self-Knowing: The Key To Authentic Leadership

Send us Fan Mail Are you second-guessing your ability to lead? Has a mentor suggested a leadership style that you feel you have to follow, even though it doesn't truly feel like a fit? Do you wonder if maybe you should just go back to doing the kind of role you had before you were promoted? If you answered yes to any of these questions, listen to this episode, where Mary explains the difference between your role and who you are as a person, and how understanding that gap can make all the difference. This could be the most valuable 16 minutes of your leadership journey. Find out more about Mary's work: Website: www.optimalcoaching.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimal.leadership/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marywong-coaching Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

October 11, 2026Episode 6341 min

EP 63 - Beck Smith - No-Nonsense Momentum

Send us Fan Mail She's an absolute powerhouse! Beck shares her secrets to momentum and to facing the fear and making it happen as we discuss her journey of starting a business while you have five children in a country town, including twins under 18 months. We talk all things business, branding, and life. You'll be amazed. It's no-nonsense and no excuses! Don't miss it! Find out more about Beck https:/www.beaminbusiness.com Facebook: https://https//www.facebook.com/beaminbusiness Insta: https://https//www.instagram.com/beaminbusiness/ Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

September 24, 2026Episode 6216 min

EP 62 - Mary Wong - Is it Safe to Speak?

Send us Fan Mail The workplaces with the most innovation, the biggest successes, and the highest staff retention rates are those where everyone feels safe speaking up. In this episode, Mary discusses psychological safety, what it is, what it isn't, and the simple leadership actions every leader can take to help people speak up. It's not just fluffy feel-good stuff - being able to safely share opinions and feedback is a workplace health and safety requirement. Take 20 minutes out to listen to this vital conversation. Find out more about Mary's work: Website: www.optimalcoaching.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimal.leadership/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marywong-coaching Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

September 10, 2026Episode 6148 min

EP 61 - Alpha Schulte - Intentional Wealth

Send us Fan Mail As a young adult, an epiphany about her own understanding of money brought a change of direction for our guest. She now helps others understand their financial direction and strategies for financial security. Alpha says it takes a village. We chat about what to do when things go wrong, how to plan and strategise for safe futures, and how to deal with recent government policy changes that may have affected your plans. Alpha makes money simple! It's an enlightening episode that proves her leadership in the financial space. Find out more about Alpha: Website: https://www.moneymadesimple.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMSMoneyMadeSimple Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alphamoneymadesimple LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alphaschulte Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

August 27, 2026Episode 6023 min

EP 60 - Mary Wong - Whoops! Sorry...

Send us Fan Mail Ever had that moment when you realised you got it all wrong? I've had plenty of them! And when they happen, it's easy to think you may have just wrecked your chances of being respected... then you get caught in a loop of beating yourself up or telling yourself (or others) white lies to save face and cover up the blunders. But what if I were to tell you that mistakes can be the thing that helps us to become more highly respected? There's no rule book for dealing with errors, but there should be... In this episode, we discuss how to deal with the mistakes we make, whether or not we should apologise for them, and what a really effective apology looks like. Take a listen and see if you agree. Find out more about Mary's work: Website: www.optimalcoaching.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimal.leadership/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marywong-coaching Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

August 13, 2026Episode 5929 min

EP 59 - Kylli Kidman - Organically Grown Leadership

Send us Fan Mail Join us as Kylli shares her organic leadership journey of learning while leading. Passionate about psychologically safe workplaces, Kylli speaks about how she engages and enthuses team members to achieve sustainable retention targets in excess of the industry average, with quality outcomes and a strong bottom line. We discuss the many aspects of leadership in her role as General Manager at a Tech company and the broader impact of her influence as a respected female business leader. You don't want to miss this one. Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

July 30, 2026Episode 5824 min

EP 58 - Mary Wong - Ageism, Experience, and the Value we Overlook

Send us Fan Mail Are you missing out on opportunities because of age - either your age, or someone else's? Too often, leaders overlook people because they are seen as no longer relevant or too inexperienced. When we do that, we lose out on fantastic growth opportunities for our teams and our organisations. In this episode, Mary discusses where the opportunities exist for older workers, younger workers, and for the companies that employ them. Take a listen and discover where you might be missing the mark. And if you are a worker experiencing ageism, listen and discover some tips for reframing the narrative. Find out more about Mary's work: Website: www.optimalcoaching.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimal.leadership/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marywong-coaching Find out about POWERtalk Australia: www.powertalkaustralia.org.au Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

July 16, 2026Episode 5743 min

EP 57 - Joan Dellavalle - You're Going To Be OK

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever thought it's all too hard, and you can't achieve because of circumstances, you need to hear what Joan has to say. From very humble beginnings, Joan has navigated enormous challenges to get where she is today - challenges that would have stopped many people in their tracks. Discover the mantra that helped her, and how you, too, can use it to navigate through adversity, despite what life may throw at you. You really are going to be OK. Find out more about Joan: Website: www.joandellavalle.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoanDellavalleMotivationalspeaker/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/joandellavallehairstylist/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/joandellavalle/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/joandellavalle/ Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au

July 2, 2026Episode 5639 min

EP 56 - Mary Wong - Leading Across Generations

Send us Fan Mail "The young-ones these days need to be spoon-fed." "That generation just doesn't get it." "I wish they'd speak in a language I understood!" How many times have you heard these kinds of statements about people of differing generations in the workplace? In this episode, Mary examines the generations, their influences, and the things we sometimes forget when leading an intergenerational workplace. Find out more about Mary's work: Website: www.optimalcoaching.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimal.leadership/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marywong-coaching Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact. If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level up your leadership, we can help you to make that a reality. Get in touch with Mary at Optimal Life Solutions using the contact form on our website at www.optimalcoaching.com.au