Podcasts about academy xi

Send us a text"People are using AI Tools whether they're being allowed to or not. More and more of large organisations' ways of working are starting to operate out of these things organically."Ben Le RalphListen to the full episode for an in-depth look at how AI is changing the way teams work and why strategy may soon become the next big challenge in the age of AI.In this episode, you'll hear about:What Ben means by the “strategy execution gap”Why AI adoption is messy, fragmented, and very realThe comparison between AI and Excel in organisational usageHow teams are using AI tools unofficially to move fasterThe personal vs organisational use of AI - what's working and what's notThe shift from AI hype to quiet productivityWhy grey user insight can still be usefulThe risks (and benefits) of AI hallucinationsWhy AI won't replace jobs - but will shift how we workHow delivery bottlenecks are giving way to deeper strategy workThe future of AI as a practical, democratic tool for decision-makingThe emerging value of strategy work in the wake of AI adoptionHow AI is revealing deeper patterns that drive decision-making, even if not perfectly accurateKey linksAI for Busy PeopleMeet & Gather B Corp CertificationBen Le Ralph's TikTokBen Le Ralph's LinkedIn About our guest Ben Le Ralph is the founder of AI For Busy People and runs a small co-working space in Richmond called Meet and Gather.Over the past 15 years, he has helped small teams, often within larger organisations, to achieve big things.He specialises in supporting business owners and team leaders to align their teams on the right strategy and implement practical systems that supercharge delivery. Ben is passionate about helping teams work smarter and build things that actually move the needle and make an impact.Before launching AI For Busy People, Ben co-founded and scaled a B-Corp certified consultancy, growing it to a team of 15+ and $6 million in revenue. His company partnered with some of Australia's most recognisable organisations and government departments to help them rethink how they tackle complex social challenges.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is an Intrapreneuship Coach, Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text“It's not that you are not creative, you just haven't worked a little more on developing your capacity. We can all be creative.”  Dr. Maria CamachoDr. Maria Camacho is a global leader in design thinking and innovation. With over 30 years of experience across academia, consulting, and industry, she has helped shape the way organisations think about creativity and collaboration.In this episode, Maria talks about how design thinking can help people and companies navigate uncertainty.In this episode, you'll hear about:Why Design Thinking matters now more than everHow creative resilience is built through practiceThe emotional highs and lows of the innovation processWhy organisations still struggle to value designTips to support introverts and quieter voices in ideationHow to run a “dark horse” prototype that uncovers unexpected solutionsThe role of play and experimentation at workHelping teams fall in love with the process, not just the ideaWhen to introduce creativity in education and leadershipWhat it means to make creativity part of everyone's roleKey linksDr. Maria Camacho LinkedInRecommended Book: The Design Thinking Toolbox: A Guide to Mastering the Most Popular and Valuable Innovation Methods (Design Thinking Series)Stanford UniversityFrogSwinburne University of TechnologyAbout our guest Dr. Maria Camacho is a globally recognised expert in design thinking and strategic innovation with over 30 years of experience across academia, industry, and consulting. With a PhD in Design Thinking and a decade-long partnership with Stanford University's flagship programs, Maria has helped shape innovation practices at global companies and institutions, including Frog, the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Westpac, Swinburne University, and global European group Sonae.Maria's career spans founding and directing award-winning academic programs, mentoring teams to embrace human-centred approaches, and delivering impactful workshops and keynote speeches around the world. Known for her evidence-based methods, she empowers leaders and teams to tackle complexity with creativity, empathy, and humanity.Today, Maria runs her independent practice as a speaker, corporate trainer, and advisor, inspiring organisations to foster cultures of innovation and collaborative problem-solving.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is an Intrapreneuship Coach, Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"You cannot control how anyone's going to respond to what comes out of your mouth. I think you just have to do it with an open heart and with positive intent and then just let it land. " – Fiona WalshFiona Walsh specialises in guiding people through this kind of deep self-inquiry. She is a mindset coach, change adviser, and host of the Limitless: Unlocking Your True Potential Podcast. With over 20 years of experience, Fiona has helped business leaders and entrepreneurs shift their perspectives and align their careers with their true selves.In this episode, you'll hear about:How self-awareness impacts leadership and career growthThe role of inner critics and how to manage themStrategies to overcome fear of failure and judgementThe importance of mindfulness and breathwork in stress managementHow to navigate difficult workplace conversations with confidenceUnderstanding workplace dynamics and setting boundariesThe power of gratitude and reflection in personal developmentManaging uncertainty in career transitionsThe neuroscience behind stress responses and decision-makingHow leaders can support teams through organisational changeKey linksFiona Walsh's Limitless PodcastWork with FionaFiona Walsh's InstagramFiona Walsh's LinkedInEmail: fiona@fionawalshconsulting.comAbout our guest Fiona Walsh is a mindset coach, change adviser and Podcast Host, who helps entrepreneurs and senior leaders unlock their true potential to create a life of alignment, fulfilment, and expansion. She believes in the power of deep self-discovery to tackle self-doubt and uncover blind spots: when your inner world expands, your external world transforms exponentially.With over 20 years of experience leading and advising on transformational change programs, including digital and culture transformations, customer experience strategy, and coaching high performers worldwide. Fiona brings a unique blend of strategic insight, personal growth expertise, intuition, and a lifelong curiosity about how humans, teams, and organisations evolve and thrive.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is an Intrapreneuship Coach, Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is in that little extra. It's about focusing in on the right things and fixing them...it's more about solutioning in that space."– Dr. Munib KaravdicDr. Munib Karavdic, an award-winning innovation executive, intrapreneur, and CEO of Wave Design. In this episode, Munib shares his journey from pursuing a PhD in E-Commerce in Australia to leading corporate innovation and eventually founding Wave Design. He discusses key turning points in his career, including the moment he shifted focus from technical E-Commerce to innovation and customer experience. He explains how he navigated corporate resistance to change, drove design-led strategies, and influenced leadership to embrace innovation.If you're an intrapreneur looking to make an impact, this episode is packed with insights on how to push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and create meaningful change.In this episode, you'll hear about:The journey from academia to corporate leadership and entrepreneurshipThe challenges of introducing innovation in large organisationsHow small, incremental changes can have a big impactWhy human-centred design is crucial for business growthStrategies for influencing leadership and navigating corporate structuresThe importance of intrapreneurship and how to drive change from withinHow large organisations can work with start-ups effectivelyThe future of corporate innovation and leadership in AustraliaKey linksDr. Munib Karavdic LinkedInWave Design WebsiteMacquarie Bank Website St. George Bank WebsiteAMP Website About our guest Dr Munib Karavdic is an intrapreneur and award-winning innovation executive. He is an expert in design and innovation, helping leaders and organisations drive growth and confidently navigate change.As a senior executive and Conjoint Professor at UNSW, Munib has led award-winning teams, developed customer-centric strategies, and mentored the next generation of innovators. He combines commercial acumen with human-centred design to create transformative strategies, products, and services across industries.With a PhD in e-commerce and a career spanning corporate leadership and academia, Munib is passionate about turning ideas into impactful solutions.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is an Intrapreneuship Coach, Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Episode Summary:  In this episode of For Love & Money, Carolyn Butler-Madden is joined by Chris Hudson, Founder & CEO of Company Road, to explore how his own personal purpose has driven his work in catalysing organisational change. Chris shares his journey from childhood to the Ad Agency world, through corporate marketing to entrepreneurship—driven by curiosity and a deep desire to challenge the status quo. They discuss how leaders can embed purpose into their work, create meaningful cultural transformation, and reimagine traditional business models through curiosity, storytelling, and innovation. This conversation unpacks the emotional and strategic aspects of change-making, exploring how work can become more than a means to an end and instead a space for experimentation, personal fulfilment, and systemic impact. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Discover how Chris Hudson's personal purpose inspires him to drive business transformation, challenge leadership norms, and create innovative workplaces. How personal purpose can lead your work choices and inspire new business ventures. Why curiosity and questioning assumptions are essential for both innovation and leadership. The concept of 'intrapreneurship' and how employees can drive change within organisations. How designing customer experiences can be an experience itself. The parallels between performance in music, art, and leadership at work. How work environments can be stretched beyond conventional structures to foster engagement, creativity, and impact. The need to challenge traditional leadership archetypes and embrace humility in leadership. Why leaders must deeply understand their teams to create productive and fulfilling workplaces. Key Themes Discussed: Curiosity as a Leadership Skill: Chris reflects on how his innate curiosity has inspired his career path and his belief that curiosity is a critical tool for fostering change. Intrapreneurs as Rebels: Chris highlights how intrapreneurs are the 'rebels' of an organisation, pushing against the norm to drive meaningful change from within. Work as an Expansive Concept: The conversation explores how traditional work structures can be stretched and reimagined to create environments that promote innovation, fulfillment, and purpose. The Experience of Designing an Experience: Chris discusses how designing a customer experience can be an enriching experience for the people creating it, not just the end users. The Art of Leadership as Performance: Using music and art as an analogy, Chris draws parallels between great performances and the leadership required to create an engaging work culture. Challenging the Alpha Leadership Model: Chris calls for a shift away from the traditional dominant leadership style, advocating instead for consultative and humble leadership that fosters collaboration. Understanding People to Drive Productivity: Leaders need to invest time in truly understanding their teams to create a work environment that is both high-performing and human-centered. Featured Guest: Chris Hudson – Founder & CEO of Company Road, host of the Company Road Podcast, and an advocate for purpose-driven organizational change. Chris is an Intrapreneurship Coach and Founder of Company Road, a business transformation coaching and consultancy. He formed his business in response to seeing over-niching and specialisation as a significant barrier to change within corporates. During his career, he's worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. Chris is also a fellow podcast host. The Company Road Podcast explores what it takes for intrapreneurs to change companies and organisations and inspire personal growth for themselves. I've listened to several episodes, as well as being one of his guests. What I love is the breadth of guests and experiences that he shares. There's some real gold in there, sometimes from unexpected places. Our interview explores Chris' personal purpose and how it has inspired his work and the way he approaches his work in Intrapreneurship Coaching, business design, product design and experience design. It's a fascinating insight into how to blend what you care about personally into your work. Resources & Links: Company Road website Listen to the Company Road Podcast  Connect with Chris Hudson on Linkedin How is personal purpose shaping your leadership style? Leave a comment or tag us on social media with #PurposeDrivenLeadership!

Send us a textShow Notes"I think one of the main skills that an intrapreneur needs is diplomacy. You need to be able to manage upwards, downwards, sideways. You need to get people's buy-in, engage them in your ideas rather than ramming them down their throats." - Kate ToonKate Toon, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and digital marketing expert, joins us for an insightful discussion. From her humble backyard shed, Kate has built a thriving business universe, empowering thousands through her educational platforms and marketing expertise.In this episode, Kate shares the valuable lessons learned during her transition from intrapreneur to entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of adaptability, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of a vision.In this episode, you'll hear about:The key differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.How adaptability and creativity drive success in both roles.The importance of persistence over passion in achieving goals.Why diplomacy and confidence are essential in corporate environments.Lessons from Kate's journey balancing business and parenting.Strategies for managing multiple roles and staying focused.Creating environments that foster creativity and autonomy.Recognising and harnessing the skills of intrapreneurs.Key linksKate Toon's WebsiteKate Toon's LinkedInBooks by Kate Toon: Six Figures in School Hours, Six Figures While You Sleep, The Confessions of a Misfit EntrepreneurThe Clever Copywriting School's WebsiteThe Digital Marketing Collective's WebsiteAbout our guest From her humble backyard shed, Kate Toon has masterminded an ambitious business universe, empowering thousands through her digital marketing and business expertise.She's the author of "Six Figures in School Hours," a testament to balancing a thriving business while being a dedicated parent. And she has recently released her latest book “Six Figures While you Sleep” - which I can highly recommend to anyone that has their own business and is looking to grow it.Her accolades include being voted Australia's Most Influential Small Businesswoman 2022 and winning Businesswoman of the Year 2020.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders inFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text“The Elements Kit is about 'Who am I?' and 'What next?'. What choices can I make for a really fulfilled and aligned life? Bringing all those components into balance.” - Lisa JohnsonLisa Johnson, an experienced designer with expertise spanning interior design to service design, joins us to share her journey and her innovative creation, The Elements Kit. With a foundation in systems thinking and human-centred design, Lisa has built a toolkit that aligns personal talents, values, and ambitions, offering a unique path to creative self-actualisation.Lisa discusses the origins of The Elements Kit, which started as a thesis project and evolved into a powerful tool for individuals and teams. She explains the concept of archetypes and how they reflect human behaviour in distinct ways. She explores topics such as psychological safety, the gap in traditional psychometric tests, and how teams can use The Elements Kit to uncover untapped potential.Hear about Lisa's offer to work with teams and organisations, providing a holistic approach to enhancing alignment, productivity, and individual fulfilment using The Elements Kit.In this episode, you'll hear about:The origins of the Elements Kit as a thesis project.Why traditional psychometric tools miss the mark on human complexity.The six key elements: expression, connection, leadership, knowledge, navigation, and belief.Archetypes and how they provide a holistic view of human behaviour.How psychological safety enables creativity and team collaboration.Balancing light and shadow sides of archetypes for personal growth.Insights into team dynamics and the importance of valuing individuality.The role of self-reflection in navigating life and career.Applications of the Elements Kit across different age groups, from children to seniors.How the kit enables organisations to align team values with company culture.Key linksThe Elements Kit WebsiteLisa Johnson on LinkedInAccenture SongAbout our guest As an experienced design consultant and mentor, Lisa has a deep understanding of the delivery of creative projects from research and discovery through to design, production and implementation, and decades of experience mentoring others in human-centred design.With broad agency and client-side experience across UX, CX, EX and Service Design, Lisa is skilled at collaborating, co-ordinating and leading diverse stakeholder and consultant teams. Lisa has a particular strength in strategic visual thinking and narrative.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"We know that authentic content is what comes through. We know storytelling is so important. So I actually help businesses bring it back in-house if they felt like they were very over-reliant on external factors. No one knows us, our customer, and our business better than we do." – Kim JamesIn this episode, you'll hear about:How platforms like Facebook and TikTok have changed over the years and the strategies that work today.Why authenticity and understanding customer behaviour are central to impactful marketing.The shift towards businesses managing their own social media and the benefits of in-house teams.Kim's personal journey, including the risks she took and the lessons she learned about growth and purpose.The importance of building a personal brand for future-proofing your career and opening new opportunities.How to use AI tools to create content more efficiently without losing authenticity.Key linksKim James on LinkedInCareer Girl Diaries on TikTokCareer Girl Diaries on InstagramHootsuiteAbout our guest Kim's candid stories and down-to-earth advice will make you laugh, think, and maybe even dream bigger.With a decade of experience in content and digital marketing, Kim helps organisations launch and scale their marketing strategies, campaigns, and products.Her approach integrates insights and a passion for consumer behaviour with human psychology to create industry-leading content strategies and funnels that can be applied to all industries.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a textAni Møller, founder of Ani Møller Coaching, discusses the growing awareness of neurodivergence in the workplace. Ani shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of 41, which reshaped her understanding of past challenges and led her to a new purpose: helping neurodivergent professionals own their identities, navigate their careers, and thrive both personally and professionally.In this episode, you'll hear about:Ani's personal journey and discovery of being autistic and ADHD in her 40s.Challenges neurodivergent professionals face, from burnout to workplace stigma.How coaching helps individuals leverage their strengths and navigate executive dysfunction.Practical strategies for leaders to support neurodivergent team members.The role of universal accommodations in fostering inclusive workplaces.Misconceptions about neurodivergence and how to combat them.The importance of neuro-affirming workplace cultures.Tips for creating safety and thriving environments for all team members.Disclosure of neurodivergence and the factors individuals should consider.Key linksAni Møller  WebsiteAni Møller LinkedinThe Digital Picnic WebsiteAbout our guest Ani Møller (they/she) is a Business Transformation Consultant and Neurodivergent Coach based in Melbourne, Australia. They have worked on transformational programs of work for Myer, Jetstar, Qantas, University of Canberra, ActewAGL, Tourism New Zealand, and Māori Television.Ani was an executive director running a digital agency and consulting to corporate Australia they found out they were Autistic and ADHD in their 40s. After their diagnosis they studied to be an ADHD Life Coach. Ani now provides a strengths-based coaching practice to neurodivergent people from all walks of life, to help build neuro-affirming lives and workplaces.They help people work through the change that comes with wanting a better life for themselves, both professionally and personally. Ani's led projects, departments and companies and now helps other neurodivergent people learn how to navigate corporate life and transform their lives.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"Imposter syndrome is not conquered by achievements. The more achievements that you have, sometimes it can disconnect you more from your sense of worth. That is why I believe in being so raw and open about my stuff now. Now that I have the privilege to do it." - DeAnna AvisThis week's themeDeAnna Avis' story is not your typical corporate success tale—it's raw, real, and powerfully inspirational. From the glittering stages of strip clubs to the boardrooms of global corporations, DeAnna's transformation is nothing short of jaw-dropping.In this episode, DeAnna takes us through her difficult upbringing, battling mental health struggles, addiction, and homelessness, all while navigating the highs and lows of working as a stripper. But that's only the beginning. Today, she's a global executive, therapist, and coach who helps others thrive through adversity. DeAnna candidly discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, embracing authenticity, and the challenges of staying true to yourself in a world that often judges from the outside. Her insights into personal growth, leadership, and breaking free from self-limiting beliefs are inspiring and deeply relevant for intrapreneurs aiming to create their own success stories.Don't miss this episode—DeAnna's story will shake up everything you think you know about success, resilience, and the power of transformation.In this episode, you'll hear about:The impact of authenticityImposter SyndromeThe significance of seeking supportConcept of schemas—mental patterns that influence behaviour and perceptionsManaging digital distractionPractice of writing "morning pages" for mental clarityNavigating triggers and traumaProactive career developmentThe power of positive foundationsComplexity of identity and diversityKey linksDeAnna Avis LinkedInJulia Cameron's "Morning Pages"Company Road Podcast E40 – Lael StoneAbout our guest DeAnna Avis is a speaker, consultant and coach on thriving through adversity. A former stripper, she climbed the ranks of corporate, taking on global leadership roles and winning multiple awards for her work in customer experience and culture change. She since went on to re-train as a therapist and coach, and uses her experience of adversity to uplift other leaders and entrepreneurs. Her mission is to conquer imposter syndrome through helping other ambitious misfits to embrace their unique brilliance.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Organisational, Service & Product Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road. Chris helps organisations become more customer-centric, and sets up systems within businesses to motivate teams to deliver against higher value outcomes. Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"The consumer, quite honestly, especially the younger generation, is looking for something more than just love me because I'm spending my money, they want to be connected to a brand." - Chris Gillen  This week's themeAs the CEO and co-owner of A Closer Look, Chris brings nearly three decades of expertise from the frontlines of retail and customer service, guiding brands through the labyrinth of CX transformation.Curious about how to leverage these insights to transform your own approach to customer experience? Tune in to hear Chris Gillen share practical strategies and visionary ideas that can help you stay ahead in this dynamic landscape. Don't miss out—listen to the full episode now!In this episode, you'll hear about:Emotive loyalty vs. Transactional loyalty.Impact of COVID-19 and inflation on CXThe role of AI in customer experience.Generational shifts in consumer behaviour.Proactive vs. Reactive customer service.The value of human connection.Proactive leadership in customer experience.Consumer empowerment and expectations.Innovation amid economic challenges.Key linksChris Gillen LinkedInA Closer Look Website A Closer Look Facebook PageA Closer Look  X (Twitter ) PageToys R Us WebsiteTarget Website Burning Mountain Adventures LinkedIn About our guest As CEO and co-owner of A Closer Look, Chris leads the team towards achieving their vision of being the ultimate partner for brands fanatical about the customer experience. He is dedicated to building brand loyalty for clients of all industries by providing robust data about the first-hand experiences of all customers who interact with their brand.Chris's experience in helping businesses iterate and improve their customer experience spans nearly three decades, including various leadership positions in retail companies known for phenomenal brand loyalty. His extensive expertise in leading and managing customer service programs has been instrumental in helping businesses improve their service offerings through the use of technology.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text"Improvisers don't have time to hypothesise about the future of an idea. If you bring me an idea or a brick, I can't consider if it's viable for the rest of the show; I just have to trust that it is and know the process will land us somewhere interesting. In businesses, leaders often assess the future of an idea instantly and may deny it, rather than just saying, 'Yes, and let's build on this idea.' The improviser remembers the past, honours the present, and cares not for the future." - Broni Lisle  This week's themeBroni Lisle, a seasoned improv performer with decades of experience, shares how the art of improvisation can radically reshape the way teams communicate, collaborate, and innovate. Drawing from his work both on stage and in business settings, Broni Lisle reveals how improv helps individuals embrace spontaneity, listen deeply, and create a culture of trust and openness. Tune in to discover how you can apply these game-changing improvisational techniques to your business. Broni's insights are sure to spark creativity and open new doors for your team's success. Listen now!In this episode you'll hear aboutBuilding stronger communication in your teamFostering trust through vulnerability The importance of spontaneity and playfulnessOvercoming your inner critic and embracing innovationThe importance of listening to connect, not to respondRedefining the standard 'Yes, and' to a 'Hell Yeah'Key linksBroni Lisle LinkedInImprov Conspiracy podcastGrowth Factory websiteSpontoon TV on YouTubeAbout our guest Broni has been a professional performing artist and creative for 23 years. A theatre practitioner, writer, actor, songwriter, musician and all the et ceteras in between. Over a career of thousands of stage shows, international and national tours, radio play and countless hours in rehearsal rooms, Broni has distilled his values and passion in the performing arts down to a few things; authenticity, trust, and whimsy. These values dictate the projects and the people worth collaborating on and with.In addition, Broni holds degrees in Theatre and Education and is an expert teacher, director and facilitator of improvisation, theatre and music.Broni works with corporate individuals and teams on becoming better communicators, collaborators and improving their creativity, ultimately creating a happier workplace. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a text“Your health is the only thing that's keeping you there, doing your job. ... Your body might not give you that choice. ... You keep running at such a pace and we keep expecting our body to just sustain us, which it does, to a point, but at some point it might decide that's enough and it forces you to stop." - Cailie Ford  This week's themeCailie Ford, a clinical nutritionist with a background in change management, has channelled her passion for food and health into a thriving practice.Don't let the demands of work jeopardise your health. Tune in to this episode and discover how to nourish your body and mind, so you can thrive both at work and in life.In this episode you'll hear aboutCailie's journey from change management to nutrition.Key areas Cailie targets in her wellness programmes.Bad habits in corporate environments and how to address them.Strategies for managing stress through nutrition and lifestyle changes.Easy adjustments for improving nutrition, including managing stress.Balanced breakfasts and intermittent fasting for women.Hydration Tips.Balancing weight loss goals with a busy work life.Physical activity in sedentary jobs.Mindful eating and simplifying nutrition.Key linksCailie Ford's Website Cailie Ford LinkedInCailie Ford Instagram About our guest Cailie is a motivational speaker, clinical nutritionist and accredited change manager.  Cailie works with businesses and across the globe, providing customised workshops and programs to support employees to feel better and achieve more. Workshops and programs focus on the relationship between physical and mental wellbeing and their impact on business performance, working towards a healthier, happier and more engaged workforce. Cailie also runs a busy private practice, specialising in gut health, hormones, sustainable fat loss and women's health across the lifespan.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationallyFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."I think it's adventure that drives me. So it's adventure that is at the heart of all of this. I didn't really enjoy school. I wasn't particularly good at school. I was diagnosed, you know, either dyslexic or dyspraxic or, you know, suffered from a bang on the head. But that wasn't until university. So school was kind of a constant experience of being told that I was smart but lazy, and it just didn't make sense to me. I wasn't very good at it. But then I worked. My first kind of career was in advertising, and I was very lucky, I think, to find places that valued people that thought differently."​ - Ben MasonBen Mason shares his journey of living and working remotely on a sailboat, discussing his background in strategy work and entrepreneurship, including his appearance on Dragon's Den. He describes the challenges of maintaining a balance between freelance work and boat life, his struggles with dyslexia and dyspraxia during school, and his innovative ventures like starting a pizza delivery social enterprise during COVID-19. He also talks about his current location in the Bahamas and plans to sail further.Dive deeper into his adventures and learn how to embrace a lifestyle of remote work and adventure by listening to this episode, be inspired by his journey and embark on your own path to freedom and innovation today!In this episode you'll hear aboutBen Mason's background in strategy work, entrepreneurship, and appearance on Dragon's DenThe challenges of living and working remotely on a sailboatStruggles with school due to dyslexia and dyspraxiaBalancing freelance work with boat maintenanceThe feasibility and challenges of remote working, balancing client expectations with the realities of boat lifeFuture plans without limitsKey linksBen Mason LinkedInBen Mason TwitterFortnum & Mason Dragon's DenAbout our guestCurrently a freelance CSO providing marketing consultancy including brand strategy, product innovation, naming and creative ideas, Ben works remotely from his sailboat.Previously Co-Founder at Love Triangle, a pizza delivery social enterprise launched summer 2020 during Covid lockdown. In the midst of lockdown they raised many thousands for a foodbank, met the King and employed over 100 people from the hard-hi hospitality industry.Previously Ben founded a baked beans startup that Richard Branson described as 'a pioneering business idea' and The Daily Mail described it as, 'twice as good as Heinz and 10 times tastier than Waitrose'. Check out Ben's appearance on Dragons' Den!About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking andFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“When you were doing the intro, you know, you can just hear how diverse and broad the different types of roles or experiences and industries I've had were. I think you know some parts have been serendipitous right. Where you're just kind of following your instinct around what you enjoy like this constant search in your work for things where you feel good you know you're getting joy out of it you're learning you're collaborating with really clever people. That's like everything to me.” - Sam McCallumThis month's themeSam McCallum shares insights from her extensive industry experience and strategic design background. Key topics include the importance of team alignment, the application of hypothesis-led experiments to address strategic scepticism, and maintaining work-life balance. Sam also emphasises the value of diversity, iterative feedback, and practical strategies for preventing burnout and ensuring effective project delivery.Gain valuable insights from industry expert Sam McCallum on strategic design, team alignment, and maintaining work-life balance. Listen now to elevate your business strategies and achieve successful project outcomes.In this episode you'll hear aboutSam's background in strategic design and diverse industry experienceThe differences between consultancy and in-house rolesThe importance of strategic design in aligning with market trends and customer needsThe role of strategic designers in enabling executives and product teamsWhy it's important to bring people together for key project momentsHow hypothesis-led experiments can be used to address strategy skepticsThe benefits of diversity and inclusion in teamsThe value of iterative feedback in strategy development and the practical steps for implementing iterative processesThe importance of self-care and work-life balanceWays to avoid burnout and maintain energyKey linksOutfoxed.coSam McCallum LinkedInAbout our guest hostSam brings 19 years of diverse experience from consultancies, digital agencies and client-side leadership roles. Known for CX, strategic design, business design and innovation, Sam has a track record of successfully delivering new products and business models to market.Sam's industry experience includes Finance, Media, Telco, FMCG, Grocery, QSR, Retail, and Government, with roles including; Head of Experience Design at Latitude Financial, Head of Marketing at Fairfax Media, and Strategy Director at R/GA.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationallyFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."It felt like things were taking me into uncomfortable situations, and then learning from uncomfortable situations basically brought opportunity, and an opportunity then opened up other doors and things went from there. Really." - Chris HudsonThis month's themeFor the past year, the Company Road podcast has been a beacon of inspiration for leaders and aspiring intrapreneurs. But today, the host, Chris Hudson, steps out of his usual role and into the interview chair.In this special episode, Nathan Bell, Chris's long-time colleague, delves into Chris's fascinating journey.  From a childhood marked by distance and isolation to a successful career in advertising, Chris shares the pivotal moments that shaped his outlook and his passion for helping others bring positive change to their workplaces.This introspective conversation is packed with valuable insights for anyone who wants to find their voice, embrace their individuality, and become a changemaker within their organisation. In this episode you'll hear aboutHow Chris developed a view of the worldWhat made Chris feel like the world was against himWhen did Chris realise he needed to be more positiveWhat was Chris's moment of frustrationHow Chris found his tribe and rhythm within advertisingHow Chris learned to overcome adversityHow meeting his wife influenced his lifeThe challenges of balancing family life and a professional careerSome of Chris' tips for productivityHow Chris' experience as a father has made him a better leaderBalancing being a leader and being a role model for your childrenWhere Chris sees his company and podcast going in the futureKey linksThe Carrot CollectiveNathan Bell LinkedInAbout our guest hostNathan Bell, Founding Partner of the Carrot Collective has anchored his career at the intersection of research, strategy, design and cultural change. With over 25 years in advertising, brand strategy, large format immersive technology and the built environment, Nathan has led some of the world's most pioneering brands, cities, and institutions to solve complex design and societal problems.About our guest (your normal host!)Our host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching and consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Seniority doesn't win, experience does” - Kevin FinnThis month's themeThis month we discuss the significance of identifying crossroads within our careers or organisations. In each episode, we explore the pivotal moments where decisions shape our professional trajectories, and strategies for navigating challenges and change as an employee or a leader. From career transitions and industry shifts to leadership changes and organisational restructuring, we unpack practical strategies, share success stories, and empower listeners to embrace challenges and change as a catalyst for growth and innovation.In this episode you'll hear aboutWays to identify a crossroads in your career Reflecting on whether a company's culture aligns with your valuesHow business leaders can create the conditions for successful transformation and change within their organisationHow to foster buy-in and collaboration from the wider team to drive organisational change forwardWays for employees to have constructive conversations with their leadership team during periods  of changeKey linksCompany Road NO/BSNick Berman's Episode 31 Kevin's latest venture: Crossroads Jim Antonopolous Berlin Liew's Episode 44 About our guestKevin Finn is a brand expert, author, internationally recognised branding designer and TEDx speaker. His personal belief is: There is wisdom in learning.With 30 years experience, Kevin began his career in Dublin at the design studio that has created all of U2's album covers. Following this, for seven years he was Joint-Creative Director of Saatchi Design, Sydney, part of the Saatchi & Saatchi global network. Between 2003 and 2018 he explored the intersection of design with social, cultural, political and economic issues through his independent self published design journal, Open Manifesto. His book ‘Brand Principles: How to be a 21st Century Brand' was published in 2022. In 2007, he founded his independent design practice TheSumOf.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-finn-3aa8a33/ About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of Company Road, helping businesses and leaders find meaning, impact and positivity.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/ For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."AI is a little bit like fine wine in that everybody knows the name. Everybody thinks it looks great, but most people still really don't understand it."Simon KrissThis month's themeThis month we explore the latest trends reshaping various sectors in Australia, from technological innovations driving business growth to market disruptors demanding strategic adaptation for survival. Key topics include leveraging cutting-edge technologies to spur growth as well as formulating agile strategies to respond effectively to industry disruptions.In this episode you'll hear aboutHow to educate CEOs and leaders about AI and its potential impact.How CEOs and C-suite leaders need to communicate their position on AI to alleviate fears and build a safe environment for experimentation.How to use AI to explore new boundaries and create new products.How to identify pain points in the organisation and prioritise AI use cases Where to start your AI journey today.Key linksSimon's website: https://simonkriss.aiSimon's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkriss/ (Simon mentioned he will send a free PDF of his book to anyone who connects with him after listening to this podcast episode)Simon's book on Amazon: "The AI-Empowered Customer Experience" by Simon Kriss https://www.amazon.com.au/Empowered-Customer-Experience-practitioners-possibilities-ebook/dp/B0C9YCPT4JCSIRO's Data61: https://data61.csiro.au/Australian Government AI Ethics Principles: https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/building-australias-artificial-intelligence-capability/ai-ethics-framework/ai-ethics-principlesOpenAI: https://www.openai.com/Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/Hugging Face: https://huggingface.co/Canva: https://www.canva.com/Beautify: https://beautifycloud.com/Allmybraindecor: https://allmybrain.com/Katonic: https://katonic.ai/Brainfish: https://brainfish.ai/About our guestSimon Kriss, Chief AI Officer at simonkriss.ai is a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant. He is author of “The AI Empowered Customer Experience”, hosts podcasts on CX and AI, and was named in the 2024 CX Top 50 Global Influencers to follow. Based in Melbourne Australia, Simon is a CX and AI futurologist who presents to audiences around the world and works with company boards and C-suite executives to help them better understand where the AI opportunities lie for their businesses.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of Company Road, helping businesses and leaders find meaning, impact and positivity.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“If it's a bigger organisation, you find out who's doing the financial you'll probably notice it will be coming around reports from someone, you can build a relationship with that person”Chris Mitchell This month…We're pushing into the theme of innovation and trends and drivers of growth, both for organisations and intrapreneurs as leaders on a more personal level. In this episode you'll hear about…How Canstar steered its transformation from a small B2B research business into a huge digital marketplace as one of Australia's biggest financial comparison sites, turning it into a brand that over 10 million Australians use every year.Revolutionising digital business: Driving scale and growth by empowering consumers to save time and moneyMatching Consumers desires into seamless Digital SolutionsMaximising finance potential amidst commercial leadership constraintsAligning personal passion with your business goals   The need to adapt to trends: navigating the process within your teamFostering innovation by facilitating collaboration within your organisation Key linksCanstar Chris Mitchell on Linkedin Canstar on LinkedinJD PowerAbout our guestChris Mitchell is the CFO of Canstar, Australia's biggest financial comparison site. Chris has been with Canstar since 2007 and has co-piloted its transformation from a small B2B research business into a B2B2C digital marketplace.Canstar is Australia's biggest financial comparison site, comparing over 300 brands in banking, insurance and superannuation. We've grown the business from a specialist research company into a mainstream Australian brand used by over 10m Australians each year. Canstar Blue was launched in 2010 to compare telco, energy and other consumer products. Deloitte Fast 50. AFR Fast 100. Great place to work 5th in Australia 2021.Prior to Canstar, Chris held senior financial and commercial roles in advertising in London and hospitality in Canada. With over 25 years' experience, Chris started his career in audit in NorthQueensland, having grown up in the bush and completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at James Cook University in Townsville. Chris has been a CA since 2000 and has completed the AICD company directors course (2013).About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of Company Road, helping businesses and leaders find meaning, impact and positivity.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.‘'Over the years I've built toolkits, ways of processing…sure I still get nervous like anybody else when something unexpected gets thrown at me,  but I've come to realise that it'll be okay. I've always managed to come out the other side with either success or just a small handful of bruises.'' - Amir AnsariIn this episode you'll hear about:The unpredictable moments in Amir's career, his path and the twists and turns along the way. ‘'life's full of ambiguity and I need to be comfortable with it''How to cope with decisions made out of your control and how to regain control of the situation.The positive impact of being able to manage change as leaders in organisation: Being a conduit, remaining unified and connected in the face of change.Asking questions to build mental models: assessing the situation and the circumstance to understand the outcome needing to be fulfilled.Building situations out by looking at as much core information as possible: assessing who you can go to for advice and mentoring for stories, questions and historical insights.Navigating strategic trends in business: going back to first principles, patience and prioritisation.  Letting go of your pride and reputation: accepting that in certain situations, you might not know all the answers and will need to search for guidance and mentorship.Key links Amir Ansari Academy XiEdward de Bono's Six Thinking HatsAbout our guestAmir is the Chief Experience Officer and Head of Applied AI at Academy Xi - an Australian-owned education company with a mission to transform the world through education. He has been in the field of product design and user experience for over 25 years as a practitioner and leader, building and scaling design capability and teams with companies and agencies, and delivering award-winning digital products. With a passion for human-centred design, he is well-versed in building functions, processes, and operations to fast-track and grow design maturity for companies of all sizes and operating models. He is passionate about inclusion and digital accessibility and democratising the craft of design - doing it with a smile and a hug.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of Company Road, helping businesses and leaders find impact and positivity.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."Follow the process, follow the methods, and then you're not going to fail in your project. You're going to fail throughout your project. Small constant failure is part of what it is.”Fabio OliveiraIn this episode you'll hear about:Defining innovation in 2024: Breaking down the definition of innovation and its associated expectations and misconceptions and understanding how innovation fits differently into the contexts of large and small organisationsManaging innovation and idea generation: Methods for accelerating employee engagement, investment and idea generation while maintaining order and process in receiving and processing innovation ideasConducting research in innovation: How to gather the necessary information for innovation, keep focus on relevant subject matter and shape project briefs effectively to ensure targeted research effortsPhysical and digital integration: Exploring innovative experimentation blending physical and digital elements and what we can expect from the future of in-store/retail technology Maintaining a wholesight organisation view: The importance of staying connected to your organisation's strategic direction and challenges through innovation and keeping perspective within your role to ensure effective and meaningful work that aligns to business goals and addresses relevant problemsKey linksKmart Australia https://www.kmart.com.au/Amazon Walkout Tech https://aws.amazon.com/just-walk-out/RFID https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/rfid.htmDr Tim Baker framework https://www.mindtools.com/a7em9zg/the-five-conversations-frameworkBasecamp's Shape Up Methodology https://basecamp.com/shapeupDesignful Company by Marty Neumeier https://www.martyneumeier.com/the-designful-companyAbout our guestFabio Oliveira (https://au.linkedin.com/in/fabiosoliveira) is an innovation leader specialising in establishing innovation practices within large companies. Known for his ability to build multidisciplinary teams from the ground up, he has successfully cemented innovation strategies at prominent Australian brands – notably Kmart and WorkSafe Victoria – delivering significant outcomes.Currently the Head of Innovation and Service Design at Kmart, Fabio is leading several initiatives that are building the future of store operations and customer experience.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internatioFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Design's not in its infancy anymore but we can still find it hard to communicate our value.”Kris WashusenIn this episode you'll hear about:Adopting a Lean-UX approach: Why you should value rapid prototyping over extensive upfront discovery and what you can do to implement quick and experimental change cycles.The stickiness of design work: Addressing the challenges in implementing and achieving longevity in design work… and how to avoid design projects going nowhere.Impact of the ‘pandemic tools': The way tools and technologies developed during the pandemic have continued to accelerate and impact design processes, enabling faster synthesis of data and more efficient collaboration among design teams.Role of stakeholder engagement: How to ensure the successful implementation of design recommendations and strategies through ongoing stakeholder engagement and consultation.Balancing creativity and methodology: Exploring the tension between structured design methodologies like the double diamond approach and the need and value in creative spontaneity and quick decision-making in design processes.Key linksGareth Rydon interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMp6qbgTtu4Dovetail AI https://dovetail.com/launch/magic/Otter AI https://otter.ai/NAB https://www.nab.com.au/FigJam https://www.figma.com/figjam/Swaggle https://swaggle.com.au/About our guestKris Washusen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-washusen/) is a Strategic Designer and Design & Product Practitioner based in Melbourne, Australia. Along with his UX, CX, product and strategic design roles, Kris's career in advertising and as an entrepreneur building, running and exiting successful businesses has allowed him to develop a unique problem-solving skill set. From research, strategy and transformational change design for both the private and public sectors through to product strategy and design for tech and startups, Kris has helped some of Australia's most respected organisations navigate some choppy seas.Kris's passion lies in implementing human-centred and Lean-UX principles to navigate ambiguity, explore the behaviours and motivations of the users of products or services and create delightful, intuitive, and accessible experiences that solve complex organisational problems.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“We need to consciously become aware of our patterns and our behaviours before we change them  and understand how they're serving us in the first place.”Celine WatersIn this episode you'll hear about:The practice of somatic design: How to create deeper connections between our mind, body and spirit and experience the transformative benefits of somaticsHarnessing inner resilience: What it means to cultivate inner resilience through recognising your own capacity to adapt, bounce back from setbacks and find strength in adversity Understanding the impacts of trauma:  Unpacking the somatic experience of trauma, and how historic trauma can become stored in the body and have deep physical consequencesCreate safe spaces for emotional expression: How to set up safe spaces for vulnerability and expression within the workplace and more broadly to enable personal growth, healing and emotional wellbeingTransformative leadership: How to drive positive organisational change and foster a culture of resilience and collaboration through prioritising emotional wellbeing, growth and collective transformationKey linksImmunity to Change by Robert Kegan https://www.mindtools.com/a4l75hx/immunity-to-changeStrozzi Institute https://strozziinstitute.com/Eduardo Galeano https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/15/eduardo-galeanoSapiens book https://www.amazon.com.au/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095Tall Poppy Syndrome https://harpersbazaar.com.au/tall-poppy-syndrome-wellbeing-mental-health/Amy Cuddy TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?language=enAbout our guestCeline Waters is a human-centred designer and somatic coach committed to individual and collective transformation. She started out in biochemistry and following a post-grad in computer science, moved into business consulting in Australia and Ireland, working across big organisations. Her current focus is in the research of the intersection of design and somatics, bringing body intelligence into her work. She studies body psychotherapy and somatic coaching for social justice.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."You really want it to get into people's heads what the change is. You want it to be their new reality or the new normal. Storytelling is effective because stories are shared from generation to generation, remembered for a reason… because they stick in your brain."Agnes SoIn this episode you'll hear about:Improving support levels & customer satisfaction: How to win customer loyalty through understanding frontline perspectives, fostering collaboration & aligning organisational goals with customer needsThe power of storytelling: Exploring storytelling as a powerful leadership tool for driving change and how the way you use stories can change how you inspire, communicate complex ideas, and drive cultural shifts within organisations.Adaptive leadership: Setting up and managing a team where members are enabled to implement effective solutions and drive positive outcomes and you can remain flexible and freeLean approaches in startups: The necessity of lean approaches in startup environments, and strategies to improve resourcefulness, efficiency and flexibility to navigate challenges and foster growthStrategic prioritisation: The key to understanding when and where to focus time, energy and resources and identify quickly initiatives that will deliver the most significant impactKey linksHotDoc https://www.hotdoc.com.au/Tino Sehgal https://www.mariangoodman.com/artists/62-tino-sehgal/This Progress at Guggenheim https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/22502GROW Framework https://www.coachingcultureatwork.com/the-grow-model/Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Camel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uWKEG0s9KcAbout our guestAgnes So (www.linkedin.com/in/agnes-so/) had gained over 10 years of customer service experience prior to joining HotDoc in 2017. Agnes' main expertise include developing Customer Experience (CX) strategies, aimed at reducing churn and maintaining high customer satisfaction levels. Her work also informs and leads Go To Market events, ensuring the successful implementation and adoption of products for customers and employees.By focusing on technology and self-service techniques, Agnes empowers customers to seamlessly utilise and learn new products. Her leadership experience extends to refining customer journeys based on insights, and fostering impactful brand interactions.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."I think what events should be doing is playing that role of fostering community, fostering connection and really thinking about what they're looking to do, what's their mission." Grant ShowIn this episode you'll hear about:Crafting compelling presentations: Exploring the art of crafting presentations that captivate your audience and how to use storytelling techniques borrowed from film and TV to spark engagement in the workplaceHosting purpose-driven events: The power and role of events to bring people together, network, turbocharge learning and leverage influenceChallenging the status quo: How to embrace a mindset and active approach to stepping out of your comfort zone, pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo through innovationRadical optimism: The key to staying optimistic in the face of challenges and how leveraging extreme resilience and positivity can transform your workplace adversityCreating community and connection: How to foster genuine community in the digital age, maintaining authentic motivations and enabling value for all parties Key linksCliftonStrengths model https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspxWest Wing Walk and Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmv07XfeC1EDesign Outlook https://www.designoutlook.com.au/Do24 https://www.designoutlook.com.au/event/do24The Lateral Lens Blog https://charleslambdin.com/thelaterallens/South by South West https://www.sxsw.com/Flight with Denzel Washington https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1907668/Purpose Conference https://www.purposeconference.co/StoryBrand https://storybrand.com/About our guestGrant is a multi-disciplinary design leader, traversing visual communications design, experience and service design, strategy, and development. His style is visionary, inclusive, and brimming with positivity. His passion for action is contagious and he's famous for getting a lot done.Grant is Founder of Design Outlook, and was formerly Head of Design at Frog, and Director of Experience Design at Deloitte. He's also working towards a Masters in Design from RMIT.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with University of Melbourne in Innovation, and Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“You've got to be quite deliberate. You have to overrule some of your automatic thinking to say, I need to deliberately step back here. I need to refresh this area.”Karl DeitzIn this episode you'll hear about:Parallels between cooking, music & business: How lessons in one domain of your life or interests can often be applied to another, fostering cross-disciplinary insights in areas of strategy, adaptation and continuous improvementThe importance of mastering the basics: Why investing in fundamental skills, whether in cooking, music, business or otherwise, is often the most important step in setting you up for accelerated growth and creativity Balancing consistency and experimentation: How to find a balance between committing to consistency and practise for continual improvement, and knowing when and where to push into experimentation to explore new possibilitiesEmbracing discomfort and growth: Shifting your mindset to one of growth and a willingness to step into discomfort intentionally and mindfully and reaping the personal development rewards that bringsThe role of humour and engagement in education: Strategies to enhance learning and facilitation experiences by incorporating humour and cultivating lively and interactive environmentsKey LinksNick Berman Company Road Podcast episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJpkJj0sGjwMiles Davis https://www.milesdavis.com/Tall Bob https://tallbob.com/About our guestKarl Deitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karldeitz/) is an entrepreneur, advisory Board member and classically trained musician on both piano and trumpet - where the left and right brain work well together.Having started his career as a professional musician with the Royal Australian Navy, Karl has gone on to raise millions for Charities, founded a cooking school for Crossfit athletes and now heads up Customer Success & Strategy for Australia's fastest growing mobile communications company, Tall Bob.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."The more immovable that your solutions are, the greater the need to invest in that kind of thinking."Andrew KendallIn this episode you'll hear about:Designing for impact: Strategies to more accurately understand customers needs and motivations in order to design products and services that go beyond immediate user needs to create tangible, transformative impact on people's lives Long-term design considerations: Ensuring longevity and sustainability in design solutions by designing with future scalability and flexibility in mindEnabling creativity through safe spaces: How to tap into the full creative potential of your team and drive innovation forward by creating safe spaces in the workplace in which individuals feel comfortable and conventional thinking is challengedImpactful design through storytelling: The power of storytelling in influencing stakeholders and driving organisational change, particularly in fostering a human-centred approach to designAugmenting human creativity with AI: The secret to integrating AI as a complementary tool to harness its capabilities to enhance creativity while retaining the unique perspective and empathy inherent in human-centred designKey LinksStanford d.school https://dschool.stanford.edu/Lego Serious Play course https://www.pivotalplay.com.au/Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning https://www.vic.gov.au/department-transport-and-planningConcorde https://www.britannica.com/technology/ConcordeLego Fender Guitar https://www.lego.com/en-au/product/lego-ideas-fender-stratocaster-21329About our guestAndrew Kendall (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-kendall-25a09714/) believes that solving problems creatively drives better outcomes.  At age 15, he'd impressed the people at the Lego toy company so much they hired him. Andrew is now an experienced Strategic Thinker,  Consultant and Facilitator specialising in the areas of Customer Experience and  Service Design using collaborative, imaginative and creative ways to drive Customer centred design outcomes. Andrew is currently a Customer Lead at Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning.As a graduate of Stanford University's d.school program, Andrew applies proven techniques and methods to build empathy, create customer insights and ideate these to create concepts and prototypes with stakeholders. Andrew's key strength is knowing how to engage the right strategic partnerships and stimulate conversation at the Senior Leadership level.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service DeFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“When it comes to AI, we talk about augmenting not replacing. We want this to be about how do I augment the individual and give them superpowers so they can do amazing things and liberate their time? How do we make 5 people worth 10 people?”Gareth RydonIn this episode, you'll hear about:AI adoption in 2024: Exploring the scale and speed at which AI is being adopted, the different approaches companies are taking & the key implications for organisations in 2024Evolution of AI use cases: How AI applications have evolved from basic tasks to more advanced functions and how opportunities for use are expected to continue to evolve into this year Organisation challenges in AI: The key barriers that companies are facing in adopting AI and strategies to simplify the process for efficiency & augmentationAI vs humanity: Understanding where and how AI technology still falls short compared to human abilities and where the key value of humans still lies Engaging kids with AI: The ethics of introducing kids to AI and how to do so in a way that prepares them for the future and harnesses their creativity but protects the formation of their in-person skills & human connectionsKey linksEp. 29 with Sarah Kaur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GEMbbWssyoFriyay.AI https://www.friyay.ai/RambleFix https://ramblefix.com/Otter AI https://otter.ai/Ethan Mollick https://mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/emollick/Llama by Meta https://llama.meta.com/DALL·E 3 https://openai.com/dall-e-3Napster https://www.napster.com/Ep. 23 with Dr. Gus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25jctgmeEVIAbout our guestGareth Rydon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethrydon) works as a service designer, applying this to building generative AI tools for clients. His happy place is when he is talking to and learning from people so that he can help them solve their problems in sustainable, creative ways.Having previously held roles at Stone & Chalk, Rightpoint and the ATO, he is now the co-founder of Friyay.ai, a generative AI studio which identifies the human experience to augment and then design generative AI solutions.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in Innovation, CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“I'm 46 and I'm going to continue to do new stuff constantly my entire life. It's going to challenge me. I'm going to be uncomfortable with it. And the neurons in my mind will keep developing the ability to be adaptable if I keep challenging myself.”Nick BermanIn this episode, you'll hear about:Balancing personal & professional life: How to regularly assess emotion states, seek equilibrium and create space for introspection to live in balance and mindfulnessNick's primary philosophy on self-growth: Understanding the choices you have available in life & learning to take ‘left turns' to continuously push personal boundaries and growth through discomfortDetecting & dealing with overwhelm: How to recognise early states of overwhelm and take actional steps early to avoid breakdownBuilding trusting & authentic relationships: Steps to establishing trust with yourself, and those around you in a professional social contextChanging ahead of change: Acknowledging the changing state of the world and learning how to actively make changes to your life, routine and mindset to adapt in advanceKey linksVipassana Silent Retreat https://www.dhamma.org.au/Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/Tony Robbins https://www.tonyrobbins.com/Qigong https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong-what-you-need-to-knowHireGround https://www.hireground.co/Breathwork https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breathwork/About our guestA self-titled ‘specialist in being nice to people', Nick Berman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/batmanbeard/) is a purpose career coach and founder of HireGround. With over 15 years experience in recruiting for creative roles, from graphic designers to marketing managers, he started his current business to ensure that the work he does can offer “true career guidance, honest connections and long-term support.”About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in Innovation, CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“In fact, there's nothing normal. Everything is what we make of it to a certain extent.”Dr. Marco MottaIn this episode, you'll hear about:Data storytelling: How to present data in a means to create shared understanding across an organisation and use narrative techniques to make it personable, digestible and immersiveMitigating data literacy: Establishing an evidence-driven culture by bridging the data literacy gap in an organisation and increasing the capacity for informed decision-makingThe responsibility of data stewardship: Delegating roles for data management and ensuring privacy, confidentiality and integrity is maintained when utilising dataData visualisation: Why the visualisation of data can completely change how it's received & top dataviz strategies for ensuring it achieves the purpose you're afterThe power of philosophy and critical thinking: Why its valuable to deploy philosophical techniques into consulting and data analysis to ensure decisions are rooted and strategically consideredKey LinksHeidegger: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heidegger/Phenomenology: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/Arnold Hauser: https://arthistorians.info/hausera/Sapiens book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/Transport of Main Roads: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Hamlet's Mill: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1439Translink: https://translink.com.au/About our guest Dr Marco Motta (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mottamarco01) is the Managing Director of Motta Consulting, a boutique organisation that specialises in data analysis and visualisation. He has a strong track-record transforming the performance reporting culture of large organisations, using data storytelling to craft business stories that break silos and support good decisions. He marries this with a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Queensland and uses his background in critical thinking to help organisations and clients identify, define, break-down and solve complex business challenges.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in Innovation, CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“The level of power that consumer facing Gen AI offers with such intuitive accessibility for such essentially a low cost for that high powered tool… is unprecedented.”Sarah KaurIn this episode, you'll hear about:AI as an enabler: How AI can be used to enable and empower unique work processes and scenarios, including key examples of how it it can enable design thinking and transformation workDigital divide and inequity: Confronting the challenge of digital inequity and strategies for evening the playing field of technology across the workforceAI's efficiency vs human value: Balancing the use of AI technology with traditional human work and where and how both are most valuableChatGPT in design workflows: Analysing how chatGPT has changed the approach to design, how it will continue to do so and how human participation and perspective must be recentered for continued valueAI upskilling and ‘Shadow AI': How ‘Shadow AI' is allowing for expanded creativity and creating opportunities for upskilling the workforce and why you should be taking advantage of itKey LinksMax Kalis episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_fTrmruTPkShadow AI: https://www.forbes.com/sites/delltechnologies/2023/10/31/what-is-shadow-ai-and-what-can-it-do-about-it/?sh=1b4aa39b7127ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/Data61: https://research.csiro.au/data61/Copilot: https://copilot.microsoft.com/Lorraine Finlay, Australian Human Rights Commissioner: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/human-rights-commissioner-ms-lorraine-finlayAbout our guest Sarah Kaur (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tamara-kaur/) is a Strategic Designer and Human-centred Design Researcher. Her passion is supporting the creative work of teams across disciplines to collaborate, and come up with smart ways to create impact through using participatory design. She now works as a Design Thinking Practitioner at CSIRO's Data61, where she focusses on research into Responsible AI, and embedding human insight in machine learning and AI research and product development.She holds a Master of Business Analytics and a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and 12 years of professional experience supporting NFP, Government and Private organisations realise their business objectives by placing humans and quality data, at the centre of their decisions and investments. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in Innovation, CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leadFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“One thing led to another and some things came up and actually it just broke really quickly and was quite a shock. It was quite disruptive and it was one of these situations where you think, okay, what has just happened?”Sarah WilkinTransforming personal adversity to professional opportunity: Sarah shares her journey overcoming a major and very sudden struggle in her personal life… and how it led her to greater successAddressing gender bias: How to challenge the issue of gender bias within male-dominated industries with language and representationResilience in the face of change: Unlocking and developing resilience to stay firm and excel within the modern disruptive and ever-changing working landscapeConnectivity in remote work: Strategies for staying motivated, connected and taking advantage of remote workingThe power of radical honesty: How being honest, and radically so, can unlock powerful relationships and working opportunities Key LinksNissan LEAF: https://www.nissan.com.au/vehicles/browse-range/leaf.htmlFly Green Alliance: https://flygreenalliance.org/Booking Cares https://www.sustainability.booking.com/aboutAlan Partridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_PartridgeCircular Economy https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overviewKundalini https://www.healthline.com/health/kundalini-meditationLainey Molnar https://www.instagram.com/lainey.molnar/?hl=enAbout our guest Sarah Wilkin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwilkin/) is Founder & CEO of Fly Green Alliance, and was a Booking.com grantee in 2018 when she gained a sustainable travel grant to work on the R&D of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which was a milestone for SAF awareness, being the first time the tech had been given attention outside of the aviation industry. She went on to pioneer the tech and is globally recognised as an expert, thought leader and now speaks on panels such as at The Economist, S&P Global and is quoted in BBC and other publications. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."I'm a big believer that innovation is not the result of some sort of inspired genius, right? It's not an innate talent but a process and a handful of repeatable activities that can be learned.”Jacob DuttonIn this episode, you'll hear about:The democratisation of innovation: How individuals can practically learn innovation as a skill & readjust limiting mindsets to do soFostering entrepreneurial mindsets: Why developing entrepreneurial mindsets within your people is crucial in encouraging innovation Open vs closed innovation: Balancing forms of innovation & the secret method to employing both for optimal successIdentifying the need for change: Signs to look out for in knowing when and why it's time for your organisation to enact change Staying motivated within failure: How you can remain energised and excited in the face of seemingly continual innovation failureKey LinksFuture Foundry https://www.future-foundry.io/Co-founder Katy https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-sephton-81451315/Holy Grail https://www.britannica.com/topic/GrailMuseum of Failure: https://museumoffailure.com/About our guest Jacob Dutton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobdutton/) is the Co-Founder & CEO of Future Foundry and the creator of the Velocity™ innovation method. He's spent almost two decades helping companies like Hilton, NBC, Walgreens, HSBC, and Microsoft accelerate, de-risk, and systematise the discovery of over one hundred breakthrough businesses, products, and services. His deep-rooted belief is that innovation is a learned skill, not an innate talent and that with the right people, processes and platforms - every corporation on the planet can innovate with more speed, focus and impact. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“The company doesn't create the culture. If you hire great people, the culture will be created.”Christian SteinIn this episode, you'll hear about:Brand strategy misconceptions: What is brand strategy, what is it not and how should it be approached to be valuable and effective?The paradigm of fear in professional life: Why so many professionals are held back from pursuing their full potential and how to adopt a mindset that allows for change and dissuades fearThe value of strategic thinking and incremental progress: How to clearly define a brand or organisations long-term goals and then approach the goals by seeking progress rather than perfectionRedefining business success: The importance of reframing the idea of success in an organisation and how to identify meaningful non-quantifiable objectives to retract sole focus from number targetsVital role of customer engagement: How to engage with customers in a genuine and meaningful way to receive the data you need to make informed and powerful decisionsKey LinksStone Owl https://stoneowlconsulting.com/ 180 Amsterdam https://www.180amsterdam.com/Sapiens book https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095Jerry Springer https://jerryspringertv.com/About our guest With over 25 years of global marketing communication experience, Christian (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-stein-1430134/) specializes in developing transformative strategies for diverse brands and agencies across Western Europe, Russia, North America, China, Australia, and South Africa. His expertise spans B2C and B2B, encompassing luxury to mainstream sectors in areas such as cars, trucks, motorbikes, beer, spirits, luxury goods, technology, and financial services. Christian is known for building strong partnerships with C-suite stakeholders, using creative thinking to unlock opportunities and achieve business growth. His leadership has consistently led to impactful creative outcomes, driving business results and earning numerous awards.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."Mistakes are as valuable as the finely crafted ideas. There's something tangible in them that could often be elevated and be the main idea."Alex NormantonIn this episode, you'll hear about:Establishing strategic foundations for creativity: Grounding creative ideas in strategy to ensure a solid basis for the creative process and alignment to objectives, prior insights and the broader brief.Overcoming creative blocks: Strategies for maintaining optimal mental spaces, getting through blocks of creativity & balancing left and right brain functionalities.Being a design-led organisation: Why being design-led is significant and what centering design can do to convey brand values, create meaningful customer experiences and remain flexible and cutting-edge.Design for connection & communication: How design goes beyond aesthetics and its powerful role in communicating and connecting with customers.Democratisation of design: Ways to involve every part of the company in the design process and why it's important to do so.Key LinksAlex's website https://www.alexnormanton.com/ Reckitt https://reckitt.com/DOPA https://www.thedopa.com/Saatchi & Saatchi https://www.saatchi.com.au/Clios https://clios.com/Cannes Lions https://www.canneslions.com/D&AD https://www.dandad.org/MassiveMusic https://www.massivemusic.com/About our guest Alex Normanton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexnormanton/) is Global Brand Experience Lead at Reckitt. In this role, Alex drives category growth by translating design into meaningful brand experiences and sustainable innovations.Prior to this, Alex worked for some of the world's leading agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi and Design Bridge. He's directed the likes of Sony Music, Johnnie Walker and Mercedes-Benz, and been recognised by a number of awards such as the Clios, Cannes Lions, D&AD and the One Show.A big advocate for the power of sonic branding, he believes that audio language should be considered by designers and marketers in the same way that visual and verbal language is. It's no surprise then that he chose a podcast as the medium for his passion project, DOPA, which fuels conversations around creative wellness.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."So I just thought, no. I don't accept the narrative around sobriety. I don't accept that drinkers are boring. I don't accept that people can't have fun without alcohol. I just don't accept any of these things."Faye LawrenceIn this episode, you'll hear about:Faye's journey to sobriety: Faye details her personal story from heavy-drinker to alcohol-free, including the barriers she faced, her turning point and the differences in her life since sobriety.Workplace drinking culture and breaking the stigma of sobriety: Why a culture of alcohol is so prevalent within business and what we can do to establish a healthier, more inclusive social work cultureTechniques for sobriety: Key strategies for trying to work toward and navigate sobriety, including the all-or-nothing approach, getting curious about one's experiences with alcohol, focusing on gains, and regulating the nervous system.Developing a growth mindset: How to become comfortable with discomfort, learn the power of the pause and take control over the decisions you make to see personal growth and self-discovery in your lifeUnlocking productivity: Tips to step into greater levels of productivity and satisfaction at work rooted in understanding yourself and having power over your actions and decision-makingKey linksEpisode 14 with Olly Lynch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtS9FcQCpZo&t=2872sUntoxicated: https://www.untoxicated.com.au/South by Southwest: https://www.sxsw.com/Faye's TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJadFi0uJNAHuberman Lab podcast: https://www.hubermanlab.com/podcastMirror Group Newspapers: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mirror-Group-NewspapersCharles Bukowski: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_BukowskiYumi Steins podcast w/Faye: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk/sober-sex/102870152About our guest Having been a heavy but high functioning drinker since her teens, Faye Lawrence (https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-lawrence-aus/) wound up in inpatient detox in 2017 after realising the party wasn't any fun anymore. Determined not to let her sobriety ruin her social life she founded Untoxicated, now Australia's largest alcohol-free social community.She is a TEDx + SXSW speaker and has featured widely across media with a mission to normalise living with less or no alcohol in a culture that reveres it. Since her ADHD diagnosis in 2022, she's been telling anyone who'll listen about the strong link between ADHD and all types of addiction.She's proud to serve on the SMART Recovery Board and is a trained facilitator. And in true ADHD ‘portfolio career' style, she also has extensive experience in marketing, communications, and engagement, predominantly in for purpose organisations.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“It's easier to develop a business plan to literally sell shit than it is to develop a framework to implement new ideas, like a scientist.”Dr. Agustin ChevezIn this episode, you'll hear about:Rethinking workplace design: Top strategies and recommendations for shifting workplaces to increase productivity, employee engagement and loyalty & how the perception of workplaces is evolvingAI and the future of work: How AI will impact work, for good and for bad, in the coming years & how you can be best prepared within your roleEfficiency vs purpose: Balancing the pursuit of efficiency at the cost of purpose and knowing how and when to value bothGamification for purpose: Implementing gamification to inject meaning and engagement into standard workplace routineShifting metrics in the modern workplace: Why businesses need to rethink standard measures of success and employee experience to align with more relevant outcomes & authentically boost employee and customer experience Key linksDr Agustin Chez's TedX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMUjCFw-CtMThe Pilgrims Guide to the Workplace https://www.achevez.com/the-pilgrim-s-guide-to-the-workplaceGitlab https://about.gitlab.com/Forrest Gump running https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=187trX0mo1oLearning from Las Vegas book https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262720069/learning-from-las-vegas/About our guestAs an Architect and researcher, Dr Agustin Chevez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/agustin-chevez) has dedicated his career to understanding the notion of work and uncovering environments that best support our working lives. Agustin's interest in the relationship between people, space and technology saw him pursue a PhD on the evolution of workplace architecture as a consequence of technology development. His work has been presented at various international forums and publications. As a sought-after speaker, Agustin has delivered international keynotes and is a TEDx speaker. He has also contributed to workplace strategies in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. In his latest publication, The Pilgrim's Guide to the Workplace, Agustin revisits our assumptions about the way we use space to host the ever-evolving notion of work.  Agustin is the Workplace Research Lead at the Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University and an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Workplace Leadership at the University of Melbourne.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Being technology agnostic is crucial. Don't assume that your playbook from one business will magically work at a different one. There's no one-size-fits-all approach.”Charlie CarpinteriIn this episode, you'll hear about:Technology agnosticism: How to remain agnostic and flexible in making tech decisions based on specific circumstances and contextsChallenges in tech adoption: Highlighting common challenges faced in adopting new organisational technology and how to manage them for smooth transitionDigging change tunnels: Why it's can be necessary to invest time in digging ‘tunnels' to allow for big change initiatives to be successfully implemented Adopting a tech-friendly mindset: Strategies for building organisational culture that is open, excited and on-the-front of technological change and innovationHuman-AI collaboration: Confronting key fears about AI and how humans can pave a safe, beneficial collaborative path forwardKey linksRolling Labs https://rollinglabs.com/RedFlex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redflex_HoldingsSwinburne https://www.swinburne.edu.au/Industry Based Learning https://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/courses/units/Industry-Based-Learning-HEA30005/localTesla https://www.tesla.com/en_auAbout our guestCharlie Carpinteri (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccarpinteri/) has over 20 years of experience as a leader, an entrepreneur and a passionate technologist, which require creativity, collaboration, and lateral thinking. A strong and transparent communicator, data and insight decision making and driven by delivering an exceptional customer experience, Charlie enjoys working closely with customers to understand their perspectives and leverage a combination of existing and emerging technologies to meet their digital requirements.Throughout Charlie's career, he has worked with a combination of start-up, medium and large corporates and organisations, and has been known to challenge traditional processes and ways of thinking; actively driving cultural and technological advancements using innovative methods and tools. As a highly effective business leader, Charlie is adept at engaging and influencing across all levels of an organisation; working with customers, technology partners and cross-departmental teams to recommend and advise on best-practice solution delivery.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“When you're looking at innovation and especially experimentation, the goal is to effectively fail. You really want to be able to push for failure for your ideas because it's the ones that don't fail that are the ones that you want to be able to push through.”Tash ReidyIn this episode, you'll hear about:Establishing a culture of experimentation: Strategies to foster experimentation in the workplace and seeing invaluable innovative outcomes as a resultSetting up innovation processes: Working examples of how to effectively set up innovation practices, the role of leadership in making this happen & the importance of storytelling to convey the value of innovationThe customer vs business centric approach: Knowing how and when to prioritise business issues vs going all in on putting the customer firstFormulating a meaningful and impactful business vision: How to align diverse perspectives on corporate values and recognise and combat the interpretive nature of company visionPersonal attitudes for success: Tips to build trust, respect and positive reputation among co-workers and higher ups and increase opportunities while maintaining agencyKey linksFunny Business Pod http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/funny-business/id1508669714PEXA https://www.pexa.com.au/Exponentially https://www.exponentially.com/Mike Dyson Podcast Episode  https://youtu.be/zvlPDZaZqvwJane Curtain Podcast Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O9zQyvsmvg&t=2258sAlberto Savoia https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertosavoiaThe Right IT book https://www.amazon.com.au/Right-Many-Ideas-Yours-Succeeds/dp/0062884654Leslie Barry https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliebarry/Pawel Huryn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawel-huryn/Dan Olsen https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/About our guestNatasha (Tash) Reidy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-reidy/) is an energetic innovation leader. Having executed over 200 experiments and saving over $7 million by stopping ideas, Natasha's love language is definitely experimentation!With a laser focus on solving customer problems, she looks for opportunities to enhance customers' experience by uncovering the things they love - and the things they don't. One of her favourite sayings is 'customers don't care about your business problems, they care about their problems' and sets about instilling customer empathy all along the innovation funnel to idea delivery - taking numerous teams on the journey.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design ThiFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“It's about awareness; it breaks my brain and it breaks my mind, how often people just blindly move into stuff without that self-awareness of what it is that they're trying to achieve.”Ben PrinslooIn this episode you'll hear about:Prioritising organisational challenges: Identifying issues in the workplace and knowing what to solve first and what's possible to solve firstLeading diversity/inclusion initiatives: Knowing where to start in championing diversity and recognising when genuine inclusivity is actually being achieved Transparency vs oversharing: Walking the line between openness and oversharing by knowing when information is purposeful and how to be tactful in your communication approachManaging customer experience in academia: How to identify the needs of your customer base (particularly in higher education) and balance engagement with Employee engagement & forced fun: Why the term ‘forced fun' needs to be banished and the trick to motivating employees toward team initiativesKey linksPearson https://www.pearson.com/en-au/International Women's Day https://www.internationalwomensday.com/D&I https://www.gartner.com/en/human-resources/glossary/diversity-and-inclusion-d-i-Forced Fun https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/is-forced-fun-actually-fun-5797796/About our guestBen Prinsloo is a passionate and strategic leader, primarily in customer experience and retention, having spent the last 7 years in the online education sector. Ben previously lead student engagement and retention at Pearson and Chisholm Online.Within his numerous roles, Ben has successfully delivered key initiatives for business enhancement, optimization, and expansion, as well as developed new operating models to demonstrate improved cross-functional collaboration and performance.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co).Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“I think we're at our least efficient when someone else is driving everything that we're doing. And that's a situation you can wind up in when you don't have the confidence to say, yes, I can actually do this.”Brendan DonoghueIn this episode you'll hear about:Building influence as a design leader: The four things you must have in your tool kit to establish influence within an organisation that may otherwise undervalue your roleActively practicing risk-taking: Increasing your willingness to do things differently in order to stand out and have your voice heardMisalignment in organisations: Dealing with differing perceptions of direction & how to  engage in ‘courageous conversations' with leadership to navigate differencesRelationship building for success: Knowing how, when and with whom to establish yourself relationally within a workplaceDriving lasting change: How to make change within big organisations through a strategy of small, but powerful stepsKey LinksKRAs https://www.smartsheet.com/content/key-result-areasThe Twits - Roald Dahl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31456.The_TwitsWieden+ Kennedy https://www.wk.com/Geelong Cats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geelong_Football_ClubThe Art of Innovation - Tim Brown https://www.amazon.com.au/Change-Design-Transforms-Organizations-Innovation-ebook/dp/B002PEP4EGUniSuper https://www.unisuper.com.auAbout our guestBrendan Donoghue (https://www.linkedin.com/in/btdonoghue/) is a Digital Executive, CX Thought Leader, Transformation Agent and ‘eternal optimist'. Brendan has worked at some of Australia's biggest and most exciting organisations, with experience gained in telecommunications, superannuation and banking. He has built and led some of the largest design teams and transformational digital programs in the country, including at the likes of Telstra, NAB and currently UniSuper, as Head of Digital & Customer Experience, delivering complex and innovative customer-centred experiences across the board.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Creativity is also definitely a superpower in one way or another, and sometimes you can control it, sometimes you can't.”Sarah MoteIn this episode, you'll hear about:The role of design in the workplace: Why designers are essential to a functional and thriving teamProtecting creativity while ageing: How to maintain child-like creativity as you age and your career develops and prioritise approaching work and life through a creative lensInviting & navigating feedback: Knowing when is the right time to invite input and how to receive and respond to both positive and negative feedbackOrganisational transparency: The value of open-door cultures and how to cultivate transparency and collaboration in a historically individual minded organisationInnovative problem resolution: How to develop an agile, problem-solving mindset that allows you to unearth objective, creative solutionsKey LinksDieter Rams philosophy https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/dieter-rams-10-timeless-commandments-for-good-designADPList https://adplist.org/Mark Richardson https://www.monash.edu/mada/design/people/mark-richardsonSelby Coxon https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/selby-coxonSarah's White Night 2015 piece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L_0JUmWtYIInstantScripts https://www.instantscripts.com.au/Oliver Grabes (Head of Braun Design) https://minimalissimo.com/creators/oliver-grabes, https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-grabes-947aba5/About our guestSarah Mote (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmmote/) is a Senior Product Designer at Bendigo Bank and Lead Product Designer for InstantScripts, as well as a Mentor through Monash University, Melbourne University, Academy XI and more. She is a detail-oriented, award-winning designer, maker and ‘put-it-togetherer', having worked internationally and within organisations such as NAB, MYOB and Oral-B Braun.Sarah is motivated by meaningful and emotive problems that create better futures, and ultimately works to shape and contribute to the design world and craft exceptional experiences through the pushing of creative boundaries.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“I think there are times to go in hard, be really forceful, drive change. If you can see a problem, you really need to state that and work towards driving that change.”Carly NeubauerIn this episode, you'll hear about:Identifying and aligning your personal ‘why': Gaining clarity on your personal purpose and motivational values, and ensuring alignment with an organisation's values.Organisational weak spots: Keys to spotting areas of weakness within a business and making steps toward change no matter the position you're inAddressing toxic workplace behaviour: How to identify the root causes of toxicity and frustration in a workplace and manage the greater problems that may be evidencedBalancing commercial focus with culture: Maintaining a healthy, thriving culture without sacrificing business outcomesRecruitment & employee retention: Ways to manage turnover and associated costs and prioritise employee experience for retentionKey linksWIIN Global https://www.wiin.global/IMA https://www.incentivemarketing.org/Australian Loyalty Association https://australianloyaltyassociation.com/Elevate Loyalty https://www.elevateloyalty.com/About our guestCarly Neubauer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyneubauer/) is the Co-Founder and Director of Elevate Loyalty and Pay2Elevate, delivering digital payment technology solutions to the loyalty industry. Holding additional roles as Co-Founder of WiiN Global, Board member of IMA MEAPAC, Representative of the ALA, and 2024 host of Let's Talk Loyalty podcast, Carly is actively engaged in the loyalty, incentives and payment industry locally and globally.To date Carly has developed and managed more than 30+ consumer and employee loyalty and incentive programs in the insurance, energy, retail and finance sectors. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“I always thought that part of my job was to get fired, but for doing something I would be proud of. My job was to push the boundaries with a stick, and if I wasn't getting in trouble, I wasn't sure I'd be fulfilling that.”Max KalisIn this episode, you'll hear about:Balancing provocation and irritation: Knowing how and when to challenge the status quo and use provocation to your advantage Breaking down intrapreneurship: What it means to be an intrapreneur and the positive and negative connotations the title carriesReframing challenges: Strategies for readjusting how you view and respond to perceived risks and challenges to extract value from every situationEvolving career stages: The importance of checking in with your own motivations, to realign your values with your work as you grow through time and your career Working with boundaries and risk-taking: How to fruitfully set, follow and push boundaries within innovation, and remain trusted by higher upsKey LinksMax's Website: https://maxkalis.com/Llyod's Banking Group: https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/Design Strategy: https://www.toptal.com/designers/product-design/design-strategy-guideLSE: https://www.lse.ac.uk/Jack Teagarden's A Hundred Years From Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TDW8PePGMAA Serenity Prayer: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/the-serenity-prayerIf– Poem by Rudyard Kipling: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if—Find a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting: https://meetings.aa.org.au/near/If you require treatment, information or advice for alcohol and drug-related issues, contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or find a helpline here: https://findahelpline.com/au/topics/substance-useAbout our guestMax Kalis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxkalis-career-coach/) has 10 years experience working in strategy, culture & experience design. During this time he has mentored countless start ups, colleagues and clients. He is now employing experience design principles as a Career Coach and Playbook Creator to help athletes and other exceptional people to unlock progress, change and satisfaction in their careers.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."Recovery is a program of action. It's about action. It's not about thinking your way out of a problem or wishing yourself better. It's about doing stuff.”Olly LynchIn this episode, you'll hear about:Olly's personal journey with addiction: How he found himself at a career high yet in deep alcohol and drug addiction & the personal and professional impacts that came with it.Finding your space in new roles: The challenge of joining a new organisation and how to establish yourself as a powerful and valuable presence who is comfortable questioning the status quo.Ego and self-esteem: How ego and low-self-esteem can feed into addiction, but also influence/mask the way people present themselves in a work context.Stagnation in large organisations: The common issue of stagnant thinking and competitiveness within large organisations, and the need to break free from it to foster creativity and innovation.Applying recovery principles in work: How principles from addiction recovery, such as self-reflection, honesty, and taking action, can be applied effectively in a work context to drive improvement and change.Key LinksIf you require treatment, information or advice for alcohol and drug-related issues, contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236.Find a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting: https://meetings.aa.org.au/near/Omnico https://www.linkedin.com/company/omnico-group/TravelPort https://www.travelport.com/Lucid App (Now Imprint) https://imprintapp.com/Avante Marketing https://avante.marketing/Find a Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/au/topics/substance-useAbout our guestOlly Lynch (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollylynch/) is a marketing leader, Fractional CMO and consultant with over 12 years of experience, working across B2B and B2C brands in agencies, client side and as an independent consultant. He's worked alongside some of the biggest brands in the world including IBM,Thomson Reuters, Motorola, Fujitsu, CA and Interflora and is the founder of Avante Marketing.He is driven by the belief that we only control two things in life: mindset and effort. “There is very little that cannot be achieved with positivity, hard work and an iron will.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."Your success is only limited by your own ambition... It's very much about autonomy, mastery, and purpose beyond the backlog."Andrew BroughtonIn this episode, you'll hear about:Balancing business metrics and social impact: The challenge of but need for aligning social impact measures with business metrics to demonstrate the value of socially focussed projects.Finding intrinsic value in your work: How to find alignment between your work's outcomes and impact with your own personal goals and aspirations.The role of design in problem-solving: How intrapreneurs can garner influence in the workplace and influence outcomes by focusing on problem-solving and delivering tangible results.The art of storytelling: Recognising storytelling as a pivotal business skill for designers to elucidate complex ideas, quantify metrics and convey design's value… and how to step up your own storytelling capability.Handling Curveballs and Side Agendas: How to consider and handle unexpected inputs and side agendas from various sources and repurpose them to the benefit of your project.Key links:WorkSafe https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/Strategic Design https://today.design/approach/strategic-design/Accenture https://www.accenture.com/Power of 10 model http://www.placemakingchicago.com/about/power.aspIdeo Design Thinking https://designthinking.ideo.com/About our guestAndrew Broughton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anmbroughton/) is a Strategic Designer and Senior Manager of the Innovation Center at WorkSafe Victoria, managing the innovation portfolio, design practice and governance across a team of strategic, service and experience designers.He has worked as a design consultant with a portfolio of international clients, and created impacts for many people, clients and projects in social innovation and strategic design. His current mission is to leverage design from a civic perspective, empowering and enriching our community in every possible way. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."The future of the creative industry will be thousands, hundreds of thousands of solopreneurs and micro businesses living in this sort of ecosystem that will come together around projects."David WebsterIn this episode you'll hear about:The evolution of work models: Exploring the evolving nature of work models, particularly in the creative industry & the need for a shift towards more flexible, decentralised approaches.Distributed talent: The value of assembling distributed teams of subject matter experts from around the world tailored to specific needs rather than hiring full-time employees.Mindset and adaptability: How to adapt your mindset to suit the changing landscape of work and embrace experimentation on a daily basis.Changing client-agency relationships: How the talent-driven vs customer-driven approach can rebalance this relationship, with clients needing to treat talent well to attract the best professionals.Intrapreneurship vs Entrepreneurship: Weighing up the challenges and benefits of both pathways and how to effectively maximise your experience in both.Key links:David's Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/david_webster_building_a_more_human_centric_organisational_cultureBBDO https://bbdo.com/BBH https://www.bartleboglehegarty.com/Michael Baulk https://www.brandnewworld.ch/brand-new-salon/creative-minds/27742/michael-baulk.html Procter & Gamble https://anz.pg.com/Sir John Hegarty https://www.businessofcreativity.com/john-hegarty/Rishard Tobaccowala https://rishadtobaccowala.com/About our guestDavid Webster (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-webster-aba90219/) is the CEO and Co-founder of The Carrot Collective. With almost 20 years experience in marketing and advertising, David has been at the forefront of some of the most innovative work in Asia for brands such as Nike, Netflix, Uber, Google and Samsung among others. He's won over 140 creative and effectiveness awards in his career and helped lead his previous agency to win AdAge International Agency of the Year in 2018.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Instead of asking what the individual has to do or what I think they should do, I think it's more so what cultural shift within an organisation has to take place for individuals to eventually be their fullest selves.”Killian PoolmansIn this episode you'll hear about:Digital strategies for inclusivity and engagement: Killian's unique approach for creative inclusive and productive online team spaces.Facilitating change as an outsider: How to effectively facilitate change by coming into an organisation as a co-designer rather than an outsider.Challenges of implementing change: The blockers and barriers that organisations face when transitioning to change, and tips to overcome them.Creating longevity in change initiatives: Strategies for ensuring the lasting impact of change initiatives, including ongoing measurement and support.Balancing perspectives and identities: Acknowledging the value of diverse perspectives and lived experiences within organisations and making space for all voices.Key links:PINKHAMMER https://pinkhammer.space/Pippi Longstocking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pippi_LongstockingTrojan House https://www.britannica.com/topic/Trojan-horseLufthansa https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/home.htmlRutgers https://rutgers.international/PwC https://www.pwc.com.au/About our guestKillian Poolmans (https://www.linkedin.com/in/killian-poolmans/) is the Founder of PINKHAMMER, which facilitates interactive training programs that boost creativity and inclusion with organisations.With a background in engineering and systems design, Killian has worked with over 500 teams from startups to global organisations across Berlin, Melbourne and Singapore, to enhance their innovation capabilities and help them embrace inclusivity in their product development.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“Change is by nature, inherently disruptive, and it often stresses people out. How can we move it from a source of distress to a source of eustress?”Friska WiryaIn this episode you'll hear about:Change management in organisations: The need for organisations to embrace change as a permanent function and strategies to nurture employees through disruption.Transitioning from invisibility to influence: How individuals can move from feeling invisible within their organisations to becoming influential.Playfulness and innovation: The role of playfulness in inspiring innovation and approaching corporate challenges with creativity.The role of personal branding: Why defining one's personal values and projecting them authentically through a clear personal brand is importantSustained motivation and resilience: Personal strategies for maintaining motivation in the face of ongoing change and long-term goalsKey links:Fresh by Friska https://www.freshbyfriska.com/Friska's new book: The Future Fit Organisationhttps://www.freshbyfriska.com/learning/p/the-future-fit-organisation-1Friska's TedX Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ63SGtxGwUMBB https://www.mbbgroup.com.au/Yammer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YammerBig Four https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bigfour.aspRocky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioE_O7Lm0I4 About our guestFriska Wirya (https://www.linkedin.com/in/friska/) is a Top 50 Change Management Thought Leader, most known for her work with large corporates - a US$170m cost saving for the biggest gold miner in the Southern Hemisphere, executing the digital response to COVID for Australia's number 1 university, and partnering with the largest engineering company on earth to win the race to net zero.She is now the powerhouse behind Fresh by Friska, a change management consulting, coaching, facilitation and training service, and was selected by Meta as part of the Top 100 Consultants and Thought Leaders of the world.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message."If you want the best talent out there, having a commitment to sustainability works because people care very deeply about this topic... people are actually resigning from jobs or they don't apply for jobs when companies don't have a good approach to sustainability."Christian SmithIn this episode, you'll hear about:Sustainability as a Business Strategy: How sustainability can be used as a strategy to reduce risk and improve profitabilityAligning Purpose and Profit: Presenting sustainability initiatives in a way that justifies investments to senior stakeholdersThe Importance of External Engagement: Stress-testing sustainability approaches through engaging with external stakeholder and why seeking collaboration is essentialNavigating a Sustainable Future: Whether sustainability is a lost cause or there is still meaningful action that can take place in the business world to create change Evangelising Sustainability: How to effectively and authentically promote sustainability as a priority within organisations and to senior leadersKey links:Art of Persuasion episode (referenced) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz9kuheZV5M&t=492sThinking in Systems by Donella Meadows https://www.amazon.com.au/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557International Accord https://internationalaccord.org/Zalando https://www.zalando.com/NGOs https://www.ngosource.org/what-is-an-ngoAbout our guestChristian Smith has been in the sustainability field for over 15 years, holding positions at major retailers, fashion brands and in the NGO sector. He's currently Head of Sustainability, Diversity, Inclusion Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement at Zalando where his role is to connect the organisation with the outside world as they navigate the ever changing world of sustainability. Christian also acts as an advisor across sectors on how to embed social and environmental innovation into business models, and possesses an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from UCL.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hud..., is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“You can't always succeed, but we keep trying and we keep showing the value or trying to show the value of what we do and why it's going to be in the organisation's best interest.”Jane CurtainIn this episode, you'll hear about:Themes & Trends in the Modern Workplace: How flexibility, hybrid work models and remote facilitation have changed & continue to change the way in which businesses and teams operateBreaking Down Design Thinking: Why organisations need to place greater value on inclusive & service design and how leaders can foster greater diversity and inclusivity in the processMitigating Flight Risk: Staying ahead of employees seeking career change and knowing how to find, motivate and maintain loyal employeesImportance of Employee Experience: The right tools, processes and technology that can optimise employee experience and improve retention and productivityFacilitation Engagement: Tips & tricks to improve involvement and contributions when running workshops and presentations and how to shift facilitation styles to meet modern expectationsKey links:UniSuper https://www.unisuper.com.au/Jakob Nielsen https://www.designprinciplesftw.com/authors/jakob-nielsenFlight Risk https://www.aihr.com/blog/flight-risk-employee/Dimension Data https://www.dimensiondata.com/Design Thinking https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/design-thinkingService Design https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/service-designAbout our guestJane Curtain (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janecurtain/) is an enthusiastic and ever-evolving design thinker, having spent time as a strategic CX design consultant and an in-house service designer across a vast range of industry verticals for over 20 years. She first entered the industry as a Voice User Interface Designer in 2000. She's particularly passionate about directing people's attention to how we think about end users, how we include them in the design process, and how we provide fit for purpose, connected products and services.Jane is very multifaceted in her approach to CX design, and her role usually requires her to be part researcher, part designer, part strategist, part trainer, part coach, part mentor and part change manager.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hud..., is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product MaFor weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“That's where small companies have a superpower. It's like when you've got a tight-knit group of people who really understand each other and understand what needs to be done, understand how everything works, you can move very fast.”Matt DoranIn this episode, you'll hear about:Growing Your Business: How Matt scaled PaperCut from a two-person startup of university friends to a global company with clients like GooglePlanning Corporate Strategy: Anchoring the direction of a company & how to meaningfully plan aheadBuilding Psychological Safety: Establishing an environment where team members feel comfortable taking interpersonal risksMaintaining Small Business Cultures: Staying nimble, reactive and open in communication while growing in team size and expectationProblem-Solving: Learning the art of solving problems & the mindset needed to be balanced, calm & quick in doing soKey links:PaperCutChris Dance Tom Clift Google PaperCut TestimonialWeWork Matt's LinkedInAbout our guestMatt Doran is the co-founder of PaperCut (https://papercut.com), a global leader in print management software. The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and has offices in the US and the UK, employing over 250 people.Matt pursued studies in computer science and electrical engineering and spent seven years in software consulting before teaming up with his co-founder, Chris Dance, to establish PaperCut in 2004. Through organic growth and without taking on external investors, they transformed PaperCut into the global market leader in the print management market. About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hud..., is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“So a lot of what I think about when I'm doing this in an organisation is that we're not just working in an organisation, we're working with a group of people that are members of a society that are members of a species on this planet that's in trouble. And we need to make space to talk to each other about what we want this society to be, because we've gotta make decisions”Jaimes NelIn this episode you'll hear about :Front-Loading the Problem-Solving: Starting strong; intense early-stage problem-solving simplifies complex transformations.Cross-Cutting Strategies: Merging strategies across aspects; uncovers capabilities that drive transformative goals.Long-Term Visioning: Beyond short-term; envision change's ripple effects and broad context impact.Decisive Balancing of Actions: Blend top-down and ground-up, as well as narrow to wide focus for effective change management.Catalytic Conversations: Scaling via collective decisions; accelerates a shared understanding and builds more adaptable organisations.Key linksThe 4 Modes of Strategic Change https://pathventures.io/writing/4modesofstrategicchange/De Bono's thinking hats https://www.debonogroup.com/services/core-programs/six-thinking-hats/Design Thinking https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/design-thinking#:~:text=Design%20thinking%20is%20a%20non,solutions%20to%20prototype%20and%20test.Dave Graeber & David Wengrow https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-dawn-of-everything-9780141991061MCU - Marvel Cinematic Universe https://www.marvel.com/moviesSunrise Movement https://www.sunrisemovement.org/Occupy Wall Street http://occupywallst.org/Jobs to be done framework https://jobs-to-be-done.com/jobs-to-be-done-a-framework-for-customer-needs-c883cbf61c90?gi=954a91ec6435Path Ventures https://pathventures.io/About our guestJaimes Nel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimesnel/) founded Path (https://pathventures.io/) in 2021 to help organisations play the long game through  design-led strategy. He began his career designing for the early web, and gone on to develop a practice applying thinking from the social sciences to strategic change.Jaimes was Head of Insight for pioneering service design agency Livework in the early years of service design practice. He's worked on service transformation for brands such as the NHS, BBC, Aviva, Johnson&Johnson, Ebay, GOV.UK / HMRC and led a transformation design team at Westpac in Australia, delivering their digital mortgage service.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“It's being able to tell the story. It's using data first of all as the starting point. And being able to use that data to articulate a story  in a way that's easy for stakeholders to understand, if they don't how contact centres work. And let's face it, most people don't how contact centres work. So you've gotta cut through all of that.” Daniele IezziIn this episode you'll hear about Being brave to quickly learn and showcase new technologies and AI. Instil confidence!Staying close to your data. But don't just show data, convert to stories and present persuasively with passion.Speaking the exec lingo and always looking for ways connect service language to commercial outcomes.Planning, experimenting, staying agile,  to learn and improve. Never stop to ensure manoeuvrability. Seeking allies from unexpected places, build support, face resistance as one!We hope you enjoy the show!Key links21 Jump Street David Jones Country RoadPurple PeopleAbout our guestDaniele Iezzi is a Customer Service Transformation Strategist.As the former GM Customer Services at David Jones and Country Road Group, and with a retail career spanning over 25 years, Daniele is on a mission to redefine customer service from its traditional operating model to a seamless omnichannel conversational commerce experience, powered by great people and enabled by AI.  Most recently, Daniele established a digital first contact centre for David Jones and CRG.  He's excited about the opportunity to expand the scope of customer service beyond the contact centre.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they're working towards the same organisational goal, it's this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.‘Write down the challenge you've got and where you think you could get to, if you overcame that challenge. Write it into a story or a manifesto or something that shows you are in it for the change. Not just pointing out the bleeding obvious problem! And take it to the most senior leader you can find and read it out to them over that coffee!' Marcus Iles, ManifestiveIn this episode you'll hear about The power of humility within the context of continuous learningOpen communication leading to foster innovationClear vision and how this will always fuel passion in your teamsIf you embrace change, you embrace growthRewarding innovation, and encouraging risk-takingHow to lead authentically and build trustInvesting in employee engagement, to note only educate but inspireWe hope you enjoy the show!Key linksCaractacus Potts - a cheeky reference I made about Marcus' home officeManifestive - Marcus' strategy activation agency About our guestOur guest, Marcus Iles is a globally awarded Creative strategist. He has worked for many globally recognised brands – including HSBC, Renault, Nissan, Heineken, Microfocus, Pfizer and the Bank of England.Before life in management consultancy, Marcus worked as a Global  Executive Creative Director in advertising where he learned to harness the power of strategy and creativity to change beliefs, mindsets and behaviours. He now works as a consultant and is founder of the strategy catalyst, Manifestive.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson, is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road.Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they're working towards the same organisational goal, it's this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally. For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Send us a Text Message.“If people can't explain you, you're at massive risk' Mike DysonIn this episode you'll hear about Intrapreneurs vs. InnovatorsEssential qualities of an IntrapreneurHow and where to initiate changeSelf-Assessment and Alignment - Staying on TrackUnderstanding Stakeholders and Effective EngagementInnovation and Business Goals - Value AlignmentFostering a Culture of Innovation - Psychological SafetyWe hope you enjoy the show!Key linksRyan Rumsey Dare by Stan BushLean Six Sigma Harriet WakemanCynefin FrameworkAbout our guestOur guest, Mike Dyson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedysonexpdesign/), was formerly the Head of Capbility & Experience Design at nbn Australia. In the five years since joining nbn, Mike established a cross-functional innovation & design practice who delivered immense value across multiple parts of nbn's operations groups.Mike has worked in many of the major industies from telecommunications, healthcare, finance, insurance and even waste management. In fact he likes to joke that if he ever wrote a book it would be from Movie Stars to Landfills the Mike Dyson story. An expert in numerous facets of Human Centred Design, Business Architecture and Innovation, he uses his passions and knowhow to maximise the talent of teams and changes lives through simple design. Mike generously shares his design leadership experience through his public speaking event and his role as a mentor with digital and design with groups like Academy Xi and ADP.About our hostOur host, Chris Hudson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hudson-7464254/), is a Teacher, Experience Designer and Founder of business transformation coaching & consultancy Company Road (www.companyroad.co)Company Road was founded by Chris Hudson, who saw over-niching and specialisation within corporates as a significant barrier to change.Every team approaches transformation in their own way, also bringing in their own partners to help. And while they're working towards the same organisational goal, it's this over-fragmentation that stunts rapid progress at a company-wide level. Having worked as a marketer, transformation leader, teacher and practitioner of design thinking for over 20 years, both here in Australia and internationally, Chris brings a unique, deep and 'blended' skillset that will cohere and enable your teams to deliver ambitious and complex change programs.Chris considers himself incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the world's most ambitious and successful companies, including Google, Mercedes-Benz, Accenture (Fjord) and Dulux, to name a small few. He continues to teach with Academy Xi in CX, Product Management, Design Thinking and Service Design and mentors many business leaders internationally.  For weekly updates and to hear about the latest episodes, please subscribe to The Company Road Podcast at https://companyroad.co/podcast/

Middlesbrough have a quite incredible record of producing young players - but what would be the best XI of Boro academy players? That's what Scott and Dom discussed in the latest helping of You Are My Boro. Do you agree with our picks? Have we got any wrong or left any out? Let us know. FOLLOW: Twitter: @BoroEcho Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthernEchoMiddlesbroughFC

After realizing her heart wasn't in her fallback career and getting her self-esteem stomped by her then-dream job, Brook fled to Southeast Asia. She returned with the skills and right amount of confidence to start her freelance career. And she used them again to completely pivot her business. What can happen for your business when you learn as you go? Listen to find out.Can't-Miss Moments From This Episode:“Oh my God! Where do I start?” — Brook has the perfect strategy for you (hint: it's something you're probably already doing every day). Get paid to be you! Sounds great, right? Hmm... that's not quite how it works. Not everyone can be a Kardashian, so how do you marry business and your personality? Here are some tips…  Are you waiting for confidence, or to feel “ready” before you take the next step? According to Brook, that's a “weird misconception.” Check out her unconventional advice on confidence…  Business: do or die, succeed or fail, WIN OR LOSE. Uhhh… not exactly. Brook and I breakdown why that kind of mentality kills businesses.  Spoiler Alert: There's no finish line in entrepreneurship. So what happens when you reach a goal and it's not what you thought it would be? Brook's got some advice for you. This one is jam-packed full of advice. Don't miss out - listen now!Brook's Bio:Brook is a business coach and digital marketing trainer who works with soloists and small business owners to help untangle the web and position themselves as an expert of authority in their field.With 13 years of self-employment and a background in Public Relations, Brook knows how to help people say something worth listening to and do something worth talking about.She's a big proponent of values-based business and social enterprises as the future of business, and is a trainer and mentor on behalf of organisations such as Australia Post, Start Some Good, Sydney Community College, General Assembly and Academy Xi.She loves talking about the psychology and brass tacks of building self-confidence, creating personal branding, and the role of self-care and resilience in self-employment.Resources and links mentioned:Brook's site #1Brook's site #2Brook's FacebookBrook's TwitterBrook's PinterestBrook's YouTubeBrook's InstagramCome kick ass with me:Permission to Kick Ass websiteAngie's Facebook PageAngie on InstaAngie on YouTubeDownload this episode

What you will learnHow to get your first 100 customersHow to learn marketing in 2019How to work in a role that you’re passionate about How putting yourself in uncomfortable situations can lead to big successWhy listening to your customers, understanding their problems and solving them with a level of authenticity has led Academy Xi to rapid growth How Ben learns new skills What the future of learning looks like Resources mentioned in this episodeAcademy XiGeneral AssemblyIntercom live chat Book recommendationsThe Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen LakhianiDelivering Happiness by Tony HsiehSapiens book by Yuval Noah Harari What business you would build on Mars?This is an exciting thing. I mean Elon Musk is my hero. So I think if I was there, if education was something that would be needed, I would probably start education, because it's something that I believe in. I'll probably focus less on the skills that we're teaching today only because they'd probably be less applicable and more about the soft skills and look at how we could align I guess different interests of Martians and human and how are we going to educate each other and how we are going to live and what skillset we really need to build on Mars? I'm sure they would be incredibly intelligent, so I would look at how, what sort of skills they have and how we can integrate our learnings together and build something really exciting.To see the full episode transcript and get a listener exclusive 3 month free trial of Metigy, visit metigy.com/podcast

Adam Mussa is the Founder of Benchvote.com. Australian startup Benchvote delivers innovative and proven 'fan-first' engagement solutions which captures leads, increases revenue and delivers fan insights to publishers, sports teams and their sponsors. Some of the recent sporting rights holders, brands and sponsors Benchvote has worked with include: Australia’s NBL, 2017 Rugby League World Cup, A-League, AFL clubs Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Crows, NAB, TAB and more. We spoke to Benchvote’s founder Adam Mussa who has a multi-disciplinary background in Digital Marketing, having worked in Social Media, Customer Acquisition, Product Management, and Project Delivery at the startup, agency and enterprise level. He also is an avid educator – teaching classes at General Assembly and Academy Xi in Product Management, Startup Strategy, Digital Marketing, and UX.

Exciting little minisode this week! Upcoming guests and what we'll be chatting about on the show: Leah Martin-Brown, lead singer of Evol Walks killing it in LA. Mark Bennedick, co-founders of Sense independent agency, who’s just been heavily involved in throwing on YouTube Festival.  What are you grateful for? Instructing at Academy Xi. What is it? What I love about it? Sol Cups founder guest appearance. Fuelling my own career desires. My biz dev. Social Media workshops - Academy Xi. Social Media workshops. Biz dev - quarter digital media report. Big things brewing. Sometimes a step sideways that doesn’t feel wrong can open up your mind and open up your opportunities. . Hit Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet up on social media here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danwilkinson1/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hotndelicious/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerlovin/ Twitter https://twitter.com/hotndelicious Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HotnDelicious Hot & Delicious YouTube - Ballistyx Snowboard Show, interviews & more. https://www.youtube.com/user/HotnDeliciousRecords . 'Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet’ entertainment, travel, photography & lifestyle blog: http://hotndelicious.com/ . For social media strategy, content/photography & influencer business enquiries contact: info@hotndelicious.com  

After a month off, I’m back!   On this week’s show we discuss the quest for more meaningful content, changing the game as consumers in an effort to seek out and drive creation of more meaningful content and the power of being able to lift each other up: Tall Poppy Syndrome, Outrage Culture & click bait - what kinds of content are out there, finding more meaningful news sources (journalists or podcasters) and how to lift each other up. What I’ve been up to lately - project managing and speaking at UNSW’s inaugural Social Media Day, my first ever @hotndelicious photographic exhibition, selling artwork and becoming a street artist for the first time and my start this week with Academy Xi, instructing a course on Digital Growth Marketing. Kickass content! I share with you some of my faves of late: Yahoo Sport Reporter Chris Young’s take on Tall Poppy Syndrome, Outrage Culture & click bait with regards to the Ben Simmons storm in a teacup: https://au.sports.yahoo.com/ben-simmons-problem-australian-media-racism-liz-cambage-073446289.html @meandamici street art and challenging our individual online behaviours and Instagram “influencer” culture: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Ip7aPASeo/ New music by Jaguar Jonze - ‘Beijing Baby’:  http://pilerats.com/music/bands/premiere-jaguar-jonze-beijing-baby/ https://www.instagram.com/deenajonze/ Joe Rogan podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joe-rogan-experience/id360084272   Academy Xi - Digital Growth Marketing Elevate: https://academyxi.com/courses/digital-growth-marketing-elevate/   Hit Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet up on social media here: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hotndelicious/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerlovin/ Twitter https://twitter.com/hotndelicious LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danwilkinson1/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HotnDelicious Hot & Delicious YouTube - Ballistyx Snowboard Show, interviews & more. https://www.youtube.com/user/HotnDeliciousRecords   'Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet’ entertainment, travel, photography & lifestyle blog: http://hotndelicious.com/   For social media strategy, content/photography & influencer business enquiries contact: info@hotndelicious.com

Lucy Bloomfield is an eCommerce expert and director @ Business 2iC, they help incredible human beings bring game-changing physical products to market. They specialize in launching and building eCommerce businesses in the shortest amount of time possible. She’s also the founder of Matter Skincare and product management instructor @ Academy Xi. Follow Lucy on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-bloo... Business 2ic: https://business2ic.com/ The host Bob Low is a growth marketing consultant based in South-east Asia. Bob helps brands achieve business results through digital marketing, social media content and advertising. Email Bob at bobthinkz@gmail.com Follow Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobthinks/

Simon chats with Ben Wong, CEO and Co-Founder of Academy Xi. Academy Xi is a future-focused education company that provides courses and training programs in the areas of human-centered design, business and emerging technologies to working professionals, looking to skill up or companies interested in building capability. You can contact Ben Wong here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjameswong/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurendhall/) Please remember to give us a rating and review on iTunes!  Our Instagram page is here: http://www.instagram.com/flypaperplanes.co/  Contact the team at www.flypaperplanes.co (http://www.flypaperplanes.co/) or Simon here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsimondell/ or here: http://twitter.com/IAmSimonDell If you think you have a great story for the podcast, contact our producer Sarah here: sarah@simondell.com (mailto:mailto:sarah@simondell.com)   And find out more about our sound engineer Gilberto here: www.thepodcastboss.com (http://www.thepodcastboss.com/)

I explore creativity and asking better questions with my guest Charbel Zeaiter, co-founder of Academy Xi. Academy Xi is training people in the skills of tomorrow today. We explore how curiosity, storytelling, and creativity become the building blocks for acquiring and maintaining skills that will open up a future where the engineers will all be poets and all of the poets will become engineers. If you would like to check out my work with narrative, check out my business www.spendloveandlamb.com Check out Academy Xi here - https://academyxi.com/

Dan Fine is a customer experience professional who has worked on brands like NAB, Telstra, Sensis, and Vic Roads. In this episode you’ll learn how to define the role of a customer experience professional, plus you’ll discover many tips and resources that you can use on your journey to becoming a great CX pro.   Resources mentioned: Service Design Show (podcast). Why Service Design Thinking (podcast). This is HCD (podcast). General Assembly (course). Academy XI (course). Customer Experience Professionals Association This is Service Design Thinking (book), by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider. The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design (book), by IDEO. The Ultimate Question 2.0 (book), by Fred Reichheld and Rob Markey. Beyond the Ultimate Question (book), by Bob Hayes. Bulletproof Radio (podcast), with Dave Asprey. Influencers (podcast), by Jon Levy Closing the Delivery Gap (research), by Bain and Company   Additional Resources: The Ten Principles Behind Great Customer Experiences (book), by Matt Watkinson. Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business (book), by Harley Manning and Kerry Bodine. Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers (book), by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James Macanufo. Xplaner (website). Strategyzer (website). Service Design Tools (website).   Key takeaways (starts at 30:35): Any CX initiative needs to be driven by the CEO. Present ideas with 51% confidence but 100% conviction. Treat survey data like an asset. Close the delivery gap between what you think you know and what the customer experiences.

For this very special 25th anniversary show of Byte Into IT, our hosts Warren Davies and Vanessa Toholka reflect on the past 25 years of the show live from North Melbourne Meat Market as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. We spoke to three amazing guests in this jam packed hour,Aimee Gonzalez - Aimee Gonzalez is a specialist in technology education who has worked with Academy Xi, Le Wagon, non-profits, and traditional academia. Along with Laura Summers, the Byte Into It team will discuss how teaching and learning about technology has been changing.Marco Ryan - Marco is a multimedia artist and interaction designer, specialising in augmented reality.David Colls - David is a software manager and consultant who recently worked on a project with Guide Dogs Victoria to prototype a cane to help vision impaired people cross the road safely.

This is HCD is brought to you by Humana Design Chirryl-Lee Ryan and I were recently together on a design-panel, Designing for Social Impact, for Academy XI in Sydney and had a whale of a time. We caught up in Melbourne a few days later to extend that conversation, and go deeper into areas that we touched on at the Designing for Social Impact design panel. In this episode, we discuss; Are we making things better with design? The problems service design and UX Are we making things better with design? What shoes would Chirryl wear in a zombie apocalypse? ...and what the future of service design and design in general looks like through Chirryl's eyes Links mentioned in this episode Journey of a Coke Can Ka-Ching Movie Chirryl-Lee Ryan on LinkedIn Join the This is HCD Newsletter and receive a fortnightly email with interesting design related and industry links Help the This is HCD podcast grow by reviewing it on iTunes, pretty please?  TIHCD is brought to you by Humana Design Support the show.

This week on Byte Into IT we have Vanessa and Dan in the studio to bring you all the news from tech land in the past week.Our guest this episode is Tim Bright from Academy Xi, an Edutech startup providing courses in AR and VR Design, UX design, marketing, analytics and much more.

Mark talks to Ben Wong and Charbel Zeaiter, the founders of digital education company Academy Xi. They specialise in courses in areas such as virtual reality, augmented reality, user experience design and growth marketing and recently closed a $2.25 million investment round. These two are really committed to teaching critical digital skills to a new wave of the workforce. We discuss raising capital, figuring out your brand position and how to remain agile in the fast-moving tech innovation space. Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube. Want to grow your business and stay ahead of the pack? Access Mark Bouris' Masterclasses. Got a question or comment for Mark? Send an email.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secure your tix to Hot & Delicious: Rocks the Planet! LIVE in Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/events/1916825235002313   Holly Stephens, founder of Triangles XYZ, is an absolute inspiration & dead-set legend! Prior to launching Triangles XYZ, a business created to help women take their first step into entrepreneurship, Holly Stephens worked at Google where she managed the launch of Android Pay in Australia & New Zealand and led The Digital Garage UK, Google's entrepreneur and small business program that's training 1 million Europeans in digital skills over two years. Triangles work with an incredible network of partners including Google Digital Garage, IBM, Tank Stream Labs, TwoSpace, Academy Xi, SendGrid, and more. They have male champions and a referral network for incubation, acceleration, education and mentoring to support women from all backgrounds and locations. They've been featured on Sky News, StartupDaily and SmartCompany. Holly is also the CEO of Springstart Marketing, helping tech startups and businesses launch, expand, and sustain users and customers through targeted and growth marketing.   Want to know how to make your first steps as a startup founder or entrepreneur? Your journey starts here… Connect with Holly Stephens (Triangles XYZ founder + entrepreneur) online: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Holly_Stephens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly.triangles/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollystephens1/ Reach out directly at holly@heytriangles.xyz Download the 'Mighty Networks' App in the AppStore and search 'Triangles’.  Get social @Trianglesxyz on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.  Check us out on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V01giRMka88     Hit Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet up on social media here: Twitter https://twitter.com/hotndelicious Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hotndelicious/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerlovin/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HotnDelicious Hot & Delicious YouTube - Ballistyx Snowboard Show, interviews & more. https://www.youtube.com/user/HotnDeliciousRecords 'Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet’ entertainment, travel, photography & lifestyle blog: http://hotndelicious.com/   For social media strategy, content/photography & influencer business enquiries contact: info@hotndelicious.com   Secure your tix to Hot & Delicious: Rocks the Planet! LIVE in Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/events/1916825235002313

This is episode #46! Our guest is the Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer at Academy Xi. They teach groups and individuals in the areas of design and tech – but with a unique positioning and offering. Academy Xi specialise in teaching newly emerging disciplines such as virtual reality design, augmented reality design, service design and of course UX design as well. As you can imagine, this gets me going because they aim to address the upcoming skills gap in technology and give students the practical skills to pursue new career paths. Actually, some exciting news that’s come out very recently is that Academy Xi secured $2.25 million dollars in a series A round funding, and they’ve only been around for a little over a year. Very impressive growth. Now back to our guest, he started his design career in 1998. He’s helped iconic brands, eager startups and a broad range of organisations improve their ability to create long lasting relationships with their customers, by combining his belief in human centred design, research and collaboration.   Some of the topics we spoke about include: The danger of assumption Advice to anyone creating a product, service or a brand Designing value systems The process of elimination when solving complex problems His Slideshare presentation titled ‘The Future of everything’ which has been viewed almost 400,000 times And naturally, we spoke about where he feels design is heading. I present to you … the bright, passionate and down to earth ... Charbel Zeaiter!   More on Charbel Zeaiter can be found via the links below: Linkedin profile Facebook profile Twitter: @charbelxcharbel Instagram: @Charbelxcharbel Velvet Onion website Academy Xi Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes. Need video work done? Filming, editing or both? Checkout Grand Rapids based, Creative Agency, Carbon Stories. Friends of mine who I personally used for my video vlogs during my 2016 USA tour. They service your needs for video work and photography. Take a look at their work or to reach out to them: CarbonStories.us