Creating Synergy Podcast

Join us on a riveting journey as we unpack the success story of Craige Whitton, CEO of Northline. From his roots in Perth, the guidance of his father, to his meteoric rise in the corporate world, Craige has quite a tale to tell. Especially, as Northline celebrates its 40th anniversary, it's the perfect time to hear how he spearheaded its exponential growth while ensuring the values of culture and positive work environment remained intact.

🔑 Top 5 Key Topics Discussed:

1. Craige's Foundations: How Perth and his family values shaped Craige's distinctive leadership style.
2. CFO to CEO: Tracing Craige's remarkable career trajectory and how he weathered the storm of the Global Financial Crisis.
3. Northline's Evolution: A look at the company's journey from 8 depots & 250 employees to 18 depots with over 600 dedicated staff & contractors under Craige's stewardship.
4. Culture & Change: Craige's perspective on fostering an inclusive work environment and the paramount importance of employee well-being.
5. Navigating Economic Uncertainties: Craige's advice for businesses to remain resilient and thrive, drawing parallels from his GFC experience.

if you're as intrigued as we are by Craige's story, then don't just sit there! 🎧 Tune in NOW!
Feel enlightened? Elated? Eager for more? Then make sure to click on that like button, 🔄 share this episode with your mates, and 📌 subscribe to keep the synergy alive.
Let's create a community where inspiration meets action!
HIGHLIGHTS:

3:29: Craig's background and upbringing

13:58: Family values in the workplace

28:33: Impact of the global financial crisis

30:00: Importance of having the right people and culture

35:08: Strategic plan for growth and consolidation in the industry

45:00: Employee value proposition and high employee retention

52:01: Personalized customer service and relationship building

56:22: Managing the appetite for new technologies and focus on long-term challenges like sustainability

1:01:15: Insights from the Oxford leadership program

1:16:47: Navigating through economic crises and potential recession

Where to find Craige Whitton

• LinkedIn

Books Mentioned:

• A Bone of Fact By: David Walsh
• The Ride of a Lifetime By: Robert Iger

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us.

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Niki is the Co-founder of Blackbird, a venture fund that exists to supercharge the most ambitious founders. Blackbird Ventures is one of the leading Venture Capital funds in Australia and NZ, counting companies such as Canva, Culture Amp, and Safety Culture as part of its portfolio.

Niki Co-founded Blackbird in 2012 with an initial $29M. That initial fund proved to be hugely successful, with the fund selling 40% of fund 1 for $100M. The sale provided a guaranteed 3x return to all 96 investors who contributed to fund 1 while retaining an interest in the 12 portfolio companies with a carrying value of $6.50 per $1 invested.

On today’s show, Niki shared his journey from starting a business with his University friend, Mike Cannon Brookes, whom you may know as the founder of Atlassian, all the way to co-founding Blackbird Ventures and how he became known as the 'Godfather' of Venture Capital here in Australia.

He also shared the Blackbird’s investing philosophy, "Taking a chance on the hungry, not the proven" which means he is more interested in those who are passionate to succeed than those who possibly have already proven themselves, and also discussed why "investing is more phycological than it is data and analytics".

Niki also shared with us :

• What are some of the key qualities he looks for in entrepreneurs which lead to success,
• The pivotal role organisational Culture plays in startups
• What the Australian Start-Up Scene looks like over the next 5-10 years
• His advice for entrepreneurs to attract investors
• His beliefs in the constant need for Personal growth
• What does the future look like for Blackbird Ventures.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Poor Charlie's Almanack - The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger By: Charles Thomas Munger
• Zero to One - Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future By Peter Thiel, Blake Masters

Where to find Niki Scevak:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Twitter

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast.

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us.

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Welcome to this special edition of "Synergy Shorts," where we bring you compact insights from the giants of industry and innovation. In this episode, we are thrilled to feature the highlights from our most viewed podcast episode with Marc Randolph, the visionary Co-founder of Netflix, as he unravels the secrets to fearless entrepreneurship and the art of making bold moves.

Marc shares invaluable lessons that are not just about building a successful business but about nurturing a mindset that dares to disrupt and redefine.
In this short but impactful episode, you'll discover:

• Marc's unfiltered advice on embracing uncertainty and turning it into your greatest asset.
• The pivotal moments that define a fearless entrepreneur and how to recognize them.
• Strategies for maintaining balance while pushing the boundaries of innovation.
• The importance of taking calculated risks and the transformative power of bold decisions.
• How to cultivate a mindset that not only welcomes but also thrives on challenges.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business leader, or simply curious about the man behind the world's leading streaming service, Tune in NOW and empower your journey with the wisdom of Marc Randolph—because even the grandest ventures begin with the courage to take that first bold step.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00:49] - Decision-Making in Ambiguity
[00:02:05] - Evolution of Risk-Taking
[00:02:53] - Persistence and Entrepreneurial Grit
[00:04:19] - Importance of Culture in SuccessWhere to find Marc Randolph

• LinkedIn
• Website

Books mentioned in this episode:

• That will never work by Marc Randolph

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us.

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Jim has 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. Before joining Nova Systems, he was South Australia’s top public servant in the role of Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Prior to that, he was the CEO of BAE Systems Australia for 10 plus years, where he oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia's largest defense prime, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion. He then moved to BAE in Saudi Arabia where he took up the role of in-country CEO for the $6 billion business.

Jim has also served as the Chancellor of the University of South Australia and he also worked in legal, commercial, and marketing roles with the aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for 18 years after graduating from the University of Warwick (England).

On top of all this, he has also been in Non-executive director roles, for Codan, RAA, Austral, and Micro X.

On today’s show, listen to:

• Jim's journey over the years.
• Stories of Northern Ireland where he grew up
• Lobbying for Capitol Hill and why the US has 50% of the worlds defense spends
• Strategy and how to stick to it,
• Building trusting relationships with all stakeholders
• What the future looks like for Nova Systems
• The new rebranding they have just gone through
• Jim's thoughts on what is happening in the world right now, with Ukraine, Russia, and China, and how Australia sits within the geopolitical nature.

Timestamp:
12:27 – Leadership point of view
15:29 – Art and Literature
24:23 – Insight on US Defense
28:33 – On being CEO
32:32 – On Making Change and Building Relationships
35:14 – Being a Leader
36:45 – On Knowing the Right Strategy
41:49 – Nova Systems and Nova Strategies
47:13 – People Aspect of Growth
51:43 – Integrating Business
1:02:16 – On Defense and Protecting Ourselves
1:06:37 – Leadership Growth, own experience
1:09:10 – Leadership Management
1:14:39 – Feedback and Accountability
1:19:57 – Advise on Being First Time CEO
Books mentioned in this episode:

• Sword of Honour Trilogy By: Evelyn Waugh
• History of the Peloponnesian war By: Thucydides

Where to find Jim McDowell:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq), and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing, and sharing this podcast.

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us.

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Sharyn Broer is a highly experienced and strategic executive leader in the national not-for-profit food and health sector. In her current joint roles as CEO of Meals on Wheels South Australia and Meals on Wheels Australia President, Sharyn has a passion for improving the health and wellbeing of communities through the delivery of high-quality community services and programs.

Sharyn leads South Australia's largest community-based volunteer organisation and is responsible for 80 branches, 7000 volunteers and 60 staff delivering 4000 daily meals and supporting 11,000 people annually. In her national role, Sharyn was instrumental in the development of Australian meal guidelines promoting improved nutrition, balance and healthy choice and in influencing aged care reform to ensure communities can benefit from services like Meals on Wheels well into the future.

Sharyn was a former Telstra Businesswoman of the Year Finalist and is leading the transformation of Meals on Wheels South Australia to expand its social impact through new service models and markets.

In this episode, Sharyn Broer shares her professional journey, values and characteristics that made her succeed in her career and become a CEO. Sharyn also shares her thought process on culture, leadership, life and Meals on Wheels' purpose and challenges.

Where to find Sharyn Broer:

LinkedIn
Meals on Wheels South Australia

Recommended books in this episode:

• The power of one by Bryce Courtenay
• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• The motive by Patrick Lencioni
• Design a Better Business by Patrick Van Der Pijl, Justin Lokitz and Lisa Kay Solomon
• Driven by Purpose by Anne Robinson, Felicity Errington, and Stephen Judd

Join the conversation on Synergy IQ LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@synergyiq) and please support other leaders by liking, subscribing and sharing this podcast.

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us.
Say hello to our host Daniel on LinkedIn.