Slicing through the noise podcast
Real stories. Tough decisions.
Leadership, unfiltered with Jennifer Elliott.
Ep.23: Charlie Crothers
In this episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Jennifer Elliott sits down with Charlie Crothers to unpack the shift from being tied to the day-to-day to building a business that can actually run, grow, and breathe without constant rescue. They get into the leadership lessons most owners learn the hard way: why great people leaving can expose the cracks, how systems protect culture, what to delegate, what to keep, and why the right structure gives you freedom instead of more admin.
Ep.22: John Buchanan
High performance does not happen by accident. In this episode of Slicing Through the Noise, John Buchanan unpacks the mindset, systems and leadership discipline behind one of the most dominant eras in Australian cricket — and shows how those lessons translate directly to business. This is a practical conversation about vision, culture, accountability, coaching, and what it really takes to lead teams through pressure, change and complexity. For business owners and entrepreneurs who want to build teams that perform consistently, not just occasionally, this episode delivers.
Ep.21: Peter cannon
What does it take to lead well when the stakes are high, the pressure is constant, and the margin for error is small? In this episode, Peter Cannon draws on a leadership journey spanning the RAF, global logistics, aviation, and power generation to share practical lessons on discipline, accountability, pressure, and performance. From slowing down to speed up, to staying five steps ahead and using AI more strategically, Peter offers clear insight leaders can apply straight away. If you want to lead with more clarity, steadiness, and impact, this conversation delivers.
Ep.20: Julio De Laffitte
Most people spend their lives working for money — this episode will challenge you to make money work for you. In one of our most practical conversations yet, Julio De Laffitte unpacks the mindset, strategies and leadership principles behind lasting wealth, clear thinking and purpose-driven decision making. It’s a powerful conversation about money, pressure, integrity, AI and how to lead well when the stakes are high. If you want sharper thinking and a real edge in business and life, don’t miss this one.
Ep. 19: Ronnie Baskind
Ronnie Baskind’s leadership journey begins on a vast South African farm and culminates in Sydney, where he built Kilimanjaro Consulting into one of Australia’s top tech advisory firms. The common thread? A deceptively simple yet powerful skill: deep, ego-free listening. In this episode, Ronnie delves into how the principles of “Ubuntu” and consultative leadership have shaped his approach to hiring, making tough decisions, and building lasting client trust. He shares actionable insights on why SMEs rarely buy based on ROI and why saying “no” with integrity is a hallmark of great leadership. If you’re leading a team or scaling a professional services business, this conversation is a treasure trove of practical wisdom.
Ep. 18: Brett Plummer
This episode dives into the entrepreneurial journey of a leader who transformed a small trucking business into a major player in the Port of Brisbane. Growing up in a tight-knit family in Western Sydney, our guest shares how early lessons in discipline, teamwork, and vision shaped his leadership style. From navigating the challenges of capital-intensive industries to scaling a business while maintaining a strong team ethos, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for executives and entrepreneurs.
Ep. 17: Bob Connell
This episode is for founders, CEOs and senior leaders who want clearer decisions with fewer surprises. You will hear how to set a purpose people can repeat, turn it into objectives, and keep culture aligned from the executive level. Bob explains why faster month-end reporting matters and how to manage trust: give people boundaries, then watch trends so you can intervene early.
Ep. 16: Alex Douglas
Construction leadership in a delivery environment is won or lost on clarity: what matters, who owns what, and how quickly decisions move. In this conversation, Alex Douglas shares how he went from a desk and photocopier at home to building a $150m+ business by engineering the client journey and making communication a competitive advantage.
Ep. 15: Brendan Flaxman
Brendan’s story starts with humble work, an early setback, and the kind of “figure it out” pressure that forces you to build resilience fast. From there, the conversation moves into what separates “title-chasing” from true capability: sticking around long enough to earn experience, learning to respect the hard-won lessons that only time and repetition can teach, and developing the maturity to lead people who may have more years on the tools than you do.
Ep. 14: Tim Cutler
Tim Cutler—senior executive with over two decades of leadership experience—shares his candid journey through the realities of leadership, culture, and accountability. From sourcing great products to building high-performing teams, Tim reveals the hard-earned lessons that shaped his leadership style. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this conversation delivers practical insights on what it takes to lead with integrity and purpose.
Leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters — and doing it well.
In Slicing Through the Noise, Jennifer Elliott, CEO of Integrity and Values, sits down with Australia’s business leaders who’ve faced the pressure, made the hard calls, and led their teams through moments that defined their careers.
These are conversations about clarity in chaos, about holding the line when it’s easier to compromise, and about the silent disciplines that separate reactive managers from accountable leaders. No jargon. No fluff. Just real-world insights from those who’ve learned to cut through distraction, complexity, and noise — and focus on what drives results.
Whether you’re leading 50 people or 500, each episode is a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what leadership is really about.
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We’re always looking for bold, purpose‑driven leaders who are willing to share the real story behind their journey—the wins, the challenges, the pivots, and the lessons that shaped who they are today.