Slicing through the noise podcast

Episode 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.

Episode 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. 

Episode 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. 

Episode 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. 

Episode 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.

Episode 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. 

Episode 13: Peter Drinkwater

In this episode Peter unpacks the attention economy, why authenticity now outperforms polished messaging, and how organisations can create signals people want to engage with rather than push content that gets ignored. This conversation is practical, direct, and highly relevant for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders navigating cluttered markets. 

Episode 12: Paul Noppen

Paul discusses the challenges of starting a business with limited resources, the importance of prioritising service over ego-driven growth, and how he navigated betrayal within his leadership team. He also highlights the critical role of hobbies and personal passions in maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. This episode is packed with actionable advice for leaders looking to build sustainable businesses and foster loyal teams. 

Episode 11: Craig Patterson

From one bulldozer and a bold vision to a $100 million civil and mining services powerhouse, Craig Patterson has lived leadership from the ground up. In this episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Craig shares how early challenges, bold choices and values-driven leadership took him from operating heavy machinery at 14 to leading a thriving company with over 150 employees. If you’re growing a business in tough conditions, his hard-won lessons on safety, succession, community and culture are pure gold.

Episode 10: Richard McCarthy

In this compelling episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Richard McCarthy — shares his transformative leadership journey from the corporate world of Shell to a purpose-driven role in infrastructure. With trademark humility and strategic clarity, Richard explores the mindset shifts that shaped his approach to leadership.

Episode 9: Rohan McLellan

From transforming supply chains to delivering potable water to 300,000 people in Fiji, this conversation is rich with leadership wisdom, legacy thinking, and sharp takes on the future of manufacturing, sustainability, and team culture. Blending lessons from elite sport with decades of hard-won business insight, Rohan unpacks how discipline, timing, and a deep commitment to quality have shaped Clover’s role in building critical water infrastructure across Australia and beyond.  

Episode 8: Tony Dodd

Tony shares his journey from a junior clerk to CEO, discussing how his leadership philosophy has been shaped by values such as fairness, responsibility, and empathy. He emphasises the importance of being genuine and self-aware as a leader, reflecting on the lessons learned from his early career and how effective leadership was crucial during the global pandemic. Tony also touches on how to build a team culture centred on responsibility and customer-first values. 

Episode 7: Ian Whiting

With more than 45 acquisitions under his belt, Ian speaks candidly about how he assesses company fit, why attitude trumps skill, and the critical role of curiosity and accountability in any thriving organization. This is a must-listen for any leader who wants to build with purpose, lead with humility, and stay grounded in a rapidly changing business world.