Leadership Odysseys

Raj Nanra – Leadership Built on Listening, Culture, and Courage

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones turn off.This is one of them.
In this episode of Leadership Odysseys, Kirsty sits down with Raj Nanra, CEO of SLE Worldwide Australia, for a powerful conversation about leadership shaped through lived experience, cultural belonging, resilience, and loss. From growing up as the child of one of Melbourne’s first Sikh families, to leading businesses across Asia for two decades, to building culture through human connection, Raj’s story reveals how leadership is built not in boardrooms alone, but in the moments where listening, empathy, and courage meet.
Raj speaks openly about the devastating loss of his 21-year-old son, Sachin to cancer, and how that grief became the catalyst for purposeful action. In response, he founded the annual You Can Charity Golf Day in partnership with the Sony Foundation, mobilising his industry community to support young Australians facing cancer. Over the past four to five years, these events have raised close to $250,000 to fund youth cancer programs and provide tangible support to families during their hardest seasons. What emerges is a story of choosing to transform pain into service and leadership into something that extends far beyond business.
This episode explores the human side of leadership: culture as behaviour, presence over performance, and the deep power of staying curious about people.
Key Highlights
Culture is built in conversation, not slogansRaj grew up learning to speak with anyone, without judgement, background bias, or status filters. That lesson still defines how he builds teams today. Culture, he believes, is not written on walls. It is shaped by daily behaviour, attention, and genuine conversation.
Asia taught him how connection earns trustTwenty years across China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and beyond taught Raj that leadership begins with curiosity. Learning names, languages, foods, and customs became a bridge to trust. His willingness to listen before leading turned short assignments into long partnerships and shaped his approach to people-first leadership.
Listening is a leadership disciplineRaj draws a clear line between leaders who speak and leaders who listen. He prefers presence over performance, relationship over hierarchy, and dialogue over distance. From meeting every staff member personally to prioritising uncomfortable conversations, listening became both his cultural strategy and leadership edge.
Turning grief into impactThe loss of his son Sachin changed everything. Supported by his industry community, Raj chose to respond with purpose rather than retreat. By founding the You Can Charity Golf Day alongside the Sony Foundation, he created a practical way to support adolescents and young adults with cancer, raising nearly $250,000 to fund programs that care for families as they walk through the most difficult chapters of life.
Purpose comes from action, not sentimentFor Raj, giving back is about more than fundraising totals. It is about showing up with time, care, and presence. Whether supporting families facing the long road of treatment or donating simple items that restore small moments of joy, leadership, he says, is measured by how you help when no one is watching.
Raj’s odyssey reminds us that leadership is ultimately human work.Culture grows through conversation.Trust is built through listening.Purpose is forged when pain meets service.
His story shows leadership matters most when leaders lift others, even while carrying their own moments of challenge.
Connect with Raj Nanra: LinkedIn 
Connect with SLE Worldwide Australia: Linkedin | Website
Sony Foundation Australia: Website | LinkedIn | You Can Golf Day 
This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

The Courage to Keep Going – Kellie Hush

Some stories shimmer at the surface; others reveal their depth only when you listen closely.Kellie Hush’s journey through Australian fashion has been anything but linear – from Canberra schoolgirl to magazine editor, retail founder, and now CEO of Australian Fashion Week 2025. She’s seen the glamour, the grind, and the grit behind an industry built on reinvention. In this episode, Kellie opens up about the power of resilience, the lessons hidden in failure, and the optimism that has carried her through every chapter.
 
Key Highlights
~ From outlier to insider. Growing up in Canberra, Kellie never quite fit in – a creative misfit who turned her difference into drive. That independence shaped her ambition and built the resilience that would define her leadership.
~ The making of a media powerhouse. From Who Weekly to InStyle to Harper’s Bazaar, Kellie built a career at the center of Australian fashion publishing, leading with clarity, curiosity, and commercial instinct during the golden era of magazines.
~ The humbling fall – and the rebuild. After leaving media to start her own accessories business, Kellie faced betrayal, burnout, and humiliation. What looked like failure became the turning point that redefined her sense of self and strength.
~ Reinvention through connection. Guided by mentors like Carla Zampatti and surrounded by a network she’d built with care, Kellie rebuilt her career as a consultant, eventually joining The Volte – a world-first fashion rental platform reshaping the circular economy.
~ Leadership with optimism. As CEO of Australian Fashion Week 2025, Kellie champions purpose over perfection. Her focus: celebrating Australian design, supporting emerging talent, and proving that optimism isn’t naivety – it’s discipline.
Kellie Hush reminds us that leadership isn’t about never falling. It’s about knowing when to stand back up, what to carry forward, and what to leave behind. Her story is a testament to clarity through chaos – and the quiet power of backing yourself when no one else does.
 
Connect with Kellie Hush: LinkedIn 
Connect with The Volte: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram 
This episode is brought to you by: Flagship
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

What Remains When Everything Changes with Guy Maine

Some leaders build empires. Others build character.Guy Maine has done both, and rebuilt himself along the way.
From launching Australia’s prepaid mobile era at Optus and leading Virgin Mobile’s turnaround, to driving Foxtel’s shift from analogue to digital and starting an aviation business, Guy’s path is full of bold moves and honest reflection.Today he brings that same energy to On The Monee, improving dignity for hospitality workers, while mentoring young Australians through the Raise Foundation.
This episode isn’t about titles or exits. It’s about what stays when the rest falls away.Resilience. Courage. Clarity. And the discipline to keep showing up.
Key highlights
~ The advice from his mother that shaped how he learns, works, and leads.~ How he launched prepaid mobile in Australia and why persistence beats permission.~ What the best leaders in his career had in common, and why humanity mattered more than authority. ~ The moment everything collapsed and how he rebuilt with grit and purpose. ~ Why mentoring through Raise gives him a sense of meaning no corporate result could match.
Guy Maine’s odyssey shows that leadership is not a straight climb. It is a constant act of becoming.
Thank you, Guy, for joining me on Leadership Odysseys and for showing that courage, kindness, and clarity still matter.
 
Connect with Guy Maine: LinkedIn  
Connect with On The Monee: LinkedIn | Website 
Connect with Raise: LinkedIn | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website
 

Five Decades, Countless Lessons: What Time Taught Ken Garrard About Leadership

After more than five decades leading some of the most complex business transformations across enterprise and government, Ken Garrard has seen it all – from billion-dollar portfolios to local government restructures that changed lives. But what stands out isn’t the scale of his projects, it’s the humanity behind them.
In this conversation, Ken shares how a lifetime of systems thinking, resilience, and belief in people has shaped not only his work, but the way he lives. At 73, he’s still building, still learning, and still leading – carrying forward the dream he once shared with his late wife and proving that purpose doesn’t retire.
Key Highlights
~ How a simple spreadsheet turned into a $50 billion cost saving and a new way to prioritise what matters. ~ Why cascading strategy into every role changed how people saw their purpose at work. ~ The power of mentoring and watching teams grow beyond what they thought possible. ~ What leadership truth only time can teach – patience, perspective, and the value of slowing down. ~ How legacy, not titles, defines a meaningful career.
Ken’s story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about the noise or the next big thing – it’s about consistency, clarity, and care for the people around you. His life’s work shows that real success lies in building systems that work, teams that thrive, and a legacy that lasts.
Connect with Ken: LinkedIn |
APO Powered by KEPA Software: LinkedIn | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Cell Wellness Co
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

Rosy McEvedy: From One Clinic to a National Movement

Some leaders chase growth. Others build movements that last.
In this episode of Leadership Odysseys, Kirsty Gee sits down with Rosy McEvedy, the founder of IV League Drips and Academy by IV League, to unpack how she turned a simple idea into a national model for integrative health. From a single clinic to a network of more than 200 licensees, Rosy shares the clarity, conviction, and discipline it takes to build something that scales with purpose.
Key Highlights:
See the opportunity before it’s obvious. Rosy recognised a gap in Australia’s wellness landscape and moved first to bring IV therapy into mainstream care.
Lead with knowledge and intent. Her pharmaceutical training and nursing studies gave her the foundation to build credibility and trust in an unregulated space.
Design systems that scale. Rosy breaks down how her licensee model—not a franchise—allows clinicians to deliver consistent, quality care while retaining ownership.
Build culture into the structure. She shares why energy, belief, and alignment matter more than credentials when expanding across a national network.
Stay grounded in the mission. Rosy’s focus now is depth over speed—educating, supporting, and strengthening the community she’s built.
Rosy McEvedy isn’t just building a business; she’s shaping an industry. Her story shows how conviction, clarity, and structure can turn an idea into a lasting impact.
 
Connect with Rosy McEvedy: LinkedIn | Instagram 
IV League Drips: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website 
Academy by IV League: Instagram
This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

Culture, Conviction, and Clarity: Sacha Laing on Leading With Integrity

Great leaders don’t just run companies. They set the rhythm, shape the culture, and build belief.
Sacha Laing has led some of Australia’s most iconic retail brands—CEO of General Pants, Group Executive at David Jones and Country Road Group, and now CEO of Adore Beauty. Beyond the titles is a leader anchored in family, clarity, and conviction.
This episode looks beyond strategy. We talk about values as decision filters, the cultural clarity required to scale, and what legacy means when no one’s watching. From boardrooms to home life, Sacha brings a rare blend of consistency and heart.
This conversation is leadership with substance.
Highlights
~ General Pants as a defining chapter – Turning around a youth brand with edge, vision, and a clear cultural pulse~ The human behind the title – How Sacha stays anchored to family, perspective, and personal clarity~ Leadership that drives change – Lessons from leading major brand transformations under pressure~ Values as a decision filter – How Sacha makes complex calls in fast-paced, high-stakes environments~ The quiet power of consistency – Why leadership is built in the unseen moments, not just the public ones
Sacha Laing doesn’t lead for applause. He leads with alignment, impact, and integrity. His story shows that real leadership comes from clarity—what you build, how you build it, and who you become in the process.
 
Connect with Sacha Laing: LinkedIn 
Adore Beauty: LinkedIn | Website
This episode is brought to you by: Cell Wellness Co
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

Carlii Lyon — Courage to Be Seen

She made other people famous. For more than 15 years, Carlii Lyon was the quiet force behind global names like Miranda Kerr and bestselling authors — building influence, shaping reputations, and keeping herself invisible in the process.
Then came the pause. Time away to raise her two sons brought with it a brutal truth: the phone stopped ringing, the invitations disappeared, and people she thought were friends went silent. What felt like rejection turned into revelation. Many of those connections weren’t real — they were tied to her role, not to her. That silence became her cosmic filter — painful, yes, but also the start of her reinvention.
In this episode of Leadership Odysseys, Carlii reveals:~ Why waiting until you “feel ready” will keep you small — and how courage is the real catalyst for confidence.~ The 5 P’s of personal branding every leader needs to understand.~ How introverts can build authentic influence without pretending to be extroverts.~ Why writing her debut book Courage to Be became her boldest act of visibility yet.
This isn’t just about personal branding. It’s about losing an identity, reclaiming your voice, and daring to be seen when it would be easier to hide. Carlii’s story isn’t only her own — it’s a call to stop waiting for permission, and start choosing courage in your own life.
Connect with Carlii Lyon: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Cell Wellness Co
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

The Future of Group Payments with Cam Richardson

What if paying with friends could be as easy as checking out solo? In this episode of Leadership Odysseys, we sit down with Cam Richardson, Founder & CEO of PaySquad, the world’s first "Buy Now, Pay Together" platform. From growing up across continents and navigating loneliness to becoming a purpose-driven founder reshaping group payments, Cam opens up about the origin story of PaySquad, the challenges of building a fintech from scratch, and the deeply human reasons behind his mission to make commerce more connected.
Key Highlights
~ The Spark Behind PaySquad Cam shares how a surprise 21st birthday gift—a three-wheeled motorbike funded by friends—became the catalyst for reimagining group payments at scale.
~ The Reality of Starting From Zero We dive into the early struggles of starting a fintech with no product, no capital, and just a bold idea—and how Cam validated demand directly with merchants.
~ The Vision: Turning Checkout Into a Growth Engine Cam unpacks how PaySquad doesn’t just make it easier for people to chip in—it gives merchants a way to boost order value and acquire up to 10 new customers from a single sale.
~ Faith, Family & Founding with Intention From building a startup while raising three young kids to practicing “confrontational love” with his trusted community, Cam shares the rhythms and rituals that keep him grounded.
~ Words of Wisdom for Future Founders Cam reflects on the power of patience, the myth of the overnight success, and why readiness matters more than speed when it comes to leadership.
This conversation is a reminder that great businesses often start with a deeply personal insight—and that leadership, at its core, is about creating something that makes life better for others. Whether you're a founder, a future builder, or simply someone who believes the world is better when we do things together, Cam’s story will leave you inspired to chase your vision with both courage and care.
Connect with Cam Richardson: LinkedIn 
Paysquad: Linkedin | Instagram | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Flagship
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website
 

Wilson Poon: Listen First. Build Second. Lead Always.

Wilson Poon doesn’t just build businesses, he builds trust. From his early days as a software engineer to founding Whitetower Digital and co-founding MemberPulse, Wilson’s journey has been marked by sharp strategy, deep integrity, and a human-first approach to innovation. In this candid and compelling conversation, Wilson shares how he’s grown multiple businesses, sold a company, navigated failure, and led with quiet clarity all while helping others bring their visions to life.
Whether you’re building your first startup or scaling your tenth, this episode is a masterclass in doing business with intention, value, and genuine care.
Key Highlights
~ The moment Wilson walked away from a corporate tech job and began rewriting the rules of his own career.From a 2.5-hour commute to Dell, to discovering the world of startups and agency life — Wilson’s pivot point reveals the power of listening to your gut and trusting your own pace.
~ How Wilson built — and sold — a branding agency by identifying niche, scalable market demand.Wilson shares how he spotted opportunity in off-the-plan property developments, built recurring revenue, and made a strategic exit just before the COVID crash.
~ The realities of running multiple companies — and why clarity of purpose is non-negotiable.With Whitetower now a mature agency and MemberPulse his rising SaaS venture, Wilson opens up about how he structures his energy, delegates with trust, and prioritizes long-term value over short-term gains.
~ Lessons from a failed activewear startup — and why failure builds deeper insight than any course ever could.Wilson and his wife launched an activewear brand during COVID. It didn’t work. But the lessons — from supply chains to marketing to content strategy — now shape how he advises clients every day.
~ Why Wilson believes in “Hitch-style” consulting — showing up, solving real problems, and then disappearing.Inspired by the movie Hitch, Wilson has built a service model rooted in loyalty, transparency, and enablement. His goal? Help clients win, without becoming a bottleneck or chasing unnecessary scope.
Wilson Poon’s story is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about hype — it’s about helping others win, one honest conversation at a time. His entrepreneurial journey spans tech, branding, SaaS, and strategy — but what remains constant is his refusal to overpromise and his commitment to solving problems that actually matter.
For any founder, leader, or builder feeling the pressure to do it all, Wilson’s clarity, calmness, and care offer a new blueprint: build slower, build better, and always build with heart.
Connect with Wilson Poon: LinkedIn 
Member Pulse: LinkedIn | Website 
Whitetower: LinkedIn | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Flagship
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website

Michael Ragavan: The Founder Rewriting the Rules of Wealth in Australia

Michael Ragavan was born in Australia to parents who had fled genocide in Sri Lanka, arriving with little more than resilience, hope, and an unshakable belief in opportunity. That belief would become the foundation for Our Leg Up, a bold venture reimagining home equity as a tool not just for building wealth, but for widening the path to ownership and opportunity. In this conversation, Michael shares the grit it took to challenge the system, the years spent learning the rules well enough to rewrite them, and why innovation and fairness must go hand in hand if we want to change the future of wealth in Australia.
Key Highlights
~ From family sacrifice to founder’s vision – How his parents’ escape from genocide in Sri Lanka shaped his worldview and gave him a deep understanding of financial insecurity and opportunity.
~ Reimagining home equity – Why Our Leg Up is more than a financial product; it’s a new category designed to help aspiring homeowners buy years sooner and give existing owners a way to put their equity to work.
~ Fighting “impossible” – The candid reality of being told no by banks, lawyers, and advisors and the relentless persistence it takes to turn a system-wide “no” into a workable “yes.”
~ Learning the rules to change them – The years Michael spent in the trenches studying regulations himself, developing the expertise to create a compliant and scalable model where none existed before.
~ Purpose as fuel – Why anchoring his business in fairness, inclusion, and real human impact has been the most resilient driver through setbacks and long timelines.
Michael’s story is a reminder that change rarely comes from those who accept the rules as they are; it comes from those willing to challenge them, learn them, and rewrite them for a fairer future. Our Leg Up is still in its early chapters, but its potential to reshape the way Australians think about wealth, ownership, and opportunity is already clear. This is more than a business story, it’s a blueprint for purpose-driven innovation in one of the country’s most entrenched systems.
 
Connect with Michael Ragavan: LinkedIn 
Our Leg Up: LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website 
This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree 
Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website