Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Business Leader Breakthroughs
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 105 – How to build high-performing teams with IQ, EQ and adaptability with Jennifer Aubin | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:51:59 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle chats with early-stage tech leader and HR expert Jennifer Aubin about what it really takes to lead teams in high-growth, high-stress environments. With 20+ years in startup leadership, Jennifer brings real-world insight into how great teams stay aligned, adaptable, and emotionally intelligent—without burning out. Jennifer introduces her “three-pronged” leadership model: IQ, EQ, and AQ (Adaptability Quotient)—a simple but powerful way to assess talent and build capable, well-balanced teams. She unpacks why smart people alone won’t get you across the line, and how adaptability is the trait that separates average teams from high performers. Useful links: Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)
Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ | |||
| EP 104 – Katie O'Malley, Founder and Leadership Coach at Encourage Coaching, on self-awareness and why great leaders master listening | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:45:43 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle sit down with leadership coach Katie O'Malley to explore the essential qualities of great leadership—self-awareness, psychological safety, and listening skills. Katie shares her personal career journey, from pursuing political science and nonprofit work to discovering her true passion for coaching. She reveals how a misalignment between values and career choices can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, and why developing self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership. Ryan and Katie also discuss how leaders can create psychologically safe workplaces where employees feel heard and empowered. Katie explains why listening is the most underrated leadership skill, how different communication styles impact team trust, and practical strategies leaders can use to foster open, productive conversations. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills or rethink how you engage with your team, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
The Five-Factor Model of Personality – The psychological framework behind Hogan Assessments Armchair Expert Podcast – One of Katie’s favorite podcasts on psychology and leadership Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| Ep 95 - Clear communication: Your superpower to build stronger teams and foster trust | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:20:00 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the art of clear communication and why it’s critical for effective leadership. Discover how to deliver your message with clarity, listen actively, and create space for meaningful contributions from your team. With practical strategies, real-world examples, and proven frameworks, this episode equips you with the tools to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and build high-performing teams. Perfect for leaders ready to break through communication barriers and drive better results. Check out this guide to powerful communication and team success. Subscribe now for more actionable business breakthroughs!| Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| EP 40 - How to Measure the Results of Leadership Training | 30 Mar 2020 | 00:14:55 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan address the question that most business leaders have when they are about to invest in leadership training – How do you measure the results of leadership development programmes? Since it is difficult to attribute a hard value to soft skills, or translate it directly into measures like profit, this can be a challenging question to answer. Mike and Ryan briefly discuss several studies that indicate that traditional leadership development programmes generally don’t work and waste a lot of money. They then go on to answer the question on measuring ROI of leadership training, by referencing the Kirkpatrick Framework. This is a four dimensional training evaluation model that has evolved over multiple decades through application by learning and development professionals around the world. Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 39 - Gihan Perera on Futurism, Artificial Intelligence, and Diversity | 24 Mar 2020 | 00:37:11 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of talking with Gihan Perera, who is an author, conference speaker and consultant. As a futurist, Gihan researches trends that will impact the future of work and brings these insights to audiences in a relevant way. Gihan talks about one of the biggest trends at the moment, artificial intelligence, and explains how it is already everywhere in our lives, how it helps us do our jobs better, and how it will continue to evolve. He also discusses digital disruption and the challenges around it, skills leaders of today need to have, and innovation. He shares his insights on creating a high performance culture characterised by diversity and inclusion, as well as the importance of learning from the younger generations like Gen Z. Lastly, he talks about his book “The Future of Leadership” and some of the insights that can be learned from it. Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| EP 38 - The Regrets of the Dying | 16 Mar 2020 | 00:13:30 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan get philosophical and talk about the top 5 regrets of the dying, from the book by Bronnie Ware. Bronnie Ware has had a long career in palliative care, during which she would talk with the people she took care of, and wrote down their insights in her book. The Breakthrough Company has applied the lessons learned from this book for a long time, finding that business success is unsustainable and meaningless if your personal and family life is neglected. In this episode, Mike and Ryan go over the 5 main regrets of the dying, what can be learned from them, and how to apply these to improve both your business and personal life. Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 37 - Transforming a Business from the Inside Out | 09 Mar 2020 | 00:16:16 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how to transform a business. They use the “leadership diamond” framework as developed by McKinsey in their book “Leadership at Scale”, and discuss and relate it to their own insights and experience with transforming organisations. Do you have any experience or insights on transforming a business? Let us know in the comments! Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 36 - Joanne Fair on Flipping the Traditional Freelancer Model with FutureWork Studios. | 02 Mar 2020 | 00:35:26 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan interviews Joanne Fair, co-founder of FutureWorks Studio. FutureWorks provides an alternative solution to the traditional 9-5, by pioneering an integrated platform that allows talent to work on projects in different departments of the organisation they work in, as well as allowing the organisation to bring in external talent from other organisations on a freelancer basis. Joanne talks about how and why FutureWorks was founded, how it works, and its benefits. She also discusses why New Zealand needs to adopt a more flexible way of working and why the current state of technology creates opportunity for this. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 35 - How to Stop THAT Person From Taking Your Meetings off Track | 24 Feb 2020 | 00:15:55 | |
In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss how to effectively run a meeting, and how to deal with people and situations that get your meeting off track. They talk about why face to face meetings are so fundamental and beneficial, given they are run well. They go over 6 situations that can derail meetings and how a good meeting runner can resolve them and “rerail” the meeting. Do you have any insights into what makes a great meeting? Share your experiences with us in the comments! Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 34 - Do Your Team Meetings Suck? Here’s How to Fix Them | 17 Feb 2020 | 00:13:15 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how team meetings can shape your company culture, and how they are instrumental in creating (or bringing down) energy. They talk about do’s and don’ts in team meetings and share some examples from our own meetings at the Breakthrough Co, providing a great starting point for creating an energising team meeting and culture. How do you create energy in your team meetings? Let us know in the comments! Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 33 - Michelle Gibbings on The Power of Teams to Create a High Performance Culture | 10 Feb 2020 | 00:41:31 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Gibbings. She is the founder of consultancy Change Meridian and a best selling author of 2 personal career development books with a third coming out in May. Michelle and Ryan talk about the future of work and how leaders, teams and team members can adjust themselves to a more technology-driven work environment. Michelle shares how she went from being in corporate to starting her own business, and how she helps leaders and organizations develop themselves to be fit for the future of work. She talks about the importance of understanding that every person is unique and ever evolving, and how taking individuality into account ties in with creating a positive team culture. She also shares her insights on the consequences of Agile working and the disappearance of the middle manager, as well as the need for pushing boundaries and speaking up. Michelle and Ryan also discuss the content, contexts, and insights of her books and Michelle gives a sneak peak of her coming book, Bad boss: what to do if you work for one, manage one, or are one. Listen to it on YouTube Links · Find out more about Michelle Gibbings · Find out more about Change Meridian · Find out more about Michelles books “Step Up: How to build your influence at work” and “ Career Leap: how to reinvent and liberate your career” here Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 32 - Take your Company Culture off the Walls and into the Halls | 03 Feb 2020 | 00:10:42 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss culture in organisations. Creating a company culture is not simply writing some values on the walls and expecting your employees to live them. Mike and Ryan talk about how to define culture, what the most important components are, and why having a good culture is important for performance. Most importantly, they discuss how a good culture can be achieved, and how you can implement a system for improving culture. Do you have any comments, feedback, or your own experiences with achieving culture? Share it with us in the comments!
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 31 - Mindfulness at Work: It's Not Yoga | 27 Jan 2020 | 00:13:38 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about mindfulness at work. Mindfulness at work is about being open and present in the moment and actively thinking about how to add the most value for your organization, rather than practices like meditation and yoga that are characteristic of personal mindfulness. Mike and Ryan explain what mindfulness at work entails and why it is so important, and share some of their own mindfulness practices as well as tips on how to get started on being more mindful at work. Links
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 94 - Conquer big goals: Practical leadership strategies for growth and resilience | 21 Nov 2024 | 00:23:55 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby share actionable leadership strategies to help you focus on what matters most. Learn how to prioritize your top three goals, harness the power of dedicated development time, and embrace daily discomfort to fuel growth and resilience. With real-world insights, proven frameworks, and inspiring stories, this episode gives you the tools to lead with purpose, plan for the future, and create meaningful progress. Perfect for leaders ready to carve out space for high-impact work. Don’t miss this guide to intentional leadership and future-focused success. Subscribe now for more practical business breakthroughs! Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| EP 30 - How to Outsource Work you Can’t or Won’t do | 20 Jan 2020 | 00:28:20 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan and Milena discuss outsourcing and freelancing. They share with you the lessons they have learned during the various times they have outsourced work at the Breakthrough. They talk about when you should think about outsourcing and how to decide on the right option for each situation, whether it be a virtual solution or a freelancer or agency. They give tips on finding the right person or agency to hire and how to make the relationship as mutually beneficial as possible, as well as tips on what to do when you run into challenges.
Links Some of Milena’s and Ryan’s favorite outsourcing resources (as mentioned in the podcast):
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 29 - The 3 big questions every business owner should ask themselves | 13 Jan 2020 | 00:15:33 | |
In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan share 3 big strategic questions that can help you bring your business to the next level. These questions will unlock your thinking and open possibilities you had never thought of before. Mike and Ryan discuss them in depth and give real examples of how asking these questions has helped their clients improve their businesses. Links Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 28 - Kate Daly on the future of banking and building a high-performance culture | 16 Dec 2019 | 00:31:40 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Kate Daly, director of people at BNZ. She has held roles in human resources in many of the world’s largest brands and some of New Zealand’s household names, and is a board member at Auckland Rugby and The Blues. In the podcast, she talks about what culture means to her and what they are doing at BNZ to improve it, giving examples of various great initiatives the bank is currently undertaking. She also talks about the future of banking in an age of digitalisation , bringing with it both opportunities and challenges. Other topics talked about include employee wellbeing, diversity, LGBTQI+ inclusion, the upcoming rugby season for The Blues, and work-life balance. Watch it on YouTube Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 27 - How to be as Good at Marketing as you are at Product | 09 Dec 2019 | 00:13:09 | |
Being good at product isn’t enough, you need to be great at marketing too for your business to be successful. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of having clear principles. They talk about how crucial it is to have clearly defined values, and the importance of keeping these principles alive and exercised by every member of the team. They share the principles we have at the Breakthrough Co around our marketing, and give examples on how having these principles and coming back to them every meeting have impacted the company. The Breakthrough marketing principles as discussed in the podcast are the following:
Their challenge to you: the next time your team meets, have a discussion around what your principles are, and then reference them every week. What are your organisation’s principles? Do you keep coming back to them in your meetings? Feel free to share your principles with us in the comments, or ask for feedback from Mike and Ryan! Links Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 26 - A Look Inside Xero's Flexible Working with Ryan Ghisi | 02 Dec 2019 | 00:40:42 | |
In our new podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Ghisi, the general manager of global people programs at Xero. Xero is one of New Zealand’s most successful tech companies and has had phenomenal growth over the last few years. Ryan talks specifically about flexible working, an important part of Xero’s work environment. Ryan dives into what Xero's flexible working looks like and what the benefits are, and digs deep into the challenges around it and how they can be overcome. He also discuss how flexible working ties into Xero’s focus on employee (mental) wellbeing, and gives tips on how to where to start with implementing flexible working in a workplace. Links · Find Ryan Ghisi on LinkedIn · Watch it on YouTube Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 25 - The Learning Ladder - Unlocking you and your team's potential | 25 Nov 2019 | 00:22:03 | |
Learning can be hard, but it’s the key to unlocking your own and your organization’s potential. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan share their insights around learning and give advice on how to learn effectively. They discuss what learning is exactly, what the stages of learning are, why learning is hard and why it’s supposed to be hard, and how you can motivate yourself to achieve your learning goals. You’ll hear about the 4 stages of the learning ladder and how you can move up on it, supported by several common and personal examples of learning. You’ll find out why, of the $200 billion US dollars spend annually corporate training and development, only 10% is considered as valuable, and how you can maximize your value when you learn something. Mike and Ryan provide a great starting point for anyone who wants to develop themselves or their organization further, and unlock their and their team’s potential. Links
Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 24 - Franceska Banga on Being a Woman in Business, Pushing Boundaries, and Personal Courage | 18 Nov 2019 | 00:49:49 | |
In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Franceska Banga, or Frank as we know her. Frank is a recipient of the Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit Award, is the former Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, and has held board roles on many of New Zealand’s most prominent tech and economic development boards. She is passionate about working with women in business and helping them find their personal courage, and she’s in the process of setting up a movement called Stand Up For Yourself (SUFY), to help give women courage to live the life they want. In this episode, Frank provides insight into what shaped her willingness to push the boundaries and explains one of her Breakthrough moments was realizing she needed to display courage to speak up. She also takes us through her journey of beating a brain tumor and being partially paralyzed for 2 years and how this has shaped her life and career. She gives advice on being a woman in business, finding your way in life, and personal courage. Links:
Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 23 - The no bulls**t approach to fitness, health and wellness | 10 Nov 2019 | 00:25:40 | |
“We’ve reached peak wellness. Most of it is nonsense.” This is the title of a recent article by the Outside group and the topic of this podcast episode. Ryan is joined by Milena Cooper, head of digital at the Breakthrough co, and they discuss how people can achieve a real state of wellness – without all the diets, potions and pills out there. They cover the six main dimensions of health - physical, emotional, cognitive, social, spiritual, and environmental – and share insights on how to improve all of these dimensions through simple practices and habits. They also share some personal experiences in these areas and reference various resources and people that are all about wellness and health. Links · Read the article “We've Reached Peak Wellness. Most of It Is Nonsense.” here · More about the book “Woman Code” by Alisa Vitti here · Listen to our podcast “Darren Ellis, owner of Crossft NZ, on optimal nutrition, sustainable fitness and work/life synergy” here · More about the Blog “Mark’s Daily Apple” here · More about Brene Brown here · More about Mates in Constuction here · Read Brigham Young University study about loneliness here Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco | |||
| EP 22 - Get F'd! | 04 Nov 2019 | 00:13:12 | |
In this week’s podcast episode, Ryan challenges you to get F’d – yes, you read that right. It’s not what you might think though. This episode is all about attitude, and how you can change your life by changing your attitude. Ryan discusses three distinguished zones of attitude: The Frustrated zone, The Fine zone, and The Fizzed zone. He also talks about growth mindset, a well-researched concept (e.g. by Carol Dweck and Angela Lee Duckworth) which is key in being successful. Ryan also shares how choosing an attitude has affected him personally, and encourages you to choose your own attitude. Resources
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| EP 21 - Sharn Rayner on Entrepreneurship, Hiring the Right People, and Mental Health | 28 Oct 2019 | 00:56:26 | |
In this week’s insightful podcast, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Sharn Rayner, founder and former owner of business strategy and HR consultancy Pod, which is now part of AdviceFirst. Her work has always been people and performance centric, and she is a passionate advocate for removing the stigma around mental health in business. She shares her journey of founding her company and the professional and personal challenges that came with it. She talks about how her partner reacted when she told him she would be leaving the safety of her corporate job to start her own company and how important resilience was in making Pod successful. She also discusses one of the most fundamental things in a healthy business: clearly defined values, and living these values. The podcast covers a range of topics that are bound to give you valuable insights for your business, (mental) health, and personal life, such as: · Hiring the right people for your business · Aligning your company’s values with your team and your life · Overcoming challenging times in her business · The need for a change in New Zealand’s professional culture around failure · The importance of a personal connection with clients and business partners · How to implement mindfulness in both the workplace and in your life Get in touch Links
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| Ep 93 - Understanding different working styles: How team diversity enhances productivity | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:17:44 | |
Ever wondered why others don’t think or work like you? In this episode, we dive into the impact of diverse working styles on team productivity. From Drivers to Pioneers, we explore how understanding each style—whether detail-oriented or big-picture—can enhance collaboration and improve outcomes. Join us as we unpack how these differences make teams stronger and offer tips for communicating across styles. Perfect for leaders, managers, and anyone curious about what makes a successful team dynamic. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| EP 20 - The All Blacks Business - On-Field Leaders | 21 Oct 2019 | 00:20:44 | |
In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss one of New Zealand’s most successful and beloved organizations: The All Blacks. While most don’t associate a rugby team with business, the All Blacks are very much a business organization, whose product happens to be a sport. Their unparalleled success over the years, and right now with their successes in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, makes it a great organization to study and learn from in a business context. Mike and Ryan talk especially about the impact of Devolved Leadership, which is the practice of distributing decision making to on-field leaders instead of leaving all the decisions to a single, top-ranking, detached leader. In this episode Mike and Ryan also cover:
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| EP 19 - The Competitive Tripod | 15 Oct 2019 | 00:20:43 | |
In this podcast Mike and Ryan discuss the competitive tripod - a framework to help you get clear on what you need to be great at to differentiate your offer. When you focus on meeting the market in two areas and beating the market in one area, you’ll set yourself apart from your competitors. You’ll hear examples of organisations that have been successful by focusing on one of the differentiators and those who have missed the mark because they’ve tried to be all things to all people. Mike and Ryan provide a good starting point for those who aren’t sure of their direction, what they want to famous for. Links | |||
| EP 18 - Matt Church on leadership, speaking, and his personal insights on living authentically | 08 Oct 2019 | 00:48:51 | |
In this episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing one of Australia’s top conference speakers, Matt Church. Matt speaks at conferences and runs development programs for leaders. He been named one of the top ten motivational speakers in the world and is also a prolific author having written 10 inspiring leadership books. One of Matt’s great philosophies can be summed up in one word: NEXT! Ryan starts the interview by asking what that means for him – “Tomorrow can be as good if not better than today. You don’t want to shrink your way into the future. You stretch your way by pushing the edges of what’s possible both physically, mentally, spiritually, energetically and commercially.” Matt goes on to talk about what the future may look like and offers insights into how businesses can evolve and adapt. In this episode Matt and Ryan cover:
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| EP 17 - Hire and Grow the Best Employees - The 5 Rings | 01 Oct 2019 | 00:23:41 | |
People are truly what make a difference in an organization. This weekly podcast is focused on hiring and growing your best employees. Ryan and Mike talk about a helpful model which Ryan refers to as the 5 Olympic rings of people. These are:
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| EP 16 - Darren Ellis, owner of Crossft NZ, on optimal nutrition, sustainable fitness and work/life synergy | 24 Sep 2019 | 00:37:16 | |
Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Darren Ellis, owner of CrossFit New Zealand. He talks about his journey, where it began and what he’s achieved along the way including becoming the first CrossFit affiliate in the country. He mentions how powerful CrossFit has been in instilling a sense of community and social belonging in its members, as well as - his insights into health, well-being, fitness and running a business.
In this Q&A interview Darren shares insights on topics such as:
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| EP 15 - Grow tomorrow's business today | 17 Sep 2019 | 00:18:27 | |
Most business owners often get trapped in the sense of overwhelm and urgency keeping up with today’s business. In this episode Mike and Ryan get you to focus on strategies for growing tomorrow's business, they share their expert advice and offer insights into growth models. From their experiences helping other business owners grow their companies to their personal experiences growing their businesses. They share all the important do’s and don’ts. They suggest helpful frameworks to help with future growth. In particular the Ansoff Matrix, a strategic planning tool that helps business owners devise strategies for future growth. Links | |||
| EP 14 - Alia Bojilova, an organisational psychologist on leadership, diversity and surviving being kidnapped in Syria | 10 Sep 2019 | 00:55:38 | |
In this powerful episode, Ryan interviews industrial and organisational psychologist, Alia Bojilova. She shares with us how migrating to NZ as a teenager shaped her future and gives us insights into the power of the mind and what she learned about working with the NZ military, in particular, the elite SAS regiments. She shares her own experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint in Syria and how it has also shaped not only her experiences but what she now understands about the power of the mind. If you want to know what makes high performers tick, today's podcast guest Alia is just who you need to hear from.
In this Q&A interview Alia shares insights on:
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| EP 13 - Board Reports are not for the Board | 03 Sep 2019 | 00:22:46 | |
In this episode, Mike and Ryan share insights into the value of board reports and external advisors. Having both chaired for other organisations and their own, they share their experiences and offer advice for listeners who might not currently have board structures in place. Links
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| EP 12 - Your Wealth Path from Employment to Business Owner | 26 Aug 2019 | 00:18:55 | |
In this episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how people progress through their careers. Specifically, how they transition from employment to business ownership and eventually to an investor. They identify how people can often get trapped in the move from self-employment to business owner because the business is so reliant on them. In order to change this, they recommend a few leverage points.
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| EP 11 - Raelene Castle - CEO of Rugby Australia on Leadership, Diversity, and Resilience | 20 Aug 2019 | 00:58:00 | |
In this episode Ryan interviews Raelene Castle, CEO of Rugby Australia. Raelene shares her journey, where it began, and what she’s achieved along the way including becoming the first female CEO of a NRL club. Working in an industry heavily dominated by men, Raelene shares the many challenges and adversity she’s faced. Her story begins at early childhood, to eventually working with the likes of Xerox, Bank of New Zealand, and Telecom. She then transitioned from big corporates to sporting organisations, becoming CEO of Netball NZ, followed by a move to Australia with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and now CEO of Rugby Australia. Raelene shares insights on:
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| EP 92 - The secret to productive meetings: Build culture and drive results | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:14:48 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle a critical issue: how to transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools that drive culture and boost team energy. They share strategies to ensure meetings create purpose, accountability, and energy, rather than draining team morale. Join Ryan and Mike as they discuss:
Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or team leader, learn how to make your meetings work for you, not against you. Tune in to discover ways to create meetings that inspire, align, and drive results. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| EP 10 - Traditional Training is a Waste of Time and Money | 11 Aug 2019 | 00:15:21 | |
The idea of the classroom as the sole place of learning is dead and the vast majority of money spent on training is a waste of money. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the issues with the traditional approach to training and learning and offer insights into a new effective approach. The current model of adult learning posits that 10% of learning effectiveness comes from content (i.e. the classroom), 20% from exposure through socialisation, and 70% through experience. The old approach of sending people away to a block course to develop their management skills has always been an exercise in hope. Participants may get new ideas, but the gap between knowledge and application equals the distance between the classroom and the workplace. Mike and Ryan discuss a new learning concept called blended learning. An approach that uses a mix of online and classroom content. The key advantage being a lower cost delivery of soft skills (communication, people, relationships) that can be applied immediately. To find out more, check out the links below. Links
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| EP 9 - If You're Doing Your Managers' Job, You're Doing a Poor Job Managing Them | 05 Aug 2019 | 00:16:24 | |
In this podcast, Dr Mike and Ryan cover important issues around business management. Most business owners end up in management roles having progressed through an organisation because they’ve been good at a technical role or job, and somehow they’ve gotten “manager” in their title. So, they often don’t have the necessary skill set required of a great manager. Business owners want their managers to step up, they don’t want to do their managers jobs for them which is often how it feels. They end up micromanaging and just pissing their managers off. Fortunately, Dr Mike and Ryan have developed the Active Management Programme (AMP) - it equips managers with the core skills to step up their capability and confidence running your day-to-day business. And you can step back and focus on opportunities to grow your future business. You don’t have to worry about teaching because we’ve got the content for you. We provide a facilitator who will help, but you still have to take ownership of the clarifying the expectations of your people” (something you can’t contract out) Links:
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| EP 8 - Using "The 7 P's" to Overcome Frustration in Your Business | 29 Jul 2019 | 00:20:29 | |
Many leaders and business owners find themselves in a state of constant frustration. Ping pong balls racing around in your head sound familiar? In this episode, Mike and Ryan share their advice on how to overcome frustration in your business by using the 7 P’s framework. A great practice they recommend in gaining clarity and awareness is a process they call the mind dump, by putting pen to paper on a blank piece of paper. This allows you to get clear on the important things that matter and to declutter, this makes space for the higher value stuff. The 7p’s are outlined as follows to help guide overcoming frustration by gaining clarity. 1) People and Patrons: The internal team and our customers, clients, (how we deliver the customer experience) Lastly, at the backbone of everything, having purpose they consider to be highly important as it provides context for why we do what we do. Links
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| EP 7 - How to work ON your business, not in your business | 23 Jul 2019 | 00:22:36 | |
In this episode, Ryan and Mike discuss the importance of working ON the business as opposed to IN the business. Many leaders in businesses get stuck in the operational tyranny of getting things ticked off the to-do list and fire-fighting the urgent issues. Mike and Ryan suggest taking a step back and having a greater awareness of the bigger picture of where you want to take the business and what you need to do to get there. They talk about the importance of religiously making time to carve out a day in the week solely focused on working ON the business. This is referred to as a Development Day; a day focused on the future of the business. They use the framework of improve, develop, transform to help guide this type of work.
It’s simple but not always easy to do because the urgent always speaks louder than the important. Working on the future of your business is absolutely critical. Links
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| EP 6 - Q&A with Darrell Trigg, Trigg Construction and National President, RMBA | 15 Jul 2019 | 00:50:35 | |
In this podcast, Ryan interviews Darrell Trigg of Trigg Construction Ltd, who is also the National President of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand. In this Q&A session, Darrell shares his insights on topics:
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| EP 5 - Overcoming the overwhelming state of busyness in your business and personal life | 02 Jul 2019 | 00:13:00 | |
Business owners today seem to be have become obsessed with keeping busy. Creating ridiculously long to-do lists and check boxes that often lead to an overwhelming sense of busyness. Mike and Ryan question whether or not people add value in the long run, amidst all the never ending to-do lists. They suggest a reflection on getting the most important things done as a start. Ryan discusses a great exercise he uses in workshops to get people to gain clarity on what’s important. Links
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| EP 1 - Are you ALL IN in your business and life | 24 Jun 2019 | 00:16:27 | |
Mike and Ryan introduce themselves in the very first episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs. They discuss the importance of the "All In" a concept central to being able to transform oneself and business. In order to achieve this, they stress the value of being fully committed, prioritisation and the removal of low value items. Lastly, they talk about the challenges faced in achieving the "All In" and share insightful advice on how to achieve it. Links
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| EP 2 - How to Get Your Head, Heart and Hands Working Together | 24 Jun 2019 | 00:21:09 | |
In this podcast Mike and Ryan use the framework, heads heart and hands to show how you can propel your business forward. They discuss the importance of aligning the heart with what you want to get done in your business and only then, will you see success. They share their personal story and show how they used this framework to generate the Business Freedom plan. Links
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| EP 3 - How to have a boringly predictably profitable business | 24 Jun 2019 | 00:22:13 | |
You’ll certainly be demanding a boringly, predictable, profitable business after having listened to this podcast. Ryan and Mike talk about what’s involved in shifting a business from an endless startup mode to a business that is achieving 20% revenue growth consistently every single year. The challenge that most businesses face is inconsistency. They often don’t have the systems in place and are chasing their tails, encountering the same problems over and over. They tend to be trapped in start-up mode and haven’t worked out how to stop fires from breaking out. Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of locking in a method, one that you can refine, perfect and practice. Links
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| EP 4 - Four surprising success principles to boost your business and improve your life | 24 Jun 2019 | 00:18:05 | |
In this episode, Mike and Ryan share four surprising success principles to boost your business and improve your life. Putting these principles into place, the transformation that will happen in your life and business is phenomenal. 2) Development days 3) Personal Goals 4) Health, Relationships, Work (in that order) Links
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| Ep 91 - How to manage your priorities: Focus on what really matters | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:23:44 | |
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the “busyness trap.” We all know the feeling: a week packed with tasks, yet by Friday, we’re not sure what we’ve achieved. Sound familiar? Mike and Ryan dive deep into the Active vs. Reactive mindset, helping leaders refocus on genuine contributions instead of endless to-dos. They discuss:
Whether you’re managing a team or a company, this episode helps you break free from the noise and move towards impactful, focused work. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| Ep 90: Mindfulness at work – Break free from autopilot | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:13:37 | |
In this episode, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the concept of mindfulness in the workplace. They discuss how many people operate on autopilot, going through the motions without being fully present. Mike explains that mindfulness isn't just about meditation – it's about being engaged in the moment, especially at work. They share practical ways to build mindfulness into daily tasks and how breaking away from habitual, reactive behavior can unlock true greatness. Key Topics:
Takeaways: Learn how to implement mindfulness at work, improve decision-making, and boost productivity by being fully present and engaged. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| S3 E4 - Micah Lorenc, owner of Tailored Consulting, Leadership unveiled: insights from on self-awareness and coaching. | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:45:54 | |
Today, we have Micah Lorenc, the owner and head executive coach of Taylor Consulting. With a wealth of experience spanning the spectrum from startups to Fortune 500, Micah is a Gallup-certified StrengthsFinder Coach, guiding individuals and teams towards unlocking their full potential. Micah brings a dynamic perspective to leadership. He's here to share three profound insights that understanding why self-awareness is often underrated, the transformative impact of leaders who know how to coach, and the critical distinction between average leaders focusing on work and great leaders shaping the environment. So, strap in for another insightful journey as we explore the realms of leadership and personal development with Micah Lorenc. Without further ado, let's dive into this enriching conversation!
Connect with Micah Lorenc Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||
| S3 E3 - Chris Morsley, the CEO of CMC Global, on charismatic leadership | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:45:49 | |
Our guest is Chris Morsley, an accomplished entrepreneur and business consultant based in Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Chris is the founder and CEO of CMC Global, a leading consulting firm that provides innovative solutions in strategic planning, marketing, and business development. Throughout his career, Chris has helped numerous clients to achieve their goals and reach new heights of success. Today Chris is sharing his insights and knowledge on charismatic leadership. We discuss that charisma is a trait that can be learned, that storytelling is a number one weapon in successful communication and how Chris fell in love with bungy jumping while filming an Anchor Butter ad in Christchurch. So without further ado, let's dive into our conversation! Links: Connect with Chris via LinkedIn Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/ Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ | |||