Our episode this week features a woman who has one of the most unique backgrounds and skill sets we’ve come across. Elizabeth Eastland is a full time artist these days, however her career prior to the last few years centred around leadership roles in global corporates and academia focussed on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Liz is a Canadian Australian now based in Sydney, however her career has taken her from North America to Australia and Paris and back to Sydney. She’s been a CEO of a telco startup, held a global role at telco giant Alcatel, and she’s headed up innovation and entrepreneurship programs for two universities, the University of Wollongong and the University of NSW.

What’s so fascinating about Liz is that right from the start she embraced and studied two disciplines: art (initially creative writing) and science, and she’s continued this duality right throughout her executive career. It’s not surprising to learn her father was a rocket scientist and her mother an artist and designer. Plus Liz herself has at least 3 degrees.

In this intriguing conversation you’ll hear:

• Liz’s reaction when she was transferred to Australia at age 28
• How Liz’s multi disciplinary background has given her unique perspectives on what it takes to be truly innovative
• How a planned nine month, mid career break turned into a four year voyage sailing around the Mediterranean
• How Liz was effectively responsible for the innovation strategy of a whole nation in one of her roles; and
• Liz’s surprising, yet super refreshing, definition of success for herself.

Enjoy this fascinating conversation with the creative and uber-disciplined Elizabeth Eastland.

Useful Links:

Elizabeth Eastland website (including details of her May 2024 art exhibition)

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Every now and then we meet with a guest who blows us away by the scale and worthiness of their vision. And there’s no doubting this week’s guest is one of those.

Lee Yearsley is an AI veteran and entrepreneur with a unique track record that speaks to her skill of anticipating the future. Raised in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Lee sold her last AI company 10 years ago to IBM. It was the first company in the world to deploy AI in businesses such as banks, insurance companies and health care.

And now Lee’s at it again channelling her philosophy of building a global AI company that the world will need, not today, but in 5 years time. Her vision is big; she wants to reach more than 100 million customers worldwide.

Lee’s business is called Akin and her determination to use technology for good has seen her incorporate as a public benefit corporation (that’s an American legal entity that embeds a business model that benefits both shareholders and society).

Akin is bringing a new and more advanced type of AI to market, called Adaptive Reasoning.

It already has customers ranging from NASA to healthcare companies with disabled clients.

Now despite the fact Lee has a track record of founding and exiting several businesses, she shares with us just how difficult it is to raise funding as a female founder.

In this episode you’ll hear how:

• Lee was positively dissuaded, if not barred, from studying computer science at Uni because she was a woman
• She says she ignores the accepted wisdom of how to build a successful startup and that others should ignore it too
• Pervasive AI systems already are and how much they’re influencing the decisions we make in a negative way; and
• The creative and unique way Lee goes about envisioning, building and growing her business.

We were lucky to spend time with Lee after she spoke at the Impact Investment Summit in Sydney recently.

Enjoy this episode with the visionary and genuinely pioneering Lee Yearsley.

Useful Links

Akin AI

Lee on LinkedIn

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Ever had a boss who made life difficult?

We have good news as this week’s show is one of our regular ‘How To’ episodes where we focus on a common career challenge; and our episode this week is all about How to Manage Up.

Many of us have been there, that experience of frustration with a manager who just doesn't seem to get it for whatever reason. Maybe they're a little too hands-off and leave you floundering for direction, or maybe they're the complete opposite, a controlling micromanager who wants to be across every tiny detail.

We certainly know what that feels like, and if you’re in that position right now, we feel for you.

More importantly, this episode is especially for you!

In this episode you’ll hear how to:

• Influence your manager: We'll share strategies on how to effectively communicate your ideas and get buy-in for your projects
• Get the credit you deserve: No more feeling like your contributions are going unnoticed! You’ll learn actionable tips to ensure your hard work gets the recognition it deserves; and . . .
• What to do when you’re being micromanaged: and how to manage it in a professional and respectful way

No one sets out to be a bad boss but sadly sometimes it happens, often due to insecurity or a lack of trust.

Knowing what to do when you find yourself in this situation is invaluable, so don’t miss this episode!

Useful Link

Link to Trust Equation

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