Saya Sakakibara: Turn Your Fear into a Superpower

What do you do when the thing you love most is also the thing you fear the most? In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke sits down with Olympic BMX gold medallist Saya Sakakibara, whose story is as much about courage and inner work as it is about winning in Paris. Saya opens up about watching her brother Kai’s life-changing crash, the strange limbo that followed, and why she chose to keep racing for both of them. She explains how fear didn’t hit all at once, but crept in later through her own crashes, and how that planted a seed of doubt she had to learn to work with, not run from. Saya talks Luke through the mental performance tools that changed everything: rewiring her subconscious, using visualisation as “future memories,” focusing on the 95% of the mind that runs in the background and training it like a muscle. She shares how her “Just go” mantra helped her block out distraction in Paris, and why walking away knowing she didn’t leave anything on the table mattered just as much as the gold medal. Beyond BMX, Saya reflects on becoming an author and public speaker despite a fear of speaking, the tension between being “selfish” as an elite athlete and wanting to give back, and why asking for help has always been her quiet form of leadership. She also shares her dream of helping young athletes and young women find their voice, tell their story and build a life they’re proud of. Saya shares the mindset you can build from the ground up. And reminds us all that courage is not the absence of fear, it’s what you decide to do with it. Grab a copy of Saya’s brand new book “Just Go” for more Saya magic! If you're in Melbourne tonight, head to the The W Club to meet BMX Olympic Gold Medallist Saya Sakakibara and celebrate the release of her brand-new inspiring memoir, 'Just Go'. Tickets are selling fast here. Luke mentions a brilliant episode with Steve Hooker, Olympic Pole Vaulting gold medalist - listen here. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes the All Blacks the most successful international sporting team of all time? For Gilbert Enoka, who spent 23 years shaping their mindset and culture, the answer begins within. In September, when Luke walked into Aleda’s leadership conference in London, the Head Coach of the United States Women’s National Team, Emma Hayes, was clutching Gilbert’s book in her hands. She looked up at Luke and said, “You have to read this.” (Emma’s recent episode is here.) In this episode of Empowering Leaders, after reading the book as prescribed, Luke sits down with the legendary mental skills coach whose work has transformed how the world thinks about leadership, pressure and performance. From his early years in an orphanage to two decades guiding the All Blacks, Gilbert shares timeless lessons about resilience, self-belief and the quiet power of structure and humility. He explains why you’ll never rise above your opinion of yourself, how great leaders “nail it not nearly it,” and why there can be no external gains without an internal shift. One of our favourite bits (because we do this here at Aleda) is when Gilbert reminds us not to rush past our successes but to instead “vent our joy” just as we vent our problems. You’ll hear Luke mention NBA great Steve Kerr’s recent episode - listen (or listen again) here. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should leaders actually do with AI this year? In this conversation, futurist and CEO Dr Ayesha Khanna gives Luke clear, practical steps for small teams and big organisations: start with personal productivity, build safe team workflows, then move to data-driven pilots that serve customers first. Ayesha explains why governance must sit beside innovation, what recent AI experiments really tell us, and how great leadership in the AI age is defined by ethics, upskilling, and a true growth mindset. She shares lessons from her failed startups and her incredible work teaching AI skills to girls and women. Ayesha believes there’s “something remarkable about everyone” and it shows. Listen in as Luke and Ayesha also touch on quantum computing, Singapore as an iconic national transformation, and Ayesha’s refreshingly human rules to live by including “multitasking is a sin” and taking regular tech and AI fasts. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few leaders have captured the world’s attention quite like Jacinda Ardern has! As Prime Minister of New Zealand, she became known for her compassion, her decisiveness, and her ability to lead through crises with grace. Now, after stepping away from politics, Jacinda is finding new ways to influence change - through her work at Harvard, her continued advocacy for kindness and integrity in leadership, and her role as a mother navigating what balance really means. In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy speaks with Jacinda about what she’s learned in reflection, the human cost of leadership, and how we might build a future shaped by empathy rather than fear. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to lead with clarity in a world that celebrates complexity? Jeremy Kodomichalos spent over a decade helping shape Google’s strategy and operations across Australia and New Zealand. He’s known for his calm, collaborative approach to leadership - one grounded in curiosity, problem-solving and humility. In this conversation, Jeremy reflects on the lessons that shaped his path - from the sacrifices of his Greek immigrant family to the early mentors who opened doors and taught him the power of asking the right questions. He shares insights from his time at Procter & Gamble and Google, and why he believes perfection is overrated, simplicity is underrated, and psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams. Jeremy offers up key lessons on leadership, gratitude, and the importance of staying grounded while striving to grow. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a data scientist steps into the boardroom and the locker room at the same time? Adam Driussi, co-founder and CEO of Quantium and chairman of the Canterbury Bulldogs, shares how he’s using artificial intelligence to shape both business and sport. Adam explains why leaders shouldn’t feel “aged-out” of AI, how simple it is to get started, and the surprising ways he personally uses it - from strategic planning to preparing for difficult conversations. He also shares a real-life example of AI potentially saving Quantium a million dollars a year in support costs, and reflects on how society needs to balance the power of technology with the human need for trust, judgment and connection. The conversation also touches on Adam's experience in the Aleda Connect leadership program, including the leadership feedback that completely changed the way he approaches team culture. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you stay driven and ambitious... without burning yourself out on your way? In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy sits down with Dr Tim McGrath, Senior Director of Player Health and Performance for the NFL’s Washington Commanders. With a career spanning the AFL, NRL, NBA and now the NFL, Tim has spent decades helping athletes and teams find the balance between relentless ambition and sustainable success. He shares what he’s learned about leadership in high-pressure environments, the warning signs of burnout, and why the best leaders know when to ease off the throttle. Tim also opens up about authenticity, emotional intelligence, how consistency is the key to success - and many other traits that keep great teams steady through the highs and lows.   Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Book a discovery call today. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does servant leadership look like at the highest level of professional sport? Jenny Boucek is one of the first women to coach in the NBA. She’s a trailblazer who’s shaped her own leadership style across two decades in professional basketball. From head coaching in the WNBA to assistant coaching roles with the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and now the Indiana Pacers, she’s built a reputation for empathy, intelligence and a commitment to excellence that totally transcends sport. In this conversation on Empowering Leaders, Jenny and Luke talk about resilience, parenthood and purpose. Jenny reflects on the mentors who helped her grow, the power of a woman leading a team of men in one of the world’s most competitive environments, and the balance between ambition and compassion. Jenny’s comes back time and again to the idea that leadership isn’t about proving yourself …  it’s actually about serving others while staying true to your values. You’ll hear mentions of two previous episodes in this chat - Emma Hayes & James Tomkins - they’re both incredible so check them out if you missed them, or listen again!   Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thirteen years ago, Curtis McGrath lay on a battlefield in Afghanistan, having just lost both legs to an IED. As his mates carried him away, he promised they would see him at the Paralympics. He kept that promise ... FOUR gold medals later, Curtis is one of the most dominant paracanoe athletes in history. In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Curtis shares the ways that humour has carried him through his darkest moments, why he writes his goals on the wall, and the discipline that has defined his success in life. He is serious about celebrating wins before chasing the next mountain, and shares how fatherhood has reshaped his perspective on leadership and purpose. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do whiskey, Madonna’s bagpipe player, and American soccer have in common? The answer: today's guest, Dan Rutstein!  A former British diplomat and award-winning journalist, Dan is now President of Orange County Soccer Club, where he’s overseen record crowds, commercial growth, and a remarkable transformation of the club. Along the way he’s also built a reputation as a gifted communicator and storyteller, hosting his own podcasts and pioneering the idea of “whiskey diplomacy” as a way to connect people and ideas. In this wide-ranging conversation with Luke Darcy on Empowering Leaders, Dan reflects on what he’s carried from diplomacy into sport, why building memorable experiences matters more than metrics, and how relationships remain at the heart of leadership even in an AI-driven world. He shares stories of learning from bad bosses, the loneliness of leadership, and the communication trick he swears by - the magic of three. Dan offers so much insight into what it really takes to lead with curiosity and connection across industries. Dan & Luke mention Soccer for Hope and Dan’s podcasts: Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss, America the Beautiful Game, United States of Dramerica Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.