Leading with Compassion: Mental Health and Leadership in Focus

In Australia, 22% of people aged 16–85 experience a mental health disorder, whether anxiety, depression, or substance-related, within a single year (ABS & AIHW). In this special Movember episode, we explore what that means for leaders and workplaces today.Host Chris Grant, Partner at Watermark Search, is joined by Hayden Fricke, Managing Director at Steople, psychologist, executive coach, and author of Compassion. Hayden shares what inspired his book and why now is the time to shape a more compassionate society.We dive into:How to think about mental health Practical tips for improving mental wellbeingWhy leadership skills like listening and empathy matter in mental health conversationsThe link between wellbeing and leadership effectivenessAdvice for new CEOs on psychological safety and vulnerabilityEveryday actions leaders can take to create a culture that truly supports mental healthHayden also reveals a personal mindset shift that changed his life and shares his hope for the future of mental health in society.If you’re a leader, or aspire to be one, this episode offers insights and tools to help you lead with compassion and make a real difference.

In this episode of the Watermark Search International Agile Leadership Lessons Podcast, host Robert Atkinson, Partner in our Executive Search Professional Services practice, welcomes guests Rory Channer, founding partner of DCM Insights and Pat Spenner, APAC Managing Director for DCM Insights. Together, they delve into the evolving landscape of client loyalty in professional services.The discussion centres around the emerging challenges faced by professional services leaders, in particular the decline in client loyalty, what underpins this decline and how to adjust to stem the rising tide of procurement and consensus decision making. Rory and Pat share the research insights (off the back of 2,941 interviews across Professional Services - Law, Consulting, Accounting, Executive Search, Public Relations and Investment Banking), which combined formed the basis of their new book, The Activator Advantage. They also introduce the "Activator" profile, a key driver of higher performance in business development.Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the five types of professionals in the industry: the Expert, the Confidant, the Activator, the Realist, and the Debater. The episode explores how Activators, with their proactive and collaborative approach, can significantly enhance client engagement and drive growth.Tune in to learn about the impact of consensus decision-making, the importance of consistent value creation, and the role of technology in supporting business development. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this episode offers actionable strategies to adapt to the changing dynamics of client relationships in professional services.

In this episode of the Watermark Search International Agile Leadership Lessons podcast, host Donna Burr dives into the world of career coaching for executives. Joined by Renata Bernarde, Career Coach and host of The Job Hunting Podcast, and Peta Granger, Commercial Director at QBD Books and Non-Executive Director at the Women’s Circus, this episode demystifies career coaching and its pivotal role in executive job searches and leadership transitions.Renata and Peta share their insights on why leaders often struggle with job searches and transitions, the unique value of career coaching, and how it differs from other forms of professional development. Through real-life experiences and practical advice, listeners will learn how career coaching can help them navigate their career paths, overcome stagnation, and develop leadership agility. Whether you're in a career rut or considering professional development options, this episode offers valuable takeaways to help you move forward with confidence.

In our first episode for 2025, we delve into the essential aspects of maintaining mental and physical strength as a leader. Join Watermark’s Chris Grant, Partner in our Health and Human Services practices and guest speaker, Peter Dijkema. Peter is a separation coach, and seasoned leadership and executive coach with decades of experience across diverse settings, cultures and countries. As an ICF-certified coach and a Thrive-accredited practitioner, Peter brings a unique perspective to the intersection of personal and professional growth. The episode starts with Peter’s top three takeaways to stay mentally strong and then we explore the significant link between job satisfaction and overall health, discussing how both enjoying your work and engaging in meaningful work can positively impact both your physical and mental wellbeing. Our guest also opens up about his personal fitness routine and the best advice he’s received for staying fit and healthy. The conversation then moves to the role of mateship and relationships in wellbeing and how this contributes to you being a leader as well as key advice for executives on what to focus on for sustained wellbeing and longevity. To wrap up, Peter shares his motivational mottos and discusses the importance of mental and physical wellbeing, meaningful work, strong relationships, and continuous personal growth for leadership agility. Peter also suggests some great podcasts and books to further your thinking and action on this topic. If you are a leader looking to build resilience and foster a healthy relationship with yourself and those around you, you will take a lot away from this episode.

Renee Burkinshaw, Founder and Director of Originate Coaching and Consulting unlocks the hidden treasures that lie beyond the payslip and speaks about: Prosperity: The essential ingredients for organisational prosperity. She delves into the fascinating intersection of culture, wellbeing, inclusion, productivity, and sustainability. Belonging and Meaning: Is it enough to clock in and collect a payslip? We think not! Renee explores the profound difference between merely being and true belonging at work. In today’s competitive landscape, attracting and retaining top talent hinges on understanding this distinction. Purpose: Ever wondered about your life’s purpose? We’ve got you covered! Renee introduces her research on purpose-led inclusion. Learn how to be intentional in realising your purpose, both personally and professionally. Actionable Tips: Ready to infuse your work with purpose? Renee gives practical strategies to kickstart your journey toward a more meaningful professional life.

Join Watermark for the first episode in our Masterclass Series, where we turn our highly regarded interim webinars into podcast episodes. This episode features futurist and author, Diana Wu David, and she unveils the exciting landscape of tomorrow.  Diana guides us through envisioning what lies ahead and offers insights on how these changes will impact each of us as individuals and as leaders within our organisations. With captivating real-world examples, she sheds light on the personal and professional applications. An opportunity to expand your horizons and rethink your approach to the future.

In the highly anticipated Part 2 of "Mastering Leadership Agility: Lessons from a CEO and Board Director in Hospital, Health and Aged Care" your host, Jocelyn Santosa, Partner at Watermark Search International, is joined once again by the remarkable CEO, Chair, and Board Director in the healthcare, hospital, and aged care sectors, Toby Hall. This episode dives deep into different aspects of leadership in these critical fields. Together, they tackle essential questions such as:   Public vs. Private: Are there differences in working in these settings, and what key insights should individuals be aware of when operating in these unique environments? The Transition Challenge: How difficult is it to transition from public to private, or vice versa? Discover the complexities of this shift and the skills required to succeed. Boardroom Dynamics: Unravel the mysteries of boardroom leadership. Learn how to ensure that your leadership team is well-versed in key governance issues. The Art of Board Membership: What qualities make an exceptional board member? Toby Hall shares invaluable insights on what it takes to excel in this role. Board Selection: Explore due diligence strategies to employ before committing to a board position, ensuring it's the right fit for you. Continuous Self-Reflection: Discover the importance of self-reflection when choosing board roles, ensuring you make choices aligned with your values and goals. Join Jocelyn Santosa and Toby Hall for a conversation for those navigating the ever-evolving healthcare landscape and the importance of leadership agility.

In this podcast episode, Jocelyn Santosa, Partner at Watermark Search specialising in health, human services and life sciences interviews Toby Hall. Toby is the former CEO of St. Vincent's Health Australia and Mission Australia as well as having a wide portfolio of Chair and Board roles including For Purpose Aged Care, Sana Health, UNICEF, Sterihealth, Working Links and Goodstart Early Learning. Jocelyn and Toby have an engaging conversation covering topics including: The key factors differentiating high performing Chief Executives and their leadership teams in Hospital, Health and Aged Care Measuring the success of leaders and leadership teams working in this sector How leaders can work on knowing themselves better Listen to the full podcast below to gain insights and advice for current and future leaders.

Have you ever wondered about private equity and the experience of working with private equity? What do private equity firms look for in businesses? What do they look for in leaders? What is their operating rhythm? David Evans, Managing Partner at Watermark Search, has extensive experience in this area and in this episode he chats to Mark Baldassarre, a highly accomplished leader in Private Equity. Mark brings over 25 years of private equity and international banking experience. He is deeply experienced in acquiring, integrating, and growing businesses, as well as providing strategic direction to company boards and management teams. Mark has looked at hundreds of private equity deals and has invested and exited in dozens. David and Mark have a great chat explaining what private equity is and how it works. Mark then answers some interesting questions such as: When looking to invest, what are the key things that you are looking for when you evaluate businesses? What do you look for when you're assessing these businesses and the leaders? What is the difference between a good leadership team and average leadership team? How have the good leaders reacted to external shocks and how have they got through the change? What are some standouts in your experience around some leaders that have navigated change? What are the different operating rhythms that you partner with? What do you expect from them? How involved are you in the business? What are the board meetings like? How do you support owner managers or leadership teams with getting the business ready for an exit? Listen to the full podcast below to gain insights and advice for current and future leaders.

At Watermark Search, we believe that those with higher leadership agility have higher performance. We are passionate about supporting leaders reach this, helping them learn and giving them the opportunity to change, influence and increase their leadership agility. So how do we get we get data and science behind our philosophy and how can leaders use this data to enhance their own leadership journey?   To discuss this, we invited Peter Berry, Managing Director of Peter Berry Consultancy and Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessment Systems to join us on this episode. Peter is a keynote speaker, facilitator and executive coach who specialises in leadership development, coaching, change management and business performance. Ryne is an expert on personality assessment, leadership and organisational effectiveness.   Our speakers defined leadership agility and answered some important questions: What attributes do you need to be a successful leader and how does agility come into this? What are the key attributes of leadership agility? Can leadership agility be learned? What is the science and data behind how we should be measuring a leader? How important is it that leaders are aware of gaps in their personality and agility? How can leaders identify these gaps and how can we help them improve on them? How important is data in doing this? What are the key takeaways for leaders trying to increase their leadership agility?