The Secret Life of Great Leaders

Epizodes

• The Best Boss You Never Had 25.06.2026 42min

  In this thought-provoking episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, Michael Bunting speaks with Non-Executive Director and Chair Greg Ridder about what it truly means to lead with values and pursue deliberate growth as a leader. Drawing on a 30-year career in the packaging industry and his current work across major for-purpose organisations, Greg explores why leadership is never really about the leader and what happens when you fully embrace that. Together, they unpack the rarely examined ...
• Leadership as a Living System 09.06.2026 54min

  In this thought-provoking episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, Michael Bunting speaks with organisational psychologist and systems thinker Bryn Edwards about why psychology may be failing to address many of today’s most pressing leadership, workplace, and mental health challenges. Drawing on his background in psychology and management consulting, Bryn argues that human beings and organisations are living systems that cannot be understood by examining isolated parts alone. Togeth...
• The Hard Truth About Leadership & Culture 21.05.2026 1h 3min

  In this thought-provoking episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, Michael Bunting speaks with UK consultant and author Paul Sweeney about the hidden dysfunctions, fashionable management trends, and “corporate nonsense” that quietly shape modern organisations. Drawing on experience from frontline operations to the C-suite, Paul challenges many common assumptions about organisational culture and leadership change. Together, they explore why so many culture initiatives fail, how fear and im...
• Treat People Uniquely, Not Equally: Paul Hutton on Building a #1 Great Place to Work 30.04.2026 39min

  What does it take to lead a hospitality company of mostly immigrant, entry-level workers to the #1 spot on Australia's Great Place to Work list — six years in a row? According to Paul Hutton, Area Vice President of Hilton Australasia, the answer isn't complicated: treat people uniquely, not equally. In this episode, Michael Bunting sits down with one of the most people-centred leaders in the business to unpack the philosophy and practical habits behind Hilton's extraordinary workplace culture...
• The Joy of Leading: Building Cultures People Never Want to Leave 01.04.2026 37min

  What does it really take to build a workplace culture people are truly proud of? In this episode, host Michael Bunting speaks with Søren Brogaard, CEO of TrackUnit, about the beliefs and lessons behind one of the most intentional culture-building journeys in global tech. Søren shares how a simple desire to have fun at work evolved into a sophisticated philosophy of leadership and growth. They explore the universal ingredients that put people into a state of flow, why engagement without result...
• The Power of "I Don't Know": Transforming Leadership Through Vulnerability 20.01.2026 50min

  What separates leaders who genuinely transform from those who stagnate or regress under pressure? In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting speaks with Dr Alis Anagnostakis, founder of the Vertical Development Institute, about the research behind adult development. They explore edge emotions, the awareness-action gap, why curiosity is the contrasting emotion that enables growth, and the distinction between insights that fade and transformations that last.
• Beyond Tough vs. Nice: Striking the Leadership Balance with Ahmed Moussa 06.01.2026 41min

  Can you drive high performance without sacrificing your team’s well-being?. In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting speaks with Ahmed Moussa, General Manager at Sanofi UK & Ireland, to unpack how he led a massive cultural transformation that boosted engagement by 40% while simultaneously increasing revenue. They explore the "tough vs. nice" paradox, the discipline of weekly reflection, and why the most dangerous thing a leader can do is pretend they don't...
• From 17 Failures to Leading 70 Remote Staff: Fame’s Unconventional Growth Story 23.12.2025 37min

  What does it really take to lead 70 people remotely, fail 17 times, and still show up every day curious and driven? In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting sits down with Tom Hunt, who also happens to run the fully remote podcast agency behind this very show, Fame, to share his insights on authentic leadership, personal growth, embracing the “I know nothing” mindset, and balancing his addiction to growth with new fatherhood.
• Why Great Leaders Befriend Their Inner Critic with Norbert Walther 09.12.2025 32min

  So many leaders still believe that maintaining strict standards requires a harsh inner critic and an equally severe approach to managing others. But what if this common belief is actually holding us back? Host Michael Bunting sits down with Norbert Walther, Group CEO of Kinyara Health, to dive deep into the unseen emotional work of leadership and the journey from harshly achieving the results we desire. In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, self-judgment to conscious leadership.
• The Messy Truth of Great Leadership with Nathalie McNeil 14.11.2025 35min

  True leadership transformation begins with radical self-ownership and the courage to face uncomfortable truths about ourselves. In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting sits down with Nathalie McNeil, VP and General Manager of ANZ at AbbVie, to share honest insights about growth, accountability, and the messy truth of leadership.
• How Vulnerability Unlocks True Growth with Michaela Wortley 15.10.2025 26min

  In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting sits down with Michaela Wortley, EY’s Head of Internal Coaching and Teaming, to explore the hidden side of leadership growth. Drawing on Michaela’s 25 years inside one of the world’s largest professional services firms, they unpack the fear of being “found out,” the discomfort of true self-awareness, and why vulnerability is the starting point for meaningful change in leaders and organisations.
• How Top Leaders Turn Vulnerability Into Power with Michael Bunting 30.09.2025 17min

  In this inaugural episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders podcast, host Michael Bunting lays the foundation for what the show is all about: leadership transformation. Drawing from over two decades of experience in adult development and leadership coaching, Michael shares his personal journey and introduces the podcast's mission to uncover the hidden processes that drive meaningful change in leaders and organisations.
• The Secret Life of Great Leaders Trailer 23.09.2025

  Most leadership advice barely scratches the surface. The Secret Life of Great Leaders goes further. Hosted by TripleGoal, this podcast explores what true transformation looks like in leadership, business, and life. We talk to people who have done the hard work, made real changes, and have stories worth sharing. Expect honest conversations, practical insights, and moments that challenge how you see growth.