In this deeply insightful and practical episode, Linda Murray – executive coach to hundreds of senior leaders – breaks down why performance conversations fail, and how you can build a culture where feedback becomes growth, not grief

Most CEOs think they’re giving helpful feedback. But in this episode, leadership expert Linda Murray reveals a tough truth: the problem isn’t what you say -it’s when and how you finally say it. This isn’t about better HR policy. It’s about creating cultures where courageous conversations fuel performance.

If you’re a founder or CEO who wants to sell the business—but stay on to lead the next phase—this episode is for you.

Charles unpacks the emotional and strategic tightrope of doing both well.

Charles Pratt opens up about the unexpected realities of selling a business to private equity — while staying on as CEO.

From late-night signing sessions to deep lessons in trust and strategic planning, this episode is a playbook for founders preparing for exit.

You’ll hear how Kinder Australia doubled in size in five years, why culture still trumps EBITDA, and what every CEO should do long before starting a sales process.

In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ Podcast, John Downes speaks with Mark Cameron for AI strategy and implementation business, Alyve.

He is one of Australia’s most experienced voices in AI strategy and implementation. With over 100 AI certifications and two decades helping government, education, and business adopt transformational technologies, Mark cuts through the hype to show exactly how medium-sized organisations can win with AI today.

From boutique gin distilleries to offshore oil rigs, risk doesn’t discriminate—it devastates. In this #CriticalFewActions™ episode, I sit down with Jayston Small, risk and recovery expert, to uncover the most overlooked threats facing SMEs today.

Jayston’s worked on fire-prone oil platforms, high-stakes chemical plants—and now he’s helping small businesses like yours prevent disaster before it strikes.

Whether you’re turning over $1M or $80M, this is a wake-up call not to ignore.

In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ podcast, I sit down with Dominic Russo, co-founder and CEO of Diadem, a leading international wayfinding and signage consultancy.

Dominic shares how he transitioned from aspiring car designer to business leader, why partnerships succeed or fail, and how Diadem grew from a small firm to an 82-person enterprise across multiple countries. If you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, or CEO looking to scale your organisation while keeping its core intact, this episode is packed with insights.