In the second of this two-part series Andres Zylberberg, Richard Peake and I continue to answer the rest of the 25 questions entrepreneurs must answer to build an enduring great company.

After exploring vision and strategy in part one, this conversation moves into leadership, execution and the economic engine. We discuss why second-level leaders matter, why accountability must be documented and reviewed, and how effective meeting rhythms, priorities and metrics help turn strategy into consistent results.

We also examine the financial disciplines that give leaders real confidence, including Profit Per X, productivity, working capital, customer lifetime value, acquisition cost, forecasting, resource allocation and return on invested capital. The result is a practical framework for building stronger leadership, better execution and compounding business freedom.

Takeaways

• Second-level leaders determine whether growth compounds or quietly stalls.
• “A” players lift standards, accountability and performance across the business.
• Scorecards turn vague expectations into clear ownership and better coaching.
• Execution improves when priorities, metrics and meeting rhythms work together.
• Strong meetings create timely decisions, alignment and genuine business momentum.
• Profit Per X clarifies how the business truly creates value.
• Realistic forecasts build confidence, commitment and better strategic decision-making.
• Disciplined execution creates stronger profits, freedom and long-term business value.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

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on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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For this special 100th episode, I’m joined by Andres Zylberberg and Richard Peake. We unpack the 25 questions every entrepreneur must answer. It is a framework designed to help business owners assess where growth is happening, where it is stalling, and what may be holding the business back.

In part one of this two-part series, we focus on two of the five disciplines in the Compounding Growth Scorecard: vision and strategy. From purpose, values and long-term goals through to customer problems, competitive advantage and measurable progress, the distinction becomes clear between having good intentions and building a business with real alignment. Good businesses do not grow by accident. They grow when leaders make deliberate choices, communicate them well and stay focused on what matters most.

Takeaways

• Clarity in vision keeps everyone aligned and pulling in same direction.
• Long term goals only matter if they turn into real priorities.
• Purpose and values mean nothing unless they actually guide behaviour.
• Strategy is about choosing what to do and what not.
• Understanding your customer beats talking about what you sell every time.
• Growth comes from doing the work, not just planning it.
• One clear metric can bring a whole team together fast.
• Real growth balances revenue, margins and the right kind of customers.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
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on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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The true test of leadership is not what a person knows, but how they behave when the pressure is on. That’s according to behavioural risk strategist Preetie Boler, who insists that many workplace problems commonly seen as technical are, in fact, behavioural.

With 30+ years’ experience in legal and commercial roles across construction and facilities management, Preetie explains why trust can be damaged in a single moment and why self-awareness alone is not enough to change that.

She shares the behavioural patterns and practical tools she uses to help leaders respond more intentionally in high-pressure situations. Preetie explores how behaviour shapes culture, influences team performance, and determines whether leaders create safety, collaboration and trust when it matters most.

Takeaways

• Leadership is revealed in behaviour, especially during moments of pressure.
• Under pressure, unconscious habits override even the best intentions.
• Trust can be built or broken in a single conversation.
• Self-awareness alone is not enough to change leadership behaviour.
• Small behavioural shifts can dramatically improve team trust and performance.
• Leaders must pause to choose intentional responses, not default reactions.
• Behavioural patterns shape culture more than strategy, skills or knowledge.
• Great leaders create safety, clarity and trust when stakes are highest.

Follow Preetie Boler
https://www.empoweredbydesign.com.au/

Preetie’s book
Shiftcode Leadership: A guide to building thriving teams and a positive workplace culture https://amzn.to/3PzDSyR

Books recommended
Mans search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl https://amzn.to/4d9BHfr

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

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on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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Your results in negotiation are shaped long before you enter the room – the internal dialogue you carry determines whether you ask, hold firm, or settle early. That’s according to negotiation specialist Glin Bailey, whose background in commercial finance and two decades in multinational organisations brings a distinctive lens to negotiation.

Glin shares her belief that every negotiation happens twice: externally with others, and internally within ourselves. She outlines how identity, emotional intelligence and self-awareness influence outcomes, and introduces her VALUE method for navigating power imbalances, reframing price-driven discussions, and consistently securing stronger, more considered agreements.

Takeaways

• Your inner negotiation shapes every external negotiation long before words appear.
• Identity determines whether you ask boldly or settle far too early.
• Negotiation mastery begins with self-awareness, regulation and disciplined preparation.
• Price is rarely the whole story; value creates stronger leverage.
• Power often shifts through perception, not just size or status.
• The hardest question is usually the one most worth asking.
• Email can confirm agreements, but often weakens real negotiation outcomes.
• Better agreements with others begin with better agreements with yourself.

Follow Glin Bayley
https://simplyglin.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glinbayley/

Glin’s book
The Negotiation Playbook: Strategies That Work and Results That Last https://amzn.to/4sO7wyF

Books recommended
The Science of Scaling by Ben Hardy https://amzn.to/47beAxb

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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Sustained performance is not built on willpower alone. Leaders who ignore sleep, recovery and the biological effects of stress eventually compromise decision-making, energy and long-term health.

Camilla Thompson is one of Australia’s leading biohacking experts and executive wellness coaches, working with high-performing leaders to optimise health, performance, and longevity. After experiencing burnout, sepsis, and prolonged illness linked to mould exposure and misdiagnosis, she rebuilt her health and now helps others understand the biological drivers of performance.

Through this conversation, Camilla reframes biohacking as practical, accessible health optimisation, exploring recovery, sleep, stress, and personalised health strategies that give leaders a sustainable competitive edge.

Takeaways

• Leadership suffers when biology is ignored and recovery is treated as optional.
• Burnout often begins with high performance habits pushed far beyond sustainability.
• Sleep, hydration, nutrition and recovery directly shape decision quality and energy.
• Many leaders operate like elite athletes but neglect structured recovery completely.
• Biohacking is best understood as practical, preventative, evidence-based health optimisation.
• Mould exposure can cause profound illness, misdiagnosis, trauma and prolonged recovery.
• Healthspan means extending the years lived with strength, clarity and vitality.
• Small daily habits can create better energy, resilience and long-term performance.

Follow Camilla Thompson
https://www.biohackme.com.au/

Camilla’s book
Biohack Me: The Practical Guide to Everyday Biohacks Anyone Can Use to Optimise Their Health and Longevity https://www.amazon.com.au/Biohack-Me-Practical-Everyday-Longevity/dp/1394334036

Books recommended
The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life https://amzn.to/4rOSto7

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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If you want the best out of your team, you can’t bludgeon them with data and expect it to stick. Numbers inform, but stories are what people remember, repeat and act on. Gabrielle Dolan is a leading expert on business storytelling, having worked with organisations including Australia Post, National Australia Bank and Accenture. She is the author of six books on leadership communication.

She explores why the brain is wired for story, and how storytelling builds trust, clarity and influence. Gabrielle also highlights common mistakes, the risks of inauthentic storytelling, and how to use simple, real stories to bring strategy to life.

Takeaways

• Stories drive action because people remember emotion before logic.
• Leaders overuse data because it feels safer than storytelling.
• If people do not understand, communication responsibility sits with you.
• Authentic stories build trust, credibility and emotional connection with teams.
• Short, clear stories outperform long, rambling explanations every time.
• AI can assist storytelling but cannot replace real human experience.
• Culture is shaped by stories that spread through organisational grapevines.
• Great leaders use multiple stories to bring strategy to life.

Follow Gabrielle Dolan
https://gabrielledolan.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/

Gabrielle’s books
Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling https://amzn.to/4kUTkBc
Magnetic Stories: Connect With Customers & Engage Employees With Brand Story Telling https://amzn.to/4s0njKQ
Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling, Made Smarter with AI https://amzn.to/4bqrbxT

Books recommended
Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect https://amzn.to/470cD6x

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral experiment; it is becoming a defining force in how organisations operate, compete and grow. Leaders who treat it as a simple software upgrade risk missing the far deeper transformation already underway.

That’s according to Steve Brown, futurist, author, and former Intel and Google DeepMind executive, who examines what practical AI adoption really requires. Drawing on decades of experience helping organisations think long term, Steve explains why leaders must move beyond basic AI enablement and into process redesign and AI-first thinking.

He explores the leadership shift from expert authority to curious exploration, the promise of digital coworkers, the infrastructure demands powering AI, and why, despite rapid change, the future should remain deeply human.

Takeaways

• AI is transforming business faster than most leaders can comprehend.
• Enablement alone delivers little without redesigning workflows and operating models.
• Leaders must shift from certainty to curiosity, experimentation, and exploration.
• Digital coworkers can offload, elevate, and extend human capability significantly.
• Clean, connected data remains essential for useful and scalable AI.
• AI-first companies will outperform traditional businesses that delay meaningful transformation.
• Rapid efficiency gains will not reduce demand for AI infrastructure.
• Human judgment, empathy, and connection remain vital in an AI-driven world.

Follow Steve Brown
https://www.stevebrown.ai/

Steve’s books
The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation https://amzn.to/4lxuyHW
The Innovation Ultimatum: How six strategic technologies will reshape every business in the 2020s https://amzn.to/4dcxt6A

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

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Peptides are rapidly emerging as one of the most discussed frontiers in modern medicine and longevity science. Yet alongside the promise sits significant confusion, misinformation and regulatory complexity. Understanding where peptides genuinely fit within evidence-based healthcare is becoming increasingly important for clinicians, entrepreneurs and high-performing professionals seeking better health outcomes.

That’s where Paloma Hatami comes in. She is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur with degrees in arts, commerce and law, she also holds advanced qualifications in nutrigenomics and medical genetics, including studies through Stanford University. She has founded and exited multiple ventures, including Oscar & Wilde, and now leads several health-focused companies including Actionable Genomics, MyGene, Therapeptics and Therapath Medical.

She discusses peptide therapy, the difference between clinical medicine and biohacking trends, the importance of pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing, and where peptides may legitimately support health span, recovery and modern longevity strategies.

Takeaways

• Peptides may shape medicine’s future, but misinformation is spreading just as fast.
• Evidence, regulation and medical supervision matter far more than online hype.
• Not all peptides are equal, and quality control is critical.
• Biohacking trends often spotlight therapies before science fully catches up.
• Peptides can support recovery, but they are not magic fixes.
• Lifestyle, nutrition and sleep still form the foundation of health.
• Illegal imports and grey-market products carry serious risks and unknowns.
• The real opportunity lies in careful, ethical, evidence-based clinical application.

Follow Polama Hatami
https://therapath.com.au/
https://mygene.com.au/

Books recommended
We'll Prescribe You a Cat: The feel good Japanese bestselling book https://amzn.to/4b6Rwlw

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)

Follow me:
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth

Enjoying the show? Leave a review

Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.