The Secret Life of Great Leaders

The Political Reality Nobody Talks About

In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, Michael Bunting speaks with workplace politics expert Niven Postma about the uncomfortable truth most leaders avoid: politics isn't optional, and pretending otherwise is naive. Niven is the author of If You Don't Do Politics, Politics Will Do You, a contributor to Harvard Business Review, and a guest lecturer at Stanford, London Business School and Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She is currently completing a PhD examining how workplace politics play out differently for women. Together, they unpack the false choice between being a decent human being and playing the political game, and why the real distinction is between good politics and bad, not politics and none. Niven reframes reputation as trust at scale, explores how image management sits on a spectrum between narcissism and naive self-effacement, and explains why matching your political skill to your environment matters more than any single tactic. The conversation also moves into the gendered reality of workplace politics, including striking research on how careers shift when people transition gender, and closes with a warning on toxic environments: when the fear in a room stops being motivating and starts being corrosive, no amount of savvy will save you. If you have ever felt torn between staying above the fray and getting outmanoeuvred by people who aren't, this episode offers a grounded, ethical way to engage with the politics that already surround you, starting with one simple audit: who is actually in your personal boardroom?

The Best Boss You Never Had

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 question of what your values actually are and how to articulate them, why most leaders struggle to walk the talk, and how a focus on others' strengths rather than weaknesses unlocks far greater outcomes. The conversation also explores vertical growth, the idea of examining your own behaviour objectively, and why authentic, consistent presence is the foundation of real influence. If you're interested in values-based leadership, adult development, or what it takes to become the kind of leader who genuinely multiplies the people around you, this episode offers rare and practical wisdom from someone who has lived it at the highest levels.

Leadership as a Living System

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.  Together, they explore the limitations of traditional approaches to leadership and organisational development, why toxic cultures and dysfunction persist despite good intentions, and how leaders can better understand the deeper patterns driving behaviour. The conversation also examines the role of self-awareness, systems thinking, and organisational design in creating healthier, more adaptive workplaces.  If you’re interested in leadership, organisational psychology, culture change, or the future of human development, this episode offers a fresh and challenging perspective on what it takes to create sustainable performance, learning, and wellbeing in complex organisations.

The Hard Truth About Leadership & Culture

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 image management drive reactive leadership behaviours, and why genuine transformation requires far more than new frameworks or slogans. The conversation also unpacks the importance of self-awareness, accountability, and vertical development in creating healthy, high-performing workplaces. If you’re interested in leadership, organisational psychology, behavioural change, or building more authentic organisations, this episode offers a refreshingly honest and insightful perspective on what truly drives sustainable performance and trust.

Treat People Uniquely, Not Equally: Paul Hutton on Building a #1 Great Place to Work

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. Paul shares how radical accessibility, authenticity, and genuine human connection — not salary or bonuses — drive loyalty, retention, and ultimately, guest experience. They explore the fine line between psychological safety and a "decaying country club," how Hilton turned guest satisfaction into a commercial metric, and why Paul's famous four-minute speech to 1,400 APAC leaders came down to five simple words: care, passion, integrity, genuine interest, and kindness. Whether you're a frontline team leader or a senior executive, this conversation is a masterclass in what it means to lead with heart — and why that's not soft, it's the most powerful business strategy there is.