Sam Allert CEO Reckon Limited
Australia’sbusinesslandscapeisenteringa
transformativeera,andattheforefrontofthis evolutionstandthecountry’smostinfluential CEOs.Thesevisionaryleadersarenotjustnavigating change—theyareactivelycreatingit,settingnewstandards forinnovation,sustainability,andglobalcompetitiveness.
Insectorsrangingfromtechnologyandhealthcareto energy,finance,andretail,theseCEOsareredefiningwhat itmeanstoleadin2025.Theyarepioneersofdigital transformation,championsofESG(Environmental,Social, andGovernance)principles,andarchitectsofagile,resilient organizationsreadyforthechallengesofarapidlyshifting world.
Whatdistinguishesthemistheirabilitytomarryboldideas withpracticalexecution.Theyareinvestinginemerging technologieslikeAI,renewableenergysolutions,biotech advancements,andfintechecosystemswhilefostering culturesthatprioritizecreativity,collaboration,and continuouslearning.Theirleadershipisnotonly transformingtheirownorganizationsbutalsoshaping Australia'sroleontheglobaleconomicstage.
TheseCEOsaredeeplycommittedtopurpose-driven leadership.Understandingthatinnovationmustservea broadersocietalgood,theyareembeddingsustainability
intobusinessmodels,drivingdiversityandinclusion initiatives,andpushingforethicalpracticesacross industries.
Theirjourneysaremarkedbyresilience,adaptability,and anunwaveringfocusonlong-termvaluecreation.Through visionarystrategies,strategicpartnerships,anddecisive action,theyareturningdisruptionintoopportunity—and inspiringthenextgenerationofAustralianleadershipinthe process.
AswehighlightAustralia’sMostInfluentialCEOs DrivingInnovationin2025,wecelebratethosewhoare notjustrespondingtothefuture,butboldlybuildingit. Theirstoriesareblueprintsforleadershipthatisdynamic, impactful,anddeeplyalignedwiththeneedsofanewera.
Staytunedaswerevealtheleaderswhosevisionis propellingAustraliatowardasmarter,moresustainable,and globallyinfluentialfuture.
Managing Editor
Crafting Customer-Centric Solutions
An In-Depth Look at the Traits and Practices That Set In uential CEOs Apart P R O F I L E Adrienne Tan
7 Game-Changing Strategies in Product Management for Modern Markets A R T I C L E S
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Featuring
AdrienneTan
Co-founder&CEO
BrettKelly GroupCEO
DawidNaude
Co-founder&CEO
EliasHazouri CEO& ExecutiveDirector
SamAllert CEO
BrainmatesPtyLtd brainmates.com.au
Kelly+PartnersAccountants kellypartners.com.au
Pathfindr pathfndr.io
HiTechGroupAustralia hitechaust.com
ReckonLimited reckon.com/au
Apioneerintheproductmanagementspace,Adriennehas beeninstrumentalinshapinghoworganizationsbuild, deliver,andmanagesuccessfulproducts.
UnderBrett'sleadership,Kelly+Partnershasexpanded significantly,deliveringtailoredfinancialadvice,tax expertise,andstrategicbusinesssolutions.
AtthehelmofPathfindr,Dawidleadsthecompany'smission toempowertravelbusinesseswithadvancedAI-powered tools,enablingthemtooffercustomized,scalable,and seamlessbookingexperiences.
Eliasbringsdecadesofexpertiseinbusinessdevelopment, operationalstrategy,andworkforcesolutions,helping organizationsacrossAustraliaaccesstoptalentanddrive sustainablegrowth.
Samleadershipcombinesdeepindustryexpertisewitha passionformakingtechnologysimple,helpingthousandsof businessesstreamlinetheiroperationsandachievelong-term success.
Sam Allert CEO
Reckon Limited
Championing Small Businesses in a Competitive Landscape
Always go above and beyond. Do more, help more, and learn more—never se le for the status quo.
Do the hard things today, and tomorrow becomes easier—do the easy things today, and tomorrow becomes harder.
Australia's Most Influential CEOs Driving Innovation in 2025
Building an Organization as a Beacon of Service excellence and Support for Entrepreneurs!
Inthislivelyecosystem,everydaysmallenterprises
thrive,goalscometrue,andstoriesofperseveranceand ambitionunfold.Entrepreneurspourtheirheartsand soulsintotheirbusinesseswhilemanagingthehurdlesofa viableenvironment.
Notingthis,onenamestandsoutasanenthusiastofsmall business:SamAllert.Fewstoriesintheprogressiveworld ofaccountingsoftwareringastrueasSam's,CEOof ReckonLimited
FromansweringphonesasanOfficeManagertoguiding ReckonasCEO,Sam'sexperienceatReckonexemplifies thepowerofflexibilityandhardwork.Reckonhasevolved underhisguidance,focusingonempoweringsmall businesseswithuser-friendlyaccountingandpayroll solutions.
Throughouthisjourney,Samhasembracedchange, championedinnovationandprioritizeda customer-centric approach.Hisguidingprincipleissimpleyet profound:alwaysgoaboveandbeyond.Domore,help more,andlearnmore-neversettleforthestatusquo.This philosophyhassteeredhimthroughbothobstaclesand achievements,fosteringaworkplacecultureinwhichevery teammemberfeelsappreciatedandempoweredtosucceed.
Hismissionisclear:deliveruser-friendlysolutionsthat reducetheintricaciesoffinanceandcompliance,allowing businessownerstofocusontheirpassions.Heleadsa strongteamdedicatedtoknowingandaddressingtheir clients'changingneeds.
Let us Learn More About His Journey!
JourneytoLeadership:SamAllert'sPath
SamAllert,theCEOofReckon,beganhiscareerinvarious roleswhiletravelingtheworldandlivinginLondon.Upon returningtoAustralia,hejoinedAPS,asoftwarestartupfor accountingfirms,wherehetookonmultipleresponsibilities inasmallteamofsix.
Yearslater,ReckonacquiredAPSandcreatedthe AccountantsDivision.Atthattime,Samstartedoutasthe NationalSalesManagerforAPS,thentheAccountants Division,followedbytheManagingDirector–Accountants Division.Thisthenledhimto climbtherankstoGroup CEOby2018.HisfocushasbeenonadvancingReckon's strategytoprovidecomprehensivecloudsolutionsforsmall
businesses.Heattributeshissuccesstobeingrelationship focusedbothwithclientsandwiththeteam,beinginthe rightplaceattherighttimeandtheimportanceofa proactiveattitude.
Reckon'sInceptionandGrowth
ReckonisrecognizedasoneofAustralia'sleadingbusiness technologycompanies,headquarteredinSydneyand employingover170 peopleglobally.Foundedover35years ago,Reckonhasnavigatedsignificantindustrychanges, fromtheintroductionofGSTtotheeraofcloudsoftware solutionsandmorerecentlySingleTouchPayroll, SuperStreamandOpenBanking
ThecompanyspecializesinprovidingSMEsandtheir adviserswithtop-tieraccountingandpayrollsoftware, streamliningtheirdailyoperations.Notably,Reckonisthe onlyAustralian-ownedaccountingsoftwarecompanylisted ontheAustralianStockExchange(ASX),underscoringits prominentpositioninthemarket.
Overcoming ChallengesandInspiringChangeinthe AccountingSector
Samhasfacedvariouschallengesthroughouthiscareerin theaccountingindustry.Oneoftherecurringchallengeshe encounteredwasbeingtheyoungestmemberofhisteam, oftentaskedwithmanagingolderandmoreexperienced peers.Toovercomethis,helearnedtobuildcredibility quicklybyconsistentlytreatingpeoplewithfairnessand respect,regardlessofageorexperience.Herecognized eachteammember'svalueandensuredthateveryonefelt heardandappreciated.
AnothersignificantchallengeAllertfacedwasnavigating theuncertaintyduringtheCOVID-19pandemic, particularlyduringlockdowns.Thisexperienceunderscored theimportanceofmaintainingastrongcompanyculture andensuringconstant,effectivecommunicationwiththe team.Heprioritizedclear,consistentcommunicationand activelyworkedtocultivateaculturethatsupportedand empoweredeverymemberoftheteam.
Hispassionforpeopleandhisfascinationwithhuman naturehavebeenkeydriversofhissuccess.Heloves workingwithteams,supportingindividuals,andwatching themgrow.Hisadvicetothosestartingintheprofessionis tobeclearontheirpersonalandbusinessgoals,writethem down,andthenmapoutaplantoachievethem.
Heisexcitedaboutthecompany'sinnovationsincloudand mobiletechnology,whichaimtostreamlinebusiness
processesandworkflowsforsmallbusinessesand accountants.Hebelievesthatchangeisempoweringand thatopportunitiesandtoolsareavailabletohelpbusinesses adaptandmovethroughchangepositively
VisionforReckonLimited Sambelievesinbackingtherightofeverysmallbusinessto growandsucceed.Enterprisesdeservethetoolsnecessary forsuccess,regardlessoftheiruniquejourneys,nomatter wheretheystart.Overthenextfewyears,thisvisionwill continuetoberealisedasReckonfocusesonenhancingits payrollandinvoicingfunctionalitiesandintegrating researchanddesignpracticesintoitsproductdevelopment strategytoimprovetheuserexperienceandinterface design.
Healsorecognizesthesignificantmarketopportunity withinthelegalsectorthroughthenQZebraworksbrand, whichprovidespracticemanagementtoolsfortheUSand UKmarkets.With500oftheworld'slargestlawfirms operatingintheUSand46,000mid-sizedfirms,Reckon aimstofurtherdevelopitsofferingsinthisarea. Additionally,therecentlaunchofBillingQ,anautomation toolforbillingandcollections,exemplifiesReckon’s commitmenttostreamliningprocessesforitsclients.
ManagementPhilosophy Samemphasizesamanagementstylethatfosterscreativity andengagementwithinhisteam.Hebelievesthatastrong teamisessentialfordeliveringexceptionalcustomer experiencesandprioritizesinvestinginthe170talented individualswhocontributetoReckon'ssuccess.
AkeyelementofSam’sapproachismeasuringemployee engagementandrespondingtofeedback,whichhasresulted in94%ofstaffagreeingthatReckonisagreatplaceto work.Furthermore,90%ofemployeesfeeldeeply connectedtotheirwork,oftengoingaboveandbeyond theirroles.
Hefocusesonbuildingsolidrelationshipswithintheteam andfosteringtrustandopencommunication,whichhesees asvitalfordrivinginnovationandachievingresults.He encouragesaculturewherechallengesareviewedas opportunities,promotingacan-doattitudethatempowers employeestoembracenewideasandlearnfromfailures.
NavigatingReckonThroughtheDigitalTransformation ofAccounting AstheCEO,Samhasobservedseveralemergingtrendsin theaccountingandpayrollsoftwareindustries.The
digitalizationoffinance,compliance,andpayrolltaskshas significantlyimpactedsmallbusinesses.Government initiatives,suchasSingleTouchPayrollinAustralia,have driventhischange,streamlinedefficiency,andreduced compliancecostsforbusinesseswhileprovidingemployees withreal-timeaccesstotheirtaxandsuperannuation balances.
Anotherkeytrendistheriseofmobileapps,whichoffer flexibilityandconvenienceformanagingbusiness operationsonthego.Reckonhasembracedthisshift, developingmobilesolutionsthatallowSMEstomonitor cashflow,enhancecustomerexperiencethroughmobile payments,andmakeinformeddecisionsinrealtime.
Herecognizestheimportanceofdataavailabilityandhow itispresentedthroughanalyticsandreporting.Reckon's productroadmapisdesignedtomeettheevolving digitizationneedsofSMEsinthecomingyears,ensuring theycancapitalizeonthelong-termbenefitsofthis transformation.
Finally,nodigitaltransformationiscompletewithout exceptionalserviceandsupport.Changebecomesfarmore manageablewhenbusinesseshaveaccesstoreliable assistance.Reckontakesprideindeliveringasuperior customerexperience,exemplifiedbyaroundtheclock supportanditsoutstandingachievementofa9.1/10 customersatisfactionscorelastyear.
CommitmenttoSmallBusinesses Samemphasizesthecompany'sdeeprootsinthesmall businessmarket,whichhasbeenitscorefocussinceits inception.FoundedbyGregWilkinsontoservesmall businesses,Reckonhasevolveditsproductsovertheyears buthasrecentlyrefocusedonthisaudienceaftersellingits AccountantsGroupdivisionfor$100millionin2022.
Sambelievesthatunderstandingtheperspectiveofbusiness ownersiscrucial.Manyentrepreneursstarttheirventures drivenbypassion,butadministrativeandcompliancetasks canbedistracting.Reckonaimstosimplifytheseprocesses, allowingsmallbusinessestomanagepayroll,sendinvoices, cashflow,andgeneratereportswithease.
Withredesignedsolutions,Reckonseekstoprovideuserfriendlytoolsthatempowersmallbusinessownerstofocus onwhattheylove.Hisvisionistoensurethateverysmall businesscanthrivewithoutbeingboggeddownby administrativeburdens.
Thiscommitmenttoservicingthesmallbusinesssoftware marketishighlightedbytherecenttheacquisitionof
Sam has intensified the company's focus on research and development to be er understand customer needs, supported by substan al investment for robust cloud development.
While culture is crucial, it must align with the strategy for op mal results, underscoring the need for both elements to work in harmony for business success.
CashflowManagerandokkesoftwaresolutionsfrom MoneyManagementGroup.Asaresult,anadditional 20,000customersand1,000accountingandbookkeeping partnershavebeenwelcomedintoReckon’swidersmall businesscommunity,complimentingtheirsolutions portfolio.
PassionforSupportingSmallBusinesses Samisdeeplypassionateabouthelpingsmallbusinesses, whichheviewsasthebackboneoftheAustralianeconomy. HehighlightstheirsignificantcontributionstoGDPand employment,emphasizingthatnoothergroupdrivesthe economyforwardlikesmallbusinesses.
Heappreciatestheauthenticityofsmallbusinessowners, notingtheirenthusiasmandzealwhendiscussingtheir ventures.Conversationsabouttheirbusinessesoften resemblediscussionsaboutsportsorhobbies,showcasing theirinfectiouspassion.
Hebelievesthatmostsmallbusinessownersgenuinelylove whattheydoandReckontakesprideinsupportingthem witheffectivesolutionsthatsimplifytheiradministrative tasks,allowingthemtofocusontheirpassions.
ImpactonSmallBusinesses Reckonoffersarangeofsolutionsdesignedtohelpsmall businessesachievetheirgoalseffectively.Onestandout productistheirpayrollsoftware,whichsimplifies compliancewiththelatestATOregulations,allowing businessestomanagepayrunsandsuperannuationforas littleasAUD$14permonthforuptofouremployees.
Additionally,Reckon’sinvoicingtoolenhancescashflow byenablingprofessionalinvoiceswitha'Paynow'button andmobileinvoicingcapabilities.Theiraccounting softwareprovidesreal-timereporting,makingiteasyfor businessestotrackincomeandexpenses.
Lastly,Reckon'sfinancialreportingplatformintegratesdata forcomprehensivebusinessinsights,aidinginresource planningandperformanceanalysis.Thesetoolscollectively empowersmallbusinessestostreamlineoperationsand focusongrowth.
FosteringInnovation Samhasintensifiedthecompany'sfocusonresearchand developmenttobetterunderstandcustomerneeds, supportedbysubstantialinvestmentinrobustcloud development.Asdesktopproductsdeclineglobally,Reckon
aimstoestablishitselfasapremiercloudsolutionsprovider forsmallbusinessesandlegalfirms.
Tofacilitatethistransition,thecompanyischannelling revenueintodevelopmentandmigrationeffortsacrossall productlines.Hehighlightsthat91%ofstafffeel empoweredtoinnovateandadapt,indicatingastrong cultureofcontinuousimprovement.Thisenvironment encouragesemployeestofindbetterwaystodelivervalue andtackleunexpectedmarketchallenges,ensuringReckon remainsresilientandforward-thinking.
KeyFactorsBehindSuccess SamattributesReckon'ssuccessandgrowthtoitstalented teamandastrong,collaborativecompanyculture.He believesthatinvestinginemployees'success,well-being, andhappinessfostersapositiveworkenvironment,leading tolowstaffturnoverandlongtenuresthatexceedindustry benchmarks.
Thiscommitmenttoemployeeengagementcreatespositive relationshipsandinteractionsthroughouttheorganization. Heemphasizesthatacultureofinnovationandcontinuous improvementisessential,asitempowersemployeesto contributemeaningfullyandhelpsReckonremain competitiveinthemarket.Byprioritizingitsworkforce,he ensuresasustainablefoundationforfuturegrowthand success.
AdviceforAspiringEntrepreneurs Samoffersvaluableadvicetoaspiringentrepreneurs, drawingfromamentor'swisdom:"Ifyouwantmore,then domore."Heemphasizestheimportanceofhardwork, supportingothers,andlisteningtofeedbacktoachieve success.Heencouragesentrepreneurstotreattheir businessesaslifelongcommitments,infusingpassioninto theiroperationstoattractpotentialinvestors.
Headvises,“Dothehardthingstoday,andtomorrow becomeseasier—dotheeasythingstoday,andtomorrow becomesharder.”Healsoassertsthat,“Whilecultureis crucial,itmustalignwiththestrategyforoptimalresults, underscoringtheneedforbothelementstoworkin harmonyforbusinesssuccess.”
7 Game-Changing Strategies in Product Management for Modern Markets Productmanagementistransformingatarecord
speed,fueledbyrapidtechnologicaladvancement, shiftingconsumerpatterns,andthenecessityof perpetualinnovation.Tostayahead,organizationsneedto embracenewwaysthatfacilitateproductinnovation, marketpositioning,andcustomerconnection.Thegreatest productmanagerscurrentlyusedata-drivenapproaches, agilestrategies,andcustomer-centricitytocreatevaluedrivingproductsthatfostergrowth.Thesearesevennew strategiesthataretransformingproductmanagementinthe dynamicbusinessworld.
1.Customer-FocusedProductDevelopment Customerneedsformthebasisofproductmanagement today Themostsuccessfulbusinessesoftodayclosely followuserresearch,feedbackcycles,andcustomer journeymappingtocreateproductsthattrulysolve problems.Productmanagershavetokeepthecustomers centralandusesurveycomments,socialmedia,anduser testingcommentstoimproveproducts.Interactiveuser feedbackfromusabilitytesting,betatrials,andfocus groupsallowsproductownerstokeeppacewithevolving customerrequirements.Anapproachbasedoncustomers thatisnotmerelyavoiceofproductusebutalsodevelops loyaltytothebrandandsustainedsuccess.
2.Data-DrivenDecisionMaking Thereisnoplaceforinstinctaloneinmakingproduct developmentdecisionsanymoreincontemporarymarkets. Data-drivendecision-makinghelpsproductmanagersmake data-backeddecisionssupportedbyempiricalfacts. Analyticaltools,machinelearning-basedmarket forecasting,andpredictivemodelinghelpteamstest demand,monitortrends,andmaximizeproductfeatures.
Monitoringthewaytheusersareinteracting,their interactionlevel,andconversionratehelpcompanies optimizestrategyforenhancinguserexperienceaswellas generatingthehighestpossiblerevenues.Thosecompanies thathaveembeddeddatascienceintoproductmanagement trulyleadonthecompetitivebattlefield.
3.AdoptingAgileandLeanPhilosophies Thelinearproductdevelopmentmodelisincreasingly succeededbyagileandleanphilosophiesofflexibility, iteration,andongoingimprovement.Agilemethodologies likeScrumandKanbanallowproductteamstoreact immediatelytothemarketplaceandtocustomercomments. Bydecomposingtheprocessofdevelopmentintobrief, incrementalcycles(sprints),productmanagersareableto bringminimumviableproducts(MVPs)tomarketfaster, testhypotheses,andcreatefeaturesbasedonreal-time insight.Leaninitiativesattempttoeliminatewaste,usethe mostresources,anddeliverthemostvaluebyhavingteams workonhigh-leverageprojectsandavoidingunnecessary complexity
4.AI-DrivenProductExperiencesandPersonalization Machinelearningandartificialintelligencehave revolutionizedproductinteractionswithcustomers.Netflix, Spotify,andAmazon,amongothers,useAI-powered recommendationalgorithmstodeliverpersonalexperiences andboostcustomerengagementandsatisfaction.Product managersneedtoalignmachinelearningmodels,dynamic content,andbehavior-drivenpersonalizationastheystrive toofferhyper-relevantexperiences.Artificialintelligence, predictiveanalytics,andautomatedprocessesarealso makingcustomerinteractionsmoreefficient,driving conversionrates,andstreamliningcustomerinteractions. AdoptingAIaspartofproductmanagementenables organizationstoremainaheadofconsumertrendsand markettrends.
5.Cross-FunctionalAlignmentandCollaboration Therearenogoodproductmanagersinonedepartmentbut ratherthosewhocanmovefreelyacrossdepartments,such asengineering,marketing,sales,andcustomersupport.
Effectivecross-functionalcommunicationwillresultin productroadmapsthatarealignedwithbusinessgoals, marketrequirements,andtechnicalfeasibility.Product managershavetoserveasbridgebetweenstakeholderswith acultureofopenness,accountability,andcollaboration.
Effectivein-housecoordinationwithinorganizations
eliminatesfrictionacrossproductdevelopmentphases, minimizestime-to-market,andyieldsmoresubstantial outcomes.
6.GrowthandMonetizationStrategy Apartfromproductcreation,successfulproductmanagers alsohelpinthedesignofmonetizationstrategiesand sustaininggrowth.Pricingmodels,subscriptionmodels, freemiummodels,andup-sellingmodelshavetobe calibratedaccordingtomarketconditionsandbuyer behavior.Product-ledgrowth(PLG)strategies,wherethe productisutilizedastheprimarysourceofacquisitionand retention,areincreasinglypopular.FirmssuchasSlack, Dropbox,andZoomhaveusedPLGtogrowquicklyby lettingcustomerstasteproductvaluepriortobuying. Productmanagersmustkeeptryingpricing,packaging,and featuredistinctiontocapturemaximumrevenuepotential.
7.SustainabilityandEthicalProductDevelopment Today'sbuyersseeksociallyresponsible,ethical,and sustainableproducts.Firmsthatintegratesustainable practices,ethicalsupplychains,andresponsiblenotionsof AIinproductinnovationwincustomertrustandbrand loyalty.Low-energysolutions,lowwastegeneration,and sustainableproductdevelopmentareemergingas competitivedifferentiators.Productmanagersneedto balancebusinessandethicssothatinnovationsdogoodfor societyinsomewayandyetsatisfycustomerrequirements. Companiesthatassumesustainabilityasoneofitsmost importantpillarsnotonlyfuture-prooftheirbrandsbutalso aresatisfyingregulatorydemandsandinternationalmarket needs.
Conclusion Productinnovationfortoday'smarketsdemandscustomer obsession,dataacumen,andspeedconverging.By acceptingcustomerdevelopment,theutilizationofAIand dataintelligence,anddemandingcross-functionalteam collaboration,organizationscangenerateinfluential productsthatdrawpeopletowardsthem.Monetization strategies,ethicalstandards,andenvironmentallyfriendly activitiesalsocontributetosustainableprosperity As marketskeepchanging,productmanagersembracingthese innovationbreakthroughstrategieswillbeattheforefront ofdrivinginnovation,efficiency,andgrowthinthe competitivehigh-speedenvironment.
A dr i e n n e Ta n Adrienne Tan CEO & Co-founder Brainmates
Australia's Adrienne Tan Crafting Customer-Centric Solutions How Adrienne is Redefining Success in Product Development! Intherealmofproductmanagement,inventioncan
seemlikeafar-offdream,soit'simportanttoputinan endlessefforttoclosethegapbetweenideasand practicalapplication.Awomanleaderhasrevolutionized productmanagementbycombiningauniquecombination ofpassionandknowledge,enablingbusinessestonotjust survivebutflourishinaconstantlychangingmarket.
Adrienneisatthecoreofcreativityandstrategyinthefield ofproductmanagement,changingthewaybusinesses discoverandcarryoutefficientproductdevelopment.Asa CEOandCo-Founder,heradvocacyforthesignificanceof teamworkandcomprehendingclientdemandshasa profoundimpact.Everymovesheperformsisevidenceof herconvictionthatsuccessfulproductmanagementmay unleashfirms'immensepotentialandultimatelyincrease customerhappinessandsuccess.
AdrienneTanstandsattheforefrontofthistransformative movementatBrainmates,aconsultancydedicatedto enhancingproductmanagementcapabilities.Launchedin 2004,BrainmatesemergedfromAdrienne’svisionto educatetheAustralianmarketonthecriticalroleof effectiveproductmanagement.
Throughherleadership,thecompanyhasevolvedfrom providinghands-onsupporttoorganizationsintoastrategic partnerthatempowersteamstoindependentlyidentify opportunitiesanddriveproductinnovation.
Here are the interview highlights:
Canyoupleaseintroduceyourselfandshareyourcareer journey?
I'mAdrienneTan,Co-FounderandCEOofBrainmates,and mypathtoproductmanagementhasbeenanythingbut
conventional.AfterearningaMaster'sinEconomicsfrom theUniversityofSydney,Igraduatedduringaneconomic downturnin1995.Despitemyqualifications,securingajob tookfourmonths,teachingmethatrelationshipsmatter morethandegrees.
Ibegannetworkingandofferedtoworkforfree,landing myfirstroleasaresearchassistantattheUniversityof TechnologySydney.Thisexperienceinvolvedfieldworkon theM4freeway,whereIlearnedtheimportanceof customerinsights—skillsthatwouldproveinvaluablein productmanagement.
MycareertookoffatOnAustralia,aMicrosoft-Telstrajoint ventureduringthedot-comboom.There,Iexperiencedthe thrillofbuildingAustralia'sfirstinternetnetworks.Later,at AUSTAR,Igraspedhowimpactfulproductmanagement couldbeonpeople'slives.
However,corporatelifefeltrestrictive,promptingmeto launchBrainmates.Initially,Ifacedchallengeseducating businessesontheimportanceofproductmanagement.Over time,persistencepaidoff,allowingBrainmatestothriveas aconsultancythathelpsorganizationscreateproductsthat trulymeetcustomerneeds.Thesatisfactionfromthiswork remainsunparalleled.
Couldyoupleasebrieflyintroduceyourcompanyand itsinceptionstory?
Brainmatesisaproductmanagementconsultancyfounded in2004byme,afterleavingmyroleasaProductLeaderin Australia.Atthattime,theconceptofproductmanagement wasnotwellunderstood,andtherewasasignificantneed foreducationinthemarket.
Initially,weprovidedhands-onsupporttobusinesses,but ourfocushassinceshiftedtoamorestrategicapproach.We nowhelporganizationsbuildtheirinternalproduct capabilities,enablingthemtoidentifyopportunitiesand developsustainableproducts.
The quality of your people directly influences your success, so prioritize a diverse team that encourages growth and offers varied perspectives. You don’t need all the answers—just the right team. “ Ourpracticalframeworkcombinesstrategicmanagement, human-centereddesign,andagilemethodologiesto empowerteamstomakeinformeddecisionsandprioritize effectively Additionally,Ico-foundedLeadingthe ProductandProductWomentofostercommunityand elevatetheprofessionofproductmanagement.
WhatqualitiesdoyoubelieveareessentialforCEOsto driveinnovationintheirorganizations?
Todriveinnovation,CEOsmustintegrateitintothe organization'scultureandeverydayprocesses.Innovation isessentiallygoodproductmanagementidentifying customerproblemsandviablesolutionsthatbenefitthe business.CEOsshouldpromoteproductthinkingacrossall departments,ensuringabalancedapproachthatfosters sustainabilityandscalabilitythroughouttheorganization.
Howdoyoudefineeffectiveleadershipinthecontextof thechallengesfacedbybusinessestoday?
Effectiveleadershiptodayrequiresrecognizingthatevery organizationisbecomingasoftwarebusiness,regardlessof itsindustry.Leadersmustembracechange,ensuringtheir teamspossessthenecessaryskillstoadapt.Thisinvolves makingtoughdecisions,investingintechnology,and reshapingtalenttomaintaincompetitiveness.Ultimately, leadershipisaboutguidingorganizationsthrough transformationwithclarityandconfidence.
Canyoushareanexampleofasignificantchangeyou implementedthathadalargeimpactonyourcompany’s businessmodel?
Weinitiallystartedasaconsultingfirmfocusedonproduct management.Overtime,weexpandedintotraining,but nowwe’retakingouradviceanddevelopingsoftwareto automateourmanualprocesses.Akeyproductisour ProductCapabilityAssessment,anonlinetoolthat providesinstantfeedbackonteamimprovementareas.
Thisshifttransformsourbusinessmodelfromsolely consultingtogeneratingrevenuethroughsoftware.By diversifyingourincomestreams—consulting,training,and subscription-basedsoftware—weenhanceBrainmates' adaptabilityandsustainability Thisevolutionallowsusto focusonourpassion:helpingorganizationsdeliver exceptionalproducts.
Inyouropinion,howimportantisempathyin leadership,andhowdoyoupracticeitwithinyour team?
Empathyisessentialinleadership;itreflectsourhumanity. AstheCEO,understandingthediversepersonalitiesand challengeswithinyourteamiscrucial.Ipracticeempathy throughkeenobservation,noticingsubtlecueslike confusionorfatigue.
Respondingtothesesignals,whetherbyexplaining conceptsorallowingtimetorecharge,buildstrust.After20 yearsinconsulting,I’verefinedmyabilitytosenseand respondtomyteam’sneeds.Thesesmallactsof understandingfosterasupportiveenvironment,enabling everyonetoperformattheirbest.Empathygoesbeyond kindness;it’saboutrecognizingandaddressingwhat individualsneedtothrive.
Howdoyoubalanceshort-termperformancewithlongtermvisioninyourroleasaCEO?
Balancingshort-termperformancewithlong-termvisionis interconnected.Withoutaclearlong-termvision,it’s challengingtoensureshort-termactionsarealigned.Ibegin withavisionstoryforthebusinessorproduct,which providespurposeanddefinesthe"why"behindourefforts.
Next,Iestablishastrategicframeworktokeepuson course.Theroadmapiscrucial;italignsshort-term
objectiveswithourlong-termgoalsandservesasaprogress measurementtool.Bytrackingmilestonesandmaking necessaryadjustments,Iensurewe’reconsistentlymoving towardouroverarchingvisionwhiledeliveringresultsin thepresent.
Whatroledoesgenderdiversityplayindrivingbusiness success,andhowdoyousupportitwithinyour organization?
Genderdiversitysignificantlycontributestobusiness success,butIbelievediversityofthoughtisevenmore crucial.I’mproudofthetalentedwomenonmyleadership team,butIprioritizehiringindividualswhoofferunique perspectivesandchallengethestatusquo.
Ourrecruitmentprocessemphasizescandidates'problemsolvingapproaches,ensuringamixofviewpoints.This varietyenhancesdecision-makinganddrivesbetter outcomesforbothourbusinessandclients,making diversityanessentialelementofoursuccess.
Howdoyouapproachriskmanagement,particularly aboutemergingtechnologiessuchasAI?
Iapproachriskmanagementwithabalancedmindset, recognizingbothopportunitiesandpotentialpitfalls.We regularlyreviewourriskregisterattheleadershiplevelto assessrisksandmitigationstrategies.RegardingAI,Iview itasanopportunityforinnovation,supportingproduct
teamsinresponsiblyadoptingemergingtechnologieswhile managingassociatedrisks.
WhatarethebiggestchallengesyouforeseeforCEOsin thenextfewyears,andhowdoyouplantoaddress them?
Inthecomingyears,CEOswillfacechallengesprimarily relatedtotalentmanagementandadaptingtoevolving businessenvironments.Ensuringtheorganizationhasthe rightcapabilitiesiscrucial.
AtBrainmates,weassessourteam'sskillsinalignment withourstrategy,focusingonamixofspecializedand adaptivecapabilitiestonavigatechangeeffectivelyand maintaincompetitiveness.
WhatadvicewouldyougivetoaspiringCEOslooking tomakeameaningfulimpactintheirindustries?
AspiringCEOsshouldsurroundthemselveswithtalented individualswhochallengetheirthinkingandsupporttheir vision.Buildingastrongteamisvitalformakinga meaningfulimpact.
Thequalityofyourpeopledirectlyinfluencesyoursuccess, soprioritizeadiverseteamthatencouragesgrowthand offersvariedperspectives.Youdon’tneedallthe answers—justtherightteam.
Whatlegacydoyouhopetoleaveasaleader,andhow doyouenvisionachievingthat?
Iaspiretoleavealegacywherepeoplefeelvaluedand inspiredwhileworkingwithme.Iwanttoberemembered notonlyformyknowledgebutalsoforbeingopento others'ideasandadaptabletotheirfeedback.Creatinga fun,engagingenvironmentisessential,evenwhenthe stakesarehigh.IfIcanmakeworkaplacewherepeople feelvalued,inspired,andenjoythemselves,that’salegacy I’dbeproudtoleave.
An In-Depth Look at the Traits and Practices That Set Influential CEOs Apart Withtheirfast-evolvingbusinessclimate,CEOs
todaydon'tjustamazewiththemoney-making, butwithabilityinleadingpersonnel,inventing, andreachingsustainablestrategicorientationsthat revolutionizeindustries.Visionisnotthetopontheirlist; rather,theypropelsustainable,interactivecultureswitha longfocustowardsthefuture.Theyarebackedbya combinationofpersonalaswellascorporateattributesthat separatethemfromothersinthebusinessofmanagement. Knowinghowtheydowhattheydocanprovidevaluable insightstoseasonedexecutivesaswellasrisingleaders.
VisionaryThinkingandLong-TermStrategy ThemostcommonfeatureofgreatCEOsisthattheyhave theabilitytoseebeyondshort-termchallengesandwork towardlong-termdevelopment.
VisionaryCEOsareproactiveandlookaheadtoindustry transformation,technologybreakthroughs,andchanging consumerpreferencestodrivetheirbusinessesintothe future.Theyareneitheronlyreactivenoronlyresponsive; instead,theyconstructthefuturesofindustriesthrough visionarychoicesandcreativestrategies.Forwardthinking allowsthemtomakestrategicrisk-taking,investinresearch anddevelopment,andinnovatebusinessmodelstostay competitiveinanever-changingmarket.
DecisivenessandRiskManagement EffectiveCEOsknowthatindecisionisexpensiveina dynamicbusinessworld.Theydecidedecisively,inthe lightofinformation,experience,andintuition.Riskispart ofleadership,buteffectiveCEOsknowhowtocontainrisk byprospectingpotentialobstaclesandestablishing contingencyplans.Theystrikeabalancebetweentheneed forinnovationandcaution,sothatambitiousplanshave goodbusinesssensebehindthem.Itistheircapacityto balanceriskandrespondrapidlythatplacesthemin companieswherepromptnessandrapidityarecrucialleadupstosuccess.
EmotionalIntelligenceandPeople-LedLeadership A great CEO is not merely a planner but a people-led leader who appreciates that staff members are the most valuable resource.
Theirleadershipattributeisemotionalintelligence(EQ) becausetheyareabletoconnectwithemployees, customers,andstakeholdersatapersonallevel.Theyare communicative,self-aware,andempathetic,inspiringteams andcreatingacultureofcollaboration.Theyareconflictresolvers,goodcrisismanagers,andhavestrongalliances withtheirkeystakeholdersbecauseoftheirhighEQ.
People-firstCEOscreateorganizationsthatareresponsive tochange,resilient,andsuccessful.
AdaptabilityandResilienceinUncertainTimes ThekeytoagreatCEOistheabilitytocopewiththe unplanned.
Thebusinessworldisunstable,andeconomicdownturns, technologicaluprisings,andinternationalcrisescanbea testofeventhestrongestbusinesses.EffectiveCEOsare adaptiveintheirbusiness,shiftinggearsasandwhen neededtoseizenewopportunities.Theymakedecisionsin riskycircumstances,inspiringhopeamongemployeesand shareholdersandmakingtoughchoices.Resilienceenables themtobouncebackfromfailure,learnfromit,andconvert adversitytoopportunitytoreturnstronger.Theirresilience inadaptingtouncertaintykeepstheircompaniesresilientin turbulentmarkets.
InnovationandContinuousLearning TheseCEOsarenotateasewiththeexistingsituationin tryingtostayconsistent;theyreinventthemselvesonan ongoingbasis.
Theydevelopaninquisitiveandexperimentalculturein theirorganizationsinawaythatteamsarealwaysnot laggingbehindintheindustryinnovation.Effective organizationsthesedaysareeffectivebecausetheirCEOs areheavilyinvestinginnewbusinessmodels,emerging technologies,andinnovativeproblem-solvingtechniques. Moreover,powerfulCEOsarelearnerswhocontinueto learnandbecomesmartercontinuouslythroughmentoring, industryconnections,andupdatingthemselvesonthe globaltrends.Theirdedicationtotheprofessionaland personaldevelopmentofthemselvesandothersenables themtomakesmartdecisionsandhaveotherschangewith them.
OutstandingCommunicationandStorytellingAbility AnothercriticalcharacteristicofgreatCEOsistheability ofacompanytoarticulateavision,mission,andstrategyin clearandstraightforwardlanguage.
Greatleadersareeffectivecommunicatorsandgreat storytellerswhocanarticulatetheircompany'svisionina compellingwaythatinspiresemployees,investors,andthe generalpublictowanttofollow Whentheyspeakto conferences,employees,orshareholders,whatthey
communicatestemsfromtrustandpassion.Inspiringand clear,theygeneratealignmentintheirorganizationssothat teamscanseeandarewillingtoworktowardcommon goals.EthicalLeadershipandCorporateResponsibility
CEOsnowarebeingaskedtoleadwithhonestyandsocial consciencemorethanever.Ethicalleadershipisaboutmore thanconforming,itismakingdecisionsaboutbusinessthat areconsistentwithvaluesofsocialjustice,long-term sustainability,andcontribution.GreatCEOsarediversity, equity,andinclusionleadersintheircompaniessotheir organizationsaregroundedonrespectandequityof opportunity Theyalsoemploytheirvoicesforsocialand environmentalissues,understandingthatbusinesses contributetoaworldworthlivingin.Greenbusiness practicesandCSRprogramsarenolongera choice—instead,theyarenewleadershipvaluesthatdrive brandreputationandlong-termsuccess.
Conclusion GreatCEOshaveauniquecombinationofvision, resilience,emotionalintelligence,andflexibility
Theyleadfromempathybutarestrategicallygrounded, motivatebutareresponsible,andmakefact-baseddecisions withaninclinationtowardsinnovation.Notonlyistheir successquantifiablenotjustbybottom-lineoutcomes,but alsobytheinfluencethattheyhaveontheirbusinesses, industries,andcommunities.Asthebusinessenvironment continuestoevolve,theartofjugglingflexibility,moral leadership,andforesightednesswillcharacterizethenext generationofleadersofgreatCEOs.Suchindividualswho promotesuchvaluesandattributeswillnotonlylead companiestosuccessbutleaveanenduringinfluenceonthe corporateleadershiplandscape.
