This week on The Mistakes That Shaped Me, we sit down with Pancho, CEO of Forty Winks and former PUMA exec, to talk leadership, burnout, and why sleep is non-negotiable.

Pancho shares how sacrificing rest for results was a mistake that nearly cost him—and how he now sees sleep as a key part of high performance. We explore his mindset shift from being purely outcome-focused to embracing the messy, uncomfortable journey of leadership.

He also talks about The Mistake Book, his tool for creating space to fail, learn and grow, and why there’s no real finish line in business—just a chance to keep improving year after year.

Don’t forget to check out the CX Retreat by Ashton Media, Pancho delivered a standout talk at the 2024 event, the kind of session you can only get at the retreat.

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The hilarious Chris Savage, Business growth specialist, The Savage Company, an Ashton Media supporter since day one whom we greatly appreciate, shares his formative leadership mistakes and the lessons they taught him.

Chris discusses understanding clients' products firsthand, his "hope for the best, plan for the worst" philosophy, and the importance of anticipating potential problems. He opens up about how overworking and seeking validation damaged his health and relationships.

Listeners will learn about Chris's practical approaches to better self-management, including taking "deliberate oxygen" breaks and acknowledging personal limitations. He introduces the valuable concept of the "third place" - that crucial space beyond work and home - and emphasises humour's role in leadership.

Check out Ashton Medias events here: https://bit.ly/4jFsJGL

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Janett Egber, Lead of CX Capability at Medibank. Originally from outside Australia, Janeet now calls Australia home with her family, and shares insights on her journey and career.

We dive into the intersection of Employee Experience (EX) and Customer Experience (CX), exploring whether leaders in these fields should be planting seeds of ideas rather than handing out “how-to” manuals. Janett discusses the concept of democratising ideas—how people may move on, but the core concept or project can continue to thrive long after.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Janeet talks about the challenge of stepping back and viewing the bigger picture. She shares moments when her enthusiasm led her to become too involved in opportunities, making it difficult to take a backseat when needed.

This episode is a thoughtful conversation on leadership, the balance of involvement, and how to move forward with a broader perspective.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Fettes, Vice President of Marketing and Direct Customer Experience at P&O Cruises. Ben shares a profound story about how children can simplify the complexities of business—offering a fresh perspective on problem-solving and decision-making.

Ben reflects on a pivotal moment early in his career at just 23 years old: an engine explosion, a young life at risk, and no support system to rely on. Everyone looked to him for answers he didn’t have, making it one of the most stressful and terrifying days of his life. That experience taught Ben resilience and shaped how he leads, works, and supports his team today.

He emphasises the importance of having a senior leader by your side when things go wrong and creating a safe space for people to fail, learn, and grow. Ben also highlights the power of sharing failures openly—allowing others to learn from your experiences and building stronger, more connected teams.

This episode is a powerful exploration of leadership, resilience, and the lessons we can draw from our toughest challenges.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.