active CEO Podcast 74 Lucy Bennett Baggs Just Challenge Global Impact

active CEO Podcast #74 Lucy Bennett Baggs Just Challenge Global Impact

active CEO Podcast 74 Lucy Bennett Baggs Just Challenge Global Impact
Lucy Bennett Baggs – Founder Just Challenge

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Lucy Bennett Baggs about Just Challenge Global Impact, fundraising over US$1.5 million for charities including WaterAid, partnering with Laureus Sport For Good and Putting on very meaningful events to make a difference in the world. We also delve into working at HSBC, the world of sponsorship and events, taking companies to some of the remote places in the world, and A life creating challenges for people all around the globe.

Lucy Bennett Baggs – Just Challenge Global Impact

Lucy is a young, determined and entrepreneurial leader who knows the true meaning of being comfortable with the uncomfortable, loves taking teams to incredible locations across the globe, and has led fundraising efforts of over US$1.5 Million for charities around the world, including WaterAid and Laureus Sport for Good. A leader who is passionate about philanthropy, sport, entrepreneurship and bringing out the best in people.

She has a 1st Class Honors in a Marketing BSc from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and was the winner of Women Leading Change in Asia, in 2018. Her career includes working at HSBC as part of the Undergraduate Management and Executive Schemes, and in Marketing, Sponsorship and Events.  In 2017 she founded Just Challenge an agency designed to use sport and adventure as a platform to respond to business’ objectives – including CSR, employee engagement, client relationships and leadership development.

Lucy talks about:

  • Looking for ways that I could think outside the box & how I could push other people.
  • Being on a great graduate program at HSBC.
  • Knocking on the head of sponsorship & events door desperately begging him for a job.
  • Voluntarily organising two major charity challenges for HSBC, in the Sahara & Gobi Deserts.
  • Differentiating yourself in a corporate culture of the survival of the fittest.
  • Raising $250,000 for WaterAid on the first HSBC expedition.
  • The importance partnerships & collaborations in sponsorship.
  • How HSBC put rugby into schools with the Hong Kong 7’s grass roots sponsorship program.
  • Constantly looking at ways to get corporates to have a voice.
  • Switching from a life with a high level of certainty at HSBC to starting Just Challenge.
  • Just Challenge Global Impact
  • Why Oman, Great Wall of China, Himalayan Mountains, Mongolia & South Africa provide incredible destinations for Just Challenge.
  • Taking people off the beaten track that is somewhere that people would go normally.
  • Creating expeditions that are sustainable & environmentally friendly.
  • Funding & investing in sustainable water pumps for Vietnam villages.
  • Creating global policies to reduce and offset our carbon footprint
  • Scaling Just Challenge.
  • Joining Michael Johnson and Sean Fitzpatrick on the 2020 Just challenge in New Zealand.
  • Pressure to demonstrate health & wellbeing both physically & mentally.
  • Surround yourself with brilliant people & that will take you where you need to be.
  • #inthistogether and going to places that you would never imagine you could get to.

Active CEO Performance Tip

Leaders Speak Last – How often do you go into a meeting and the lead person talks, talks and talks some more? The people in the room begin to switch off and when time comes to action following the meeting, no one really buys into it. High Performing Leaders always speak last. They may open the meeting and provide context, before allowing everyone else in the room to speak. They wait until right at the end of the meeting to wrap up what has been said and identify steps forward. This ensures everyone has an opportunity to speak, new ideas can surface and the team makes the decision. In a 30minute meeting, a high performing leader may only speak for 1-2 minutes.

Tweets

“People want meaningful experiences and there are so many beautiful places around the world that I think that brands can engage their people whether it is clients, employees or leaders.” Lucy Bennett Baggs talking about meaningful experiences, on the active CEO Podcast.

“Conversations we have when your phones are off, you have got no signal, you are having real conversations with people for the first time in a very long time, you are not walking, you are not in the rat race, your meeting new people and asking questions. Its amazing what comes out on these challenges and what they are going through.” Benefits of going off the grid with Lucy Bennett Baggs, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Lucy Bennett-Baggs LinkedIn
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lucybennettbaggs
Just Challenge www.just-challenge.com
Just Challenge Twitter
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

4 Day Week – Andrew Barnes Order Now

Four Basic Fundamentals Of Being A High Performing Leader Read Article
How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Read Article
active CEO Lessons In 2019 Read Article
Four Ways To Overcome CEO Loneliness In 2020 Read Article

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active CEO Podcast #51 Chris Robb Money Can’t Buy Experiences

Chris Robb Mass Participation World Money Cant Buy Experiences
Chris Robb – Founder Mass Participation World

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Chris Robb about mass participation sport events, growing the Standard Chartered Marathon to over 60,00 participants, being the course manager for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games marathon, and changing people’s lives through money can’t buy experiences. We also delve into the immense power of pause, coping with it being lonely at the top as a CEO, collaborative leadership, inspiring others to make a powerful impact on the world and serving a tennis ball into the back of Sir Richard Branson’s head.

Chris Robb – Money Can’t Buy Experiences.

Chris is an international authority on iconic large-scale mass participation events; a humble, loyal and curious leader; and a passionate family man now living in Bali, Indonesia. He is an enabler of people to have an active and healthy lifestyle, author of Mass Participation Sports Events and Better business Better Life Better World, is a high impact consultant and a champion of Buy 1 Give 1.

Growing up in Zimbabwe, he studied a Bachelor Commerce and Bachelor of Agricultural Management at the University of KwaZulu-Nattal. Getting his first taste of event management while at high school, our guest has over 30 years experience organising and leading events. During his career he has been at the helm of events for more than one million participants in the likes of Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Zimbabwe, South Africa and India.

He established Spectrum Worldwide in Australia in 1992, where he worked on the 2000 Sydney Olympics, before establishing himself in Singapore at the commencement of the Asian health and fitness boom in the 2000’s. In 2015 he established Mass Participation Asia, an annual conference for event stakeholders, before selling Spectrum Worldwide to IRONMAN, in 2016.

Chris talks about:

  • Life growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, during the independence war.
  • Having a rich upbringing from life experiences, even though they were financially poor.
  • The importance of embracing circumstances you find yourself in.
  • Being an 800m and 1500m runner training on farm tracks and dirt roads.
  • Planning to go back and run the family business on the farm.
  • Being involved in organising the Comrades Marathon while studying at University.
  • Changing people’s lives through money can’t buy experiences.
  • Getting parents out and getting active with their kids.
  • Getting more governments globally to recognise the value of sport especially the social and health impact.
  • Organising the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon with over 60,000 participants.
  • Expanding the JP Morgan corporate challenge running events into Asia.
  • Partnering with Dave Hansen from Supersprint Events and Robbie McEwan.
  • Going from zero to sixty thousand customers within 6 months.
  • Ramping up from a team of 30 to more than 5,000 people over a 3 month period.
  • A mindset expecting that there is going to be a curveball will be thrown at you.
  • Collaborative leadership where you are always looking for a solution.
  • Surround yourself with a great group of mentors much like an athlete has.
  • Having ritual’s and keeping yourself mentally and physically in shape.
  • Helping make it easier for our future leaders to grow in the industry.

Active CEO Wellness Tip

Life Is Not A Dress Rehearsal – It is important that you turn up, show up and be present right now. It’s not about what you did yesterday or what you plan in the future. It is all about this one second, one minute, one hour or even one day and you are ready to go.

Tweets

“Connecting with a community and a tribe and doing training and things together and taking you into the outdoors. It’s crucial for the health and wellbeing of the world.” Chris Robb talking about the power of sport and events on bringing people together, on the active CEO Podcast.

“I love putting that jigsaw together and making sure that everyone knows what they are doing, but also empowering them to make decisions.” Chris Robb on leading people, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Chris Robb LinkedIn
Chris Robb Facebook
Chris Robb Website www.chrisrobb.asia
Chris Robb Email chris@chrisrobb.asia
Mass Participation World www.massparticipationworld.com
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon www.singaporemarathon.com
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

Mass Participation Sports Events Chris Robb
Better Business Better Life Better World Chris Robb

Tim Cosulich (Fratelli Cosulich Group) – Navigating the Global Family Business

active CEO Podcast #11 Tim Cosulich Navigating the Global Family Business

Tim Cosulich active CEO
Tim Cosulich – CEO Fratelli Cosulich

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns and Ben Gathercole speak with Tim Cosulich, a very humble, young and disciplined leader. We discuss leading Fratelli Cosulich, a family business full of tradition; adapting your leadership style in different countries and being aware of the cultural environment you are working in; and being “in the office” mentally.

We delve into life outside of the office, which includes giving back to the hospital that saved his young sister from life-threatening brain cancer; coaching disabled children for the Special Olympics; transitioning from water polo to triathlon; inspiring his team through health and wellness; and working with triathlon legend, Jurgen Zack. 

Tim Cosulich

Tim Cosulich is a 6th generation CEO of the family business Fratelli Cosulich. Born in New York, raised in Genoa and now based in Singapore, Tim started his career working as a general manager for APM Terminals, then as a Manager at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in London and Madrid, and the Moller Maersk Group in the Netherlands.

He is a passionate learner starting out with a Bachelors with honors in Business, Economics, Finance at Universita Degli Studi di Genova. Tim also completed an MBA Business from INSEAD; the High Performance Leadership, Organisational Leadership, Executive Education at IMD Business School; International Directors Program (Business, Corporate Governance) at INSEAD; Finance, Economics, Portfolio Management at CFA Institute; and an International Business Strategy Course at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

This very proud Italian is not only a very organised and compassionate leader, he is also a top age group triathlete competing in long distance triathlon events around the world including the holy grail, IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Tim talks about:

  • Leading a team with multiple cultures, timezones and industries.
  • Finding out what motivates the team.
  • Making sure that he is physically present with his people.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of leading a family owned business.
  • Being demanding in relation to performance, but not developing insecurity in our people.
  • How living in Asia has changed his leadership style.
  • Defining high performance as a CEO.
  • Ensuring that you make sure that you have everyone performing at their best.
  • The need to be ‘In the office’ mentally and not elsewhere.
  • Why passion is so important for the Fratelli Cosulich business.
  • Why in 161 years of the business, Fratelli Cosulich has never distributed dividends.
  • Life as a professional athlete before going into triathlon
  • Sport is a good way to integrate into new cultures when moving to new cities.
  • Dealing with Tim’s little sister being diagnosed with brain cancer.
  • Making it look like it would be impossible to complete an IRONMAN triathlon in under 12 hours.
  • Tim’s journey to qualify and compete at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships
  • Similarities between a high performance athlete and a high performance CEO
  • The importance of being a coach and his athlete-coach relationship with Jurgen Zack.
  • Visiting a shipyard from the south of Japan.
  • Giving every employee a $50 allowance to spend on sport related activities
  • Volunteering as a running coach for disabled kids who are involved in the Special Olympics
  • Why his father has had the greatest impact on your career.

Tweets

“I was told by my father that if I wanted to join the business at some time, they would be happy to consider it but I would never become a multi-millionaire or have a Ferrari or a private yacht.” Listen to the active CEO Podcast as Tim Cosulich explains becoming part of the family business.

“How well you are able to motivate your people, because people are motivated by different things and types of jobs.” Listen to Tim Cosulich on the active CEO Podcast

“Why am I here, I am never going to do it again.” Learn more Tim Cosulich’s first IRONMAN triathlon on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Tim Cosulich LinkedIn

Fratelli Cosulich www.cosulich.it

Jurgen Zack Z-Coaching Phuket website

IRONMAN www.ironman.com

Special Olympics website

www.nrg2perform.com

craig@nrg2perform.com

Craig Johns LinkedIn

Ben Gathercole LinkedIn

Ben Gathercole Performance Coaching http://www.bengathercole.com.au

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www.nrg2perform.com/portfolio/book

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#8 – Mike DeNoma (KBZ Bank) Part #1 – Your Strengths are What Energise You link
#7 –
Trina Gordon (Boyden World Corporation) – Recruiting World Leaders link
#6 – Indiran Padayachee (RentCorp) – Winning Only Matters link
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#4 – Rene Zondag (PBI) – People Are Our Greatest Asset link
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Mike DeNoma (KBZ Bank) Part #1 – Your Strengths are What Energise You

active CEO Podcast #8 Mike DeNoma Your Strengths Are What Energise You

PCB Vol 8- Mike DeNoma
Mike DeNoma – CEO KBZ Bank

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns and Ben Gathercole speak with Mike DeNoma, getting a fascinating insight into a driven leader, someone with a huge amount of resilience who is inspired to take on the world’s toughest endurance challenges to raise funds for very important charities. We delve into ambition, flying a plane through clouds, the difference between a written and a presentation culture, leading in different cultures, creating a higher purpose, understanding that your strengths are what energise you, and what drives Mike DeNoma to get out of bed every day.

Mike DeNoma

We have the pleasure of bringing you a highly motivated, exceptionally organised and a passionate leader. Mike DeNoma has held senior executive roles across the globe, including managing multinational teams across North America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Over the past 20 years he has led large teams in the emerging markets banking sector with CEO and Leadership roles in CitiBank Singapore, Taiwan’s Chinatrust Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Singapore, and his current role at KBZ Bank in Myanmar. Awarded Global Retail Banker of the Year in 2008, he has also held senior roles in well-respected companies such as GLH Hotels, PepsiCo, Proctor and Gamble, and Asia Foods Limited. It is a highly entertaining, thought-provoking and insightful chat. Enjoy listening to the show.

Mike talks about:

  • Writing a letter that led to working in the Amazon jungle with Billionaire Daniel Ludwig
  • Having three careers at Proctor & Gamble
  • Taking a leave of absence from the Wharton Business School
  • Ambition – “the spark that makes you challenge your destiny at any point in your life”
  • Why he thought business world was like altitude when he first started
  • The differences between the working cultures at Proctor & Gamble and Pepsi Co.
  • The pro’s and con’s of a written versus a presentation culture.
  • A brilliant concept during a performance review at Pepsi Co.
  • Most employees are much tougher on their own performance than you are as a CEO
  • Cultures are more similar, than different, across the world
  • The need to work for a company that has a heart, that I believe in and generally has good intentions.
  • Making Grandma dance at Standard Chartered bank
  • The dynamics of transformation when working with wealthy family owned businesses.
  • Once the organisation has transformed, then you need to realise that the family is the CEO.
  • Why Mike likes to mobilise thousands of people
  • Why sponsoring the Singapore Marathon and Ironman events was important
  • Your strengths are what energise you
  • The power of the Gallup Cliftonstrengths finder to mobilise your team, understand what each others strengths are, and how they compliment each other and determine where the gaps are.
  • Powerful way to use it, is to take the team and you do the profile of all the strengths and then figure out where are the gaps
  • What Mike’s strengths are and how he uses them to lead every day
  • Why Mike likes challenges that require 10,000 people to step to the left and create an earthquake

Tweets

“I like challenges that require 10,000 people to step to the left and create an earthquake.” with Mike DeNoma. You can listen here

“Ambition, the spark that makes you challenge your destiny at any point in your life”. Listen to Mike DeNoma on the active CEO Podcast

“Your strengths are what energise you”. Leadership by strengths, with Mike DeNoma on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Mike DeNoma LinkedIn

www.kbzbank.com

www.gallupstrengthscenter.com

www.pepsico.com

https://us.pg.com

www.sc.com

www.ironman.com

https://singaporemarathon.com

www.wharton.upenn.edu

www.citibank.com

www.ctbcbank.com

www.nrg2perform.com

craig@nrg2perform.com

www.linkedin.com/in/ceo-corporate-wellness-perform

Recommended Reading:

Better Than Winning – Ben’s best selling book

www.nrg2perform.com/portfolio/book

Previous active CEO Podcast Episodes:

#7 – Trina Gordon (Boyden World Corporation) – Recruiting World Leaders link
#6 – Indiran Padayachee (RentCorp) – Winning Only Matters link
#5 – Suzie Hoitink (Clear Complexions) – Enemy of a Great Life is a Good One link
#4 – Rene Zondag (PBI) – People Are Our Greatest Asset link
#3 – Anne Gripper (NSW Office of Sport) – 6 C’s of Leadership link 
#2 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 2 link
#1 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 1 link