Podcast
scalr sagecast
Hosted by Matt Woodard, scalr · EN
Welcome to the scalr sagecast - bite-sized wisdom for ambitious business minds.
Every week, we bring you inspiring stories and hard-won wisdom from a different business leader so get ready to learn, grow and scale your success!
The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.
25episodes
Episodes
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scalr sagecast - #58 - Annie Johnson - HR’s Next Big Shift: Less Admin, More Impact
Oct 1300:30:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail“This is the next big industrial revolution, and leaders will have never experienced this before…”Annie Johnson has seen the evolution of People & Culture from every angle - in-house, consulting, product, leadership - and she’s now building humaneer, a next-gen AI platform reshaping how HR teams work.In this episode, we dive into:Why 73% of HR’s time is still spent on adminThe reality that 70% of tasks will be automated in the next 5 yearsHow Annie's approach to “practising for the big game” transformed her mindset and performanceWhat the future of work really looks like when leaders embrace AI, community, and strategic impactAnd how Mak by humaneer is freeing up HR pros to lead - not just manageWe also chat about how Annie’s rich background (from GE Capital to Virgin Australia to founding The Honest Human) shaped her views on culture, tech, and change.If you're in HR, TA or leadership - and wondering which bucket you're in when it comes to tech adoption - this one's for you.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #57 - Jo Vohland - AI, In-Person Impact & the TA Leadership Shift
Sep 2900:31:26Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis week I’m joined by Jo Vohland, the brains and heart behind ATC Events & Media - the team that’s been curating conversations, conferences and communities for TA pros long before it was trendy.We get into:How the role and toolkit of TA leaders is shifting.What AI might mean for the function - both now and over the next few years.Why in-person events still matter (and probably more than ever).And how ATC continues to evolve with the industry - not just talk at it.Jo’s been in this space for over a decade, and her insights are bang on - not just for TA leaders, but for anyone thinking about where the people part of business is heading.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #56 - Alan Crabbe - The Importance of Community
Sep 2200:30:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFrom pioneering one of the world’s first crowdfunding platforms to supporting the next wave of Aussie startups, Alan Crabbe has always had one foot in community and the other in innovation.In this episode, we explore Alan’s journey – from building Pozible and Birchal into household names in the startup scene, to his latest venture, Frontcover, which aims to redefine how we support early-stage founders.We chat through: Why Australia’s startup ecosystem needs more community, not less. What types of AI startups are actually getting traction (and funding). Why in-person events are more vital than ever in a post-pandemic world. What it really takes to build (and maintain) a thriving founder community.Alan brings a calm, considered perspective on what’s working, what’s broken, and what we can all do better to support the innovation economy.If you're a founder, investor, community builder, or just startup-curious - this one's for you.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #55 - Ben Lai - Sales Confidence for the Quiet Achievers
Sep 1500:31:19Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailAfter starting his career as a neonatal intensive care nurse, Ben Lai made a bold move - swapping the ward for the world of sales.It wasn’t a straight line. He spent years honing his skills in corporate environments and client-facing roles before finally discovering his calling: helping introverted business owners sell with confidence.Now, as the founder of Sales Ethos, Ben combines empathy, ethics, and strategy to train leaders who often feel out of place in the sales world.In this episode of scalr sagecast, we chat about:The mindset shift that helped Ben find his calling.Why introverts can be exceptional salespeople - once they flip the script.The biggest mistakes Ben sees new founders make when trying to “sell”.How business owners can overcome fear, imposter syndrome and mindset blocks.Whether you hate selling, avoid the word “sales” entirely, or just want to make your business more sustainable, this episode will give you a fresh lens and a few practical takeaways to boot.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #54 - Martyn Hill - Rehumanising Reference Checks
Sep 900:29:41Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome back to scalr sagecast.This week, I’m joined by Martyn Hill - award-winning recruiter, startup founder and community leader with deep roots in WA’s mining and blue-collar space.Martyn’s had a huge year. He’s won multiple industry awards (including RCSA Recruitment Professional of the Year 2024), launched Refereez - a smart, human-led reference checking platform - and somehow still finds time to coach jobseekers, support fellow recruiters, and champion the community through Rubberband and the RCSA.In this episode, we unpack:The lessons Martyn’s learned from over a decade of high-volume mining recruitmentWhy he built Refereez - and what he thinks is broken with traditional reference checkingThe power of community and vulnerability in an industry that often pretends to have it all togetherAnd how to balance ambition with impact in both agency and startup lifeMartyn brings heart, humility, and serious hustle to everything he does - and this one’s packed with takeaways whether you’re in recruitment, running a business, or trying to do work that actually means something.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #41 - Nat Flynn - Narrowing The Gender Pay Gap
Feb 24, 202500:29:07Tap to summarizeSend us a textIn the latest episode of scalr sagecast, I caught up with Natalie Flynn, Founder of equidi, to talk about equity, inclusion and the evolving conversation around gender pay transparency.With WGEA confirming 4 March as the next release date for employer gender pay gaps, the focus on workplace equity has never been sharper. Organisations will soon be under greater scrutiny, and the businesses that take proactive steps towards transparency and fairness will attract and retain top talent.Nat and the team at equidi are at the forefront of this space, providing the tools and insights businesses need to bridge the gap between intent and action. Their latest offering, equidi lite, is designed to make pay equity insights accessible to more businesses, helping companies of all sizes benchmark their data, identify disparities and take real steps towards fairer pay structures.In this episode, we break down:What does the upcoming WGEA reporting mean for businesses?How organisations can move beyond compliance and embed equity into their culture.The role of equidi lite in making pay transparency easier and more accessible.Nat highly recommended Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett and The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins as her recent go-to learning tools. If you’re a business leader, HR professional, or just passionate about workplace equity, this is a must-listen.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #40 - Dave Neal - From Military To Motivator
Feb 17, 202500:41:12Tap to summarizeSend us a textOn this week's episode, I’m joined by David Neal, a leader whose career has been anything but conventional. After a distinguished decade-long military career, Dave didn’t take the usual transition period. Instead, he finished his service on a Friday, and by Monday, he was leading IT projects in the not-for-profit aged care sector.Fast forward to today, where he's now CEO of The Eighth Mile Consulting. They specialise in training and education - helping businesses build stronger leadership skills, enhance cultural communications and manage conflict more effectively. Drawing from his military background, he’s applying battle-tested principles of leadership, strategy and resilience to help these organisations navigate complex challenges and develop high-performing teams.What stands out about Dave is his practical yet innovative approach to problem-solving. He and his business partner, Jono, don't hail from a typical L&D background and so approach traditional challenges with curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo. This has led his clients to achieve different, more progressive outcomes for their organisations. In this episode, we dive into Dave’s unique career journey, the leadership lessons he’s carried across industries, and how structured training and education can transform businesses. Whether it’s honing leadership skills, addressing cultural change, or challenging preconceptions around areas like DEI, this episode is full of practical takeaways.A key part of Dave’s leadership philosophy has been shaped by books like 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - two classics that offer deep insights into power, control, and human behaviour. Their influence is clear in the way Dave approaches his own management and communication style.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #39 - Dart Lindsley - Exploring Work as a Product.
Feb 10, 202500:29:02Tap to summarizeSend us a textOn this week's episode, I caught up with the wonderful Dart Lindsley, a visionary leader and trailblazer in workplace design and employee experience. Dart is passionate about transforming how organisations think about work, shifting the focus from simply getting the job done to creating meaningful, fulfilling experiences for employees.A real thought leader, Dart believes that the key to a thriving organisation is understanding work as a product - one that must be designed with intention, empathy, and purpose. His innovative approach combines systems thinking, design methodologies, and a deep understanding of human needs to drive organisational success.He’s a renowned speaker and host of the "Work For Humans" podcast, where he shares ideas and strategies to rethink the future of work.In this episode, we explore Dart’s career journey, his philosophy on employee experience design and actionable insights on creating workplaces that inspire, engage and empower. Whether you’re a leader, an employee, or just curious about the future of work, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
Transcribe →scalr sagecast - #38 - Sean Grealy - Creating Robust Sales Engines For Start Ups
Feb 3, 202500:30:11Tap to summarizeSend us a textIt had been a long time coming but, on this week's episode of scalr sagecast, I finally got to chat with Sean Grealy from SellAnything.Sean’s flair for business started young. Despite coming from a blue-collar family and initially considering a painting apprenticeship, he always seemed destined to become an entrepreneur. His first venture? Selling soft drinks from his school locker during recess at high school - a clear sign he was destined to build something of his own!That instinct led him to start his first business in 2016, after being mentored by the owner of the bike shop where he worked during his studies. Now, through SellAnything, Sean is focused on helping start-ups establish the right foundations to give them the best chance of success in the Australian market.What stood out most in our conversation was Sean’s practical, no-nonsense approach to business. He understands that entrepreneurship isn’t just about ideas—it’s about execution, resilience and learning from experience.In this episode, we break down his journey, the key mistakes start-ups need to avoid, and the realities of building a business from the ground up. If you’re launching something - or even thinking about it - this one’s packed with valuable insights.Sean came armed with a great list of his go-to books and content: Essentialism (The Disciplined Pursuit of Less) by Greg McKeown100 Million Offers by Alex HormoziThe Big Leap by Gay HendricksMini documentaries on YouTube - Beau MilesThe scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #37 - Neil Kinnaird - The Challenges of Being an Early Tech Adopter
Jan 27, 202500:29:48Tap to summarizeSend us a textI was thrilled to sit down with Neil Kinnaird on the latest episode of scalr sagecast.Neil has been at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence for over a decade, embracing its potential long before it became a global focus. As a thought leader in digital adoption, Neil has been instrumental in helping businesses and individuals leverage technology to create meaningful progress.What struck me most about Neil’s story is how reflective he has been throughout his journey. He’s consciously worked to align “Work Neil” and “Home Neil,” striving to lead with authenticity and becoming the most effective version of himself in the process - a powerful reminder of the value of bringing your whole self to what you do.In this episode, we explore Neil’s fascinating path, his approach to digital adoption, and his mission to drive positive change. Our conversation is filled with actionable insights for anyone curious about technology, leadership and finding purpose in their work and life.A common recommendation throughout this series has been for Steven Bartlett's "Diary of a CEO". The book and podcast hit the mark and, as Neil has found, have created thought-provoking discussions and insightful approaches to tackling traditional challenges. The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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