Libsyn Directory

355. High-stakes risk and crisis management and being adaptable around your mission, with David Knoff, Antarctic Expedition Leader and author of 537 Days of Winter

The Inner Chief

Release Date: 01/21/2025

371. George Hunt, former CIO of the Year, on Winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership [Best of Series]

The Inner Chief

“The one analogy I use for technology change programs is that we're trying to upgrade an aircraft whilst it's in flight. This allows people to understand the risk profile.” In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with George Hunt, former CIO of the Year, on winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership. 🎧👉 👂 WONDERING WHAT CAREER MOVE TO MAKE NEXT? GET THE CHIEF MAKER BOOK AND BE GUIDED BY THE GREAT METHOD FOR CAREER ACCELERATION: At the time of the recording, George was the Chief...

Mini Chief: Building culture through trust and humour, with Linda Carroll of G8 Education

The Inner Chief

“It's really important to keep a sense of humour, especially if you're in a stressful environment. Show people that you're human.” This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer, G8 Education. Her full episode is titled Driving business success through the development of your people. You can find the full audio and show notes here:...

370. The secret life of HR professionals, having it all, and AI in the workplace, with HR Chief of Adaptalift Group, Kate Newey

The Inner Chief

“HR is such a diverse role. At any given time we see people at their worst, and people at their best. We’re expected to be lawyers and are constantly making commercial decisions.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Kate Newey, HR Chief of Adaptalift Group, on The secret life of HR professionals, having it all and AI in the workplace. 🎧👉 👂 IS YOUR PROGRESS BLOCKED BY DIFFICULT STAKEHOLDERS? Download this step-by-step guide to build trust, get buy-in and turn difficult stakeholders into ambassadors: Kate is a highly...

369. Driving business success through the development of your people, with Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer of G8 Education

The Inner Chief

“HR has shifted towards partnering with the business as a trusted advisor to the executive team, as people have started to realise the value of human capital.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer of G8 Education, on driving business success through the development of your people. 🎧👉 👂 FEELING OVERLOADED? Constant emails and meeting requests flooding in? Too much to do and not enough time? Learn how to prioritise your time with this strategic focus tool. As an experienced People and Culture...

Mini Chief: Balancing career, parenting and guilt, with Nicolette Rubinsztein AM [Best of Series]

The Inner Chief

“There's work guilt because you worry that you're not delivering 100%. There's guilt that you're not being the best mum possible. So, it really is guilt on all fronts if you're not careful.” This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author. Her full episode is titled Removing guilt, building female confidence,...

368. Becoming Bulletproof: The 3 Cs of Success [Minisode]

The Inner Chief

“When you develop all three traits, you become bulletproof. You create momentum, confidence, and long-term impact.” Chief, today we dive into what I consider to be a core framework that I’ve observed after working with hundreds of top-tier executives and CEOs through the podcast and our day job at Chief Maker over a number of years. These three traits keep showing up, without fail, in every high-performing leader I meet. If you don’t have these in your toolkit, I can almost guarantee you’ll struggle to hit your definition of success. 🎧👉 👂 WANT TO ACCELERATE YOUR NEXT...

Mini Chief: Being sale-ready and art of timing your exit, with Dean Salakas

The Inner Chief

“You’ve got to get yourself in a position to exit, and then give yourself the time to exit properly. The biggest advice I give sellers is to not be in a rush to sell.” This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Dean Salakas, Former CEO of The Party People. His full episode is titled Being sale-ready, Forecasting like a CFO, and Selling confidently on your terms. You can...

367. Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Board member and author, on Removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness [Best of Series]

The Inner Chief

“There's work guilt because you worry that you're not delivering 100%. There's guilt that you're not being the best mum possible. So, it really is guilt on all fronts if you're not careful.” In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author, on removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness. 🎧👉 👂 RIGHT PERSON, WRONG ROLE? Use this checklist of questions to determine the right future development plan for your leaders: Nicolette is a qualified...

366. Being sale-ready, Forecasting like a CFO, and Selling confidently on your terms, with former Party People CEO, Dean Salakas

The Inner Chief

“You’ve got to get yourself into a position to exit and then put time on your side. Don't be in a rush to sell, but when you are ready, put a deadline in place for buyers to make an offer.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Dean Salakas, former Party People CEO, on Being sale-ready, forecasting like a CFO, and selling confidently on your terms. 🎧👉 👂 EQUIP YOUR MIDDLE MANAGERS AND SENIOR LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS TO DRIVE CHANGE AND RESULTS. JOIN THE WAITLIST: Dean is a retail advisor, keynote speaker, and former CEO of The Party...

Mini Chief: Navigating AI & an uncertain future, with Professor Joel Pearson, Director of Future Minds Lab

The Inner Chief

“Imagine any city with 50% job losses, it's a completely different place. I don't see governments getting things ready. It's going to take time.” This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Professor Joel Pearson, Director of Future Minds Lab. His full episode is titled Leading in uncertainty, Future-proofing for the AI Revolution, and De-risking innovation. You can find...

More Episodes

“One of the big lessons anyone can take out of COVID was that everyone was forced to live in a world that was out of control and you just had to adapt and respond.”

In this episode, I chat to David Knoff, Antarctic Expedition Leader and author of 537 Days of Winter, on high-stakes risk and crisis management, and being adaptable around your mission.

🎧👉 chiefmaker.com/355 👂

DOWNLOAD THE CHIEF MAKER OPERATING RHYTHM HOW TO GUIDE AND PUT YOUR VISION AND MISSION INTO ACTION FAST: chiefmaker.com/operatingrhythm

David brings over 15 years of experience and expertise in diplomacy, conflict resolution, resilience and remote leadership in some of the world's most challenging environments, where he has faced extreme adversity head-on.

From serving as a young Platoon Commander in the Solomon Islands to a pivotal diplomatic posting in Pakistan during a period of intense regional conflict, David’s journey has been shaped by moments that demand empathy, adaptability, and strength in uncertainty.

David took a sabbatical as a photographer in Turkey, capturing the Dastories of refugees escaping the Syrian conflict, before working in high-stakes environments to contribute to the international fight against ISIS.

More recently, he led Australia’s Davis Research Station in Antarctica, navigating the isolation of COVID-19 and an extended mission in one of the harshest environments on earth. Off the back of that, he has just released a book called 537 Days of Winter, and he discusses in the episode the harrowing life and death story that inspired it.

In today’s Masterclass we will share:

✅ Being comfortable with uncertainty and not being under control

✅ His anecdotal evidence on human response mechanisms to fear and threat

✅ How to factor in risk and crisis management in strategic planning, and balancing this process with instinctive action, and

✅ Being adaptable around your mission, in particular his experiences during the COVID-induced extended mission where they were stranded in the Antarctic.

Stay epic,

Greg

Connecting with David Knoff

You can connect with Davidl via LinkedIn or Facebook and E-mail.

Books and resources

537 Days of Winter - by David Knoff
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage - by Alfred Lansing

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Connecting with David Knoff

Books and resources

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