Heather Hawkins faced ovarian cancer at 41 and transformed her toughest moment into a remarkable journey of resilience, adventure, and advocacy.

In this deeply moving conversation, Heather shares the story of how running helped her reclaim life, conquer incredible global challenges, and raise powerful awareness for ovarian cancer.

Key Moments in This Episode:

Heather’s transformative cancer diagnosis and journey back to health.

From a 4km fun run in gardening shoes to ultramarathon adventures.

Winning the North Pole Marathon at -41°C.

Completing the World Marathon Challenge: 7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days.

Running the Marathon des Sables, 250km across the Sahara Desert.

A 520km epic ultramarathon across Australia's Outback.

The deeper purpose behind Heather's running and advocacy work.

Her next goal: setting a new Australian 24-hour running record at age 60.

Resources & Links:

Heather’s Book: Adventurous Spirit

Ovarian Cancer Australia (ovariancancer.net.au)

Can Too Foundation (cantoo.org.au)

Calix Immunotherapy (calixar.com)

Follow Heather’s Journey:

Heather’s Instagram

Stay Connected with Jason & Execs Who Run:

Jason Hunt (LinkedIn)

Execs Who Run (LinkedIn)

Instagram: @execswhorun

execswhorun.com

Support the Show: If Heather’s journey moved you, please follow, rate, and review Execs Who Run on your favourite podcast platform, and share this episode with someone who could use a dose of inspiration.

Roger Hanney isn’t just a runner—he’s a force of nature.

As the man behind HOKA’s rise in Australia and New Zealand, Roger helped turn an obscure, oversized shoe into one of the most trusted names in running. From battling early industry scepticism to watching the big brands follow suit (looking at you, Nike), he’s lived the brand’s growth from the inside out.

But Roger’s story doesn’t stop at retail strategy and product launches. He’s also an ultra-endurance athlete who became the first Type 1 diabetic in the world to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam—a series of four 250km footraces across the Atacama, Gobi, Sahara, and Antarctica.

In this two-part conversation, we go wide and deep.
In Part One, we cover: 👟 The early days of HOKA and why the brand was seen as “moon shoes”
👟 Whether Nike really did follow HOKA’s lead on shoe design
👟 Roger’s mindset shift after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes
👟 What it took to build trust in a radically different running shoe
👟 Balancing brand leadership, family life, and long trail runs
👟 Why sometimes, you just need to give it a go

Part Two goes deep into the 4 Deserts Grand Slam, what it takes to suffer well, and how adventure has shaped Roger’s view on leadership and life. Stay tuned.

This one’s for the shoe nerds, the adventurers, and anyone who’s ever asked, “Can I really do this?”

🔗 Connect with Roger

📸 Instagram – @roger.hanney
🌐 HOKA ANZ – hoka.com.au | hoka.co.nz

🔗 Connect with Jason & Execs Who Run

🔗 Jason Hunt – LinkedIn
🔗 Execs Who Run – LinkedIn Page
🌐 execswhorun.com
📸 Instagram – @execswhorun

📣 Like this episode?

If Roger’s story hit a nerve or got you thinking:
✅ Follow the podcast
⭐️ Leave a review
📤 Share it with someone who’d love it

And don’t miss Part Two, where we take on the deserts, the suffering, and the mindset behind it all.

Michael Batko has never taken the traditional path. From working as a hotel entertainer in Greece to becoming a kickboxing runner-up in Austria, his early life was fuelled by curiosity, energy, and a desire to connect with people. That mindset carried through to a global career in consulting and finance—before he made the leap into Australia’s startup scene.

After helping scale MadPaws and Expert360, Michael now leads Startmate, one of Australasia’s most influential startup accelerators. He’s helped shape a founder-first ecosystem, backing over 270 startups and building a vibrant community across Australia and New Zealand.

But beyond business, Michael is also a runner, a new dad, and the founder of Startup Striders—a running group that brings startup operators together for parkruns and post-run chats. In this episode, we explore how he uses running as a tool for focus, clarity, and connection—and how becoming a father has transformed his leadership and priorities.

In this episode, we cover:
🏃‍♂️ What he learned from kickboxing, hospitality, and working across cultures
🏃‍♂️ How he broke into startups by playing five-a-side football
🏃‍♂️ Building Startmate from a Google Sheet into a high-impact accelerator
🏃‍♂️ The power of doing fewer things, better — and killing off distractions
🏃‍♂️ Why Startup Striders has been key to consistency and community
🏃‍♂️ How fatherhood has changed the way he thinks, works, and leads

This is a conversation about choosing what matters, showing up with intention, and carving space for clarity—on the run and in leadership.

Connect with Michael:
🔗 LinkedIn – Michael Batko
📝 Substack – batko.substack.com

Connect with Jason & Execs Who Run:
🔗 LinkedIn – Jason Hunt
🔗 Execs Who Run – LinkedIn Page
🌐 execswhorun.com
📸 Instagram – @execswhorun

Let us know your biggest takeaway from the episode — message us on LinkedIn or Instagram. And if you’re enjoying the show, follow and share Execs Who Run — we’ve got more unscripted conversations coming your way.

Left in Australia at 15 to pursue a better future, Ayesha Razzaq built a career leading major transformation at Energy Queensland—all while conquering the Six World Marathon Majors and raising over $75,000 for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

Ayesha knows what it means to step outside her comfort zone. Growing up as a diplomat’s daughter, she moved between countries, but nothing prepared her for being left alone in Australia as a teenager. That challenge shaped her independence, resilience, and self-belief—values that have driven both her leadership and running journey.

Now, as Executive GM of Retail at Energy Queensland, she’s leading an industry shift toward renewables while also pushing her own limits in endurance sports. She’s gone from handing out medals at a 5K fun run to finishing all Six World Marathon Majors, and along the way, she’s used running as a way to give back—supporting Indigenous communities through the IMF and mentoring others to push their own limits.

⏱ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 – Ayesha’s unforgettable New York Marathon finish
02:00 – Being left in Australia at 15 and how it shaped her independence
07:00 – Her first 5K fun run and the unexpected path to marathons
10:00 – Getting involved with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation
19:00 – Completing all Six World Marathon Majors and what she learned
26:00 – How running fuels her leadership at Energy Queensland
34:00 – The breakthrough that helped her shave 50 minutes off her PB
42:00 – Why mindset was the game-changer for Chicago 2023
49:00 – Ayesha’s advice for life, leadership, and running

📲 Join the Conversation

What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Message us on LinkedIn or Instagram (just search Execs Who Run)

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Follow Execs Who Run on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. If this episode inspired you, leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it!

🔗 Follow & Connect with Ayesha

📍 Strava
📍 LinkedIn

🏃‍♀️ Resources Mentioned

🏅 Indigenous Marathon Foundation
🌎 World Marathon Majors

Ayesha’s mantra—"If it’s to be, it’s up to me"—has shaped her approach to running, leadership, and life. This episode is all about pushing limits, leading with resilience, and making an impact.

🎧 Tune in now and let us know what resonated most with you! 🚀

What happens when you take an entrepreneurial mindset, a passion for problem-solving, and a desire to push boundaries? You get Robert Fowler—a cybersecurity leader who’s spent his career tackling complex challenges, both in business and on the run.

At just 17, Robert co-founded a million-dollar computer business before transitioning to cybersecurity at Tyson Foods, a company that runs deep in his family. But that’s just the beginning. When he took up running, he decided to take it a step further—literally—by joggling (running while juggling). And in true Robert fashion, he didn’t stop there—he joggled the Chicago Marathon… using three oranges.

In this episode, we discuss:
✔️ Robert’s journey from young entrepreneur to cybersecurity leader
✔️ The lessons he’s learned from business, problem-solving, and leadership
✔️ How joggling became his way of making running more exciting
✔️ The mindset required to take on extraordinary challenges

🔗 Links & Resources:
📌 Connect with Robert Fowler
📌 Follow Execs Who Run
📌 Check out past episodes

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves running, leadership, or just a great story.

🚀 Keep running, keep leading, and keep pushing your limits!

In the very first episode of Execs Who Run Jason sits down with Ben Kepes – Managing Director of Cactus Outdoor, professional company director, technology industry analyst, volunteer firefighter, paramedic, furniture maker, and ultra marathon runner.

“The way to do well in running – and in life – is to just keep going. One foot in front of the other.” – Ben Kepes

In this episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction: Jason welcomes Ben Kepes as the first guest on Execs Who Run.

[00:02:00] Quickfire Round: Ben’s running preferences – from solo miles to chasing Strava segments.

[00:04:00] Running Rituals: Ben’s unique tribute to Jack Lovelock at the Old Ghost Ultra.

[00:07:00] Career Journey: From high school dropout to entrepreneur and board director.

[00:13:00] Business and Governance: Balancing multiple roles and embracing new challenges.

[00:17:00] Running Journey: Starting in his 30s and evolving into an ultra runner.

[00:24:00] Ultra Marathon Life: Why ultra running is “easier” than road marathons.

[00:35:00] Family Business: Running Cactus Outdoor with his sons and fostering entrepreneurship.

[00:43:00] Community Work: Volunteering with Speed Freaks, Achilles Foundation, and giving back.

[00:49:00] Building Resilience: How running enhances mental toughness and impacts life.

[00:54:00] Advice Corner: Ben’s top tips on leadership, life, and running.

[00:58:00] Final Question: Ben’s question for the next guest – How does running make you a better person and leader, and how does leadership make you a better runner?

Key Takeaways:

Discipline and consistency are vital in both business and running.

Building and sustaining a family business across generations.

Volunteering and giving back enriches your life more than you expect.

Running fosters mental resilience and complements leadership.

Connect with Ben Kepes:

Email: ben@diversity.net.nz

LinkedIn

Cactus Outdoor

Resources Mentioned:

Old Ghost Ultra

Speed Freaks NZ

Achilles New Zealand

Follow Execs Who Run

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

💬 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review, share it with your network, and subscribe for more stories of leaders who lace up and hit the ground running!

Welcome to Execs Who Run!
This trailer introduces the heart of the podcast—unscripted conversations with senior leaders who lace up and hit the road. Host Jason Hunt shares the mission behind the podcast and what you can expect from future episodes, including:

Real stories of resilience, balance, and growth from leaders who run.

Insights into how running shapes clarity, leadership, and mental health.

The little things that make a big impact, like routines and planning.

About the Host
Jason Hunt, a Kiwi based in Sydney, is an elite marathon runner, former professional triathlete, and executive search professional. With a career working for and partnering with top companies like Air New Zealand and Qantas, Jason brings a unique perspective on leadership and endurance.

Follow and connect with Execs Who Run on social media:

Instagram: instagram.com/execswhorun

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/execswhorun

Website: execswhorun.com

Subscribe now and don’t miss the first episode—coming very soon!