Recorded live from Honiara, Solomon Islands, this episode of Not Just Leadership features a grounded and practical conversation between Dominic de Moura McCarthy and Steen Siale on leadership, growth and stepping into opportunity. Steen shares his journey from the Pacific to studying in Tasmania, Australia, reflecting on the lessons that came from living away from home and learning to adapt in new environments.

The conversation explores Steen’s professional experience across the maritime and aviation sector and how discipline, responsibility and strong foundations have shaped his approach to work and leadership. Drawing on his own path, Steen speaks candidly about the importance of volunteering, developing good habits early and not allowing fear to hold you back from taking initiative.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

Time shapes every part of our lives, how we work, how we lead and how we make sense of the seasons we move through. In Episode 13, Dominic de Moura McCarthy reflects on our relationship with time: the pressure to maximise every hour, the fear of “wasting” months or years and the mindset that keeps us rushing from one milestone to the next.

Drawing on experiences across the Pacific, where time moves at a different pace, Dominic unpacks how slowing down can sharpen our perspective and restore clarity. He explores why managing our time isn’t just about productivity, but about intention, knowing what matters, what doesn’t and how to make space for growth.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

Nauru has twelve tribes, each with its own stories, identity and strength. In this twelfth episode, Eirububwin Tréannah Dabwido joins Dominic de Moura McCarthy to share her journey across Nauru and Australia, reflecting on the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way.

Tréannah speaks about the importance of grounding yourself, learning not to let emotions take control and navigating leadership through both personal and health challenges. From her experiences across Nauru and the Pacific, she reflects on the people and moments that shaped her confidence, resilience and faith.

This conversation explores what leadership looks like for young Nauruans today, balancing culture, identity and responsibility, and why emotional discipline is one of the most powerful tools a leader can develop.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

Victimisation is a mindset that can quietly shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. In this episode, Dominic de Moura McCarthy unpacks how slipping into a victim mentality limits our leadership, our confidence and our ability to move forward. He reflects on the moments when blame, disappointment or unfairness can lock us in place, and what it looks like to break free from that cycle.

Through personal reflection and honest conversation, Dominic explores what it means to shift from “Why me?” to “What now?” and transform setbacks into growth. This episode challenges listeners to recognise when they’ve given away their agency, and how to take it back with humility, strength and hope.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

Language shapes connection and connection creates opportunity. In this episode, Dominic de Moura McCarthy sits down with Malik Oedin from New Caledonia and Fiolino Sinemoni Mavaetau from Wallis and Futuna to talk about the power of languages, leadership and global opportunity.

Together, they share the story behind the EnglishEquip project, an initiative helping young people in the French Pacific build confidence in English and access international education and local employment pathways. The conversation dives into why communication matters, how language can open doors and what drives both Malik and Fiolino to keep serving their communities through their work.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

Excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. In this episode, Dominic de Moura McCarthy reflects on what it means to carry a spirit of excellence in everything we do. From the smallest details to the biggest opportunities, excellence is a mindset that values intention, consistency and integrity.

Drawing on timeless lessons about stewardship and using our talents well, Dominic explores how striving for excellence transforms ordinary moments into meaningful ones. It’s not about doing more, rather it’s about doing what matters, well. Through personal reflections and practical insights, this episode challenges listeners to raise their standard, not for recognition, but as an act of gratitude and purpose.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

From building businesses in Kiribati to serving his community through faith, Kanaan Ngutu’s journey shows what it means to lead with purpose. His story is one of grounded ambition, where entrepreneurship, service and belief all come together.

In this episode, Dominic de Moura McCarthy and Kanaan talk about the role of giving back in leadership, what it takes to start something from scratch in a small island economy and why true influence begins with community. Kanaan shares lessons from his work, his setbacks and the vision that keeps him moving forward.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.

In this episode of Not Just Leadership, Dominic de Moura McCarthy explores the theme of purpose. What drives us, grounds us and gives meaning to the way we lead. Drawing on his own experience volunteering in Portugal, Dominic reflects on how purpose isn’t something we find once, but something we live through consistent action and service.

He unpacks how clarity of purpose helps us navigate change, stay aligned with our values and inspire others to do the same. Drawing on ideas from Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, this episode invites listeners to reconnect with their “why”, the deeper reason behind their goals and leadership journeys.

Not Just Leadership is proudly presented by the Global Institute for Leadership. Each week we bring honest conversations and reflections from across the Pacific, Latin America and Australia, because leadership is more than a title, it’s a journey.