Born and raised on a dairy farm near Shepparton and the first person in her extended family to attend university, Wendy built a remarkable 32-year career with Accenture that took her from regional Victoria to leadership roles across Asia, New York and the global technology consulting sector.

Following her executive career, Wendy became one of Australia's most respected Non-Executive Directors, serving on the boards of organisations including Coles, Commonwealth Bank, Blackmores, Altium, Melbourne Business School and most recently PwC Australia. She also has a long association with Fitted For Work, the NFP supporting women in the workplace.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Wendy shares lessons from the boardroom and beyond, including:

• Her journey from country Victoria to global leadership.
• Building and leading large technology businesses across multiple countries.
• The hardest leadership lessons she learned during periods of organisational change.
• Governance under pressure and how boards respond when public scrutiny intensifies.
• The evolving relationship between shareholders, regulators and community expectations.
• The realities of CEO succession planning and why it remains one of the most important responsibilities of any board.
• The growing impact of artificial intelligence and technology disruption on corporate strategy.
• Why culture, relationships and authenticity remain critical ingredients for long-term business success.
• The challenges facing not-for-profit organisations and the importance of creating sustainable operating models.
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Wendy brings a rare combination of technology expertise, governance experience and practical leadership wisdom.

Whether you're a director, executive, business owner, investor or aspiring leader, there are valuable lessons throughout this conversation.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with your network.

Connect with James Stewart:

LinkedIn: James H Stewart GAICD

Instagram: @whatilearnedinbusiness

YouTube: What I Learned in Business (That Didn't Kill Me!)

Website: www.jameshstewart.com

Disclaimer

The views expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host, associated organisations, employers, clients or affiliates. This podcast is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial, legal, tax, investment or professional advice. Listeners should obtain their own independent professional advice before making any decisions based on matters discussed in this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If we are the "lucky country", why does life feel hard for so many of us?

Saul Eslake is one of Australia's most respected independent economists and his conversation with James H Stewart cuts through the political noise and examines the true state of Australia's finances.

Drawing on decades of experience advising governments, financial institutions and businesses, Saul provides a candid assessment of Australia's economic performance over the past quarter century and discusses the major challenges that will shape the nation's future.

Together they explore:

• How Australia's economy compares with global peers including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand

• Whether Australians are genuinely better off today than they were 20–25 years ago

• The country's productivity challenge and why meaningful economic reform has become increasingly difficult

• The role of minority parties and the Senate in shaping Australia's policy agenda

• The impact of global geopolitical tensions, tariffs and changing international trade relationships

• The 2026 Federal Budget and whether it is a genuine reform agenda or simply a revenue-raising exercise

• Housing affordability, negative gearing, capital gains tax and discretionary trust reforms

• Victoria's growing debt burden and whether the state is facing a long-term fiscal challenge

This is a wide-ranging conversation about economics, government policy, productivity, living standards and the choices Australia will need to make if it wants to remain prosperous in the decades ahead.

Whether you're a business owner, investor, director, executive, student or simply someone trying to understand where Australia is heading, this episode provides valuable insight into one of the most important conversations facing the nation.

CONNECT WITH JAMES STEWART

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9/

Instagram: whatilearnedinbusiness

YouTube: What I Learned in Business (That Didn't Kill Me!)

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, subscribe and share it with your network.

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or any affiliated organisations.

This podcast is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, taxation, legal, investment or professional advice. Listeners should obtain independent professional advice relevant to their own circumstances before making any financial, business or investment decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online success is more than just a great platform, service or product.

Brand development, storytelling and communication sit front and centre of why customers will engage with you. This means understanding the power of language.

In this episode I sit down with Bernadette Schwerdt — entrepreneur, best selling author, founder of the Australian School of Copywriting, and host of the podcast So You Want to Be a Copywriter.

Bernadette has spent decades helping businesses and individuals communicate in a way that drives real commercial outcomes. But in today’s environment — shaped by artificial intelligence, shifting business models, and the explosion of digital content — the stakes around communication, storytelling, and intellectual property have never been higher.

We discuss Bernadette’s latest book, Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, and the key lessons for anyone looking to build a business in today’s digital economy.

We also cover a wide range of other topics including:

• Bernadette’s journey from South Australia into acting, public speaking, authorship and entrepreneurship
• Building and scaling the Australian School of Copywriting
• What actually makes online businesses successful — and why many fail
• The commercial value of clear communication and why so many businesses get it wrong
• Lessons from entrepreneurs and authors she has worked with, including through her ghostwriting work
• The role of storytelling in building brands and influencing customers
• Common mistakes leaders make when presenting and communicating
• The impact of artificial intelligence on copywriting, content creation, and business models
• Where human creativity and judgement still matter in an AI-driven world

This is a conversation about far more than writing — it’s about how businesses create value, communicate it effectively, and adapt in a rapidly changing world.

The information, views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and are provided for general information purposes only. They do not constitute financial, legal or professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek appropriate professional advice tailored to your individual circumstances before making any decisions. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information discussed, no representation or warranty is given as to its completeness or reliability.

For more episodes, updates and enquiries:

Website: https://jameshstewart.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatIlearnedinbusiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.