In this episode, Mike Dickson speaks with Trish Pegorer, Managing Director of Mutti Australia, to explore her unconventional path to executive leadership and the journey of building a challenger brand into a category leader.

Trish’s career is a clear example of a non-linear trajectory, shaped by entrepreneurial roots and pivotal “sliding doors” moments. From early exposure in her family’s small business through to a chance professional connection that ultimately led her to Mutti, her story reinforces how long-term impact is often driven by relationships, reputation, and how you show up in key moments.

A defining leadership principle throughout the conversation is Trish’s focus on being a “response, not a reaction” leader—highlighting the importance of measured decision-making over emotional instinct. This is complemented by traits she credits for her success: curiosity, humility, accountability, and what she describes as “annoying persistence.”

The discussion also unpacks the realities of stepping into an MD role without a traditional corporate blueprint. Trish shares how she scaled the Mutti business in Australia, built capability by hiring talent stronger than herself, and created a high-performing, values-led team in a lean, fast-growth environment.

They explore what leadership looks like in practice—balancing strategic growth with operational execution, influencing a global organisation from a local market, and continuously evolving as the business matures into a market leader.

With strong reflections on self-development and leadership readiness, the episode reinforces that progression to CEO is less about functional excellence alone, and more about self-awareness, adaptability, and the ability to build and lead teams that outperform.

Welcome to Your Path to CEO [axr]’s newest podcast, created to explore one of the most ambitious and complex moves in any career: stepping into the CEO role.

In this launch episode, you’ll hear from the [axr] Executive Search team - Mike Dixon, Shanthi Smith, and Greg O’Shea - who introduce the series, share why it exists, and outline what senior leaders can expect.

At [axr], our mission is to enable better career decisions. And as more executives look beyond functional leadership towards enterprise roles, one thing is clear: the path to CEO isn’t linear - and it’s often misunderstood.

In this episode, the team unpacks:

• Why the move from functional leadership to CEO is so challenging
• What leaders often underestimate about the role
• The reality behind the title—and the trade-offs that come with it
• What this series will explore through conversations with CEOs and boards

This podcast builds on [axr]’s existing series, Your Future in Sales & Marketing and From Go To CFO, extending our focus to those considering the ultimate leadership step.

If you’re thinking about your path to CEO or advising those who are, this is where the conversation starts.