In this episode of Cultural Leadership, Brendan sits down with Adam, co-founder of Boys to the Bush, to explore how a grassroots idea grew into a movement changing lives across regional Australia.

Adam shares the spark that started it all, the tough lessons learned from working with vulnerable kids, and what real, authentic leadership looks like. From building trust and consistency to empowering communities and shaping future leaders, this conversation is packed with raw insights, hope, and inspiration.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:30 – The Spark Behind Boys to the Bush
04:15 – From Camps to Mentoring Programs
06:13 – Leading Through Challenges
09:22 – What Leadership Means to Adam
13:32 – Helping Others See Themselves as Leaders
16:13 – Supporting and Growing the Team
20:30 – The Qualities That Make Great Mentors
24:39 – Building Trust with Kids
30:18 – Why Time and Consistency Matter
33:14 – Lessons from Kids: Presence Over Presents
38:27 – Funding Challenges & Staying True to Purpose
42:45 – Community-Led Change
46:47 – Can the Model Work in Cities?
48:44 – Helping Boys Means Helping Girls Too
52:27 – Preventing Burnout & Supporting Staff
56:23 – Toughest Moments in Leadership
01:02:15 – The Role of Business Leaders in Shaping Youth
01:04:51 – Greatest Leadership Lessons Learned
01:08:06 – A Business Growth Lesson for Leaders
01:09:34 – Closing Reflections

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

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Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
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Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
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Today I’m talking to Erin Jewell – a Thrive Global top 10 coach of 2021. She is an executive mindset, growth- and performance coach, speaker, and professor of leadership at Villanova University. She has over twenty years of leadership experience in the healthcare sector, working at Pfizer, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. She has become an expert in strategies to manage team performance and had built a successful consulting practice based on these strategies. Our focus today is on engaged versus disengaged team members. Erin unpacks a few of the reasons team members might be disengaged, things leaders can do to change the situation and things leaders should avoid doing that may cause team members to disengage.

Our conversation goes into some great tips that will help both leaders and team members to better engage with each other by focusing on themselves and what they can do to promote a better work environment.

Discussion Points

• Erin as Thrive Global top 10 coach
• Working with leaders in the vaccine development industry
• The impact of the pandemic on leaders in different industries
• The great resignation
• Engaged vs Disengaged
• What can a leader do that causes disengagement?
• The meaning quotient (MQ)
• How to choose the right person to lead
• Transitioning from individual performer to leader
• Self-awareness in leadership
• Practicing what you preach as a leader
• Compassion and boundaries go hand in hand
• The Karpman Drama Triangle
• The responsibility of the team member/employee
• What has had the greatest impact on Erin’s leadership journey?

Resources

Brendan Rogers Website

Brendan Rogers LinkedIn

Culture of Leadership Podcast Website

Culture of Leadership LinkedIn

Culture of Leadership Facebook Page

Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel

Culture of Leadership Instagram

Erin Jewel Instagram

Erin Jewel Facebook

Erin Jewel LinkedIn

The Meaning Quotient study

The Karpman Drama triangle

In this episode of the Culture of Leadership, host Brendan Rogers interviews Susan Toft, founder of The Laundry Lady, who shares her journey from a busy mom to building a scalable laundry service business.

Starting in 2012, Susan discusses overcoming daily frustrations, systemizing operations, and leveraging technology like Time Boss to scale globally. She emphasizes flexibility, values-driven leadership, and empowering contractors while sharing insights on delegation, AI integration, and pitching to investors.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
00:07 - Susan’s Journey with The Laundry Lady
02:39 - From Chore to Business Opportunity
04:48 - Mindset for Scaling a Business
06:46 - Serving Diverse Customers
08:29 - Leadership Without Micromanaging
11:56 - Building Systems Early
17:16 - Time Boss: Strategic Technology Play
19:31 - Embracing AI in Business
21:33 - Lessons in Delegation
24:41 - Transition to Operations Manager
26:45 - Focusing on Marketing Passion
28:33 - Pitching on Shark Tank
31:41 - Contractor Values and Flexibility
35:30 - The Laundry Lady Business Model
39:54 - Customer Complaints and Communication
41:46 - Vision for Future Success
43:34 - Laundry Lads and Branding
44:52 - Lessons for Susan’s Sons
48:28 - Advice for SME Owners

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

-- LINKS --
(When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!)

*** PRODUCTS WE LOVE *** (and use!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/products-we-use/

*** BOOKS WE LOVE *** (and read!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/books-we-recommend/

Subscribe to Culture of Leadership podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3oPVZhU
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LvUjvI
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3aZlglJ
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Pocket Casts: https://bit.ly/34nqOSz
Podchaser: https://bit.ly/2SxL15F
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3xVl4fw
Deezer: https://bit.ly/3w1gvib
Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/3hiY3w7

Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
Brendan Rogers LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/​)
Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
Culture of Leadership LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-leadership/)
Culture of Leadership Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tcolpodcast​)
Culture of Leadership Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecultureofleadership/)

DISCLOSURE: We often link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links. This means, if you click one of the links and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

We're fans of Amazon, and many of our links to products are links to those products on Amazon. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.