Higher Business Series
The Higher Business Series is a fresh take on what business can be when it’s done with purpose. In each episode, we step back from the everyday to explore how ethics, sustainability, and inclusivity aren’t just ideals—they’re strategic advantages. This is your space for a mental refresh, a spark of inspiration, and a reminder that doing good business is good business.
Building Top-Performing Teams with
Katie O’Keeffe
Katie O’Keeffe and her team at Structured Creative have developed an evidence-based approach that lifts team clarity, collaboration, and decision quality — not through perks or wellbeing programs, but by helping teams understand the work they must do and building the skills to do it well, together.
The impact is measurable:
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Decision-making clarity ↑ 56%
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Effective decisions ↑ 42%
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Creative problem solving ↑ 23%
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Fatigue ↓ 50%
In this episode, Katie breaks down what makes a team genuinely high-performing and why better decisions are the natural outcome of stronger practices, clearer purpose, and shared ways of working.
👉 Learn more about Katie’s work:
https://www.structuredcreative.com.au
👉 Watch the full conversation:
[https://youtu.be/sWNCPG22Grg
SNAPS, Communication & Decisions — with Dr Juliet Bourke
Why do some messages land while others don’t? In this session, Dr Juliet Bourke and Wizer Co-Founder Kylee Ingram unpack how communication connects to the way people decide. Drawing on Dr Bourke's six decision-making lenses, they explore how matching your message to decision styles changes influence, engagement, and trust.
The conversation also introduces Wize Snaps — a new tool that helps you frame communication around how people actually make decisions, not just who they are.
🎥 Watch the episode
Get Juliet Bourke’s book (Two Heads Are Better Than One, 50% off) → link
Try Wize Snaps (free or use JULIET10 for 10% off) → snap.wizer.business
Humans v AI - Why Human Judgement Matters
Humans vs AI — A Conversation with Jing Hu
What happens when businesses let systems do the thinking? In this episode, AI journalist Jing Hu (2nd Order Thinkers) brings the research so we don’t have to—and challenges us to pause before handing over judgment. Explore chilling new studies, discover why AI tends to favor AI-generated content over human creativity, and understand why human nuance still matters.
▶ Watch the full conversation here
📝 Dive deeper in our blog: When AI Should Stay Out of the Driver’s Seat: Why We Chose People Over Algorithms
The Science of Smarter Decision Making
In this episode, Dr Juliet Bourke shares the story behind her groundbreaking work on diversity of thought — and why it matters more than ever in leadership and decision-making. Drawing on her experience as a lawyer, Deloitte partner, and global researcher, Juliet unpacks the real meaning of cognitive diversity and how it intersects with demographic diversity.
She discusses how different ways of thinking can dramatically improve decision quality, reduce risk, and spark innovation — and why most teams are missing critical perspectives without even knowing it. This episode is essential viewing for leaders who want to build stronger teams, make better decisions, and lead with purpose.
“I wanted to write a book that was, in some ways, the defining work on diversity of thinking — because I couldn’t see anything like it in the market.”
— Dr Juliet Bourke
Creating a Thriving Culture
What does it take to build a business that genuinely thrives—ethically, sustainably, and inclusively?
In our first episode, David shares his journey from corporate leadership to championing global sustainability, while Arlene brings powerful insights from decades of DEI work across major organisations.
Together, they explore how prioritising people and planet isn't just good practice—it's smart strategy. Packed with real stories, hard-won lessons, and practical wisdom, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone ready to lead with purpose.
Find out more about David here: https://www.esgadvisory.com.au/services
How Ideas Move: Networks, Influence & the Science of Spread
With strategist and author Graham Harvey
In this session, Graham breaks down the real science behind how ideas take hold and move through organisations — not through hype or top-down messaging, but through trust, resonance, and network design.
Drawing from his book The Way of the Living Idea, Graham shares practical insights on:
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Why weak ties carry ideas further than close connections
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How trust and emotion spread faster than content
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How to identify amplifiers, bridges, and key nodes in any group
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What leaders need to shift to help ideas gain traction
Whether you’re scaling innovation, driving cultural change, or trying to move good work forward in complex systems, this is a conversation worth watching.
To learn more about Graham's research go to https://infovenn.com/
Rethinking Stakeholder Engagement
How can businesses build real trust with stakeholders while navigating complex sustainability goals and regulatory pressure?
In this episode of The Higher Business Series, host Victoria Whitaker (Partner, Deloitte Climate & Sustainability) leads a candid conversation about moving beyond box-ticking toward meaningful, long-term engagement.
She’s joined by Chris Andrew, an advisor in Indigenous engagement, and Cecilia Anthony, a seasoned policy strategist and former political advisor.
Together, they unpack the pitfalls of performative consultation and offer practical strategies for building inclusive, transparent relationships that stand up to scrutiny—and deliver real value.
Beyond Tokenism: What Real Consultation Teaches Us About Better Decisions
Former Byron Bay Mayor Simon Richardson shares how genuine consultation can move beyond box-ticking. By trusting citizens with real decision-making power, he turned scepticism into trust and delivered outcomes that surprised even the loudest critics. This episode explores what happens when you design the right room — and why businesses as well as governments can learn from it.
How to Use Data to
change Culture Sorrel Kesby
When conversations about equity and compliance turn emotional, data brings the clarity.
In this episode, Sorrel Kesby joins Wizer Co-Founder Kylee Ingram to discuss how Even Better AI helps organisations see beyond assumptions—turning gender pay gap reporting into actionable insight.
They explore how data cools the room, reveals hidden bias, and builds trust where opinion once divided.
Plus, how Sorrel’s team took a complex idea to market in just eight months—proving what’s possible when timing, purpose, and technology align.
Check out Even Better AI here