AI is no longer just changing how we work. It is changing how businesses are found, compared and chosen. In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with digital marketing leader Bec Dyce about the shift many senior teams still haven’t properly clocked: customers are increasingly using AI to research brands, compare options and build shortlists before they ever reach a website. So what happens when your brand does not appear in the answer? Katie and Bec unpack why the website is no longer just for humans, why brands need to optimise for answers rather than clicks, and why AI v
In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with James Fielding, her business partner at Camojee, about the first major theme from their new report, Rethinking Rainmakers: How Top Firms Multiply Talent and Drive 42% Better Growth. This first conversation explores what is broken in professional services growth, and why firms that rely too heavily on individual rainmakers risk capping performance. Katie and James discuss why sustainable growth requires more than star performers. It requires better systems, stronger pipeline discipline, aligned rewards, embedded collaboration and
If Episode 1 explains why change fails, this conversation focuses on what it actually takes to make it work. In Part 2, Katie Bennett-Stenton and Howard Krais move from diagnosis to application — exploring the lived experience of change across organisations, cultures and leadership contexts. From global headquarters to frontline teams, this episode surfaces the often-overlooked gap between what organisations say and what people actually experience. They discuss: The “head office illusion” — and why what feels critical at the centre often barely registers on the frontline. Why communication oft
Most organisations don’t fail at change because the strategy is wrong. They fail because they underestimate the human reality of it. In this first episode of a two-part conversation, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with Howard Krais — a globally experienced leader in organisational change and communication — about why so many transformation efforts fall short, and what leaders continue to misunderstand. Katie first met Howard at the IABC World Conference in Vancouver, where his perspective on change as a human experience to lead, not a process to manage stood out immediately. This episode focuses
Organisations are evolving.Leadership models are shifting.And the firms gaining momentum are rethinking how they access expertise, build capability and scale. In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with Deena Hooper, Director of Client Experience and Marketing at Korda Mentha, about the growing shift toward fractional leadership, agile expertise and smarter organisational structures. In a market where many large consulting firms are consolidating and recalibrating, Korda Mentha is pursuing an ambitious growth trajectory. This conversation explores what sits behind that co
This episode is a little different… and a little more uncomfortable (in the best possible way). For the first time on #KatieTalks, Katie is in the hot seat. Interviewed by Ike Levick, this is a sharp, honest and slightly cheeky unpack of what it actually takes to win the Australian Marketing Institute Certified Practising Marketer of the Year award. And… very timely, given entries for this year’s awards have just opened. No pressure. Spoiler: it’s not about playing it safe, being polite, or waiting your turn. In this conversation, we get into: Why applying for awards (even when your inner crit
To lead well, and communicate brilliantly, we have to understand the people shaping the world around us. Gen Z already makes up around 60 percent of the global workforce, and while they’re not yet the senior decision-makers in most organisations, their influence on culture, communication and consumer behaviour is undeniable. For leaders, marketers and strategists, grasping these generational shifts isn’t optional; it’s how you stay relevant. In this episode of Katie Talks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with India Starr, a graduate researcher at the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations, abo
In this candid and deeply human conversation, Katie Bennett-Stenton sits down with Sally Spicer, Communications Director at Future Women, to talk about the moment when relentless ambition collides with real life. Sally is a two-time Mumbrella award-winner, this year named Journalist of the Year (2025 Mumbrella Publish Awards), and last year recognised for her exceptional work as Executive Producer of There’s No Place Like Home, a powerful podcast on domestic and family violence. But behind the accolades was a story few knew: burnout, ADHD, and the courage to stop. In this conversation, Katie a
What happens when more than 70,000 women get to shape the life of one fictional character? You spark a national conversation that’s part data, part dignity — and 100% insight
In this insightful episode of #KatieTalks, I sit down with Zora Artis, a globally recognized expert in strategic alignment, brand experience, and leadership. Zora shares her wealth of knowledge on how leaders can drive meaningful change by aligning purpose, vision, values, and brand promise across their organizations. We kick off with a memorable story from Zora’s stay at the Four Seasons Hotel, where a thoughtful gesture turned a routine stay into an unforgettable experience. Zora explains how leaders can cultivate a culture where employees are empowered to go above and beyond, creating lasti
In this episode of #KatieTalks, I sit down with Bec Dyce, a highly credentialed expert in digital marketing and social media, particularly in the B2B space. Bec shares her insights on how it’s critical for B2B marketers to adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape, with a focus on leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and podcasts to create meaningful engagement and long-term success. We explore the profound shift in how users interact with search engines, with many now relying on zero-click searches, and what this means for B2B strategies. Bec also emphasizes the importance of delive
In this episode of #KatieTalks, I’m joined by David Imber, a strategist whose unparalleled expertise in crisis management and communications makes him the trusted advisor behind the scenes for some of the most distinguished brands, organizations, senior leaders, and C-suite executives. David isn’t the face you see in the media, but those who are in the spotlight—and the boardroom—rely on his insights to navigate the most complex and high-stakes situations. We delve into the often misunderstood value of conflict and how it can actually serve as a catalyst for innovation and strategic clarity. D
In this episode of #KatieTalks, we dive into the compelling theme of curiosity with our esteemed guest, Susannah Goddard. A trusted advisor to board and executive-level stakeholders, Susannah has a career that spans various sectors, driven by her insatiable curiosity and dedication to understanding complex environments. Recorded after our encounter at the IABC Global Conference in Chicago, this conversation explores the nuances and significance of curiosity in both personal and professional realms. Guest Bio: Susannah Goddard is a seasoned advisor renowned for her work with organizations that
The night before her 33rd birthday, today's guest Elle Sproll had just finished a half marathon in Hawaii, returned from a work trip to New Zealand and was about to meet a friend for an early birthday dinner (featuring plenty of rosé and karaoke). Then, she found a lump in her breast. It turned out to be Triple Negative Breast Cancer: very rare and very aggressive. Definitely not the birthday present she had hoped for. Elle was young, fit and excelling in her career as a Senior Marketing Leader at a Big 4 bank. We discuss some of what followed and how Elle, ever the deep thinking cstomer centr
Katherine Newton is a CEO doing impactful important work. Some of the key topics we cover are: When people stop doing things that they love, this can be an indictor that they're struggling Venting and discussing small issues can go a long way to stopping them becoming big problems If you do ask if someone is ok, really listen to their response and be genuinely interested (don't ask five minutes before a meeting or while scrolling on your phone) Prioritise staying in touch with people If you're a corporate and the only activity you to do to support mental health is put up RU Ok posters, don’t.
If you're limping towards the end of 2021, in need of some recharging and downtime, this is the podcast for you. This is an extremely insightful conversation with a professional whose superpower is helping humans and workplaces slay the energy vampires that cause burnout, crush creativity and stifle inclusion. We discuss the elusive concept of balance and Sean talks us through three very specific practices to put in place to set boundaries and manage our energy. Listeners are encouraged to document how they will implement boundaries to manage: Technology and email: what time you'll put devices
My guest today, who provides a great deal of food for thought about the impact of Covid and how we emerge from it is formidable psychologist Leah Fogarty. We cover a lot of topics including the work that Leah has done supporting mental health as people grapple with Covid. When the global pandemic was first impacting Australia last year, Leah developed a program for patients to support them in really uncertain times, which we discuss at length. Leah's work is influenced by the fact that she is a former elite athlete. A lot of her practice supports current athletes and we talk about this and som
This is an enriching conversation with a deep thinker who does a lot of work advising Boards and CEOs. Or as her bio says she "gets sh*t done for equality and inclusion." We explore a number of themes that Michelle focuses on with leaders. She talks me through a common question that she asks about whether leaders would build an organisation the same way again, the answer is frequently intriguing. In exploring this theme, Michelle invites leaders to think about the person they care most about and whether they would want that person to work with their organisation. More often than not, asking se
If you're feeling the need to turbocharge your motivation as you settle into month sevenish, dealing with Covid, this is the conversation for you. My guest has 14+ years pedigree of Fortune 500 companies and advises organisations and leaders on creating environments where smart, self-motivating, innovative individuals thrive. We discuss the concept of interconnected, distributed teams which is an interesting concept. It is also critical to the way that we're working now as many of us have lost that regular 'in person' way, incidental communication with our colleagues. We cover a lot of interes
My guest today is the formidable Maz Farrelly, former Executive Editor of Format Entertainment at the BBC in London (think Big Brother, Celebrity Apprentice + Q+A on ABC) and now CEO Whisperer and Social Commentator. Maz's content has over 8 billion views and you're going to want to take a listen, she's fantastic. We cover a lot of topics including the work that Maz does with senior business leaders. The starting point in any such gig is a 'boring audit' a concept that I love. We discuss the fact that many professionals and leaders consciously make themselves less interesting and tone themselv
Back on the podcast is Richard Yetsenga Chief Economist and Head of Research at ANZ. The first time I interviewed Richard turned out to be the last week that we were working in an office. I have been listening to a lot of Richard's commentary and analysis through the pandemic and I was keen to explore some of it in more detail. We talk about inequality, technology, climate change and geopolitics - all of which are being particularly impacted by the pandemic. We also cover the 20 minute suburb, social housing and the increasing influence of voters under 35. We cover a lot of interesting ground,
In this Covid19 period of significant change, how we work and connect with each other, both within and outside our organisations, is critical to the success of the strategy. My guest today is Jon Burgess a thought leader in people advocacy and collaboration. Jon is also a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School. This podcast is a conversation about connectedness. Jon's great passion is helping leaders and organisations to develop and maintain a competitive advantage through a deeper approach to relationship building. Since the world and business landscape have changed so dramatically, Jon ha
My guest today is Richard Yetsenga Chief Economist and Head of Research at ANZ Bank. This was always going to be interesting, throw into the mix a slightly tumultuous global pandemic and voila you have a great conversation. We discuss Richard’s approach* to using Twitter in terms of the way that he publishes and influences dialogue. It was also interesting to hear that Twitter has been a key source of information for him as Covid19 evolves at a rapid pace. Central to this discussion is the importance of trustworthy content and we talk in detail about this critical issue. The ability to stay in
My guest today is Bronwyn Bate - CEO and Founder of Mettle Women, a social entrepreneur turning empathy into action. This is a remarkable influencer story. As a (former) court reporter Bronwyn met lots of inspiring women but realised that when domestic violence victims don't have financial independence, 52% who have escaped dangerous situations return to the system. Bronwyn made good use of her communications background and recognised that an important mechanism for success would be to get women into work. And so harnessing the power of a conscious consumer, she founded Mettle Women Inc a soci
Katie Talks is back for 2020 and my first guest is an interesting one. Graeme Bowman is well known as a keynote speaker, writer, corporate comedian and hoax speaker. Graeme uses his 34 years' experience in the arts to raise consciousness around the ways that systematic patriarchy plays out within male dominated organisations. You may wonder what a self-professed 'old straight white male' can do about this. I did too, listen for some fresh perspectives. Hosted by Katie Bennett-Stenton, who you can find at @KatiebMarketing on twitter or Katie@bennett-stenton.com. Disclaimer this podcast is a per
