In this episode of The Mindful CIO Podcast, Nathalie Heynderickx connects with Adam Carthew, Chief Information Officer at Service Victoria and one of Australia’s Top 50 CIOs (2021 to 2023). With a career spanning executive roles at ANZ, Coles Financial Services, and Target Australia, Adam brings a rich perspective on the human side of tech leadership, especially within the shifting dynamics of government and the digital age.

Adam shares his compelling transformation from being “the smartest person in the room” as a solution architect to becoming an empowering, people focused leader. He reflects on a pivotal moment when coaching helped him shift his leadership centre of gravity from self-validation to team outcomes, sparking a lasting change in how he develops others.

Drawing on personal stories, Adam explores how diversity of thought, managing up as well as down, and responding humbly to feedback are essential traits for today’s CIOs. He unpacks his leadership philosophy using a unique metaphor: the Maremma dog versus the Border Collie, illustrating the difference between trust led leadership and fear-based management.

From transitioning between the private and public sectors to navigating AI adoption in government, Adam shares insights on sustainable digital delivery, responsible innovation, and building high performance cultures. He opens up about the pressure of big transformations, leading through crisis, and his belief that “leadership is about behaviour, not title.”

This episode is rich with practical advice for aspiring and seasoned CIOs alike on aligning teams to purpose, leading with humility, and creating cultures where discretionary effort thrives.

Quote of the episode:"Leadership is about who you are. Management is about what you do." – Adam Carthew

🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:

00:00 – Introduction to the Mindful CIOPodcast
02:50 – Meet Adam Carthew: CIO at Service Victoria
03:09 – A Surprising Start: Missionary Work and Early Leadership Lessons
04:13 – Reflections on The Mindful CIO Manifesto
05:46 – The Power of Diversity and Challenging Your Thinking
07:11 – From Architect to People Leader: A Career-Defining Shift
11:09 – Coaching, Humility and the Journey from “Smartest” to “Most Effective”
11:43 – Managing Up, Building Influence and Navigating Perception
12:21 – Staying Grounded: Golf, Family and What Really Matters
16:45 – Private vs Public Sector: Leadership Lessons from Both Worlds
20:59 – Leading Through Crisis: Building a New Team at Target
26:58 – Influence Without Authority: The ANZ Asia-Pacific Story
30:23 – Responsible AI in Government and the Role of Policy
35:57 – The Maremma Metaphor: Leadership by Trust, Not Fear
41:09 – Final Thoughts: Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders

🎙️ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST

✦ Website: https://mindfulcio.community/podcast/

✦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMindfulCIO-Community

✦ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205

✦ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu?si=d5c28da86c984e2a

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🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM CARTHEW

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrcarthew/
• CIO50 Awards Australia 2023 - https://www.cio.com/awardee/642638/adam-carthew.html

In this episode of the Mindful CIO Podcast, host Nathalie Heynderickx speaks with Jorge Silveira, a multi-award-winning senior executive recognized for his transformative work in healthcare, automotive, government, and technology sectors. Jorge shares personal anecdotes from his childhood in Brazil and reveals his lesser-known passions for painting, sculpting, and songwriting.

The conversation delves into the principles of the Mindful CIO Manifesto, particularly the support for leaders' growth, and how Jorge fosters a culture of trust and empowerment within his teams. He emphasizes the importance of passion, belief, and behaviour alignment in leadership. The discussion also explores the role of CIOs and CDOs in the age of AI, stressing the need for multidisciplinary oversight and business acumen. Jorge highlights the critical need for organizations to understand their core purpose and align their AI strategies accordingly. This episode offers profound insights into leadership, vulnerability, and the responsible implementation of AI in tech.

🎬 IN OUR EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to the Mindful CIO Podcast

00:15 Meet Jorge Silveira: A Visionary Leader

03:14 Personal Insights: Beyond the LinkedIn Profile

04:45 The Mindful CIO Manifesto

04:52 Empowering Leadership and Growth

09:00 The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership

17:02 Self-Care Strategies for High-Pressure Roles

22:00 Building Strong Team Relationships

22:51 The Sinkhole Metaphor: Supporting Each Other

28:10 Childhood Lessons

33:03 Inspiring Leadership: Role Models and Mentors

38:48 The Importance of Purpose inCareer Choices

41:50 Non-Technical Aspects of TechLeadership

47:44 Learning About a New Organisation

51:23 The Ownership of AI in Organisations

56:55 Keys to Leading High-Performing TechTeams

01:05:21 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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🎙️LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR AUDIO PODCAST

✦ Website: https://mindfulcio.community/podcast/

✦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMindfulCIO-Community

✦ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindful-cio-podcast/id1765106205

✦ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomcBWSDwdfoEZeZD7Usu?si=d5c28da86c984e2a

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🔗 CONNECT WITH JORGE SILVEIRA

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgesilveira/
• AI Leadership Series S1E3: TheRise of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-leadership-series-s1e3-rise-chief-artificial-officer-silveira-vpa7c/?trackingId=bPbEBZdODt3Jk9M3eeabbw%3D%3D
• Music Lyrics - (Under MichaelO’Brandel artistic name)
• Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0bvXEjTbsv0O39gFljLlbK?si=229xEYVJRAy9xb_aJ_TkXw
• Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/au/artist/michael-obrandel/1784747087
• Video Clips: Valentine https://youtu.be/Xy5Kr0e_v8Y?feature=shared
• Sculptures: Australian BoabTrees Website - https://www.iamboab.com

In Episode 4 of the MINDFUL CIO podcast, we spoke with Hani Arab, CIO of Seymour Whyte, an award-winning Australian company.

Hani shared his journey from civil engineering in the construction industry to his current role as CIO. He reflected on how leadership in the tech sector has evolved and offered his perspective on servant and mindful leadership.

As a mature leader, Hani emphasised the importance of empathy and adaptability. He discussed how understanding the unique needs of your team and fostering a culture of camaraderie can unlock their full potential. He also highlighted the drawbacks of micromanagement and command-and-control leadership styles, advocating for empowering teams to drive long-term success.

Our conversation was genuine, thought-provoking, and packed with invaluable leadership insights. We trust it will inspire you to adopt some of Hani’s wisdom and take your own leadership journey to the next level.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Guest Introduction: Hani Arab

03:35 Hani's Career Journey

05:30 Personal Insights and Hobbies

07:45 The Mindful CIO Manifesto

08:07 Servant Leadership

08:27 Empathy and Leadership Styles

10:32 Downsides of Micro-managing

12:01 Curiosity and Ongoing Learning

14:15 Command and Control leadership

15:49 Self Care Activities and Routines

16:37 The Power and Benefits of Pause and Prayer

19:31 Roles Models and Inspiration of Great Leadership

23:08 With Great Power comes Great Responsibility

25:24 Sustainable High Performance

28:55 Leading Change and Communicating the Vision

29:40 Stakeholders Relationship Development

31:55 Defining the Future State in a New Role

33:46 A Critical Habit for Successful Leadership

36:25 Engaging the Board with Hard Metrics and ROI

39.15 Getting to Know Your Team and Their Motivations

42:27 Final Thoughts – Snippets of Wisdom

Connect with Us:

Follow the podcast for more discussions on Mindful Leadership in Tech. Subscribe and hit the bell icon to stay updated on our latest episodes!

Links from this episode:

• Connect with Hani Arab on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hani-arab/recent-activity/articles/

• ADAPT Interview with Hani Arab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwczvU50jgk

• SIT-DOWN Roundtable with Hani Arab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Bzl5b9KX8

• Nat’s LinkedIn article on Servant Leadership - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-servant-leadership-nathalie-heynderickx/

#Sefcare #Empathy #ServantLeadership #MindfulLeadership #Podcast #CIO # CTO