Finding Meaning In Work

Dr. Jason Fox aka The Wizard Philosopher

Dr. Jason Fox is a wizard-philosopher and bestselling author masquerading as a leadership futurist. He works with questing teams seeking new and meaningful progress—beyond the default.

 

I had such a great time hosting Dr. Jason Fox aka ‘the wizard philosopher’ on the  podcast. In this conversation, he shares how his unconventional path, from studying motivation and behaviour change to exploring ecological systems and even navigating World of Warcraft informs his work guiding leaders and organisations toward more authentic, purpose-driven strategies. He critiques the narrow, metrics-obsessed approach of many corporate environments, arguing that real progress emerges when people embrace ambiguity, develop deeper curiosity, and remain open to creative possibilities. Whether referencing the importance of liberal arts thinking in an AI-driven era or highlighting how people can find meaning even in mundane roles, Jason emphasises that true meaning can’t be forced or fabricated; instead, it arises from thoughtful engagement with complexity, empathy, and collective exploration

ONE IDEA: AUTHENTICITY

This episode is a bit different.

Rather than the usual interview format, we’re trying something new. These "ONE IDEA" episodes feature recordings of essays I’ve written and published on Disruptive Business Network. Covering topics from authenticity to game theory to how technology is shaping our lives, these essays all center on one fundamental theme: our search for meaning, especially in the work we do.

I hope you enjoy it.

In this first essay: Authenticity

We often think of authenticity as simply “being true to ourselves.” But is that really what it means?

This essay explores a fascinating story of Johnny Cash’s rebirth, guided by the legendary producer Rick Rubin. Rubin didn’t just focus on the “authentic” man behind the music..he amplified the mythical Man in Black, reigniting Cash’s career in the process.

The key insight? Authenticity isn’t about clinging to who you are today; it’s about becoming who you need to be to create impact. In a world that overemphasizes hyper-individualism, this essay challenges that notion, encouraging us to think beyond the ‘I’ and focus on the ‘we.’

Drawing from the wisdom of Aristotle, Nietzsche, and beyond, I explore how true authenticity requires discipline, courage, and connection to others.

So how can we redefine authenticity in our own lives? Let’s dive in.

 

 

David Swan

David Swan is one of Australia's leading technology reporters and editors. He is the Technology Editor for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and was previously Technology Editor for The Australian newspaper.

In 2024 he was awarded Australia's best technology journalist at The Lizzies, Australia's national IT Journalism awards. Previous roles include chief technology reporter at independent IT news website iTWire, and at News Corp publication Technology Spectator.

Garry Williams

 

In my latest episode of the Finding Meaning in Work podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Garry Williams, a cornerstone of Melbourne’s tech community. Garry's story is one of resilience, connection, and a deep commitment to building meaningful spaces for people to gather.

Some key themes of the conversation:

1. Community & Connection: Garry has been pivotal in creating spaces that bring people together, not just for networking but for genuine connection. His work in the tech sector, especially with events like FuckUp Nights and his involvement with Inspire9, highlights his passion for fostering meaningful interactions.
2. Burnout & Self-Care: Like a few of us, Garry has faced burnout from saying “yes” too often. His journey in setting boundaries and prioritising self-care is something I think we can all relate to, especially those of us who juggle many roles in our professional and personal lives.
3. Finding Meaning: For Garry, the meaning in his work comes from curating experiences and connecting people. Whether it’s through tech events or helping companies grow, his joy lies in bringing people together and creating spaces where innovation and culture intersect.
4. Looking Forward: Garry's next venture, Group Group, is focused on niche communities—combining his passion for technology, music, and subcultures. It’s exciting to hear about his plans to build something new and impactful in Melbourne’s west.

Check out the full episode and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.disruptivebusinessnetwork.com/podcast

 

About Garry Williams

 

Garry (Gaz) Williams - CHIEF CHIEF, GROUP GROUP

Gaz runs GROUP GROUP - a specialist advisory+execution brand centred on the overlap of brand-building and capital growth stages for tech focused companies.

 

Gaz was first employee at Tractor Ventures leading brand-building & marketing for the company that became the fastest growing fintech in Aus. Previously, he was Creative producer of Innovation at University of Melbourne, and worked on some very strange things at Science Gallery Melbourne.

As well as running partnerships at General Assembly or coworking at Inspire9, Gaz has an extreme allergy to vanilla content, and places particular importance on niche creation, experimentation, curation, and the importance of place in his culture meets tech weirdo overlap

Landon Brown

In this podcast episode, Landon Brown discusses his career journey from starting in executive search as a teenager to working for tech giants like Google and Airbnb, and eventually founding his own HR consultancy, Partner in Kind. The conversation explores key themes such as finding meaning in work, the challenges of pursuing passion versus purpose, and the importance of social impact. Landon emphasises the role of privilege, his commitment to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, and the need to rethink hiring practices to give more opportunities to diverse candidates. He also encourages listeners to pursue meaningful work, whether within organisations or through entrepreneurship, by taking bold, confident steps to shape their careers.


Landon Brown is the Founder and CEO of Partner in Kind, a Talent and HR consultancy that places people and social impact at the heart of everything they do by donating 20% of all fees to charities and not-for-profits. Originally from and now based in Melbourne, but previously living in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, Landon brings 15 years experience scaling over 50 different pre-IPO companies across 29 countries, while also previously working internally at Airbnb and Google 

Michael Cullen

In this episode of "Finding Meaning in Work," I spoke with Michael Cullen, who shared his journey from nursing to leading Future Energy Skills, an organisation that provides licensing assessments and training for the energy sector, particularly electricians. He discussed how his nursing background shaped his empathetic leadership style, emphasising the importance of treating each person as an individual. Michael highlighted the cultural shift at his organisation towards a more supportive and holistic approach to licensing assessments. He also reflected on the evolving industry, particularly the move towards renewable energy and the increasing number of women in trades, and shared his thoughts on meaningful work, which for him means making a positive impact and fostering a culture of growth and happiness

About Michael (in his own words)

 

I have been the Executive Officer of Future Energy Skills for three years, following an operational background of approximately eight years. I am a licensed electrician and electrical inspector, and I spent several years as a registered electrical contractor, running a small business.

My passion is people—both the staff who work with me and the larger team that serves our Energy Industry. I firmly believe that culture eats strategy for breakfast. Respect and treat everyone for who they are.

I began my adult working life as a nurse, which taught me to appreciate that we all have unique life journeys. We need to be seen, heard, assisted when needed, and respected for what we bring. Our workplaces are made up of individuals who each contribute an important piece to the table, extending to the wider industry and forming the very fabric of our society

Daniel Ajak

In this episode of 'Finding Meaning in Work', we sit down with Daniel Ajak, a defence lawyer and co-founder of the African Australian Legal Network. Born in a refugee camp in Kenya, his family having escaped from Sudan, he is now a lawyer working in Melbourne. His practise is devoted to helping African and other marginalised communities in Melbourne. Daniel shares his incredible journey from adversity to advocacy. Join us as he reflects on the challenges he's faced, the lessons learned, and his commitment to serving his community. 

On Meaning Work # 28: Tom Campbell

Welcome to another episode of the 'On Meaningful Work' podcast.

In this episode I speak with Tom Campbell, AFL football star and the co-founder of Footy for Climate. 

 

About Tom

Tom Campbell is an AFL player with St Kilda Football Club, and has played 12 seasons with the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and St Kilda Football Clubs.

Over the past decade, Tom has been an ambassador for a number of charities including Stand Up Events (tackling homophobia and gender discrimination in sport) and The Les Twentyman Foundation (supporting at-risk youth) and he co-founded Footy for Climate.

Tom is passionate about protecting the future of the planet and footy, and  through Footy for Climate he supports AFL M&W players to use their public platform to advocate for greater climate action and give back to the grassroots of the game

 

 

 

On Meaningful Work ep#27: Nick Savaidis

Hello all and welcome to another episode of the On Meaningful Work podcast

 

We have a very special episode with the founder of the ethical fashion label etiko: Nick Savaidis

 

We have a wide ranging conversation touching on Nick's childhood in Melbourne in 50's, the Greek immigrant experience, the fledgling garment industry that sprang up in the suburbs, setting up social enterprises in remote communities, the reasons for ethical fashion and the trials of being an entrepreneur. We cover alot!

 

About Nick:

 

Nick Savaidis is the founder of Etiko which was recently voted Australia’s Best All-Round Sustainable Retailer in the inaugural National Online Retailers Sustainability Awards.

After working in the education field Nick was involved in establishing and managing a number of social enterprises on remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory in the early 1990’s.

In the early 2000’s he introduced No Sweat the world’s first ethically focussed on to the Australian market place before launching his own Etiko brand in 2006.
A street fashion brand for conscious and conscientious consumers Etiko is not only Fairtrade certified, it’s also a B Corp and a registered social enterprise (via Social Traders). In 2016 Etiko became the first fashion brand to ever win an Australian Human Rights Award for its efforts in addressing the exploitation of workers and farmers in fashion supply chains.

 

 

On Meaningful Work #26: Anna McCracken

Anna is a social strategist, storyteller and adventurer, starting her career in Social Work before moving into human rights law. Anna's nomadic lifestyle over the decade has allowed her to travel to nearly every nook and cranny in Australia, listening deeply to the stories of communities and working in partnership to translate these to government & business in creative ways. Anna’s lived experience of managing lifelong chronic health issues has influenced her drive to challenge the current business as usual paradigm. Anna works across Australia weaving her depth of experience, her personal story and her deep love of storytelling and nature to guide businesses into relational ways of being.