Thought Leadership Provocations
Here are some resources to spark ideas, embrace the unexpected, connect dots and explore new ways of doing things.
Reads
Brown, Brene (2022). Atlas of the heart. Random House. Busch, C. (2020). The serendipity mindset: The art and science of creating good luck. Penguin. Chang, A., & Grundy, A (Eds.) A time for Bravery. What happens when Australia chooses courage?
Dalio, R. (2017). Principles. Simon & Schuster. Dalton, T. (2023). Lola in the mirror. 4th Estate. Davis, J. (2018). The greats on leadership. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Gawdat, M. (2021). Scary smart. The future of artificial intelligence and how you can save our world. Bluebird.
Godin, S. (2023). The song of significance. A new manifesto for teams. Penguin. Goodall, A. (2024). The problem with change. The essential nature of human performance. Ebury Publishing. Grant, A. (2023). Think again. W.H. Allen.
Hague, L. (2019). 10 things we can do to benefit from nature. Harari, Y.N. (2015). Sapiens. A brief history of humankind. Vintage Arrow. Hickson, A. (2024). GALAH. Stories of life outside the city. Murdoch Books. Jarrett, M. (2021). Thought leadership papers. Johnson, A.E. (2024). What if we get it right? Visions of climate futures. Random House.
Kemp, J. & Mitchelson, M. (2024). The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD. Cultivate self-compassion, live authentically, and be your own advocate. New Harbinger. Lloyd, C., & Rixon, A. (Eds). (2019). The Story Cookbook: Practical recipes for change. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. McConaghy, C. (2021). Migrations. A novel. Penguin.
Newport, C. (2024). Slow productivity. The lost art of accomplishment without burnout. Portfolio. Rixon, A., & Zhang, L (Eds). (2026). Narrative Leadership Development: Storytelling for navigating challenging times. Routledge. Seligman, M. (2012). Flourish. Random House. Selignman, M. (2026). Agency. The psychological history of human agency. Simon & Schuster. Sims, S.T. (2022). Next Level. The ultimate guide to keep kicking ass and competing through menopause and beyond. Random House. Sutherland, R. (2021). Alchemy: The Magic of Original Thinking in a world of mind-numbing conformity. WH Allen. The Neuron newsletter – AI trends and tools to stay ahead of the curve.
Van Nieuwerburgh, C., & Biswas Diener, R. (2025). Radical Listening. The Art of True Connection. Berrett-Koehler. Webster, V., & Brough, P. (2021). Destructive leadership in the workplace and its consequences. Sage.
Wheatley, M. (2023). Who do we choose to be? Facing reality, claiming leadership, restoring sanity. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Whyte, D. (2023). Essentials. Poems and a consolation. Many Rivers Press.
Whyte, D. (2022). Still possible. Many Rivers Press.
Whyte, D. (2019). Consolations. The solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words. Canongate Trade.
Podcasts
Quick Smart with Tegan Taylor (big ideas in bite-sized pieces – 10 mins)
Rear Vision with Antony Funnell - how the past defines our world.
Rethinking with Adam Grant (As an organizational psychologist, Adam Grant believes that great minds don't think alike; they challenge each other to think differently)
The Floorplan - a window into modern workplaces with Libby Sander and Matt Webber
The Neurodivergent Woman with Michelle Livock, Monique Mitchelson and Marie Masse
This Working Life with Lisa Leong (30 mins)
TED talks, Documentaries & Video clips
3ways to plan for the very long term, Ira Wallach (15 mins) Australian Story, ABC iview. Sharing compelling stories about real people that illuminate, entertain and inspire. The power of the personal. Presented by Leigh Sales.
Fear Setting, Tim Ferriss (15 mins)
How changing your story can change your life, Lori Gottlieb (16 mins)
How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains, Richard J. Davidson (20 mins)
How to stop languishing and start finding flow, Adam Grant (16 mins) Simon Sinek You Tube
The Power of Vulnerability, Brene Brown (20 mins) Under Cover, ABC iview. Sharing the lives of an eclectic group of women over 50, being the fastest growing cohort experiencing homelessness in Australia.
Websites, Apps and Instagram
Annabel Crabb, Instagram @annabelcrabb
Annabelle Hickson GALAH magazine – a modern voice from the bush.
Applied Neuroscience
Dr Sarah McKay, neuroscientist, takes complex neuroscience and makes it accessible for leaders and coaches.
Astrid Jorgensen Pub Choir.
Blinkist Blinkist is an app that condenses thousands of bestselling non-fiction books and podcast episodes into 15-minute text and audio summaries.
Centre for Coaching in Organisations Paul Lawrence shares his meta-research and free whitepapers reviewing current thinking on coaching individuals, teams and organisations.
Daily-Delight-Disrupt, UNSW. A chance to spark delight in our lives, while reconnecting with each other and nature #DailyDelightDisrupt
Diamond View Farm, Instagram @diamondviewfarm
GreenDoor
An idea by Sophie Griffiths, Claire Ashman and Max Griffiths to support women aged 50+ at risk of homelessness in Queensland.
Grief Australia Illuminating grief for all Australians. A guiding voice through the universal human experience of grief.
Hetty Einzig. A thinking partnership. To reflect .. to reassess… to renew … to challenge the status quo.
Housing Older Women
Vision: To ensure Queensland Older Women have safe, secure, and affordable housing appropriate to their needs which fosters wellbeing and enables ageing in place. My Home, Your Home, Our Homes Project.
Incisive Leaders
The light and dark side of leadership with Dr Vicki Webster.
Inventium
Using generative AI with Amantha Imber and Neo Aplin.
Jamila Rizvim, Future Women. Gender equality, author, podcast presenter, public speaker.
Midnight Health
Brisbane entrepreneur, Nic Blair, provides personalised online health care through three brands: hub for self-managed healthcare, including emergency contraception services; Youly for women’s healthcare; and Stagger for a digital healthcare service for Australian men. His newest offering is an Australian-first corporate health product called hubPass for business.
The Future of Work Studio
Dr Libby Sander reimagines the future of work for people, places and the planet.
workHers
Afrouz Shoghi’s research on connecting and empowering working mothers.
World Science Festival Brisbane March 2027.