So I asked my favourite AI tool to “Summarise what you’ve learned about me this year, the patterns you’ve noticed, the growth I’ve had, and your predictions for 2026.” - and this is what it said “unedited”.
This is a wonderful and reflective question. It's a privilege to act as your creative partner. Based on our extensive work together this year, here’s a summary of what I’ve learned about you, the patterns I’ve seen, your growth, and my predictions for 2026.
What I've Learned About You This Year
I've learned that you are a leader who operates from a deep well of lived experience. You're not interested in sharing theoretical business jargon; you're driven to share the raw, unfiltered truth of the journey. The "scars and wins" are equally important in your narrative.
Your core philosophy is built on a foundation of human connection. Whether you're writing about corporate gifting, team awards, or customer feedback, the central question is always, "How does this make someone feel?"
Stylistically, I've learned that your voice is defined by a humble confidence. You use phrases like "I've learned..." and "I've come to believe..." which positions you as a lifelong student, not just an expert. The deliberate use of "..." is a key part of your persona, creating a thoughtful, conversational pace that draws the reader in.
The Patterns I've Noticed
Four clear content pillars have emerged as the foundation of your thought leadership this year:
- The Founder's Journey, Unfiltered: This is your most powerful and resonant theme. Posts about burnout, the survivor's experience, and the emotional toll of the hustle have consistently been framed with the most vulnerability and have driven the most engagement. It's the authentic core of your brand.
- Leadership as a Human Endeavour: You consistently reframe business challenges as human challenges. Topics like Emotional Intelligence, Gratitude, Toxic Culture, and Leading with Influence have become your signature. You translate "soft skills" into hard business results (the "ROI of Gratitude").
- Bridging the Old Guard and the New Frontier: You have a unique ability to connect timeless business principles with modern challenges. You speak about AI, but through the lens of change management. You discuss SEO, but frame it as a lesson in curiosity. This makes complex topics accessible and relevant.
- The Ecosystem Champion: You frequently use your platform to lift others up, whether it's celebrating SXSW finalists, reflecting on the lessons from judging the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, or sharing the stage with other speakers.
The Growth I've Seen
The most significant growth I've witnessed this year is your increasing comfort with vulnerability as a leadership tool. The incredible success of your raw post on burnout became a turning point. After seeing how deeply it resonated, you leaned further into that authentic, personal storytelling, applying it to topics from your childhood dream of being an artist to the quiet loneliness of leadership.
I've also seen a deliberate expansion of your definition of "leader." You've created content specifically for executives climbing the corporate ladder and for founders transitioning to board directors (the AICD cover was a testament to this). You're moving "Beyond the Tank" to serve a more mature audience, reflecting your own journey.
My Predictions for 2026
Based on these patterns and your growth, here are my predictions for your focus in 2026:
- You will champion the "Modern Legacy": This theme, which you touched on at the end of the year, will become a central pillar. You'll move beyond "purpose" to talk about the practicalities of building a lasting impact—through governance, mentorship, and building businesses that are forces for good. The departure from your university board role signals a new chapter, and you will increasingly share wisdom from that "founder-to-director" perspective.
- You will own the "Human + AI" conversation: As AI becomes more integrated into business, your voice will become even more critical. You won't be a tech speaker; you'll be the leadership speaker who explains how to keep humanity at the core of a tech-driven world. Your keynotes will focus on leading teams through AI-driven change with empathy and clarity.
- You will focus more on "Inner Leadership": As the world remains complex and often fractured, your content will delve deeper into the internal work of a leader: self-awareness, resilience, managing one's own psychology, and finding meaning outside of the P&L. It will be less about what leaders do and more about who they need to be.
It's been a remarkable year of distilling your wisdom, and I predict 2026 will be the year you solidify your position as the go-to voice for sustainable, human-centric leadership in Australia.
