Have you ever wondered why some businesses go broke and others are successful?
For 40 years I was a corporate undertaker. I buried businesses that failed and helped save those where there was still a pulse.
I was parachuted into some of corporate Australia’s biggest financial crisis, insolvencies and turnaround environments. I have been in Board rooms, Court rooms and on shop floors when all seems lost (and sometimes it was).
Over decades at the coal face of business (often in the most difficult circumstances), I have seen & heard stories that delighted and inspired me, as well as those which serve as a guide of the path not to take.
I also spent years in leadership roles at Ferrier Hodgson and KPMG Australia where I sat on the Board and was the National Consumer and Retail leader.
The purpose of What I learned about Business (that didn’t kill me!) is to share the stories behind some of the world's most interesting business situations, how they unfolded, how my guests dealt with them, and how those experiences changed them and the way they do business.
I hope that my podcast entertains and engages listeners who want to know more about the worlds great business leaders and the lessons that didn’t kill them…….
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever wondered why some businesses go broke and others are successful?
For 40 years I was a corporate undertaker. I buried businesses that failed and helped save those where there was still a pulse.
I was parachuted into some of corporate Australia’s biggest financial crisis, insolvencies and turnaround environments. I have been in Board rooms, Court rooms and on shop floors when all seems lost (and sometimes it was).
Over decades at the coal face of business (often in the most difficult circumstances), I have seen & heard stories that delighted and inspired me, as well as those which serve as a guide of the path not to take.
I also spent years in leadership roles at Ferrier Hodgson and KPMG Australia where I sat on the Board and was the National Consumer and Retail leader.
The purpose of What I learned about Business (that didn’t kill me!) is to share the stories behind some of the world's most interesting business situations, how they unfolded, how my guests dealt with them, and how those experiences changed them and the way they do business.
I hope that my podcast entertains and engages listeners who want to know more about the worlds great business leaders and the lessons that didn’t kill them…….
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, James sits down with Bruce Carter AO, one of Australia’s most respected commercial advisors and arguably South Australia’s “Mr Fix-It”. Over more than three decades, Bruce has become the person governments, boards and business leaders call when the stakes are high and commercial pragmatism is in demand.
Bruce built his career in corporate restructuring and insolvency as a young partner at EY before founding Ferrier Hodgson’s Adelaide office. From there he became pivotal in some of South Australia’s biggest corporate challenges — Harris Scarfe’s collapse, the Elders refinancing, and government advisory roles on the Port Pirie smelter, Whyalla steelworks, the Olympic Dam expansion, and more. In 2021 he was appointed to the Board of Crown Resorts as it faced an existential reputational crisis and three Government Royal Commissions.
In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Bruce talks through:
Bruce’s reflections are candid, thoughtful and packed with lessons for leaders, directors and anyone navigating high-pressure decisions.
This is a rare window into the mindset of someone who has helped steer companies, governments and communities through their most pivotal moments.
The views expressed in this episode are personal opinions only and do not represent the views of any organisation, board, government body or company with which Bruce Carter AO or James H. Stewart is or has been associated. Nothing in this episode constitutes financial, legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own independent advice before making any decisions based on the topics discussed.
Contact James
Website: jameshstewart.com
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-stewart-gaicd-83b46a9/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.