In this episode, I’m joined once again by Dr Gavriel “Gav” Schneider, CEO, author, strategic risk expert, and one of Australia’s foremost thinkers on how to navigate uncertainty and unlock human potential. We dive deep into his latest book, Presilience: How to Navigate Risk, Embrace Opportunity and Build Resilience, exploring why most organisations still view risk too narrowly, and how reframing it as a strategic enabler can lift both performance and resilience.
We talk about the post-COVID productivity slump, the challenge of leading five generations in the workforce, and why Australia’s risk-averse culture is holding back innovation. Gav shares the core skills every leader needs to thrive in a world of low certainty and limited control, and how his Presilience framework has transformed not only his own $45M business but also the outcomes of clients across sectors.
This conversation is packed with practical insights, from rethinking work-from-home policies based on human behaviour, to leading through disruption without burning out, to positioning your organisation for the opportunities emerging from generative AI.
If you’re a leader, board member, or aspiring high performer, this is essential listening.
TIME STAMPS:
1:14 – Gav’s background: CEO for 25 years, $45M business, award-winning risk leader, security expert, lifelong martial artist.
2:55 – Overview of Risk 2 Solution Group and its integrated approach to risk, resilience, and performance.
5:06 – Origin of the term Presilience and the concept of risk intelligence.
7:20 – How risk-aversion in Australia limits innovation and growth.
10:06 – The link between low productivity, employee motivation, and leadership mindset.
15:31 – The six core skills leaders assume staff have (but often don’t).
25:07 – The “five generations in the workforce” challenge and how to engage them.
29:52 – Why blanket work-from-home policies fail without understanding human behaviour.
30:34 – How Presilience helped scale Gav’s business from 30 to 320 people post-COVID.
47:32 – Generative AI: why it won’t take your job, but people who master it will.
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