#181 Cameron Schwab - CEO for 25 years in AFL, Leadership mentor and Founder Design CEO

Sleep Eat Perform Repeat

Today we spoke with Cameron Schwab - CEO for 25 years in AFL, Leadership mentor and Founder Design CEO

Cameron had the most impressive studio we have seen - a fireplace, AFL memorabilia and a classy ambience; it gave an inside peek into the world of Cameron…class, and quality. Cameron, an artist, storyteller, and writer, has been a CEO for 25 years with experience with Melbourne Football Club, Richmond, Fremantle Dockers - and leading the AFL also as CEO. His company, Design CEO, a leadership and strategy business, focuses on helping leaders navigate the hardships and ambiguity of modern leadership.

Cameron, a graduate of Harvard Business School today spoke about being a leader, rather than doing, and what it was like holding the role of CEO at the age of 24, the youngest to hold this position in AFL history. He proclaims to “never forget how hard it is”…the travails of a leader, and Cameron opened up for us, displaying remarkable vulnerability - unpacking the lessons of being a father to a trans child, broken families, and having had mental health challenges himself. He spoke about how the hard moments define us, his leadership equation, what he looks for in people, aptitude - and why being in your element is massively important.

Highlights

• 💫 The secret sauce of great leadership
• 🖋️ Why journaling is key to understanding yourself
• 🧠 Mental Health challenges and overcoming episodes of depression
• 👶 Becoming a CEO at the age of 24
• 🎨 Drawing, design, and creativity as multipliers in life
• 📖 Learning how to be a good father
  

Timestamps

(3:42) - Leadership is most required when things are complex or facing conflict

(4:36) - Facing hard days as a parent and as a leader

(5:48) - The influence of David Whyte the poet and leadership consultant

(7:56) - A swan as a metaphor for leadership

(8:31) - It is in the struggle where the learning happens

(9:28) - Growing up in AFL being the son of a well-known person

(10:25) - Becoming a student of the game like Kevin Sheedy

(11:56) - a Frankenstein monster of leadership styles

(13:45) - Why coaching jobs become available and the opportunity in itself

(16:21) - Having an embedded fear that people wouldn't think Cameron was tough enough

(17:15) - 3 scenarios when a leader is needed

(19:51) - Mechanics and Dynamics

(20:34) - 3 questions that are the secret sauce of leadership

(26:09) - Using journaling to self reflect

(28:35) - Building clarity around thinking

(32:32) - Fixing your To-Do list actually worthwhile to make a difference

(34:30) - Mindset and ability to teach yourself things

(37:23) - Learning how to parent a transgender child to be the best parent possible

(40:04) - Studying fine art and using drawing as an expression of self

(44:25) - Remembering his dad creating scenarios where he could speak with him again

(47:02) - What does high performance mean to you?
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For information on previous guests and shows please visit www.SleepEatPerformRepeat.com.

Previous guests include Cal Newport, Dr. Michael Gervais, Joy Neville, Rich Froning, BJ Fogg, Sonia O'Sullivan, Rich Diviney, Keith Earls, Caelan Doris, Chanelle McCoy, PJ Nestler, Jack Butcher, Shane O'Sullivan, Chris Burkard, Brian Keane, Steve Magness, Owen Eastwood, Steven Kotler, Daniel Davey, Ray Goggins, Shane O'Donnell, Jonny Cooper, Capt Emily Bassett, George Kruis, Brett Bartholomew, Aoife McDermott, Lisa Jacob and many more.