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The six tips that stuck with 2024’s BOSS Young Executives
There’s no single route to the top. But a few good habits will help you on your way.
- Sally Patten
Four traits that stand out among the 2024 BOSS Young Executives
This year’s BOSS Young Executives have a desire to master the task at hand, collaborate and inspire – and they are tech-savvy.
- Sally Patten
How this retail executive found his calling in the school playground
Chad Burke is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. As a teenager, he had a good business selling chocolates and chips to his fellow students.
- Sally Patten
This top exec reveals the secret to having it all
Sinead Booth is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She first gained business experience helping with the books as a teenager at her father’s refrigeration business.
- Sally Patten
This exec wants more than a CEO role. She wants to be an astronaut
Renee Wootton is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She works in the fledgling sustainable aviation sector, but her real goal is to go to the International Space Station.
- Sally Patten
July
From selling vacuum cleaners to running Booking.com in Australia at 33
Tod Lacey is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. His first proper job was selling vacuum cleaners at a department store in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island.
- Sally Patten
My sixth form teacher told me to lower my sights
Kiria McNamara is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. She was told she would have trouble getting the marks to get into her chosen university course.
- Sally Patten
This young exec wants to make sure his parents’ sacrifice was worth it
Gurbaj Pawar is one of the 2024 BOSS Young Executives. He is head of strategy and projects at insurance broker network AUB Group.
- Sally Patten
January
Why this executive ditched networking dinners for ice baths
Domain customer head and BOSS Young Executive Angus Ferguson has a sauna and ice bath most mornings, and has started taking clients too.
- Updated
- Sally Patten
Why this executive fasts for 17 hours a day
Swisse Wellness operations director and BOSS Young Executive David Donnoli says intermittent fasting gave him a razor-like focus that took him back to his 20s.
- Euan Black
Why Wednesday afternoons are a meeting-free zone for this exec
Westpac digital strategy head and BOSS Young Executive Jessica Hallett says Wednesday afternoons are her time to read and carry out tasks to empower her team.
- Euan Black
August 2023
The daily exercise this young executive does to train on AI
James Chin Moody, the co-founder of Sendle, has recommended young executives get into a daily habit of training with AI, embracing the technology which stands to upturn the future of the workplace.
- Mark Di Stefano and Jessica Sier
Rio Tinto boss on working with traditional owners
Rio Tinto chief executive for Australia, Kellie Parker, speaks to Patrick Durkin about the company's efforts to work with indigenous owners.
- Updated
Young executives warned of ‘sustained operational crisis’
The remilitarisation of Europe, along with cyberattacks and climate change, are changing the business environment. Australia is also in the line of fire.
- Updated
- Julie Hare
The elevator pitch still works: Top tips on leadership
Executives say cementing relationships with a wide variety of people is still the most potent way to prepare for leadership.
- Jessica Sier
Why putting up with boring tasks made this executive a better boss
Fiona Lang of BBC Studios says mastering technical skills early in your career will give you confidence later on.
- Sally Patten
How these BOSS Young Executives went on to become top dog
These former young leaders became CEOs or set up their own businesses after winning the award. Here’s their advice for the next cohort coming through.
- Euan Black
These five won BOSS Young Executive awards. This is what they do now
This year AFR BOSS celebrates the 20th anniversary of its program for outstanding leaders under 35. We talk to past winners to find out what they are up to.
- Sally Patten, Euan Black and Patrick Durkin
July 2023
The six tips that stuck with 2023’s BOSS Young Executives
A warning that there are no perfect answers and the need to care for people are among the key pieces of career advice given to this year’s youthful leaders.
- Sally Patten
Why this renewables executive used to curse her biology teacher
Naureen Alam is one of the 2023 BOSS Young Executives of the Year. She was given valuable advice by her year 12 biology teacher. “Just do what you enjoy.”
- Sally Patten
Three traits that 2023 BOSS Young Executives leaders all have
This year’s BOSS Young Executives demonstrated a willingness to listen, take risks and galvanise teams, all while ensuring they were getting the right balance between work and life.
- Sally Patten
This HR executive hopes she can make the leap to CEO
Emma Wright is one of the 2023 BOSS Young Executives. She says she got her big break into leadership during six insightful years at McDonald’s.
- Sally Patten
This high-flying young exec was told to be a tradie by his school
Andrew Cooper is one of the 2023 BOSS Young Executives. He says when you figure out what you want to do, you see opportunities in a different light.
- Sally Patten
How this exec went from fixing old cars to being a supply-chain guru
David Donnoli is one of the 2023 BOSS Young Executives. He loved problem-solving from a young age: “I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
- Sally Patten
This exec sold his start-up for $25m. Now he is a senior corporate leader
Angus Ferguson is one of the BOSS Young Executives for 2023. He sold his start-up to Domain in 2019 and now he works for the property marketplace.
- Sally Patten
