What if the most powerful thing a leader can do is simply make people feel safe?
This week on Exchanges, I sit down with Graeme Cowan co-founder of R U OK Day for a conversation about what the future of work looks like. Graham shares his own journey through mental health challenges, what it taught him about leadership, and why psychological safety isn't just a buzzword it's the foundation of every high-performing team.
We explore what genuine care looks like inside organisations, how to build teams that are truly resilient, and the growing role AI is playing in reshaping leadership as we know it.
To Follow Graeme click here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graemecowan1/
Website: https://graemecowan.com.au/lets-connect/
Website: https://wecare365.com.au/
To Follow Evan click here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-lucas-44a25316/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanlucas_/
Website: https://evanlucas.com.au/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Graham Cowan's Leadership Journey
02:34 Founding R U OK? and Mental Health Advocacy
05:22 The Power of Storytelling in Normalising Mental Health
11:57 Overcoming Resistance to Psychological Safety
12:52 Leading Like a Scientist: Hypotheses and Rapid Testing
14:56 The Role of Care in Leadership and AI's Impact
18:38 The Importance of Caring in Organizational Culture
19:06 Leadership's Role in Employee Engagement
20:41 Challenges of Traditional Leadership in Modern Workplaces
22:17 AI's Disruption and Opportunities for Leaders
28:27 Work-Life Balance and Reflection in a Digital Age
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