Anders Sorman-Nilsson

Last week, I was privileged to lead a session with new founders and leaders on the San Francisco Landing Pad program, hosted by Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Our session, "Unmasking Success: The Hidden Behaviors That Stall Startup Growth," went beyond identifying common behaviours that hinder growth, by getting even deeper into the psychological forces at play, including fear, motivation, and the protective mechanisms of our ego. We explored how these elements influence leader and founders' behaviour and decision-making processes. We discussed how examining the resistance leaders often encounter within themselves, can serve as valuable sign-posts for underlying challenges that need addressing. This resistance we all experience in our day-to-day can be a powerful tool for introspection, helping us to identify and overcome the internal barriers that our protective selves create. A huge thank you to the Austrade team and a special mention to Sunil Joshi for providing Unstoppable Leadership this opportunity. It’s through platforms like these that leaders and entrepreneurs can truly explore the subtle yet often profound nuances that sit in their blind spots and impact their path to success. #entrepreneurship #startupgrowth #leadershipdevelopment #SanFranciscoLandingPad #leadership

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If you’re integrating AI into your team and organisation, you probably already know some of the obvious problems to avoid – such as waiting for it to be perfect, ignoring privacy and ethical concerns, failing to train your staff, and not having a basic AI policy or framework. But what about the more subtle traps and pitfalls you might stumble into? In this interactive virtual masterclass, I share some of the most common – but less obvious – challenges you could face on the AI journey. Join us to learn about these hidden pitfalls and arm yourself with the knowledge to lead your AI initiatives and get more value – easier and faster – from AI. Some highlights from the session: 🚀 How leaders and managers can leverage AI to drive customer engagement and enhance customer experience ⚖️ The trade-offs to consider when making decisions about AI – especially with ROI vs COI (cost of inaction) ⏱️ How to use AI to rapidly create value without waiting for the “perfect” opportunity 🔧 A practical five-step process for creating value – fast – using AI in your teams 📚 Why AI workforce training is probably not the best way to educate your people 📈 The practical steps you can take to address specific workplace problems and enhance productivity 🏆 Examples of successful AI projects, and how they achieve payoffs in four key areas 💡 How to empower and elevate your teams to actively engage in AI projects, leveraging their knowledge and expertise 👥 Ensuring your AI projects are people-driven rather than technology-driven 🧩 Applying the 70-20-10 learning model for AI projects 🛡️ Building rapid AI prototypes effectively, while still safeguarding sensitive data 📊 Examples of how teams are using AI to add value fast in their organisation 🔍 Focus on pragmatic and quick AI wins instead of waiting for a comprehensive organisational AI strategy 🌟 The hidden benefits of running AI projects – it goes beyond the ROI 🔎 How to unearth hidden talent in your team to take the lead on AI projects If you missed it, the recording is available here: https://lnkd.in/gM5sfZ3s

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Have you ever activated giveaways with influencers or invited a creator to an event? Brand/influencer collaboration agreements are key to ensuring that terms are aligned and that you protect both parties because disclosure is required for a commercial agreement. Tegan Boorman at Social Law Co. and Chair — AiMCO – Australian Influencer Marketing Council shared experiences on this and other big topics in our Influencer Agreement 101 webinar. 📝 When influencer agreements may be required 🤝 Contracting parties in the influencer marketing ecosystem 🎯 Structuring contracts to reflect an intended campaign 🔑 Key clauses of a typical influencer agreement 🔍 Key takeaways from Ad Standards complaints 🛍️ Product/service-specific considerations ✅ Content approvals and audits 📱 Branded content policies on TikTok and Meta products 🔍 Best practices ad disclosure 🚫 Avoiding disputes and complaints #influencer #creatoreconomy #contractlaw

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Explore how AI and Industry 4.0 are transforming small businesses and start-ups in Australia. From boosting efficiency to tackling challenges, discover the power of innovation. Comment below and let me know how I can help you take the next step! #AI #Startups #Businessowners #Innovation #Leadership

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While I tend to integrate the OST principles into my work in a more bespoke way, the democratic, self-accountability aspects are instrumental to any successful culture change initiative I’ve undertaken. https://lnkd.in/gFePV-AP #leadership #culture

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Consulting doesn't just have to be standing on the sidelines yelling advice like a Sunday morning soccer mum. It can be a great "trojan horse" for real-world entrepreneurship education - diving into the thick of it, offering students a firsthand taste of business operations. Might be a tad naive here - but I'm starting to believe there's way too much focus in entrepreneurship education about ideation and start-up ventures and not nearly enough about the real grind of growth and scale-up. ... which makes me super chuffed about what we've cooked up at Deakin Business School with our BDC program. We're giving students the keys to get “inside” an SME and wear the entrepreneur's hat, driving scale and innovation from the core. I wrote a little more about this on the EFMD Global (EQUIS ) Blog to see how we're redefining the game: https://lnkd.in/gGVvzd8F #EntrepreneurshipEducation #Deakin #Innovation #Growth

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A great SXSW AI lineup - VOTE to make it come true. This year, you need to register before you can vote… so get ready for the 1-2 step. #Sydney #Innovation #Robotics #AIAustralia #ArtificialIntelligence

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🌱 If you haven't seen it yet, check out the FS Sustainability #ESGPower50 Awards, our list of the practitioners that are leading ESG integration in listed companies! 🌱 The guide is available below 👇

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Scale your marketing exponentially! Get your burning marketing questions answered LIVE by top Australian Marketing Experts! Join us for this FREE masterclass and unlock the secrets to marketing mastery! Register now at https://lnkd.in/g3nxZpJi

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𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗜 - 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁! I had a pretty big week last week, with five different presentations to diverse groups of clients, including two leadership conferences here in Perth, an AI workshop in Geraldton (country WA), an online workshop for senior leaders about thinking about the future, and facilitating a boardroom discussion for leaders about AI. AI wasn't the focus for all of those presentations, but it cropped up every time. That's not surprising, because most leaders are thinking about it now. The biggest concern I hear from leaders right now is they think it's a really big task to bring AI into the organisation. They are on board with it, they love the idea of using AI, they can already see ways it could help. But it seems like a massive task to embrace AI fully. 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁! If your plan is to "embrace AI fully", then yes - it's a massive task. It's not only the technology; it's also about training people, having the right processes in place, creating appropriate workflows, putting an AI policy in place, and training AI on your data 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆. When I work with clients, we work through my AI Accelerator program, which helps them get value - fast - from AI. Broadly, there are five stages: 1. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: We bring teams together and identify viable or plausible AI projects they might want to explore and build - all based on solving some problem in the workplace. 2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲: Create a working prototype of their AI solution to test the concept. With the AI tools available now, you can create a working prototype to test your idea in a few weeks, sometimes even in a few days. 3. 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵: Then we reconvene and each team does a presentation and pitch. They present their idea and the results of their prototype to everyone else, talk about what funding is required to turn it into a real product, and discuss the resources needed. 4. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: The leadership team decides which projects to fund (often all of them, because the technology is affordable and available). Each team then develops their product or service in the next 90 days (three months). 5. 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳: Finally, after delivering and deploying the product, we can measure the payoff - in terms of time, money, reduced stress, or increased engagement. As an added benefit, going through this program means everybody starts using AI, getting comfortable with it, and will be more likely to use AI in the future. If you'd like to know more about this program, let's have a chat. I'm very happy to help you implement the AI Accelerator program with your team and organisation. Don't make AI a massive undertaking. Do these small projects, create some products fast, and get a return on your investment - fast. https://lnkd.in/gN_A46Qv Enjoy!

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What happens when you lock 40 leaders from across industries including legal, agriculture, NFP, education, commercial real estate, professional associations, startup incubators & tech in a room together for a day? Strategic Execution with Hargraves Institute, Dr Graham Kenny & Allan Ryan -∆ a couple of weeks ago was a whole situation. I was thrilled to have the privilege as MC to set the challenge for the multi-dimensional role, value, opportunities, and risks of strategic execution, work with different groups across the day, and facilitate the most dynamic panel of experts I've seen woven together with Huw, Selena and Sandra (aptly, about dealing with volatility). I'll share more later about each of the sessions, some of the brilliant interactions I enjoyed, and the takeaways that emerged throughout. But there's one core message I slowly found words for over the day: It's never for lack of passion or intent that strategy planning and execution isn't happening - it's a structure, systems, bandwidth and incentives issue that forces all levels of business toward short term thinking that costs time, talent, and opportunity. No one person, tool, or methodology can solve that fundamental roadblock. We have to take the opportunity of progress and change and the inexorable march of time to collectively iterate toward systems of business and leadership that make space for strategy development *and* execution. ----------------------------------- 🔔 Follow for salty+optimistic #futureofwork content ✨ Schedule a Discovery Call at calendly(dot)com/katedodd ----------------------------------- #leadership #innovation #professionalwomen #strategy #engagement #culture #experimentation #commercialrealestate #execution #speaker 📸 Unknown

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Sharing a handy tool for low-cost market research that could be handy - especially if you're developing digital products and curious about exploring outside of New Zealand. Often as a solo or small business person without startup funding the pricing level for paid research can be out of reach, so I was excited to find this and have a play with the different audience settings. The tool offers a bunch of filters and options for surveys, preference testing, prototypes & card sorting. (Also, if you're wanting to fine tune your research objectives, check out the prototype in my bio! 😎) NZ Entrepreneur Magazine Startup Aotearoa https://lnkd.in/gU76HmuT

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Ever feel like just another widget in the workplace machine, ticking off tasks day by day? 🤖 At Deakin Business School's BDC program, we challenge students to see beyond that - reminding them they can be more than just cogs in a system. A bit of a stir, you might say, but it's those shakes that make the lessons stick, right? The team over at Deakin TALENT helped craft this article - adapted from a lesson shared as part of our Business Development Clinic program Elevating your value in the professional world - https://lnkd.in/gvknSitT

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Unveiling my arsenal of uncommon processes and strategies, including the One Point Differentiation System, the Seven Levels of Value Creation, and the Five Pillars of Growing and Scaling Any Business. My recent interview with Prosper Taruvinga at Livelong Digital #Australia. https://lnkd.in/eu7sr9_W #halifax #knowledge #investorsclub #digitalbusiness #different #smdh24

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As a strategic marketing leader, I know that tactics alone are doomed to fail without a clear, cohesive strategy. This principle applies beyond marketing to all aspects of business leadership, including the crucial area of mental health. This article from Australian Institute of Company Directors articulates how directors can create psychologically safe environments in corporate governance sectors. As I prepare to speak at the IABC Global Conference on this topic, the importance of senior leaders speaking openly about mental health challenges and showing vulnerability cannot be overstated. When leaders are transparent and supportive, it encourages employees to be more open about their own challenges, fostering a culture of trust and productivity. This not only enhances employee well-being but also positively impacts the organization's bottom line. For those committed to strategic leadership and creating a thriving workplace, this article is a must-read. Let's prioritize mental health, profitability and lead with empathy. https://lnkd.in/gdDTJPXs #Leadership #MentalHealth #CorporateGovernance #StrategyFirst Zilla Efrat

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FRIDAY TIP: #Boards often suffer from "the Cha cha' cha' decision -making process, one step forward two steps back.... this leads to frustration amongst directors and not to mention the C-Suite. #Effective Boards develop effective processes for decision making, maybe based on the simple logic of #What, #Why & #How !? What is your #decision-making logic? Does it work? Let's discuss........

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A Fusion OF Two Disciplines   Paul Watt PH.D Executive Chair Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer at Avicena Systems is our Guru today. Paul and I have a wide-ranging fun conversation. We cover everything from surfing in Australia to what happens when an expert in telecommunications meets and expert in molecular biology! You guessed it, a disruptive company was born! Paul and I discuss the challenges he has solved and best practices his team has developed along the way. You will love the insights that Paul brings us in this episode! #medicaltechnology #medicaldevicesales #innovation #medtechgurus

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What do surfing and golf, e-bike parts, food packaging for wellness products, sustainable fashion accessories, and household food waste solutions all have in common?... Funny you should ask… because they all feature as early-stage product-based startups in the most recent cohort of the Deakin University ManuFutures Ignite program! Over the next 10 weeks I will be working in partnership with the #ManuFutures #design and #engineering team to lead program participants on the initial stages of the #commercialisation journey. Yesterday we commenced implementation with 6 founders to deliver the first of several intensive innovation, entrepreneurial skills, and commercialisation capacity building sessions. Each participant will then be supported with coaching, mentoring and hands-on technical support to progress their business, product design, and manufacturing engineering priorities. I wish them all well on their journey, and I hope that you do too! If you (or someone you know) is working on an early-stage product-based startup and would like practical support to successfully commercialise, get in touch with we me by direct message or email manufutures@deakin.edu.au to learn more. It’s wonderful to be working in collaboration with Sameer Deshpande, Ellyn Orchard, Glynn Atkinson, Sanika Chandrachud, Sahil Yadav to deliver this program. Go team! #startup #scaleup #businessgrowth #innovation #entrepreneurs #founders #productdesign #productdevelopment #productengineering #designformanufacturing #advancedmanufacturing #circulareconomy

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