From player to coach: The leadership shift that matters
In this episode of Vistage LIVE, Stephanie explores leadership, resilience, and high performance with Brad Thomas, technology executive, board leader, and three-time Paralympian.
Drawing on his experience, Brad shares his journey from elite Paralympic sport to leading global technology businesses. He highlights the leadership shifts needed to move from individual performance to building high-performing teams. From competing on the world stage to transforming an ASX-listed company into a high-performing SaaS business, Brad unpacks the disciplines behind sustained success: clarity of vision, disciplined execution, accountability, and continuous feedback.
The conversation also explores Brad’s leadership philosophy and the shift from command-and-control to coaching and collaboration. Brad explains why great leaders resist being the smartest person in the room. He also shares how coaching unlocks performance, and why high-performing teams thrive on trust, openness, and constructive challenge. He also reflects on his transition from CEO to Vistage Chair, and what growth-focused CEOs can expect from a peer advisory environment.
Key Highlights
- Lessons from Paralympic sport on resilience, mindset, and performing under pressure
- Why clarity of vision is the foundation of execution, in sport and business
- Turning feedback into a competitive advantage without taking it personally
- The leadership shift from “decision-maker” to “coach” and why it matters at scale
- Why high-performing teams need trust, challenge, and accountability
- Brad’s passion for growth, innovation, and taking Australian businesses to global markets
