Hearing Australia

Daniel Smith, the Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Hearing Australia, faced a significant challenge—how to present complex IT knowledge in a way that business executives and board members can easily understand and engage with. Additionally, Daniel wanted to reduce his stress levels, build confidence in high-stakes presentations, and connect more effectively with senior stakeholders. His role required him to communicate important IT insights while feeling calm, collected, and prepared to handle tough questions from business leaders.

“My goal was to present technical knowledge in a way that executives could easily digest, while feeling confident and in control during high-pressure presentations at a board level.”

We designed a tailored 90-Day Leadership and Communication Coaching Program for Daniel, focusing on improving his executive presence, reducing stress, and embedding high-performance habits through brain-friendly strategies. The program aimed to help Daniel deliver clear and engaging presentations that resonated with executives, while also ensuring that he could manage stress and perform at his best under pressure.

The program consisted of:

• Brain-Based Goal Setting: We started by creating clear goals for Daniel’s progress over 30, 60, and 90 days, including smaller presentations leading up to his final presentation at the Gartner Symposium.
• Mindset Pathways: We focused on shifting Daniel’s emotional responses to stress, helping him see high-pressure situations as opportunities to connect and influence executives.
• Ongoing Progress Reviews: Over the course of six sessions, we reviewed Daniel’s progress and made necessary tweaks to keep him on track for his 90-day goal.
• Neuroplasticity Techniques: We incorporated strategies to rewire Daniel’s brain for high performance, with the coaching sessions spaced 2-3 weeks apart to maximise the brain’s ability to form new habits.

Through six one-hour coaching sessions, Daniel was able to achieve his communication and leadership goals. The key elements of the solution included:

• Emotional Resilience: We helped Daniel identify his stress triggers and transform them into opportunities to connect and engage with stakeholders. He learned how to move from a “threat” state to a “reward” state, allowing him to perform at peak levels for longer periods.
• High-Performance Habits: Daniel established habits that increased his energy and clarity, including regular exercise, brain breaks, and strategies for re-energising throughout the day. This resulted in more creative thinking and problem-solving.
• Presentation Confidence: Daniel gained the confidence to handle tough questions and clarify what executives needed to know. He learned to use storytelling and business-impact language to capture the hearts and minds of his audience, particularly during high-stakes presentations.

By the end of the 90-day coaching program, Daniel delivered a standout presentation titled “Ransomware: Gone in 60 Seconds” at the Gartner Symposium, one of the most significant IT events of the year targeting C-level executives. His session achieved impressive results:

• 2nd highest scoring session in terms of value out of 250 sessions.
• 4th highest scoring speaker—only behind renowned figures like Dylan Alcott, an Australian motivational speaker and former wheelchair tennis player.

These results reflected Daniel’s remarkable transformation, especially considering the nerves and stress he experienced only 90 days earlier.

“I used to feel anxious before presentations, but now I see tough questions as an opportunity. I’ve embedded high-performing habits that help me engage others, manage stress, and respond to conflict with more ease and confidence.”