Wendy Stops: Coles. CBA. PWC. Blackmores. Altium. Accenture.

Born and raised on a dairy farm near Shepparton and the first person in her extended family to attend university, Wendy built a remarkable 32-year career with Accenture that took her from regional Victoria to leadership roles across Asia, New York and the global technology consulting sector.

Following her executive career, Wendy became one of Australia's most respected Non-Executive Directors, serving on the boards of organisations including Coles, Commonwealth Bank, Blackmores, Altium, Melbourne Business School and most recently PwC Australia. She also has a long association with Fitted For Work, the NFP supporting women in the workplace.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Wendy shares lessons from the boardroom and beyond, including: Her journey from country Victoria to global leadership. Building and leading large technology businesses across multiple countries. The hardest leadership lessons she learned during periods of organisational change. Governance under pressure and how boards respond when public scrutiny intensifies. The evolving relationship between shareholders, regulators and community expectations. The realities of CEO succession planning and why it remains one of the most important responsibilities of any board. The growing impact of artificial intelligence and technology disruption on corporate strategy. Why culture, relationships and authenticity remain critical ingredients for long-term business success. The challenges facing not-for-profit organisations and the importance of creating sustainable operating models.

Wendy brings a rare combination of technology expertise, governance experience and practical leadership wisdom.

Whether you're a director, executive, business owner, investor or aspiring leader, there are valuable lessons throughout this conversation.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with your network. Connect with James Stewart: LinkedIn: James H Stewart GAICD Instagram: @whatilearnedinbusiness YouTube: What I Learned in Business (That Didn't Kill Me!) Website: www.jameshstewart.com

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