#144 - Brian Hartzer: Former Westpac CEO On Navigating Pressure & Leading Quantium Health
Sweat CapitalShow Notes
In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with former Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer to unpack one of the most fascinating careers in global finance - from studying history at Princeton to leading one of Australia’s biggest and most scrutinised institutions.
Brian reflects on the realities of running a Big Four bank: balancing regulators, shareholders, customers and employees while operating under constant public scrutiny.
We discuss the transition from consulting into banking leadership, what people underestimate about being a bank CEO, and the lessons he carried from ANZ and ultimately Westpac.
We also explore Brian’s next chapter after banking - including his roles in fintech and as CEO of Quantium Health - where he’s now focused on the intersection of AI, data science and healthcare.
A wide-ranging conversation about leadership, pressure, institutions, reinvention and building a career across multiple eras of business.
You can also check out Brian's book: The Leadership Star: A Practical Guide to Building Engagement
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This episode was recorded on 5 May 2026.
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