Dr. Kirstin Ferguson is a globally recognized leadership expert, ranked by Thinkers50 as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world. With a career that began as an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, Kirstin has gone on to become a CEO, board director, and acting chair and deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Kirstin brings decades of leadership experience across a variety of sectors—public, private, military, and media—combined with deep academic expertise, including a PhD in leadership and culture. Kirstin is the author of three acclaimed books, including Blindspotting (2025), Head & Heart (2023), and Women Kind (2018), which have influenced leaders around the world.

During this episode of "Experts Unleashed," Atlassian's Dom Price chats with Kirstin about the idea of Blindspotting – the topic of Kirstin’s latest book – and how being honest, curious, and flexible can change the way we lead, work, and live. Kirstin shares how taking a “seeker” vs a “knower” perspective can enable you to find new answers to old problems, as well as create more teachable moments for the people around you. Kirstin’s straightforward approach to upgrading the way we show up as leaders is so simple, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along!

In this episode:

My User Manual Play: https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/my-user-manual

More about Dr. Kirstin Ferguson: https://www.kirstinferguson.com/

Lifeline: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/

A computer nerd, designer, and DJ, Cameron “Cam” Adams is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva, the game-changing online graphic design platform that’s transformed how people create and share visuals. In 2012, Cam co-founded Canva alongside Mel Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, and depending on which paper you read, the company has a current valuation of about US $50bn. As CPO, Cam steers Canva’s product vision, ensuring its tools stay fresh, innovative, and user-friendly. When he’s not changing the world of design, Cam is mixing on his turntables as a DJ, exploring his creative side through music. Cam is also dedicated to making a positive impact on the world through his work with sustainability and social initiatives, including his involvement with Wedgetail, an organization focused on conserving and restoring biodiversity through sustainable investment.

During this episode of "Experts Unleashed," Atlassian's Dom Price chats with Cam about why colliding interests can bring out innovation, how to best scale an organization (gracefully), and the responsibility leaders have to leave a positive impact on the world. They discuss how to avoid “innovation theater” by allowing people to explore their interests at work, the personal growth journey of a co-founder, and how AI can help democratize the world. The stories and practice advice Cam shares of his lived experience taking a company from zero to 5,000 people over 12 years will inspire you!

A tech leader and DEI advocate, Melanie Silva drives growth and transformation at Google Australia and New Zealand. As Managing Director and Vice President, she leads Google’s operations in the region, with a focus on helping businesses navigate and thrive in the technical world. With over 11 years at Google, Melanie has held senior roles across the Asia-Pacific region, including overseeing Go-to-Market Strategy and Operations. Prior to Google, she worked at Fairfax Digital, Citibank, AMP, and ING Direct. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Melanie chairs Google’s Diversity Council for Australia and New Zealand, helping to foster a more inclusive tech industry.

During this episode of "Experts Unleashed," Atlassian's Dom Price chats with Mel about how to not confuse your inner critic for your instincts, the impact of taking back your calendar, and why being busy isn’t the same as being productive. Mel shares her hack of introducing a “Thinking Day” every six weeks to help her tackle important issues and “reclaim the membrane” as she puts it, as well as introduces Dom to how she likes to network with her Aussie Legends Curiosity Tour. Mel’s practical tips will leave you Googling for more!