Calls for peace have become louder and more urgent across the globe over the last few years. So much so that it's difficult to know how to respond in ways that feel meaningful and relevant. After all, how can a drop in the ocean move an unrelenting tide?

Mandar Apte is proof that an individual, with no initial political, financial or cultural stock, can actually move the needle for real and lasting peace. And whilst the aspiration is global, the work unfolds in our local communities - having started by bridging the divide between "two sides of the gun".

KG and Paul were joined by Mandar - engineer, documentary filmmaker and global advocate for peace. They listened to his incredible story and couldn't help but marvel at his passion for bringing people together. And what begins as a reflection on personal growth soon widens into a conversation about how inner transformation can ripple outwards into organisations, communities, and even nations.

Mandar’s own story is one of profound change, describing how mindfulness and self-awareness became the catalysts not just for his own resilience, but for building trust and empathy in others. His concept of “mental hygiene” reframes leadership as a discipline of the inner life - essential for shaping workplaces and societies that can hold complexity and conflict with grace.

And through his film From India with Love and work bringing victims and perpetrators of violence together, Mandar shows how community-led transformation can become a foundation for global peacebuilding.

Annandale Cellars has once again generously provided a delicious bottle of wine to accompany this inspiring conversation. On this occasion we are fortunate to taste a 2023 Casa d'Ambra Ischia Bianco - a quirky Italian white from the unexpected Island of Ischia, just off the coast of Naples. A perfect warm weather wine, with a wonderful balance between fruit and gentle acidity, and a little bit of saltiness on the finish for something to remember!

Get at least half a dozen of these (or half a dozen of any of their amazing wines) and get a 20% discount by using our code at checkout: DECANTED

Sláinte friends!

Useful resources from this episode:

1. Cities4Peace
2. From India with Love
3. The Art of Living
4. Be the Change - Training Module

We're keen to hear what you thought of this conversation. Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

Whatever tickles your fancy, we'd love to hear from you!!

Something went wrong with Paul's plumbing. Those in his house, that is. Needless to say, it was a little unpleasant. However, not being one to let a learning opportunity pass him by, there were a couple of things that left him thinking.

Join Paul & KG as they discuss a little story that includes dark, stormy nights, backed-up sewerage pipes, and what happens when you don't spend enough time understanding a problem or an issue before dismissing it as irrelevant.

[Shout out to Naomi for 'inspiring' this conversation!]

We'd love to hear what you thought of this conversation and any suggestions on this topic for future episodes.

Oh, and if you'd like to take full advantage of our massive 20% discount for any six bottles or more you purchase online from Annandale Cellars, then head to acellars.com.au and use our discount code DECANTED at check-out. Totally worth it.

Please feel free to send us your thoughts, comments and suggestions any time via email.

Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

What makes this conversation so inspiring is the notion that, when we are working with individual leaders to strengthen their leadership practice, we are also supporting their teams, their families and their communities. We are not just supporting the individual but the entire system in which they are located.

Sarah Cornally is a passionate leadership practitioner, and Partner at Acumen Global Partners. She is adamant 'systemic thinking' is the essential lens for anyone navigating the deep complexity of modern organisations. Sarah, KG and Paul dive straight into why understanding systems - rather than just individuals or silos - unlocks hidden dynamics, exposes entrenched patterns, and creates genuine possibilities for lasting change.

And the 'magic sauce'? In the end, to be able to productively navigate the many contradictory demands of any complex system, success rests on the quality of relationships, and not just structures or policies. It's the quality of our connections that determines whether transformation fails or flourishes, and why what lies “under the table” must be brought to light for the whole system to grow and progress.

And, as always, Annandale Cellars has generously provided an incredible bottle of wine to accompany this free-flowing conversation. On this occasion we crack open a bottle of 2023 Yohan Lardy Poppy Gamay. It is a gorgeous, light red wine, with lots of fruit and an easy drinking style.

Get at least half a dozen of these (or half a dozen of any of their amazing wines) and get a 20% discount by using our code at checkout: DECANTED

Sláinte friends!

Useful resources from this episode:

1. Acumen Partners
2. Dude Dancing on the Hill
3. Same Dude, shorter version
4. The Mandelbrot Set

We're keen to hear what you thought of this conversation. Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

Whatever tickles your fancy, we'd love to hear from you!!