What I learned in business (that didn't kill me!)

Everyone talks about sustainable retail products and saving the planet, but who really cares? Retailers? Customers? Government?

The global retail sourcing & supply chain is invisible to most consumers, yet it is one of the most complex, highly integrated and culturally nuanced business ecosystems in the world.

James H Stewart sits down with Anne-Laure Descours, one of the world’s most senior and respected leaders in global sourcing and sustainable manufacturing in the footwear and apparel industry.

Anne-Laure spent more than three decades in the engine room of global retail — living and working across China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Hong Kong — and ultimately serving as Chief Sourcing Officer of PUMA, overseeing the manufacturing and supply-chain operations that power an €8+ billion global brand.

Before PUMA, she held senior leadership roles at Li & Fung, the legendary Hong Kong-based sourcing powerhouse that helped shape modern global manufacturing.

Since leaving PUMA in 2025, Anne-Laure has continued her work in responsible supply chains, joining the board of Gildan Activewear (owner of American Apparel) and serving as an advisor and board member to Haelixa, a Swiss innovator in DNA-based traceability solutions for fashion and textiles.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore:

• What global supply chains actually look like behind the scenes
• The realities of sustainable sourcing across Asia
• Cultural intelligence and leadership under pressure
• The role of government and regulation in driving changes to sourcing models and sustainability reporting
• Why end of life products are the biggest unsolved hurdle for sustainable manufacturing - and this goes to the heart of consumer demand.
• How DNA tracing is reshaping sourcing transparency
• What three decades in high-stakes global operations teaches you about resilience and trust

This is a rare, inside-the-system perspective from someone who has led through crisis, transformation and geopolitical disruption — at scale.

James H Stewart is a former KPMG restructuring partner and Australian Board member who interviews global leaders about the hard lessons they’ve learned in business — and survived.

Connect with James:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshstewart/

Website: https://jameshstewart.com

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their past or present employers, affiliated organisations, or the host. Nothing discussed in this episode constitutes financial, investment, legal, regulatory or professional advice. Listeners should seek appropriate independent advice before making any commercial or investment decisions. All commentary is based on publicly available information and personal experience at the time of recording.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), I sit down with Ian Robson, one of the most experienced and battle-tested sports administrators in Australia.

At just 32 years old, with no prior CEO experience, Ian was appointed Chief Executive of the New Zealand Warriors, building the club ahead of its entry into top-tier rugby league.

From there, his career spans:

• CEO of Hawthorn Football Club during its rebuild and 2008 premiership
• CEO of Essendon Football Club during the supplements saga
• CEO of Melbourne Victory during A-League success
• CEO of Rowing Australia, navigating Olympic sport, funding pressures and global competition
• Leadership roles in UK sport, including CEO of Sport Scotland

Today, Ian is CEO of the iconic Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, long associated with the Australian Open.

Across rugby league, AFL, soccer, Olympic sport and government-funded systems, Ian has seen the intersection of culture, governance, pressure and public accountability at the highest levels.

• Building a professional sports club from scratch in New Zealand
• The Hawthorn rebuild and the 2008 AFL premiership
• The Essendon supplements saga — what happened, how it unfolded, and the lessons learned
• Governance failures, salary cap breaches and the cost of cutting corners
• Drugs in professional sport — performance enhancing and recreational
• Gambling, match fixing and player welfare
• Racism, tribalism and sexual diversity in elite sport
• The difference between running a football club and leading a taxpayer-funded Olympic sport

This is not a highlight reel. It’s a serious conversation about leadership when the stakes are public and the consequences are generational.

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the participants at the time of recording and do not constitute legal, financial, medical or professional advice. Discussions about historical events, investigations and sporting matters are based on publicly available information. Listeners should form their own views and seek independent advice where appropriate.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and share the podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with chef, MasterChef finalist, television host and entrepreneur Simon Toohey.

Many Australians know Simon from MasterChef Australia (Season 11 and “Back to Win”) or from his SBS series Freshly Picked. But behind the television profile is a far more layered story — one that spans cocktail bars in London, a Masters in Gastronomy in Edinburgh, plant-forward food innovation, pop-up smokehouses, consulting internationally, and now launching the fast-growing Geelong City Market, attracting thousands of visitors every Saturday.

We discuss:

• Growing up in a food-loving family and learning to cook when independence forced it
• Working in London hospitality, including at globally recognised bar Callooh Callay
• Why he chose plant-forward cooking as his point of difference
• The reality of competing on MasterChef — the pressure, structure and exposure
• Building a media brand through Freshly Picked on SBS
• Launching the Geelong City Market — vision, business case, government support, and startup challenges
• What he has learned about entrepreneurship in the food industry
• The hard days, the pivots, and the principles he anchors to

This is a conversation about food — but also about reinvention, resilience, public profile, sustainability, and backing yourself when you see a gap in the market.

If you are interested in food systems, food startups, media, or building a purpose-driven career, this episode is for you.

About the Show

What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!) explores the real stories behind business leaders, founders and professionals — the successes, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way.

Disclaimer

The views expressed by guests are their own and are shared for general informational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute financial, legal, investment or professional advice. Listeners should seek appropriate independent advice before making business or financial decisions.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and share it with someone who might find value in it.

You can connect with me via:

LinkedIn: James H Stewart GAICD

Website: www.jameshstewart.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.