In Episode 5 of the Leadership and Wellbeing podcast, Hayden Fricke was thrilled to be joined by Dr. Liz Walker, CEO of RSPCA Victoria, to talk about the importance of finding balance in leadership. With over eight years of experience leading Australia’s oldest and most recognisable animal welfare charity, Liz has faced numerous challenges while striving to create a high-performance culture. She shared how she has navigated trials in her personal life while leading her team to success and the strategies she has employed to balance her role as a CEO with her own wellbeing.

Liz spoke vulnerably about navigating a marriage breakdown while raising four children and fulfilling the demands of her leadership role. She emphasised the need to manage the chaos and let go of the pursuit of perfection, choosing instead to set realistic expectations and focus on what truly matters. This thinking aligns with key concepts in cognitive psychology: that our feelings are directly impacted by our thoughts and beliefs. If we want to feel better, we must first change our thinking. For Liz, this meant letting go of perfectionism and embracing the mindset that “good enough is okay.”

A critical component of Liz’s ability to thrive has been her support network. Both in work and personal life, she deliberately cultivated a circle of trusted friends and colleagues. This mirrors decades of psychological research showing that the most important factor in leading a happy and fulfilling life is the quality – not quantity – of our relationships. Strong social connections aren’t just a nice-to-have; they’re vital to resilience and performance.

Liz also shared how she engages in regular self-reflection. This ancient concept going all the way back to Socrates’ – “Know Thyself” – has become a cornerstone of modern leadership development. Self-awareness is not something we magically wake up with; it’s cultivated over time through deliberate introspection and curiosity. For Liz, asking herself tough questions has not only helped her grow personally, but enabled her to lead a healthier, more supportive workplace.

Liz is passionate about empowering her team. By fostering a sense of accountability and focusing on the greater good, she has built a cohesive and resilient team that can solve problems without relying on her to provide all the answers. Her leadership approach aligns with Heifetz and Laurie’s Adaptive Leadership model, which advocates for exposing teams to challenges, supporting them through discomfort, and enabling them to become their own problem solvers.

One of the most heartening aspects of our conversation was Liz’s commitment to gratitude. She makes time to appreciate the small moments of joy—a practice shown to enhance wellbeing, improve sleep, and boost mental health. Amidst the daily pressures of leadership, Liz’s mindset is a powerful reminder that we all benefit from noticing what’s going well.

Liz’s insights are not only inspiring—they’re practical. They’re a reminder that leadership is not about doing it all; it’s about doing what matters most, in a way that is healthy, sustainable, and human.