Performance Intelligence

LIVE: The Mindset that Drives an AFL Premiership and a Full Career Reinvention | Kieren Jack

June 10, 2026·1h 2m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Talent gets you through the door. It does not keep you in the room, and it has almost nothing to do with what you become.Kieren Jack is proof. The last pick in the AFL rookie draft, too small and too slow on paper, he outworked every reason he should not have made it. Kieren played 256 games for the Sydney Swans, co-captained the club, won the 2012 premiership and earned a place in its Hall of Fame. Then he did the harder thing. He walked away at the top and started again, building a whole new career in business where his name meant nothing.What carries across is the useful part. How do you keep performing when you are running on empty? What actually holds a team together when pressure hits? Why do the people who get knocked down and underestimated often end up the most dangerous?Recorded live, in a room that was never meant to be a podcast. No script, no second takes. You've got a seat that wasn't on sale.Whatever you are trying to build, you'll leave this one thinking differently about how you get there.0:00 Pick 138, a famous surname, and why talent only opens the door1:50 How the Swans built a dynasty on character, not talent5:10 Missing the draft, choosing his own sport, and finding his identity9:20 The 2012 flag, and what that team had that he's never seen again17:40 Take the baton: the motto that outlived the players who made it19:15 A season as co-captain, played on empty, in a dressing gown22:05 When a private family conflict went public before his 200th game28:10 Twins, no sleep, and what sport does and doesn't teach you about parenting33:45 Why he studied an MBA mid-career, and why leaving the game made him better37:00 A $120m deal in four months, and what footy gave him no MBA could41:05 Joining the West Coast rebuild and flipping the member thank-you44:55 Premiership to wooden spoon: what went wrong and what a rebuild takes48:25 Q&A: carrying elite habits into everyday life when structure disappears49:55 Q&A: what good culture really looks like, and who actually builds it53:20 Q&A: leading young, learning empathy, and what he'd do differently at 20You can find Kieren at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieren-jack-b09b2396/Or at his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjack_15/?hl=en Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcastIf you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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