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How to succeed at the highest levels of leadership

Lessons from Cameron Schwab, who spent 25 years as an AFL club CEO, on pressure, loneliness, and the systems leaders need to build before the weight arrives.

B

Ben Williamson

5 June 2025 · 3 min read

I've been exploring how leaders manage pressure, whether in medicine, elite sport, or listed companies. I recently spoke with Leigh Jasper about the realities of leading a public company, and you can catch up on that conversation here.

This piece is about my conversation with Cameron Schwab. He's spent 30 years in elite sport, including 25 years as an AFL club CEO. He now coaches CEOs and their teams through his firm, designCEO.

Cameron's reflections aren't just about leadership, they're about loneliness, identity, and the structures you need to survive the pressure.

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