Growing Beyond Podcast | Industry Leaders Series EP03 with Gerry Doyle
In this episode of Growing Beyond – Industry Leaders Series, host Seton Walsh-Rose sits down with Gerry Doyle, CEO of Tonkin.
From navigating mental health and neurodiversity to redefining what it means to be a CEO, Gerry shares an honest perspective on building high-performing teams through empathy, psychological safety, and authenticity.
Takeaways
- Leadership isn’t about being the “ideal” — it’s about being real
- Mental health challenges can build stronger, more empathetic leaders
- Teams are never “set and forget” — they require constant care and understanding
- Psychological safety must be tailored to individuals, not systems
- High-performing teams = cognitive diversity + emotional intelligence
Connect and Follow Gerry Doyle
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerry-doyle/
Website: http://www.tonkin.com.au/
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Gerry Doyle & Tonkin
02:30 – Engineering, regional presence & business growth
08:00 – AI, communication & the human advantage
15:30 – Productivity, leadership habits & boundaries
17:30 – Career journey: from podiatry to engineering
22:00 – Mental health, depression & leadership growth
35:00 – Learning, books & personal development
39:00 – Redefining the “CEO” identity
42:00 – Expectations, pressure & authenticity
50:00 – Psychological safety & high-performing teams
01:01:00 – Leading people through real life challenges
01:04:00 – Final reflections on leadership & impact
Soundbites
“I’m not a typical CEO… I can only do it my way.”
“Depression has been my biggest teacher.”
“People like dealing with people — they want to be seen and understood.”
Referenced in This Episode
- The Four Stages of Psychological Safety – Timothy R. Clark
https://www.amazon.com/Four-Stages-Psychological-Safety-Inclusion/dp/1523087684 - Patrick Lencioni – The Ideal Team Player (Hungry, Humble, Smart)
https://www.tablegroup.com/product/ideal-team-player/
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