On a rainy Thursday morning at our office in Sydney, an intimate audience gathered for the latest instalment of our Leading the Way series — a fireside breakfast conversation with Adam Goodes, AFL legend, 2014 Australian of the Year, and social justice advocate. While Goodes is celebrated as a two-time Brownlow Medallist and dual premiership player, his impact extends far beyond sport. Adam’s journey is one of resilience, cultural pride, and leadership forged through both triumph and adversity.

What emerged in the conversation was not a sports retrospective, but a powerful reflection on what it means to lead with heart,conviction, and a sense of legacy. Goodes’ story offers lessons that resonate deeply with business leaders navigating complexity today.

Leading with values

For Adam, leadership begins with values anchored in family,identity, and lived experience. His early years were shaped by a mother who was part of the Stolen Generations, separated from her family at just five years old. This disconnect had meant Adam grew up knowing he was Aboriginal, but without a clear link to culture or ancestry.

Drafted to the Sydney Swans at just 17, he recalled being asked by journalists what it meant to be a role model for Indigenous kids. “At the time, I didn’t even know what it really meant to be an Aboriginal person,”he reflects. That moment became a catalyst: he enrolled in a diploma of Aboriginal Studies, immersing himself in history and community. The experience gave him not just knowledge, but a foundation of values that would guide his career and life.

For any leader, the lesson is clear. When values are well-defined and personally meaningful, they create the compass needed to make decisions in moments of pressure and scrutiny.

Courage in action

Few leaders have had their courage tested so publicly as Adam Goodes. In the later years of his AFL career, he faced relentless booing from crowds each week which sparked a national conversation about racism. And despite the toll, he chose to speak openly about his experience.

“It tested my resilience every time I walked onto the field,” he admits. What helped him endure was not just his inner strength, but the clarity of purpose he carried. “I stayed true to who I am as a person,” he says.

His stance and his refusal to be silent came at a personal cost, but it also cemented his legacy as a leader who used his platform to confront uncomfortable truths. For anyone who finds themselves in these positions of leadership, it’s a reminder that courage often means calling out poor behaviour, standing firm in your principles, and leading even when support feels uncertain.

Cultural identity and strength

Reconnecting with his heritage has been central to Adam’s growth as a leader, and through family research, cultural immersion, and storytelling, he has pieced together a proud lineage which he now passes on to his children.

This connection also underpins the GO Foundation, which Goodes co-founded with fellow Sydney Swans great Michael O’Loughlin. Focused on education pathways for Indigenous youth, the foundation provides scholarships and wraparound support to help students thrive. Beyond resources like uniforms and laptops, it prioritises cultural identity, ensuring young people understand who they are and where they come from.

This emphasis on belonging echoes in Adam’s approach to leadership. True confidence, he suggests, comes when people feel seen and supported in their identity. For organisations, it’s a call to build cultures where diversity is embraced not as policy, but as strength.

Building legacy

A decade on from his retirement, Goodes has built a life defined by impact beyond football. As CEO of Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), co-founder of the GO Foundation, and author of a popular children’s book series Welcome to Our Country, he continues to influence education, entrepreneurship, and cultural understanding.

His philosophy of legacy is simple but profound: “If I’m only ever remembered as a footballer, then I’ve failed in life.”

For leaders, legacy isn’t measured in titles or quarterly results. It’s about the positive change left behind; the systems improved, the people mentored, the communities strengthened. Adam’s journey shows that leadership is at its most powerful when it reaches beyond personal success to create pathways for others.

Lessons for leadership

Throughout the conversation, several recurring themes stood out as timeless leadership lessons:

• Be anchored in values – they provide clarity when decisions get tough.
• Find courage in conviction – speaking up matters more than fitting in.
• Celebrate identity – strength comes from knowing and sharing who you are.
• Think beyond today – True leadership builds legacy, not headlines.

Adam fully embodies these principles in practice, often under the glare of public scrutiny, and always with a focus on making things better for the next generation.

Looking ahead

Talent's Leading the Way series exists to spotlight leaders who challenge, inspire, and redefine what leadership looks like. Adam Goodes is the embodiment of that mission. His story is a reminder that leadership is not just about performance or position, but about courage, connection, and creating impact that endures.

If you’d like to hear about our next Leading the Way event, reach out to our team to stay in the loop.