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Steve
Vamos

Former MD of Microsoft, Apple (Australia and New Zealand), & Former CEO of Xero

Profile

Steve Vamos is a speaker, advisor and Director with over 40 years experience in the global technology and digital media industries. He has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Asia.

Steve was CEO of ASX-listed tech company Xero from April 2018 to February 2023, where he led the business’s growth and performance with a team of more than 4,500 employees. Born in the cloud, Xero is a beautiful, easy to use platform for small businesses and their advisors with over 3 million subscribers to the platform in more than 180 countries.

Steve has served as a non-executive director of Telstra, Fletcher Building, Medibank Private and David Jones and as a non-executive director and advisor to a range of Australian organisations, which span from start-ups through to large established companies.

Steve has also been Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, ninemsn, Vice President and Managing Director of Apple Computer Asia Pacific, and Managing Director of Apple Computer Australia.

In his role at Microsoft as Vice President of worldwide sales and international operations for Microsoft Corporation's Online Service Group, he was responsible for the organisation's international business in more than 30 countries around the world.

Steve was the founder and President of the Society for Knowledge Economics (SKE), a not-for-profit think-tank that operated from 2005 to 2014. SKE aimed to encourage and promote new and better leadership and management practices, which would enable innovation, productivity and sustainability.

Steve holds a degree in Civil Engineering (with Honors) from the University of New South Wales.

Expertise
Talking Points

Leadership in Times Like No Other & Creating and Enabling Innovation at Work

The world is now a highly connected and fast-changing economic and social system, as are the organisations within which we work.

Information and communications technology has amplified the potential of people (and the organisations they work for) as the internet, low-cost computing devices and communications networks connect people with others of common interest and new sources of knowledge and information.

People, their knowledge, relationships and the extent to which management encourages and enables them to create and innovate increasingly determine how value is created for their organisation. This is a big change to embrace because traditionally, we hired people to do what they were told, and now we want them to create, collaborate and innovate.

Technology doesn't innovate – people do! Technology isn't disrupting your business; people are!

As a result, organisations that don't focus on enabling their people to create the future and innovate will find it tough to succeed in the future.

Steve Vamos will discuss the leadership and management consequences of the changes in the world and outline approaches business leaders and their teams can employ to drive creativity and innovation in their organisations.
Media
Feedback
Steve Vamos has a remarkable presence when connecting with a group. He has the ability to relay his stories of his career with candour and ease that gets people's attention. He is a truly authentic leader and that came across in his participation. Steve was generous with his time connecting with participants during and after the Forum - more than willing to share his experience and expertise. Working with him beforehand to prep and form the presentation was very easy - he's a delight to work with and made a huge contribution to this being one of our most successful events yet. KDT Consulting

Steve was great. His talk hit the mark and was both insightful and delivered in comfortable style that was perfect to engage the audience. There were plenty of takeaways for the team to think about.

Fletcher Building

Steve was the stand-out speaker of the day, we have had fantastic feedback about his presentation and content and style.

Insurance Commission of WA

Delegates thought that Steve Vamos was incredibly down to earth and very dynamic.

Recruitment & Consulting Services Assoc (NSW/ACT)

I would like to thank you for your inspirational and engaging presentation. The feedback from the staff about your presentation has been fantastic. They really enjoyed hearing about your personal journey in the workforce and the messages and stories you shared were very valuable. Hearing your journey helped spark in-depth discussion about issues that affect us all and I know the female staff were able to relate to many of your experiences. The day concluded on a high note with many solutions and suggestions being tabled. Being the first of many forums we will hold for our staff, your contribution was pivotal in making the day such a great success. It has helped to empower and engage our staff in being part of the solution.

Randwick City Council

Steve is an exceptional speaker and thought leader. He is spearheading a new school of thinking around leadership that enables others to reach their potential, and challenges us to think differently/adopt a new, collaborative mindset that is critical to the success in a rapidly changing and connected world. A perfect message for anyone leading today and into the future. Steve is ahead of his time and leaders of today need to catch up if they wish to remain competitive in the future.

The Faculty Management Consultants

Let's talk, enquire with Janika now

Janika Barnes

Let's talk, enquire with Janika now

Janika Barnes

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