Episode #185
The Truth About Upskilling: Mitch Cook Interview
Brisbane Tigers CEO Mitch Cook joins Anton to share how he rose from volunteer sports trainer to leading a major development club in rugby league. He reflects on the high standards and values he absorbed at the Melbourne Storm and Collingwood, and how those environments shaped his own leadership philosophy. Mitch explains why trust-based leadership, consistent behavior, and listening without judgment are central to positively influencing how people feel, think, and grow. He also opens up about his personal wellbeing toolkit family, running, and music and how looking after himself helps him show up as his best self at work and at home. The conversation finishes with a look at the Brisbane Tigers’ long-term vision, their NRL expansion ambitions, and the responsibility clubs have to support players and staff through career transitions. Takeaways: Positive influence starts with trust and consistency. Mitch shows how leading with trust, role modeling the right behaviors, and showing up consistently can shape how people feel, think, and grow. High-performance cultures are built on clear values and standards. Lessons from clubs like Melbourne Storm and Collingwood highlight that alignment to a common goal, high standards, and strong communication underpin sustained success. Great leaders prioritize wellbeing and development for themselves and others. Mitch uses his own wellbeing toolkit (family, running, music) to be his best self, while focusing on developing future leaders and supporting players and staff through career transitions. Quotes: Be a positive influence on how people feel, think, behave, and grow. Lead with trust and give people the confidence to step up. Be the best version of yourself so you can help others be the best version of themselves. Timestamp: 00:00 Welcome and Mitch Cook’s Background 03:20 From Personal Training to Strength and Conditioning 04:58 Lessons from Melbourne Storm and High-Performance Culture 08:03 Defining Positive Influence and Trust-Based Leadership 10:59 Parenting, Presence, and Creating Future Leaders 13:14 People Who Shaped Mitch’s Leadership Journey 18:22 Influence Mitch Is Most Proud Of 21:08 Wellbeing Toolkit: Family, Running, and Music 26:40 Leading Diverse Stakeholders Across a Club 28:48 What It Means to Be a Development Club 30:50 Player Transitions and Life After Professional Sport 33:49 The Brisbane Tigers Story and NRL Expansion Vision 37:12 Anton’s Summary of Key Leadership Insights 40:23 Mitch’s Final Philosophy on Meaningful Leadership Conclusion: This conversation with Brisbane Tigers CEO Mitch Cook offers a powerful look at how trust, consistency, and clear values underpin meaningful leadership in both sport and life. Drawing on formative experiences at Melbourne Storm and Collingwood, Mitch shows that high performance is less about slogans and more about daily standards, alignment, and communication. He reframes influence as the ability to positively shape how people feel, think, behave, and grow, focusing on creating future leaders rather than followers. Mitch’s commitment to his own wellbeing through family, running, and music reinforces the idea that leaders must look after themselves to reliably show up for others. Ultimately, his philosophy challenges listeners to be the example, leave people better than they found them, and measure success by the lives they’ve helped lift along the way. Ready to become a more consistent, values-driven leader and develop future leaders around you? Learn from Brisbane Tigers CEO Mitch Cook on how to lead with trust, build high-performance environments, and put wellbeing at the center of sustainable success. Email: mitch@thetigers.com.au Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjc246/ Visit: https://thetigers.com.au/about-us/staff-listing/
