In this episode, Tom McGhie speaks with Renata Sguario, who left a 30–year corporate career to found MaxMe, a startup helping people build the human skills often missing from traditional education and workplaces. Renata shares her leap from executive life into entrepreneurship, the realities of being a first–time CEO, and why she is passionate about democratising soft skills training so everyone can thrive.Episode Overview:Renata reflects on her background in major corporates such as Accenture, British Airways, Telstra and NAB, and what ultimately pushed her to leave. Frustrated by cultures that sidelined people development, she decided to create a company that would put human potential at the centre. Now six years into running MaxMe, she explains the challenges of bootstrapping, the steep learning curve of sales and marketing, and how optimism and resilience kept her going. The conversation explores how MaxMe equips people with skills like communication, adaptability and emotional intelligence, and why these are fundamental to both personal success and organisational transformation.Key ThemesCorporate to Startup: Renata grew tired of corporate environments where people’s leadership was undervalued. Moving from large firms to a tier–two company didn’t fix the problem, so she left to build MaxMe.First–time CEO Realities: Bootstrapping meant investing her own funds and living with uncertainty. She had to learn fast, wear every hat, and stay optimistic despite constant setbacks.Why MaxMe Exists: Many graduates use only a fraction of their technical training in the workplace, while employers struggle with staff lacking soft skills. MaxMe’s mission is to close that gap by building competence and confidence in everyone, not just those in elite programs.How MaxMe Works: Learning is delivered in small, sustainable chunks embedded in daily work. Cohorts of around 30 participants build skills over time, with group learning emphasised because “humans are wired to be in packs”. Programs serve both large corporations like Deloitte and small businesses that pool staff together.People and Culture Drive Success: Renata notes that most business transformations fail because leaders overlook the human element. Skills like trust, communication and collaboration determine whether change sticks. She shares examples from her career where focusing first on people delivered results faster than chasing KPIs.Advice for New CEOs: She encourages leaders to stay curious, let go of what they “know”, and invest early in their people. When staff feel supported to grow and contribute, discretionary effort follows — and that drives the business forward.This episode offers candid insights into leaving corporate life, starting a company from scratch, and why people and culture matter more than processes or balance sheets. Listeners will gain practical advice on leadership, transformation and the essential role of human skills in business success.

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