Leadership & Life Lessons From One of the Most Influential Finance CEOs | Earl Evans

Earl Evans is one of the most influential figures in Australian wealth management (CEO of Shaw and Partners), but the way he leads isn’t what you’d expect.

He doesn’t help people look good. He helps them because he means it. Loyalty isn’t a strategy for Earl, it’s his default setting. And he’s built not just relationships, but an entire business this way: a company run by two CEOs, a model almost no one dares to try because it demands trust, humility, and respect.

With a growing footprint across Australia and New Zealand, and more than $49 billion in assets under advice, Shaw and Partners offers the intimacy of a boutique investment firm, backed by the resources and scale of a major global financial group, EFG International, managing over $310 billion of assets.

You'll hear:

• How a partnership built on shared values, trust, and clear boundaries created one of Australia’s most successful wealth firms
• The philosophy that drives his leadership — and how it shatters typical finance stereotypes of ego and power
• Stories from a decade-long friendship with his co-CEO and how they navigated agreement, disagreement, and decision-making
• Why building culture, loyalty, and connection can be more powerful than any strategy or title

If you’ve ever wondered what leadership looks like when it’s human, honest, and surprisingly effective, this episode shows you exactly how.

This is Performance Intelligence: the show that unlocks potential for everyday life.

2:00 The toughest part of being co-ceo with Allan Zion and where that idea came from.

5:10 Reflecting on the success of Shaw and Partners, missing working with Allan since his retirement and would Earl work with another co-ceo?

10:35 What Earl was like growing up and figuring out what he wanted to do early on.

14:30 Earl’s concept of loose and tight in business, the importance of finding the balance between the two and leading by example.

21:30 Why Earl is so passionate about sport and all the different sports Shaw and Partners are involved in.

25:45 The love for sport is all through the business, not just with Earl and also doing a lot for the arts and children’s programs.

29:45 Ali day’s thoughts on Earl and Earl’s reaction to those thoughts.

33:15 Making mistakes to move forward in life and matching the prize money of event winners when they deserve it.

36:30 Tom Trbojevic’s thoughts on Earl and Earl taking him on a business trip when Tom was injured.

40:30 What Earl sees as his purpose in life and viewing death as something that will happen anyway so enjoy what time you have.

45:45 Earl’s unique 60th birthday party with his friends and why Earl is so philanthropic.

52:45 What Gus Worland thinks about Earl and why they both get along so well.

57:10 What Earl would like to be doing in 10 years and how he can live to 100.

Connect with Earl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/earl-evans-2631b334/
Find out more about Shaw and Partners: https://shawandpartners.com.au/home

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