Built In The Bush
Built in the Bush is a heartfelt and inspiring podcast that celebrates resilience, adaptability, and success stories shaped by life in rural Australia. Hosted by Tanya Atkinson, the podcast explores the unique journeys of individuals who have built the careers and businesses of their dreams and how their experiences growing up in the bush prepared them for it.
Each episode dives deep into candid conversations with guests from diverse industries, uncovering their most successful failures and other challenges that were pivotal in redefining their paths. From tales of perseverance and career breakthroughs to reflections on family, mental health, and the importance of community, Built in the Bush offers listeners valuable insights and uplifting stories about finding purpose and thriving against the odds.
You don't have to have grown up in the bush, to be inspired by the authentic and personal stories from those that are living their dreams.
Built In The Bush
From the Bush to the Corporate World to the United Nations - Allan Parker OAM's Journey and Insights
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📍 Episode Description:
In this episode of Built In The Bush, we welcome globally respected behavioural scientist, master negotiator, and communication strategist Allan Parker OAM, for an unmissable conversation on what it takes to build sustainable, successful family businesses — without losing your mind or your relationships.
With a career that spans over 30 countries, boardrooms of the United Nations, OECD and Microsoft, and grassroots consulting with multi-generational Australian family enterprises, Allan brings a unique blend of global insight and deep local heart.
Together, we explore:
- The soft spot Allan holds for family-run businesses, and why their unique strengths and challenges matter more than ever
- How to navigate conflict, succession, and communication breakdowns with clarity and care
- The surprising emotional patterns behind business disputes — and how to diffuse them early
- Why traditional negotiation tactics do not apply to families(and what to do instead)
- How bush values, legacy thinking, and emotional intelligence can transform leadership
Allan also shares stories from his time advising the OECD, shaping global SME policy, and working with the NSW Law Society, Macquarie Bank, and Microsoft across 11 countries, plus tips from his bestselling books Switch on Your Brain and Beyond Yes.
Whether you're in the thick of a family business, dreaming of passing on a legacy, or curious how to lead with more impact — this episode will leave you inspired, grounded, and future-focused.
🌾 Because in the bush, we build more than businesses — we build legacies
