#268 Mel Silva: Google's MD on Losing Her Dream Job, Trusting Her Instinct and Making Yourself Replaceable

Mel Silva is the Managing Director of Google for ANZ. She has held senior leadership roles across Asia-Pacific, including leading Google's APAC Go-to-Market Strategy & Operations from Singapore. Today, she oversees one of Google's most influential regional businesses,  and serves on the board of the Sydney Opera House.

In one of her most candid interviews, Mel shares the story behind leading Google. From growing up in a family business to taking career risks that meant pay cuts and missed promotions, she reflects on the setback that changed everything, the mentor who saw potential she couldn't yet see, and why learning to separate instinct from her inner critic transformed both her career and her leadership.

Vidit and Mel explore leading Google through Australia's landmark News Media Bargaining Code, returning from parental leave to a transformed company, building leaders who can one day replace you, balancing ambition with motherhood, and how AI is reshaping the way we work, learn and lead.

Please enjoy exploring your curiosity.

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TIMESTAMPS

02:18 Growing up in a family business

08:41 The career move that changed everything

14:55 Joining Google after a pay cut

22:36 Losing the MD role

31:18 The move to Singapore

40:27 Australia's News Media Bargaining Code

52:11 Leading Google through crisis

1:04:52 AI: Google's biggest platform shift yet

1:18:30 Parenthood, ambition & identity

1:31:42 The future of Search

1:43:15 Leadership lessons

1:49:30 Quickfire

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The High Flyers Podcast features in-depth interviews with the world’s most influential figures in business, tech, finance, government and sport. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past three years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200+ episodes released, and featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW.

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