In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of CST Hire, Chair and Non-Executive Director. With more than two decades of leadership experience across resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, and professional services, Andrew shares the lessons from a career defined by reinvention, curiosity, and cultural leadership. Andrew discusses his journey from aspiring engineer to CFO and then CEO, spanning industries from energy and mining to law and logistics. He reflects on the mindset shift required to transition from technical leadership into people-centred leadership, and why emotional intelligence and culture are now central to how he builds teams. We explore the reality of balancing executive and board responsibilities, the discipline it takes to maintain governance boundaries, and how sitting on boards in different industries has sharpened his business acumen as a CEO. Andrew also talks about his current work at CST Hire — Australia’s leading truck and specialist vehicle rental business — where he’s driving diversification into renewables, rail, and infrastructure, while embedding innovation such as AI-powered fleet management and customer service automation. The conversation is rich with practical insights for leaders about staying curious, walking the floor, and creating cultures of accountability and engagement. Andrew’s reflections on learning, adaptability, and longevity offer valuable guidance for any executive considering their own evolution from C-suite to boardroom. Key Timestamps 2:00 – Overview of CST Hire and its national operations 5:00 – Balancing CEO and board roles effectively 8:00 – From engineer to CFO to CEO: lessons in reinvention 12:15 – Developing soft skills and emotional intelligence in leadership 17:00 – Building board experience and applying cross-industry learning 19:00 – Listed vs private company dynamics and leadership differences 22:30 – Culture, visibility, and leading from the floor 24:00 – Behaviour, accountability, and building team engagement 28:00 – CST’s diversification strategy and use of AI technology 34:00 – The appeal and reality of portfolio careers 36:00 – Life outside work: family, surf, and being a proud grandfather