Mike Schneider: Managing Director, Bunnings

In this interview, hear from Mike Schneider, Managing Director (MD) at Bunnings.

As MD of Bunnings, Mike leads nearly 53,000 team members and drives one of Australia’s most trusted brands that is recognised globally. Since joining in 2005, Mike has worked his way up through various roles to lead a business that reported $18.97 billion in revenue in 2024. Beyond Bunnings, Mike gives back through board roles with organisations like the Corporate Mental Health Alliance of Australia, Melbourne United Basketball Club, and FightMND, among others.

Hosted by Vidit Agarwal, Founder of Curiosity Center and The High Flyers Podcast.

It’s now time to explore your curiosity.

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Our guest this week is Mike Schneider, Managing Director of Bunnings, in this episode #186. This is a conversation about resilience, leadership under pressure, and the often-overlooked opportunities of a career in retail.

Mike, as Managing Director of Bunnings, leads nearly 53,000 team members and drives one of Australia’s most trusted brands that is recognised globally. Since joining in 2005, Mike has worked his way up through various roles to lead a business that reported $18.97 billion in revenue in 2024. Beyond Bunnings, Mike gives back through board roles with organisations like the Corporate Mental Health Alliance of Australia, Melbourne United Basketball Club, and FightMND, among others.

Growing up in a financially challenged household with a father who was very ill and a mother who dedicated herself to supporting the family -- our host, Vidit loved unpacking Mike’s story.

Mike shares early adversity, including bullying in the 1980s when it was far more physical, before switching schools -- that gave him a sense of belonging. These challenges shaped his deep empathy and creating work cultures where people feel safe to speak up.

With nearly 30 years in retail, Mike takes us inside the lessons learned across pivotal moments in his career: leaving Target for Westpac because he didn't get the career advancement he wanted, and how back then, with 10 years of experience from both retail and banking before he joined Bunnings -- Vidit loved asking Mike how he assessed his strengths and weaknesses to set himself apart.

And Mike doesn’t shy away from the tough moments. He reflects candidly on the painful exit of Bunnings’ UK business, the personal toll of losing his mum in 2017, and navigating divorce—sharing what these challenges taught him about resilience and leadership under pressure.

We also dive into:

• How Mike set himself up for success in his first 6 months as CEO.
• The evolution of retail over 30 years—and why retail as a fulfilling career path is still misunderstood.
• Balancing hubris with humility and creating an environment where his direct reports can give him feedback (Vidit also reflects on how he struggled with this, preferring now to give feedback up to his managers)
• Building energy during low points through golf, travel, and the simple joy of his dog.
  

This episode is an unfiltered look into the highs, lows, and decisions that define a leader—along with actionable insights for anyone navigating their own leadership journey.

It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!

The High Flyers Podcast is a "meticulously researched audio biography" that uncovers the untold stories of remarkable people and companies—redefining what it means to be a high flyer. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past two years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200 episodes released. A flagship product of the Curiosity Center, it has been featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW, offering raw, relatable insights from childhood to career, helping listeners become 1% better every day.

200+ guests have joined Vidit Agarwal on the show from 15+ countries, including The CEO's of multi-billion dollar companies like Bunnings, Australia Post, Woolworths; Board Members at Macquarie Bank, ANZ, Reserve Bank; Former Prime Minister of Australia; Globally renowned tech leaders from Google, Microsoft, Xero; Successful Venture Capital and Family Office Investors; CIO's at the world's biggest superannuation funds; Leading Entertainers; Olympic Gold Medal Winning Athletes and interesting minds you wouldn't have heard of that are changing the world.

Our parent company, Curiosity Centre is your on-demand intelligence hub for knowledge, connections and growth to achieve your potential, everyday. Join 200,000+ Investors, Founders, Functional Leaders, CEOs and Emerging Leaders. Learn with the world's best and be 1% better everyday at https://curiositycentre.com