Today, on Better Student Leaders, I’m joined by Australian Special Forces veteran and corporate psychologist Harry Moffitt — author of The Fourth Pillar and Eleven Bats. After 25 years, 11 tours and 1000 days with the SAS, Harry has trained and worked with the best in the military, sport, and corporate realms. In this episode, we explore how his philosophy of leadership can help grow young minds and community leaders empowering them to make the most of their university experiences.

From the battlefield to the boardroom, Harry shares lessons about knowing yourself and knowing others, the moral imperative to grow young minds, and why leadership is a philosophical act. He also reveals how cricket, mentors, quality relationships and reading have shaped his understanding of life, purpose and our place in the world.

Impactful Quotes

“Leadership arrives wherever the hell it wants.”

“I don't buy into this busyness paradigm... people have always got a lot more time than they think."

“We spend far too much time keeping ourselves busy. And not enough time getting out of the way of our mind, and letting those beautiful epiphanies and realisations flow to us. And that's what I think reading avails us of.”

“Our main calling is to be a good citizen, a good community member."

“I never had any ethics training in my first, kind of, couple of decades, but you don't want the first time to be the first time. You don't want your first ethical dilemma, or the first time you've thought about something ethically challenging."

“We need to meet (people) where they are."

Key Sections & Timestamps

00:02 – Know Thyself, Know Others

Harry explains how the oldest philosophy in the world — understanding yourself and others — remains the foundation of all leadership.

07:00 – Thinking for Yourself is a Radical Act

Why true independence of thought requires courage in a world of conformity — and why disagreement is essential to growth.

10:00 – The Philosophy of High Performance

Harry unpacks the missing “fourth pillar” in traditional high-performance models — philosophy — and how it shapes ethics and decision-making.

15:00 – The Moral Imperative to Grow Young Minds

Why leadership training shouldn’t start at the top — and how universities can “water the seedlings” early to develop future leaders.

18:00 – Leadership Arrives

Harry’s story from Afghanistan about how leadership shows up unexpectedly — and why every young person should be ready to step up when it does.

27:00 – Mentorship and the Power of Guidance

Harry shares lessons from Percy Cerutty, his father Robert, and the importance of seeking mentors with structure, accountability, and humility.

34:00 – The Third Thing: Finding Your Release

Cricket, music, and identity — how hobbies and play help balance purpose and performance in a high-pressure world.

40:00 – The Wisdom of a Father

A touching story about Harry’s dad reminding him, “You’re never too old to be my son.” Reflections on legacy, humility, and love.

46:00 – Reading, Reflection, and Radical Stillness

Why reading is an elite habit — and how silence, waiting, walking, and writing can sharpen self-awareness and wisdom.

53:00 – From Busyness to Presence

Harry challenges the cult of being “busy,” urging leaders to reclaim their time, slow down, and prioritize what truly matters.

58:00 – Community Leadership is Your Destiny

Why the ultimate goal of leadership is citizenship — to rise above ideology and contribute meaningfully to your community.

BONUS: Key Quotes from 'The Fourth Pillar' by Harry Moffitt

“Leadership is a moral act.”

“There’s a moral imperative to grow young minds.”

“Community leadership is your destiny."

“To think for myself — something I have come to realise is a radical act of courage.”

“We must water our seedlings from the start.”

“It is almost only our relationships that bring us meaning and purpose.”

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