#112 The Hidden Cost of Stress: How a Cancer Diagnosis Transformed this CEO’s Approach to Wellbeing Metrics, Leadership and Life - Reini Otter

Performance Intelligence Podcast

Reini Otter, CEO of Frasers Property Industrial, one of Australia's market-leading companies. Andrew asks Reini about his unique approach to leadership, health, and resilience, and how his life-changing cancer diagnosis shaped his mindset, sparking a deep commitment to wellbeing. Reini has spent 25 years at Frasers Property, steering logistics and industrial growth across Australia and Europe, all while championing future-ready facilities and a culture of care.

“...we want our people to push hard, really hard, you know, it's a competitive industry. But as an employer... what tools are you giving them to succeed? And whilst your surgeon won't say to you, "stress causes cancer", there is absolutely no question that your mental state effects your physical being. Everyone's experienced butterflies! That's a thought, that's lead to a feeling, a chemical change in your body..."

In this episode Andrew and Reini discuss:

3:20 How Andrew and Reini first met, Reini’s life-changing cancer diagnosis, and why Dr Tom says Reini has the best Performance Intelligence of any client they have worked with.

6:05 Some key metrics Reini looks at to improve his performance, staying fit for 70, and the importance of having a healthy heart rate.

12:30 Why data isn’t everything when looking at health and performance, opening the door to high performance for others through awareness and education, and Reini’s average weekly exercise.

16:40 Not needing to supplement if you have a good enough diet, creating a positive feedback loop with fasting and where you can start on your wellbeing journey.

20:40 Why Reini is so obsessed with wellbeing, how he was able to cope with his cancer diagnosis, and why this has led to him growing even more in his career.

26:00 How the cancer diagnosis was the start of Reini’s mindfulness practice, focusing on the process when you can’t control the outcome and the vulnerability Reini showed in his article in The Australian.

32:30 Stress is great when you balance it with recovery, work can be addictive and easy to bury yourself in and going deep on the science of performance.

37:00 What is high altitude thinking, it takes a whole organisation to drive workplace culture and have humility as one of your key values.

45:40 Reini’s “you’re the man” moment, being confident in yourself when you can’t control what’s happening externally, and why Reini is now more comfortable with being vulnerable.

51:35 Why opening up about your struggles will make other people more comfortable around you, supporting the Healthy Heads In Trucks And Sheds initiative, and why Reini is so passionate about it.

58:00 Where Reini sees himself and his industry going in the future, where you can find Reini and Dr Tom and Andrew’s reflections.

You can find Reini at his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reini-otter-331a8439
Read Reini's article in The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/leadership/reini-otter-is-on-a-mission-to-have-healthy-heads-in-trucks-and-sheds/news-story/99501ba7b76815fdede995dab8b49676

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