Balancing good culture and high performance is never easy. Leaders want their people to be happy and engaged, but they also need them to deliver results. Many still believe that achieving both is unrealistic, that performance comes at the cost of culture. Elaine Jobson challenges this thinking. Drawing on the principles from her book High Performance Through Happy People, Elaine’s approach is built on a simple but powerful idea: high performance and a strong, positive culture are not in conflict; they are mutually reinforcing and essential for long-term success. With over 30 years of global executive experience, Elaine has led high-growth, multi-site businesses and helped transform workplace cultures into award-winning environments. Her leadership philosophy focuses on creating organisations where people thrive and performance follows. 

In this fireside chat, Elaine will explore how leaders can move beyond the false trade-off between culture and results, and instead build environments where both can thrive. The conversation will centre around a practical framework for creating sustainable high performance, grounded in five core pillars, from understanding the relationship between culture and performance, through to leading, designing, and embedding lasting cultural change. This session will challenge traditional views on performance and offer a clear, actionable approach for leaders looking to elevate both their people and their outcomes. 

Discussion Topics

• The relationship between culture and performance, and why one cannot succeed without the other
• Leading a high-performing, happy culture in fast-paced, results-driven environments
• Building high-performance teams that are both engaged and accountable
• Designing a culture that supports consistent, sustainable performance
• Making lasting culture change and why most transformation efforts fail
• The role of leadership in shaping both behaviour and results
• Moving beyond short-term performance fixes to long-term, sustainable success.

Elaine’s background includes:

• CEO and senior executive leadership across global, high-growth franchise and consumer brands
• Over 30 years’ experience building and scaling multi-site businesses with a strong focus on people, culture, and performance
• Proven track record of transforming workplace cultures into award-winning, high-performing environments
• Performed a Management Buy-Out of Jetts Fitness, one of Australia’s leading fitness franchise brands
• Author of High Performance Through Happy People and a sought-after keynote speaker on leadership, culture, and sustainable performance

Studios across fitness, wellness, and recovery are increasingly exploring additional revenue streams beyond their core services. From longevity and recovery offerings to partnerships with telehealth providers or wellness platforms, these models are generating interest, but they also introduce legal, operational, and financial considerations that are often underestimated. Christina Malik brings a unique perspective to this conversation, with experience spanning healthcare operations, finance, and healthcare law.

In this Fireside chat, Christina will help unpack how operators can evaluate these opportunities thoughtfully. The conversation will focus on where these models have created value, where risk is often underestimated, and what legal and operational considerations owners should understand before introducing new services. 

Discussion Topics:

• Ancillary services studios are beginning to explore (GLP-1, peptides, HRT, recovery services)

• Partnership models with telehealth providers, medical directors, and wellness platforms

• Legal, licensing, and compliance considerations

• Operational and financial implications of adding new service lines Evaluating fit with the brand, client demand, and business model

Christina Malik

• Former COO of physician practices ranging from $8M to $150M in size
• Healthcare attorney focused on wellness, longevity, functional medicine, med spa, and aesthetic businesses
• Advisor to brands expanding into medical-adjacent services, including compliance, medical oversight, and vendor partnerships