“One of the most important things as a leader is trust."

Wilson Casado defines himself with three simple yet powerful words: innovation, education and diversity, all underpinned by a focus on trust in the workplace. These principles have shaped his leadership journey and how he leads his team.

While these words may seem straightforward, they hold deep meaning for Wilson, fostered by years of personal growth, challenges and opportunities that have continued to expand his understanding of what it means to be a leader.

“I’m an entrepreneur. My whole professional career I’ve been doing what no one else is or finding new ways of doing things. I’m always in that lens of how do we grow, how do we do it differently, how do we do it better.”

Innovation has been the driving force behind Wilson’s success and that of his team. Their innovative spirit has allowed them to stand out, but it’s education—both formal and experiential—that has nurtured this mindset.

“I’m from a mid-low class worker family. When I was growing up, education was my way out—an opportunity to surpass the limits of my circumstances,” Wilson said. “But now, it means much more. I’ve realised that for me education’s true purpose is helping others reach their full potential, not just advancing myself.”

Diversity is another pillar in Wilson’s leadership philosophy, broadened by his experience in the Leadership WA Signature Leadership Program in 2019. This deepened his understanding of inclusion and its importance by giving him the opportunity with people from a diverse range of industries, sectors and perspectives.

“I have always worked in the ‘St Georges Terraces of the world’, whether that be in Brazil, Australia or the US. These are just small sections of the population but when you live in those bubbles you don’t think too much outside of them.”

“I’m thankful that I was open to learning from different groups I encountered in the Signature Program and take part in this experience with them. I’m extremely grateful to have found myself in this cohort who’ve since become life-long friends of mine.”

From this leadership experience, as well as the learnings he has gained over a storied career, Wilson had this advice for other leaders, focused on the power of trust and understanding in the workplace.

“One of the most important things as a leader is trust. You need to be honest with yourself about whether you trust the person you’re delegating to. If they make a mistake, own it together. But when they succeed, that’s their victory—they handled it because you trusted them.”

“As senior leaders, it’s easy to be hyper-critical of younger people in the workplace, only seeing their mistakes. It’s a lot like being a parent—you see the errors your kids make, and you judge or punish them, but you were just as bad, if not worse.”

“You’re expecting them to be better than you were when you were in that same position and that’s not fair. It’s our responsibility to guide them through these mistakes, through storytelling and mentoring, working through them together rather than punishing them for the same errors you made in their shoes.

Wilson said that trust often means giving your team the space to succeed and that now, with trust given, he finds himself spending less time dealing with problems and more time witnessing the growth of his team. “My team is doing all the work now,” he said. “I find myself asking, ‘What did I do? I must be cheating!’. But that’s the mark of true leadership—empowering others to thrive.”

Often, leaders find themselves responsible for handling the problems, the fires their business is dealing with. Wilson emphasised that these fires make up only a fraction of what goes on in the business, and to not lose sight of the successes because of them. He said that it can be easy to fall prey to uncertainty and imposter syndrome when one regularly faces the troubles of the business. Five years ago, even Wilson grappled with these feelings.

“I’d lie awake, consumed by worst-case scenarios,” he admitted. “Now though, I look at the challenges and focus only on what we can control. I’ve learned to let go of the fear.”
This shift in mindset has been transformative—not just for him, but for his entire team.

“If you look at the team now compared to say five years ago, they have far more autonomy, they’re much more satisfied with their right to do the things they have to, make mistakes and not feel threatened.”

“They feel safer talking with me about any fears and insecurities, and what I can do to help them succeed in the workplace. I think that openness is thanks in part to my experiences in the Signature Leadership Program opening me up to new perspectives and helping develop my understanding of my place as a leader, as well as the maturity that comes with years in a leadership position.”

Wilson Casado’s leadership journey is not just a testament to the power of innovation, education, and diversity; it is a prime example of how embracing these principles in the spirit of trust can cultivate an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.

Wilson Casado | Managing Partner and Non-Executive Director | Visagio Australia