SWAN Chamber of Commerce president Mike Matich and chief executive officer Tom Smilovitis will share stories about their journeys in leadership roles at the May 14 Hour of Power.

Mr Matich, the owner of the Crooked Spire café, has turned a disused warehouse into a community hub for coffee, art, and connection.

His café’s pay-it-forward initiative Suspended Coffees has delivered more than 10,000 free coffees to the homeless people in the Swan community.

In 2022, Mr Matich expanded the Crooked Spire by opening a second café in Henley Brook.

Mr Matich said he will be sharing a bit of his own story at the talk.

“From fixing up a rundown building in Midland to leading a team, running a business, and even stepping into politics,” he said.

“There was no big plan, just a bunch of moments where I figured maybe I could help.”

Mr Smilovitis, helped kickstart workplace chaplaincy across WA’s construction sector when he joined Hanssen construction as a full-time chaplain helping workers dealing with personal and financial challenges.

Mr Smilovitis has over four decades of leadership experience across business, property management, and mentoring culminating in his current role as the chamber’s chief executive officer.

Mr Smilovitis said people who sought leadership solely for its prestige often fell short.

“They enter for the wrong reasons, unprepared and unequipped,” he said.

“In contrast, wholesome leaders often function long before they’re given a title.

“They carry the burden, the heart, and the fruit well before any recognition comes.

“These are the reluctant leaders and, in my experience, they are the most effective of all.”

Both speakers accepted their roles at the Swan Chamber on the condition they could bring a fresh approach to leadership, cultivating a truly inclusive, professional business community.

They will reflect on their six-year journey steering the chamber toward genuine, organic growth and a more inclusive business community.

Mr Matich said the talk was for anyone who has ever thought they are not the right person for the job.

“I have felt that plenty of times,” he said.

“People might see me as confident or even a bit of a show pony, but I have never chased leadership.

“Reluctant leaders often lead with heart.

“They listen, they make space for others, they show up when it counts.

“You do not need a title or a five-year plan to change the world – whatever changing the world means to you.

“Sometimes it is just saying yes to something that scares you.”

The Hour of Power will be held at 10am on Wednesday, May 14 at the Crooked Spire café in Midland.