The Failure Proof Podcast
By Jamie Pride
Welcome to the Failure Proof Podcast - where we explore performance, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace.
The Failure Proof PodcastNov 08, 2020
00:00
37:49
Ep 38: Balder Tol - WeWork
On this episode I am joined by Balder Tol. Balder is the General Manager of WeWork Australia which he joined in 2016. Prior to joining WeWork, Balder was Airbnb’s first Australian hire and was also the general manager of Tank Stream labs.
During this conversation Balder discusses the impact of the pandemic on the office environment and how it will transform in the future. He also shares his views on the future of work and how he led the wework team through an immense amount turbulence and uncertainty.
Nov 08, 202037:49
Ep 37: Laura Keily - Legal Tech
Thank you for joining us on the podcast - where we explore performance, leadership, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace. This weeks episode is brought to you by The Founder Lab - a free community where entrepreneurs can share ideas and experiences. Find out more at thefounderlab.com.au
On this episode I am joined by Laura Keily. Laura is the Founder and Managing Director of Immediation, an online dispute resolution platform aiming to make justice more accessible for all. A qualified arbitrator, specialist in corporations law and complex commercial litigation, Laura’s technical expertise is recognised in her appointment to the Law Council of Australia’s Corporations and Competition and Consumer Law Committees. Laura was a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards and the Women in Law Awards.
During this conversation Laura discusses her journey from barrister to technology entrepreneur and why she decided to start her business. We chat about being a startup founder, raising capital her views on attracting and managing talent.
Oct 10, 202045:07
Ep: 36 Mike Distefano - Business Agility
Hi everyone, thank you for joining us on the podcast - where we explore performance, leadership, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace. This episode is brought to you by The Founder Lab - a free community where entrepreneurs can share ideas and experiences. Find out more at thefounderlab.com.au
On this episode I am joined by Mike Distefano. Mike is the Asia Pacific President of the organisation talent and strategy firm Korn Ferry. Between 2007 and 2017, he was Chief Marketing Officer of Korn Ferry and President of the Korn Ferry Institute.
During this conversation Mike & I discuss the topic of business agility and its relevance as we turn the corner of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a very practical focused conversation, and we chat about what leaders and organisations can do to empower their teams and build a culture of openness and performance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Sep 30, 202046:07
Ep 35: John Meacock - Strategy
Thank you for joining us on the podcast - where we explore performance, leadership, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace. This weeks episode is brought to you by The Founder Lab - a free community where entrepreneurs can share ideas and experiences. Find out more at thefounderlab.com.au.
On this episode I am joined by John Meacock. John is a highly influential leader with a focus on leading, growing and innovating business on a global stage.
For the last 2 years John has been based in New York working as the Deloitte Global Chief Strategy Officer, responsible for Strategy and Innovation across Deloitte's business of approximately US$50bn of revenue and 330,000 people. He has also held positions as the Deputy Chair of the Deloitte Global Board and Asia Pacific CSO. John's strategic mindset combined with expertise in understanding the impacts of technology on businesses and business models has helped him lead the transformation of Deloitte into an organisation that operates at the leading edge of technological change.
During this chat we discuss the future of the workforce, the impact of the global pandemic on corporate strategy & how businesses are thinking about organisational resilience. John has a wealth of experience and knowledge - I hope you enjoy this discussion.
Aug 31, 202036:08
Ep 34: Rohan Dredge - Technical Leadership
Hi everyone, thank you for joining us on the podcast - where we explore performance, leadership, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace. This weeks episode is brought to you by The Founder Lab - a free community where entrepreneurs can share ideas and experiences. Find out more at thefounderlab.com.au.
So its good to be back after a bit of a break. To mix things up a bit, I will starting a new segment where I take questions from listeners. So if you have a question you want answered or a topic you want covered, then click this link - record a voice message - and your question might just get answered on a future episode.
On today's show I am joined by leadership coach, Rohan Dredge. Rohan is dedicated to authentic and effective leadership. For more than 2 decades he has taught leaders the essential skills to help them make the leap from someone who is excellent at their job to someone who is outstanding at leading people. He especially focuses on helping technical experts become better people leaders.
During this chat we cover a wide range of topics from building trust, creating sustainable leaders to how to be an effective coach - I hope you enjoy it.
If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, or find out more about me or the show, then go to www.jamiepride.com
To send us a question, or a message, then go to here.
Aug 16, 202053:58
Ep 33: Kieran Flanagan - Forever Skills
On this episode I am joined by Kieran Flanagan. Kieran is the Co-Founder of the Impossible Institute. She is a speaker, trainer and author who helps organisations and individuals harness the commercial power of creativity and drive change - not just react to it. Kieran helps the leaders, teams and organisations she works with to be commercially creative and to change their thinking in order to change their results.
She has worked with many of the biggest companies and brands on the planet. She has appeared on tv and radio. Her latest book, co-authored with Dan Gregory, Forever Skills, looks at what won't change in a world changing at a mind boggling rate.
During this conversation Kieran discusses creativity, communication, control, and how the world has always been changing. We chat about about a huge number of topics from self discipline to coding. This was an extremely enjoyable and really thought provoking interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
She has worked with many of the biggest companies and brands on the planet. She has appeared on tv and radio. Her latest book, co-authored with Dan Gregory, Forever Skills, looks at what won't change in a world changing at a mind boggling rate.
During this conversation Kieran discusses creativity, communication, control, and how the world has always been changing. We chat about about a huge number of topics from self discipline to coding. This was an extremely enjoyable and really thought provoking interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Feb 25, 202051:54
Ep 32: Mark Gustowski - Creative Enterprises
On this episode I am joined by Mark Gustowski. Mark is the CEO at QUT Creative Enterprise Australia. Based in Brisbane, CEA supports startup founders in the creative tech verticals. With experience in building and supporting startups and growth companies across Australia, the US, Asia and Europe Mark has designed and run accelerator, incubator and investment programs nationally and internationally.
During this conversation Mark tells me about his journey in the startup ecosystem and his views on what it means for Australian businesses to be globally and regionally competitive. We also cover the Brisbane startup ecosystem, his thoughts on what makes a good founder, startup failure and mental health.
Mark has a wealth of knowledge and experience, so I am sure you will take something away from this conversation.
During this conversation Mark tells me about his journey in the startup ecosystem and his views on what it means for Australian businesses to be globally and regionally competitive. We also cover the Brisbane startup ecosystem, his thoughts on what makes a good founder, startup failure and mental health.
Mark has a wealth of knowledge and experience, so I am sure you will take something away from this conversation.
Feb 16, 202053:49
Ep 31: Liz Jackson - Brilliant Business Kids
On this show I am joined by Liz Jackson. Liz is the education & program director at startup.business. She has a diverse teaching background spanning over 10 years.
In 2018 she launched the first National Brilliant Business Kids Festival to build a safe and sustainable ecosystem where academia, government and industry engage with young people with a focus on solving local and global issues using innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset.
On this episode Liz discusses the future of education, and the journey she has been on to bring the teaching of entrepreneurial skills and mindset to kids in schools. She discusses the importance of helping kids to think for themselves, find their passion, be resilient and develop problem solving skills. She also highlights the upcoming National Brilliant Kids Festival and Pitch Competition.
The evolution of our education system is something we should all be interested in. I hope you take something away from this episode.
Nov 24, 201930:23
Ep 30: String Nguyen - The Trusted Voice
Welcome ta another quick byte - short, sharp episodes that profile an interesting startup or founder.
On this episode I am joined by String Nguyen, the founder of The Trusted Voice - a platform that helps thought leaders improve their influence and develop their online presence. String is a pretty phenomenal founder, and this episode is worth listening to just to hear her amazing origin story and her view of the world.
On this episode I am joined by String Nguyen, the founder of The Trusted Voice - a platform that helps thought leaders improve their influence and develop their online presence. String is a pretty phenomenal founder, and this episode is worth listening to just to hear her amazing origin story and her view of the world.
Oct 17, 201924:27
Ep 29: Monica Wulff - Digital Love
On this episode I am joined by Monica Wulff. Monica is the labs manager at WeWork, and is widely known for her time at Startup Muster - which she co-founded after noticing a lack of reliable, high-quality, and timely data on the Australian startup ecosystem. An economist at heart, she has a double degree in Economics and Finance, and has also spent time in private industry and at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
She is also the host of the Digital Love podcast, which is dedicated to helping people make the most of their tech-time without losing themselves to the screen along the way.
In this episode Monica gives her views on the startup ecosystem - including discussing the negative "bro-hustle" startup culture, founder health and wellbeing and the value of mentors. Monica is an amazing, inspiring individual. I hope you enjoy the episode.
She is also the host of the Digital Love podcast, which is dedicated to helping people make the most of their tech-time without losing themselves to the screen along the way.
In this episode Monica gives her views on the startup ecosystem - including discussing the negative "bro-hustle" startup culture, founder health and wellbeing and the value of mentors. Monica is an amazing, inspiring individual. I hope you enjoy the episode.
Oct 13, 201901:06:42
Ep 28: Scott Ko from ColourSpace
Welcome to the first of our quick bytes - short, sharp episodes that profile an interesting startup or founder. On this weeks show I am joined by Scott Ko the founder of ColourSpace - a social enterprise that provides businesses with art as a service. I hope you enjoy this new kind of episode.
Oct 10, 201923:35
Ep 27: Chris Wilson - The Cognitive Enterprise
On this weeks show I am joined by Chris Wilson. Chris currently leads IBM's digital strategy and interactive design practice across Australia and New Zealand. In this role, he leads an amazing team of IBM strategists, technologists and business designers helping shape the future for their clients and the sectors they represent.
Prior to IBM, Chris was a senior Partner at Deloitte where he built the Fintech practice nationally, focusing on the role the firm could play within the broader, global startup ecosystem. To satiate this ongoing passion, Chris continues to play an active mentoring role for Tyro Fintech Hub, StartupBootcamp and FasterCapital.
This episode is jam packed with great insights. Chris discusses disruption and innovation in financial services, the importance of bringing diversity of ideas to a problem, the cognitive enterprise, corporate venture capital, and exponential technology.
Prior to IBM, Chris was a senior Partner at Deloitte where he built the Fintech practice nationally, focusing on the role the firm could play within the broader, global startup ecosystem. To satiate this ongoing passion, Chris continues to play an active mentoring role for Tyro Fintech Hub, StartupBootcamp and FasterCapital.
This episode is jam packed with great insights. Chris discusses disruption and innovation in financial services, the importance of bringing diversity of ideas to a problem, the cognitive enterprise, corporate venture capital, and exponential technology.
Oct 07, 201959:43
Ep 26: Paul Naphtali - Venture Capital
Thank you for joining us on the podcast - where we explore leadership, performance, resilience and the mindset needed to thrive in the modern workplace. This weeks episode is brought to you by The Founder Lab - a free community where entrepreneurs can share experiences and ideas - and work towards being a better founder. Find out more at thefounderlab.com.au
On this weeks show I am joined by Paul Naphtali. Paul is the co-founder of Rampersand VC, an early stage Australian tech fund established in 2013 to help address the funding gap for Australian and New Zealand founders. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Paul held senior marketing roles in a number of high growth startups including Jajah, prior to it being acquired by Telefonica.
During this episode Paul discusses his journey from the corporate world, to startups and now to venture capital. He discusses the nuanced role that VC's play in supporting founders, and how he builds trusted relationships with the entrepreneurs that he invests in. We also chat about what strategies entrepreneurs can employ to develop a self care mindset, the role of Directors on startup boards, and the flawed mythology that sometimes surrounds startups. Lastly we discuss the makeup and dynamics that make a great entrepreneur.
On this weeks show I am joined by Paul Naphtali. Paul is the co-founder of Rampersand VC, an early stage Australian tech fund established in 2013 to help address the funding gap for Australian and New Zealand founders. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Paul held senior marketing roles in a number of high growth startups including Jajah, prior to it being acquired by Telefonica.
During this episode Paul discusses his journey from the corporate world, to startups and now to venture capital. He discusses the nuanced role that VC's play in supporting founders, and how he builds trusted relationships with the entrepreneurs that he invests in. We also chat about what strategies entrepreneurs can employ to develop a self care mindset, the role of Directors on startup boards, and the flawed mythology that sometimes surrounds startups. Lastly we discuss the makeup and dynamics that make a great entrepreneur.
Aug 26, 201958:36
Ep 25: Michael Biercuk - A Quantum Future
On this weeks show I am joined by Professor Michael J Biercuk. Michael is the CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL, a venture capital backed company that provides disciplined control engineering solutions to harness the power of quantum physics for next-generation technologies.
Q-CTRL is built on Michael's research leading the Quantum Control Lab at the University of Sydney, where he is a Professor of Quantum Physics and Quantum Technology. Michael holds both CEO and Professorial positions concurrently and in his academic role is a chief investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems.
As an award-winning experimental quantum physicist, Michael speaks with clarity and authority about science and technology, and is adept at making physics accessible for a lay audience - from what electricity is to how computers work.
Michael is one of the world's leading experts in the new emerging field of quantum technology; the work he is doing promises to be as transformational in the 21st century as harnessing electricity was in the 19th.
This episode is definitely one of my favourites, as myself and Michael talk about everything from the impact that quantum physics will have on our future, the importance of a liberal arts eduction to our mutual love of watches.
Michael is seriously smart, approachable and is his work is making a huge impact on the future. Enjoy the episode.
Q-CTRL is built on Michael's research leading the Quantum Control Lab at the University of Sydney, where he is a Professor of Quantum Physics and Quantum Technology. Michael holds both CEO and Professorial positions concurrently and in his academic role is a chief investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems.
As an award-winning experimental quantum physicist, Michael speaks with clarity and authority about science and technology, and is adept at making physics accessible for a lay audience - from what electricity is to how computers work.
Michael is one of the world's leading experts in the new emerging field of quantum technology; the work he is doing promises to be as transformational in the 21st century as harnessing electricity was in the 19th.
This episode is definitely one of my favourites, as myself and Michael talk about everything from the impact that quantum physics will have on our future, the importance of a liberal arts eduction to our mutual love of watches.
Michael is seriously smart, approachable and is his work is making a huge impact on the future. Enjoy the episode.
Aug 06, 201956:48
Ep 24: Chris Heuer - The Future of Work
On this weeks show I am joined by Chris Heuer. Chris is a serial entrepreneur and mentor who focuses on ecosystem thinking and innovation. More recently, he has been developing a new network advisory services agency called Mentor Bureau, which supports startups in finding product/market fit and designing systems for smooth scaling. He also currently serves as one of the Entrepreneurs in Residence for the Collider accelerator program in Brisbane.
Chris has launched or co-founded over a dozen different companies, including several creative agencies, a few software companies, a fashion modelling network and a global non-profit known as Social Media Club which enjoyed popularity around Australia for several years.
In addition to serving as an IBM Futurist focused on the future of work, he has spent the last few years as one of the lead mentors in Google's global Launchpad Accelerator program.
In this episode myself and Chris speak about his views on what makes a sustainable startup, and how chasing the next Unicorn isn't always the right thing to do. We discuss how human capital is often more important than venture capital - and his experiences as the lead mentor at Google.
We also discuss the future of work, including the impact that entrepreneurship has on the economy, and the nomadic nature of the modern workplace.
Chris has launched or co-founded over a dozen different companies, including several creative agencies, a few software companies, a fashion modelling network and a global non-profit known as Social Media Club which enjoyed popularity around Australia for several years.
In addition to serving as an IBM Futurist focused on the future of work, he has spent the last few years as one of the lead mentors in Google's global Launchpad Accelerator program.
In this episode myself and Chris speak about his views on what makes a sustainable startup, and how chasing the next Unicorn isn't always the right thing to do. We discuss how human capital is often more important than venture capital - and his experiences as the lead mentor at Google.
We also discuss the future of work, including the impact that entrepreneurship has on the economy, and the nomadic nature of the modern workplace.
Jul 08, 201956:43
Ep 23: Giam Swiegers - Leadership
On this weeks show I am joined by Giam Swiegers. Giam was recently the Global CEO of Aurecon - a global engineering company, with over 7,500 people and a net revenue of over AUD$1B.
Prior to joining Aurecon, Giam was CEO of Deloitte Australia for 12 years, retiring in 2015. During this period the Australian firm grew to a practice of over 650 partners and 6,000 people with a net revenue of over AUD1.0 billion.
Giam is passionate about equality in all forms, and in 2005 he was awarded 'Best CEO for the advancement of women in business' by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. Giam's stewardship of Deloitte Australia led the firm to achieve several industry recognised awards, and in 2013 the AFR named it the accounting firm of the year.
In this interview we discuss Giam's path to leadership from his early days in South Africa, how he navigated the challenges of leading a partnership, and his views on boards and board diversity. We also discuss how he hires leaders - value potential more than experience - and how he brings data and insights into the recruitment process. Lastly we discuss his practical approach to setting vision and how he got through the dark times of leadership.
I have had the privilege of working under Giam's leadership, and consider him the greatest leaders I have ever worked for. I am certain any aspiring leader will take something away from his interview.
Prior to joining Aurecon, Giam was CEO of Deloitte Australia for 12 years, retiring in 2015. During this period the Australian firm grew to a practice of over 650 partners and 6,000 people with a net revenue of over AUD1.0 billion.
Giam is passionate about equality in all forms, and in 2005 he was awarded 'Best CEO for the advancement of women in business' by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. Giam's stewardship of Deloitte Australia led the firm to achieve several industry recognised awards, and in 2013 the AFR named it the accounting firm of the year.
In this interview we discuss Giam's path to leadership from his early days in South Africa, how he navigated the challenges of leading a partnership, and his views on boards and board diversity. We also discuss how he hires leaders - value potential more than experience - and how he brings data and insights into the recruitment process. Lastly we discuss his practical approach to setting vision and how he got through the dark times of leadership.
I have had the privilege of working under Giam's leadership, and consider him the greatest leaders I have ever worked for. I am certain any aspiring leader will take something away from his interview.
Jun 23, 201936:56
Ep 22: Taryn Willams - Entrepreneur
On this weeks show I am joined by Taryn Williams. Taryn is one of Australia's most popular female entrepreneurs and digital influencers.
She was awarded the 2017 B&T Women in Media tech leader and recognised for her work with theright.fit winning the 2018 Mumbrella Award for innovation. Taryn has featured in the B&T Hot 30 under 30, SmartCompany 30 under 30, and been a finalist for numerous awards including 2015 Female Entrepreneur Awards. Taryn was also announced in 2018 as one of the global faces of Max Factor.
A former model, Taryn launched Wink Models in 2007 at the age of 21 and it has since cemented its place as one of Australia's leading commercial modelling agencies with turnover in the millions.
In 2016 she launched her second business, theright.fit, a two-sided marketplace connecting brands with creative talent and influencers. Soon after launch she successfully negotiated investment from Airtree Ventures, along with other strategic partners and funds. The platform has over 6,500 talent and has worked with some huge brands.
Taryn is an absolute power house of energy. In this episode we speak about finding mentors and advisors, scaling, how to hire a team, how she introduces gratitude into her business and her leap into the world of tech startups. This is one of my most favourite interviews, and I am sure you will take something away from it.
Apr 28, 201901:10:09
Ep 21: John King - Leadership
It's not every day that you get a New York Times #1 best selling author on your podcast, but fortunately today I am joined by my good friend, John King, leadership expert and author of the best selling book Tribal Leadership - which changed the trajectory of thinking about organisational culture.
Internationally recognised as a senior teacher, coach, and program leader, John's executive clientele read like a list of the fortune 500. John is universally acknowledged as a leadership expert and is on the teaching staff of more Universities than I can list in the short time of this podcast introduction.
This episode is focused exclusively on John's thoughts on leadership. We discuss the five stages of leadership maturity - and the values and makeup of a great leaders. We also chat about how organisations and individuals improve their leadership capacity - and the difference between management and leadership.
It is an absolute privilege to have such an expert on the podcast. I want to dedicate this episode to everyone out there who are suffering under poor leadership. There is hope. Good leaders can and do exist - and you need to lead by example. Whether you are working in the corporate world or starting a business being a great leader is the foundation of being successful. I am sure you will take something away from this episode.
Internationally recognised as a senior teacher, coach, and program leader, John's executive clientele read like a list of the fortune 500. John is universally acknowledged as a leadership expert and is on the teaching staff of more Universities than I can list in the short time of this podcast introduction.
This episode is focused exclusively on John's thoughts on leadership. We discuss the five stages of leadership maturity - and the values and makeup of a great leaders. We also chat about how organisations and individuals improve their leadership capacity - and the difference between management and leadership.
It is an absolute privilege to have such an expert on the podcast. I want to dedicate this episode to everyone out there who are suffering under poor leadership. There is hope. Good leaders can and do exist - and you need to lead by example. Whether you are working in the corporate world or starting a business being a great leader is the foundation of being successful. I am sure you will take something away from this episode.
Feb 24, 201901:07:15
Ep 20: James Spenceley - Entrepreneur
On today's show I am joined by James Spenceley. James is an Australian investor, award-winning entrepreneur and company director. He is the CEO and co-founder of MHOR asset management. He is probably most widely known as the founder and former CEO of Australia's 4th largest fixed line telco, Vocus Communications. When he stepped down as CEO of Vocus in March 2016, the company had a market capitalisation of $5 billion. He is also the Chairman of Airtasker, 2 x winner of Entrepreneur of the year, BRW rich lister, owns the Illawarra Hawks basketball team, but more importantly his biggest achievement was my as first investor ;-)
In this episode we speak about how James made the leap from the corporate world to founding Vocus and what it was like to let go of the company he founded. We also speak about his views on leading, hiring and inspiring people. His thoughts on the entrepreneurial environment in Australia are hugely insightful. If you are thinking about starting a business or thinking about investing then I think you will take a lot away from this episode.
In this episode we speak about how James made the leap from the corporate world to founding Vocus and what it was like to let go of the company he founded. We also speak about his views on leading, hiring and inspiring people. His thoughts on the entrepreneurial environment in Australia are hugely insightful. If you are thinking about starting a business or thinking about investing then I think you will take a lot away from this episode.
Feb 17, 201959:06
Ep 19: Kelly Slessor - Shop You
On today's show I am joined by Kelly Slessor. Kelly is a digital and mobile marketing strategist, and the Founder and CEO of Shop You. With 18 years' experience both in Australia and overseas, Kelly began her career with British Telecom, UK's largest telecommunications provider. Kelly's focus is on increasing conversions, creating emotional connections and developing technology to solve real customer issues. She has worked with iconic brands including Westfield, Woolworths, Glue Store, Big W, Le Specs, Suncorp, David Jones, Lend Lease, Mountain Designs and Diageo.
In this interview Kelly speaks about the journey of founding her business, how to realise a product vision, the importance of prototyping and the two edge sword of startup advice. Kelly also recently attended a 2 day silent meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery - that story alone is a good laugh. We riff on the importance and challenge of mediation, so if you are keen to explore meditation or detachment further it worth a listen.
If you are a startup founder or are thinking about leaving the corporate world to start one you will get a lot out of this episode.
In this interview Kelly speaks about the journey of founding her business, how to realise a product vision, the importance of prototyping and the two edge sword of startup advice. Kelly also recently attended a 2 day silent meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery - that story alone is a good laugh. We riff on the importance and challenge of mediation, so if you are keen to explore meditation or detachment further it worth a listen.
If you are a startup founder or are thinking about leaving the corporate world to start one you will get a lot out of this episode.
Dec 16, 201857:44
Ep 18: Matt Allen - Amazon
On today's show I am joined by Matt Allen. Matt is the Venture Capital BD at AWS for Australia and New Zealand and a partner at Startmate - one of Australia's best known startup accelerators.
He (along with his wife, Aprill) is a prolific angel investor with a portfolio of 14 companies, 3 Startmate cohorts and 2 VC funds. Prior to AWS he ran Lookahead Search in Melbourne, and has been the co-founder of three startups. Mixed in there he ran a Wireless ISP, a hosting company, played the bass and lived on a farm. When not talking shop about startups, he's hanging out with his two sons and driving his Model S or flying his drone. His favourite question is "What's Next?"
In this interview Matt speaks about his first business, what he learnt, and the personal impact it had on him. How he diversifies risk, and his approach to angel investing. He also discusses what makes a good founder, why co-founder's don't get on, and why it's important to let founders take money off the table.
He (along with his wife, Aprill) is a prolific angel investor with a portfolio of 14 companies, 3 Startmate cohorts and 2 VC funds. Prior to AWS he ran Lookahead Search in Melbourne, and has been the co-founder of three startups. Mixed in there he ran a Wireless ISP, a hosting company, played the bass and lived on a farm. When not talking shop about startups, he's hanging out with his two sons and driving his Model S or flying his drone. His favourite question is "What's Next?"
In this interview Matt speaks about his first business, what he learnt, and the personal impact it had on him. How he diversifies risk, and his approach to angel investing. He also discusses what makes a good founder, why co-founder's don't get on, and why it's important to let founders take money off the table.
Dec 09, 201801:06:06
Ep 17: Karen Lawson - CEO
On today's show I am joined by Karen Lawson. Karen is an award winning business executive and leader in the digital and startup industry. As the former CEO of Slingshot, she grew the business into the #1 corporate accelerator in Australia, having accelerated more startups and run more corporate programs than any other provider in the space. She drove the total market capitalisation of its alumni to over $507m and accelerated over 128 businesses. The $15m Slingshot Venture Fund also invested into early stage founders driving innovation, economic growth and employment.
Prior to her role at Slingshot, Karen served as CEO of CareerOne, a joint venture between News Limited and Monster Worldwide, and she also served as the General Manager at Yahoo!7. Karen is also a huge 'foodie' and has been a food and luxury travel journalist for over thirteen years.
In this interview Karen speaks about her journey to becoming a CEO. We also talk a lot about the challenges of people management, the role of the leader, & her self care regime. If you are a corporate executive or a startup founder I'm certain you will take something away from Karen's amazing insights and experience.
Dec 02, 201801:09:20
Ep 16: Jo Burston - Rare Birds
On today's show I am joined by Jo Burston. Jo is the founder and CEO of Job Capital, a company she grew from nothing to $40M in less than 5 years with a team of 12. She is also the founder and CEO of the entrepreneurial movement Inspiring Rare Birds. Jo has been recognised as one of Australia's top entrepreneurs for the past six years and is a leading authority on global women's entrepreneurship.
Jo is also extremely passionate about building business skills in kids. Jo collaborated with Phronesis Academy co-founder Dr Richard Seymour, from the University of Sydney to develop its first program startup.business. The program is being taught in primary and secondary schools and is being rolled out nationally.
In this interview Jo speaks about the sliding door moment that started her on the path to being an entrepreneur, the skills she believes are required to be a great entrepreneur and how she has dealt with adversity. There are some amazing insights in this interview - everything from daily routines to meditation. I'm sure you will take something of value away from it.
Jo is also extremely passionate about building business skills in kids. Jo collaborated with Phronesis Academy co-founder Dr Richard Seymour, from the University of Sydney to develop its first program startup.business. The program is being taught in primary and secondary schools and is being rolled out nationally.
In this interview Jo speaks about the sliding door moment that started her on the path to being an entrepreneur, the skills she believes are required to be a great entrepreneur and how she has dealt with adversity. There are some amazing insights in this interview - everything from daily routines to meditation. I'm sure you will take something of value away from it.
Nov 04, 201801:02:56
Ep 15: Todd Forest - NAB Ventures
On today's show I am joined by Todd Forest. Todd is the Managing Director of NAB Ventures, and established the venture fund at the beginning of 2016. NAB Ventures is a global initiative supporting entrepreneurs in Australia and offshore in their quest to build leading technology companies. Todd was previously the CEO of Clipp, a mobile payments and data business with a focus on hospitality. At Microsoft, he was the Head of MSN Asia Pacific, based out of Singapore and prior to that, was the Head of Digital at ninemsn. Todd also held senior management positions in Nike and AOL in the US. He has also been a successful angel investor over the past 12 years via Tasman Ventures Fund.
In this interview Todd speaks about his journey from Nike to NAB, how he makes Angel investments, disruption in financial services, and how he approaches corporate venturing at NAB ventures. He also talks about his views on adversity and the highs and lows of startup life.
Todd has had a huge range of experience. He has great insights and I'm sure you will take something away from this interview.
In this interview Todd speaks about his journey from Nike to NAB, how he makes Angel investments, disruption in financial services, and how he approaches corporate venturing at NAB ventures. He also talks about his views on adversity and the highs and lows of startup life.
Todd has had a huge range of experience. He has great insights and I'm sure you will take something away from this interview.
Oct 28, 201801:02:31
Ep 14: Jane Bianchini - Alcami Interactive
On today's show I am joined by Jane Bianchini. Jane has over 20 years experience in the IT and recruitment industry and is the founder & CEO of Alcami Interactive, a digital video interviewing platform that Jane has built with the sole purpose of disrupting the recruitment industry from within. Throughout her career, Jane has held senior executive positions across both public and private companies, leading high performing successful organisations, recruiting technology and sales professionals across Asia Pacific.
In this interview Jane speaks about the personal impact of being a CEO, connecting with purpose, how she dealt with exhaustion, and following candidates to Everest to get them to sign contracts!
Jane exemplifies the essence of being a true entrepreneurial leader. She is well known for her courage, resilience and boundless positive energy. I am sure you will take something away from this interview.
Oct 21, 201801:14:36
Ep 13: Charlie Wood - IAG Ventures
Charlie Wood is a 25+ year veteran of the technology industry covering business leadership, VC investing, strategic consulting, marketing and product management. He has built two different startups and mentored many more through fund raising, product market fit and scalable go to market activity. He is currently a General Partner at IAG Firemark Ventures. Formerly he held roles as the MD of Dropbox Australia, worked at Microsoft and sold his business to salesforce.com. As a pilot, sailor and mountaineer, Charlie is a bit of an action man - and is also an amazing human being.
In this interview Charlie speaks about his views on adversity, managing change, and how he maintains balance as a busy executive. Charlie has had a interesting journey and I am sure you will definitely take something away from it.
In this interview Charlie speaks about his views on adversity, managing change, and how he maintains balance as a busy executive. Charlie has had a interesting journey and I am sure you will definitely take something away from it.
Oct 14, 201851:44
Ep 12: Osher Günsberg - Mental Health
For those who don't know him Osher Günsberg, widely recognised by his former stage name Andrew G, is an Australian television and radio presenter who is best known as the host of the reality TV series The Bachelor Australia, The Bachelorette Australia and Bachelor in Paradise Australia. He is also known for his hosting roles on Channel [V], Australian Idol, and radio shows including Take 40 Australia and The Hot Hits. He also narrated the factual television program Bondi Rescue. His memoir, Back, After the Break, was published by HarperCollins in August 2018 and debuted at number one on the charts.
In this interview Osher speaks very openly about his mental health journey, the motivation behind writing his latest book, and training for the cover of Mens Heath Magazine.
A word of warning. This episode speaks frankly about mental health and suicide ideation. If you are struggling please get help. Its absolutely crucial that you talk to someone. In Australia you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Osher is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He has been extremely brave in destigmatising mental health and I am sure you will take something away from this interview.
In this interview Osher speaks very openly about his mental health journey, the motivation behind writing his latest book, and training for the cover of Mens Heath Magazine.
A word of warning. This episode speaks frankly about mental health and suicide ideation. If you are struggling please get help. Its absolutely crucial that you talk to someone. In Australia you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Osher is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He has been extremely brave in destigmatising mental health and I am sure you will take something away from this interview.
Oct 07, 201801:01:32
Ep 11: Constantine Georgiou - Self Inquiry
Constantine Georgiou is a serial entrepreneur and founder coach. After 20 years as an employee in the technology industry, he co-founded Velteo, a digital transformation consultancy, which was acquired in 2012 by IBM Bluewolf. He then launched One Million Acts of Innovation, an economic development not for profit that provided services to organizations needing better models for innovative thinking and execution. He has helped kickoff an Incubator and a Venture Capital firm where he fell in love with founder coaching. He has coached more than 370 founders in Investor Readiness and Resilience Development through his unique style of Bootcamps, and he is also the co-founder and facilitator of the Founder Circle, a founder peer support group. He is passionate about human potential and loves building more conscious Founders and Businesses by calling out biases, beliefs and bullshit.
In this interview Con shares his views on life coaches, radical self inquiry, and life after a business exit. He also touches on how he beat anxiety, the work of Byron Katie and how he thinks Stoicism is a great tool for high performing executives and entrepreneurs.
If you are looking to get deeper into your motivations and understand yourself better then you will take a lot away from this interview.
In this interview Con shares his views on life coaches, radical self inquiry, and life after a business exit. He also touches on how he beat anxiety, the work of Byron Katie and how he thinks Stoicism is a great tool for high performing executives and entrepreneurs.
If you are looking to get deeper into your motivations and understand yourself better then you will take a lot away from this interview.
Sep 30, 201801:03:05
Ep 10: Nikki Fogden-Moore - The Mojo Maker
Having a background in advertising working for some of the biggest brands in the world, Nikki Fogden-Moore is the Ultimate High Performance Expert. Her decades of experience lie in truly blending both business with personal high performance for ultimate success. She has written two books VITALITY and FITPRENEUR and her podcast The Mojo Maker - goes out to 85 countries with over 100,000 downloads.
In this interview Nikki talks about vitality and her unique view on how executives and entrepreneurs can keep themselves healthy and well balanced in a sustainable way! She also discusses her thoughts on failure, her decision to take the leap to leave the corporate world, and how she decides who she will work with.
If you are looking to get motivated and improve your well being I am sure you will take a lot away from this interview.
In this interview Nikki talks about vitality and her unique view on how executives and entrepreneurs can keep themselves healthy and well balanced in a sustainable way! She also discusses her thoughts on failure, her decision to take the leap to leave the corporate world, and how she decides who she will work with.
If you are looking to get motivated and improve your well being I am sure you will take a lot away from this interview.
Sep 23, 201850:60
Ep 9: Alan Jones - M8 Ventures
If you work in the Australian startup scene and don't know who Alan Jones is then you have been living under a rock. Formerly of Yahoo Australia, Alan mentors founders in startup accelerators BlueChilli, Startmate, Catalysr and Collider, on issues around lean startup methodology, product strategy, marketing and team leadership.
He is a founding investor in Australian tech startup venture funds Pollenizer, Startmate and Blackbird Ventures. Alan is currently raising a new venture fund, M8 Ventures, focusing on pre-seed and seed investment in early-stage tech startups in Australia and New Zealand.
Alan has been an active angel investor here and in the US, with investments including Bugcrowd, Buzzy, Biteable, Elevio, GeoSnap, HappyCo, HowAboutEat, Macropod, Muru Music, Propeller Aero, TopMe, Tzukuri, Workyard, UpGuard and Upperstory.
In this interview Alan talks about what it means to be an entrepreneur in Australia and some of our cultural hangups coming to terms with that. He also discusses how he manages stress and his views on what he looks for in a startup, solo founders v co-founders, how to manage investors and much more.
He is a founding investor in Australian tech startup venture funds Pollenizer, Startmate and Blackbird Ventures. Alan is currently raising a new venture fund, M8 Ventures, focusing on pre-seed and seed investment in early-stage tech startups in Australia and New Zealand.
Alan has been an active angel investor here and in the US, with investments including Bugcrowd, Buzzy, Biteable, Elevio, GeoSnap, HappyCo, HowAboutEat, Macropod, Muru Music, Propeller Aero, TopMe, Tzukuri, Workyard, UpGuard and Upperstory.
In this interview Alan talks about what it means to be an entrepreneur in Australia and some of our cultural hangups coming to terms with that. He also discusses how he manages stress and his views on what he looks for in a startup, solo founders v co-founders, how to manage investors and much more.
Sep 16, 201801:27:16
Ep 8: Janine Garner - Thought Leader
Janine Garner is passionate about connected leadership and building high performing leaders and teams; about unleashing the brilliance in individuals to achieve extraordinary results through networking, collaboration and influence. Janine is a Partner at Thought Leaders Global and is the author of the best-selling books It's Who you Know and From Me to We. She is a regular columnist in The Huffington Post and several other leading Australian business publications.
Prior to running her own company, Janine held various senior leadership roles at Oroton , Ralph Lauren, Citizen watches, Sainsburys and Coats Viyella in the UK. Her clients today include Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technologies, CBRE, EY and Westpac among many other top 100 ASX listed companies.
In this interview Janine talks about her decision to leave the corporate world and the ups and downs of that journey. We also discuss at length the value of building networks as a leader and how teams can be more effective.
Prior to running her own company, Janine held various senior leadership roles at Oroton , Ralph Lauren, Citizen watches, Sainsburys and Coats Viyella in the UK. Her clients today include Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technologies, CBRE, EY and Westpac among many other top 100 ASX listed companies.
In this interview Janine talks about her decision to leave the corporate world and the ups and downs of that journey. We also discuss at length the value of building networks as a leader and how teams can be more effective.
Sep 09, 201801:07:12
Ep 7: Jack Delosa - The Entourage
Jack Delosa is changing education. He is the Founder and CEO of Australia's largest education institution for entrepreneurs, The Entourage, which has a community of 300,000 members. Jack's vision is to improve traditional education by introducing a style of learning that puts the individual first. Under his leadership, The Entourage was awarded the 4th Best Place to Work in Australia by BRW magazine.
Jack also hosts the Sky Business series 'Entrepreneurs' and has been listed in the BRW Young Rich List since 2014. He is the author of several books including UnProfessional and his latest book UnWritten, reached bestseller status in just one week.
In this interview Jack talks about his journey, his views on the changing education landscape and the near death of his business in 2016. In particular he discusses how he got through that adversity and the lessons he has learned from it.
Jack also hosts the Sky Business series 'Entrepreneurs' and has been listed in the BRW Young Rich List since 2014. He is the author of several books including UnProfessional and his latest book UnWritten, reached bestseller status in just one week.
In this interview Jack talks about his journey, his views on the changing education landscape and the near death of his business in 2016. In particular he discusses how he got through that adversity and the lessons he has learned from it.
Sep 02, 201801:02:10
Ep 6: Dan Gregory - The Impossible Institute
Dan Gregory is the Co-Founder of strategic think-tank, The Impossible Institute™, who describes himself as being in the business of making smart people... people smart! He works as a speaker, author, consultant and social commentator and his passion is human behaviour and the elements of influence - what inspires and engages our people, our customers, our communities and ourselves.
Dan has worked as a stand up comedian, developed new product lines for Coca-Cola and Unilever, been a regular on ABC TV's "Gruen" series and launched engagement campaigns for companies as varied as Vodafone, MTV and the United Nations. He is also the co-author, along with Kieran Flanagan, of Selfish, Scared and Stupid: Stop Fighting Human Nature And Increase Your Performance, Engagement And Influence.
In this interview Dan discusses his thoughts on human behaviour, advertising, leadership, sales, the future of the workplace and the skills required to be successful.
Dan has worked as a stand up comedian, developed new product lines for Coca-Cola and Unilever, been a regular on ABC TV's "Gruen" series and launched engagement campaigns for companies as varied as Vodafone, MTV and the United Nations. He is also the co-author, along with Kieran Flanagan, of Selfish, Scared and Stupid: Stop Fighting Human Nature And Increase Your Performance, Engagement And Influence.
In this interview Dan discusses his thoughts on human behaviour, advertising, leadership, sales, the future of the workplace and the skills required to be successful.
Aug 26, 201801:17:11
Ep 5: Allen Liao - Tzukuri
Allen Liao is a founder, designer and writer. At the age of 20 he founded Tzukuri and led the creation of Unlosable Glasses, a multidisciplinary project of business, design, and engineering.
Allen's story is amazing. He started out knowing nothing about how to build and develop eyewear - and ended up with garage full of manufacturing machines. In the process he recruited several world leaders to help him along the journey, raised capital, and got a product to market. A true "garage" startup story.
In this interview we discuss Allen's thoughts on design, the challenges he faced building hardware, and the personal impact on him including being hospitalised along the way - the emotional rollercoaster of startups!
Allen's story is amazing. He started out knowing nothing about how to build and develop eyewear - and ended up with garage full of manufacturing machines. In the process he recruited several world leaders to help him along the journey, raised capital, and got a product to market. A true "garage" startup story.
In this interview we discuss Allen's thoughts on design, the challenges he faced building hardware, and the personal impact on him including being hospitalised along the way - the emotional rollercoaster of startups!
Aug 19, 201801:26:26
Ep 4: Andrea Culligan - Entrepreneur
Building businesses in Australia and Canada, Andrea's been engrossed in the entrepreneurial and Startup community since 2000. Due to her business successes and involvement within the community, she was awarded the NSW Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year, the NSW Telstra Small Business of the Year and has been listed on the BRW Fast 100 list along with numerous other industry and business awards. However, Andreas thirst for adventure doesn't finish there, she has travelled the globe via train, plane, boat, rickshaw and even most recently - motorbike.
Today's episode is particularly special, as Andrea speaks openly about the emotional rollercoaster that she went on when her business went into administration and how that impacted her both professionally, but more importantly personally. Andrea is particularly raw and brave in this interview and her story and her spirit are just amazing.
Today's episode is particularly special, as Andrea speaks openly about the emotional rollercoaster that she went on when her business went into administration and how that impacted her both professionally, but more importantly personally. Andrea is particularly raw and brave in this interview and her story and her spirit are just amazing.
Aug 12, 201801:18:13
Ep 3: Frank Cuiuli - Pivot
In this episode I interview Frank Cuiuli - the founder and CEO of Pivot - a data driven, integrative health and wellness business service in Sydney.
When it comes to Peak Performance and Flow Science, Frank Cuiuli is a leading practitioner and neuro physics therapist. Frank has 30+ years competing at elite levels as a martial artist, and has held senior sales leadership positions in global technology companies.
He also an entrepreneur, having co-founded and subsequently sold Velteo, a leading sales force.com integrator.
Frank talks about peak performance, his views on executive health and what it takes to be a great leader. Lots of great material in this interview. I hope you enjoy it.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who deliver courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
When it comes to Peak Performance and Flow Science, Frank Cuiuli is a leading practitioner and neuro physics therapist. Frank has 30+ years competing at elite levels as a martial artist, and has held senior sales leadership positions in global technology companies.
He also an entrepreneur, having co-founded and subsequently sold Velteo, a leading sales force.com integrator.
Frank talks about peak performance, his views on executive health and what it takes to be a great leader. Lots of great material in this interview. I hope you enjoy it.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who deliver courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
Aug 05, 201852:22
Ep 2: Ben Sharp - Entrepreneur
In this episode, I interview Ben Sharp - Ben is a business leader, mentor and investor. He has 20 years experience in sales, marketing, operations and strategy in the digital media and ad technology industry.
Ben co-founded Allure Media which was subsequently sold to Fairfax in 2012, and then went on to launch the AdRoll business into Australia in 2014.
As a mentor and investor he has supported Conversant Media, helped launch Audience Republic, and more recently operated as an Entrepreneur in Residence for the QUT Collider Accelerator programme. Ben is also an active Angel investor into a range of early stage businesses.
Ben shares his views on angel investing, what it takes to be a great startup founder and how he has overcome adversity in his career.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who deliver courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
Ben co-founded Allure Media which was subsequently sold to Fairfax in 2012, and then went on to launch the AdRoll business into Australia in 2014.
As a mentor and investor he has supported Conversant Media, helped launch Audience Republic, and more recently operated as an Entrepreneur in Residence for the QUT Collider Accelerator programme. Ben is also an active Angel investor into a range of early stage businesses.
Ben shares his views on angel investing, what it takes to be a great startup founder and how he has overcome adversity in his career.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who deliver courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
Jul 29, 201801:06:05
Ep 1: Matthew Bardsley - MedicalDirector
In this episode, we are extremely fortunate to have Matthew Bardsley - the CEO of MedicalDirector - an australian healthcare technology company that has over 17,000 healthcare providers using its platform and it processes more than 70 million patient consultations every year. Matt is an amazing guy and has a 20-year track record of leadership in technology and software, 15 of which have been in health.
Matt started his career as a computer programmer, before moving on to develop medical imaging technology used in radiology. In 1999, at just 26, he founded medical software company Digital Diagnostic Imaging (DDI) Health, which provided digital solutions for accessing high-quality diagnostic images of patients. Following a fifteen-year role as a Chief Information Officer in healthcare, Matt was appointed MedicalDirector's CEO in 2016.
Matt shares his views on leadership, building a vision and managing culture in a high growth corporate environment. He also shares his views on failure, dealing with stress and how he manages his days. Its is great episode I hope you enjoy it.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who provide courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
Matt started his career as a computer programmer, before moving on to develop medical imaging technology used in radiology. In 1999, at just 26, he founded medical software company Digital Diagnostic Imaging (DDI) Health, which provided digital solutions for accessing high-quality diagnostic images of patients. Following a fifteen-year role as a Chief Information Officer in healthcare, Matt was appointed MedicalDirector's CEO in 2016.
Matt shares his views on leadership, building a vision and managing culture in a high growth corporate environment. He also shares his views on failure, dealing with stress and how he manages his days. Its is great episode I hope you enjoy it.
This episode was brought to you by The Founder Lab who provide courses and programs to help build better founders. You can find out more at www.thefounderlab.com.au and if you would like to find out more about me or the podcast, then check out www.jamiepride.com.
Jul 21, 201850:06