Catching Up With CUB

Daniel catches up with Julian Fayad, founder and CEO of LoanOptions.ai, to discuss the Federal Government's proposed tax changes and why he believes they could have lasting consequences for Australian entrepreneurs, investors and future business owners. After nearly a decade in the finance industry, Julian built LoanOptions.ai into an eight-figure business with almost 40 staff and over 3,000 partn...

Daniel catches up with Jon Tyson, co-founder of Dominion Property, to explore an innovative property model helping investors build wealth while addressing Australia's housing shortage. From co-living developments and positive cash flow to property development and long-term investing, John shares how his team has created hundreds of homes through a strategy that's challenging traditional approaches...

Daniel is catching up with Alex Roberts, founder and director of multiple businesses across digital marketing, technology, and professional services, including Agency Stack, Admosis, and TeleMediDexy. Alex shares what he's learned from building and scaling multiple companies over the past 15 years, leading global teams, and raising three children while growing a portfolio of businesses. Daniel and...

Daniel is catching up with Ryan Nelson, founder of Refilled - the Australian hardware startup disrupting the global beverage industry with smart drink dispensers that eliminate single-use plastic waste. Ryan shares the brutal reality of building a hardware company from scratch: bootstrapping a prototype with duct tape and zip ties, landing Google before the product even existed, and scaling into c...

Daniel is catching up with Jason Varone, CEO of Private Fleet Group - one of Australia's leading car buying agencies, purchasing over 200 cars a month by getting dealers to compete for every deal. Jason breaks down how the car industry really works: why most Australians overpay, how dealers make money, and the simple strategies you can use to get a better price. From timing your purchase to creati...

Daniel is catching up with Calvin Chilchik, former Head of CUB Sydney, as he leaves to fulfil a lifelong dream: co-founding a business in the US and taking his family business into its next phase of growth. Calvin shares how seven years inside CUB built the confidence, network, and sales skillset to make the leap - from overcoming imposter syndrome to thinking like a founder. They break down the r...

Daniel is catching up with Andrew Herrmann from managed IT services provider Efex, long-time CUB member and high-performing sales leader known for his relentless drive and no-nonsense approach to winning business. Andrew breaks down the realities of modern sales - how the hustle changes as life evolves, why relationships still beat shortcuts, and how fatherhood has reshaped the way he approaches s...

In this International Women's Day special, Daniel is catching up with Sophia Lafkas, Founder of The Perfect Recruit, and Carolina Montanez, Co-Founder of Plane 2 Sea - two leaders building nationwide transport and logistics businesses in traditionally male-dominated industries. They share the reality behind women in business: the motherhood juggle, resilience through failure, evolving family dynam...

Daniel is catching up with Annabel Hay, Founder and CEO of CLUTCH Glue — the globally patented fashion adhesive that went viral, delivered the "best Shark Tank pitch ever," and closed one of Australia's largest pre-seed raises for an FMCG brand. Annabel shares how an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction became an international retail brand, why listening to hate comments accelerated growth, and how f...

Daniel is catching up with Brett Goodyer, Founder of Business Valuations Online and one of Australia's leading SME valuation experts. Brett has valued thousands of businesses, helping owners understand what their business is really worth - and how to increase it. Daniel and Brett break down how valuations actually work, the biggest mistakes that destroy value, and the simple levers that increase p...

Daniel is catching up with Anaita Sarkar, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Packaging and author of the bestselling 'How to Sell Anything Online'. Anaita has built one of Australia's most recognisable e-commerce packaging businesses while growing a powerful personal brand that reaches hundreds of thousands of founders. Daniel and Anaita talk about scaling with intent, using personal brand as a growth engin...

Daniel is catching up with Cynthia Payne, Founder and Managing Director of Anchor Impact Group. Cynthia shares her journey from nurse to CEO at 33, leading a major aged care business for 16 years before building a multi-brand advisory group focused on governance, strategy, and CEO excellence. Daniel and Cynthia talk about taking risk as a founder, leading through complexity, and why great leadersh...

Daniel catches up with Roy Kazamias, Founder and Managing Director of CRL Express, the transport and logistics company he scaled from one truck into a national business generating over $50 million in revenue in just six years. Daniel and Roy unpack what it really takes to scale fast in an asset-heavy industry, why service and execution are everything, and the leadership lessons behind building a h...

Daniel catches up with David Aherne, Founder and CEO of Across the Ocean Shipping. Over the past two decades, David has built the global freight and logistics company into a multi-country business turning over tens of millions, with teams across Australia and the US. Daniel and David unpack the realities of scaling internationally, how to build trust and long-term relationships in complex industri...

Daniel catches up with Jesse Lockhart-Krause, Founder of Lockhart-Krause Architects, the commercial architecture practice behind major community projects including the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. With experience spanning international firms and large-scale public developments, Jesse specialises in architecture that balances business outcomes with meaningful community impact. Daniel and Jesse expl...

Daniel catches up with Mia Vicary, Founder and Managing Director of Media In Action, the integrated marketing and PR agency redefining how brands grow. A former journalist turned founder, Mia built her business on the belief that PR, digital, paid media, and social only work when they work together - earning her the 2025 CUB Young Member of the Year Award. Daniel and Mia dive into why PR alone is...

Daniel catches up with Chris Hekeik, Founder and Chief Storyteller of Modemedia, the branding agency creating emotion driven, unforgettable customer experiences for over 25 years. From launching in a garage to becoming a national creative force, Chris has mastered how to make brands truly move people. Daniel and Chris unpack how to stand out in a crowded market, why branding is a performing art, a...

Daniel catches up with Nima Kermani, Founder of Kermani Capital, a property and finance group helping Australians build scalable wealth through lending, buyer's advocacy, and smart structuring. By 27, Nima had built a 9-property portfolio of his own and helped clients secure more than $500 million in deals. Daniel and Nima unpack how to grow a portfolio fast, the mindset and discipline behind earl...

Daniel catches up with Gael Donnay, Founder and Managing Director of StepInsight - the global software and AI development company behind CUB and Boa's technology. With teams across Sydney, Brussels, and Austin, Gael focuses on cutting through the hype to build systems that solve real business problems. Daniel and Gael explore how AI is reshaping development, the practical ways automation can cut c...

Daniel catches up with Lachlan Vidler, Founder & Director of Atlas Property Group - one of Australia's leading investment-only buyer's agencies helping Australians grow their wealth through property. A former academic turned property strategist, Lachlan is also the resident expert on Channel 9's  Budget Battlers and author of the best-selling book A Military Guide to Property Investing . Daniel an...

Daniel catches up with Noha Abadeer , Founder and CEO of  CB Skinteq - the global skincare brand built from resilience, reinvention, and relentless belief. From losing everything in a failed franchise to rebuilding from her living room during lockdown, Noha transformed her lowest moment into a thriving international business now stocked across Australia, New York, and soon Paris. Daniel and Noha e...

Daniel catches up with Patrick Williams, Managing Director of Rixon Capital, a private credit and lending firm helping Australian SMEs access capital without giving away equity. From his early career in M&A at Macquarie to raising over $160 million in funds, Patrick shares how he built a business bridging the gap between investors and high-quality companies that banks overlook. Daniel and Patrick...

Daniel catches up with Bryce Sandro, Founder and CEO of Paragon, one of Australia's fastest-growing gaming studios with teams across Sydney, Melbourne, Canada, and Europe. From freelancing out of his parents' spare room in Townsville to working on global titles like  Call of Duty and Borderlands 3 , Bryce shares how he built a multimillion-dollar gaming business from scratch. Daniel and Bryce dive...

Daniel catches up with Raj Arora, CEO and Partner of Best Gift Group - Australia's market leader in multi-vendor gifting across hospitality and wellness. From joining the company to eventually leading it through digital transformation and global expansion, Raj's story is one of grit, growth, and self-belief. Daniel and Raj explore the mindset behind scaling someone else's business as your own, how...

Daniel catches up with Rita Agoulian, Founder and CEO of LickYourPhone Media, the social media agency that turned a viral Instagram food page into a multi-million-dollar business. From quitting her finance job to leading a 25-person team, Rita shares how she transformed her passion for food into one of Australia's most recognised digital marketing brands. Daniel and Rita dive into building a niche...