Catching Up With CUB

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...

Daniel catches up with Alex Kleizinger, CEO of Illicium, a sales systems expert helping hundreds of businesses build scalable, high-performing sales teams. From growing up in the former USSR to leading one of Australia's leading sales consultancies, Alex shares how structure, not luck, drives consistent growth. Daniel and Alex unpack what makes a truly effective sales system, how to scale your sal...

Daniel catches up with Marissa Kos, Founder of MxM.ai and one of Australia's leading voices in AI. From lessons learned in the social media boom to AI as today's biggest wealth opportunity, Marissa explains why business owners must adopt early - and how to do it responsibly. Daniel and Marissa discuss how founders can systematise AI into their business, why trust and transparency matter, and how A...

Daniel catches up with Ari Galper, the world's leading authority on trust-based selling, Founder of Unlock The Game and AriAI. From leaving a traditional sales career to pioneering a new way of selling, Ari has helped thousands of businesses shorten sales cycles and win clients without the endless chase. Daniel and Ari explore the core principles of trust-based selling, why authentic relationships...

Daniel catches up with Steve Grace, Founder of The Nudge Group, Curious Media, and The Pillars - ventures spanning recruitment, media, and Australia's newest ultra-premium members club. Known for scaling and selling companies, Steve has built a career on spotting opportunities others miss. Daniel and Steve discuss the future of podcasting, the challenges of building a members club, and the lessons...

Daniel catches up with Jess Whatman, Founder of AgentSync - the virtual assistant agency that's grown into a multi-million-dollar business in just three years. By helping business owners delegate smarter, Jess shows how VAs can free up time and unlock growth. Daniel and Jess discuss the right way to manage offshore teams, the pitfalls of poor delegation, and how embedding VAs into company culture...

Daniel catches up with Jaryd Terkelsen, Co-Founder of Beforeyouspeak Coffee - Australia's number one functional coffee brand, stocked in over 3,000 retailers and the official coffee partner of the Alpine Formula 1 team. What began as a simple idea to make coffee healthier has grown into a performance-driven brand recognised worldwide. Daniel and Jaryd explore how focusing on a niche audience spark...

Daniel catches up with Sidney Cachuela, Managing Director of POP Business, a forward-thinking accounting firm helping startups, high-growth CEOs, and family offices stay ahead of the curve. What began in 2018 as a tech start-up has grown into a national advisory, known for anticipating challenges before they arise and guiding clients through every stage of growth. Daniel and Sid dive into the art...

Daniel catches up with Chris Christofi, Founder and CEO of Reventon, the property and finance experts who've helped over 10,000 Australians enter the market. From starting with $348,000 in debt to leading a company with over $1 billion under management, Chris's journey is one of grit, resilience, and relentless drive. Daniel and Chris explore the keys to smart investing, how to avoid overleveragin...

Daniel catches up with Sally Obermeder, Co-Founder of SWIISH - the wellness brand empowering women to live their best, healthiest lives. From her early career in TV to building a multi-million-dollar business alongside her sister, Sally's journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless drive. Daniel and Sally explore the realities of scaling a brand in the wellness space, turning persona...

Daniel catches up with Peter Khoury, Executive Chairman of White Picket Fence Holdings, and entrepreneur on a mission to help everyday Australians get into the property market. After going bankrupt and rebuilding from scratch, Peter now manages a $1.3 billion debt facility to power a model he believes could help solve Australia's housing crisis. Daniel and Peter get into the state of housing, brea...

Daniel catches up with Jeremy Cabral, Co-Founder & COO of Finder - one of Australia's most recognised tech companies, trusted by millions to compare and save across everything from loans to life insurance. From launching a blog in his bedroom to building a business that spans 80+ countries, Jeremy's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Daniel and Jeremy dive into the art of building category-de...

Daniel catches up with Bez Black, Founder of Bez Agency - one of Australia's most in-demand creative studios for premium, fast-turnaround content. From launching the agency with just a laptop and a camera to producing campaigns for Lamborghini, LEGO, and National Geographic, Bez has built a powerhouse brand known for impact and execution. Daniel and Bez dive into how to win big clients without a b...

Daniel catches up with Raquel Bouris, Founder and Creative Director of Who Is Elijah - Australia's cult fragrance label. From standing outside stores with samples to landing in David Jones and Selfridges, Raquel's guerrilla marketing and personal presence as the face of the brand have built a global success story with attitude and edge. Daniel and Raquel unpack how to create a brand that truly cut...