Business Essentials

A dairy farmer turns drought into a tourism opportunity, while a business leader discovers why being the key decision maker can hold a business back. A drought prompted dairy farmers Julian and Dianne Benson to look again at the visitors passing their property in Cooriemungle, on the way to the Twelve Apostles. That decision led to Apostle Whey Cheese. Julian shares how the business has changed ov...

September’s interest rate rise puts more pressure on struggling business owners, while avoiding difficult conversations can create problems of its own. Following the RBA’s September rate rise to 4.6 per cent, CreditorWatch Chief Economist Ivan Colhoun explains why the economic outlook is more complicated than a straightforward slowdown. He explores how the AI investment boom could keep...

What if the key to a stronger business – and a stronger team – is actually making them less dependent on you? In this week’s episode, we explore what happens when business owners and leaders step back, creating organisations that can thrive without relying on one person to drive them forward. First up, Simon Bedard – Managing Director of Exit Advisory Group and author of&nb...

Think great networkers are naturally confident? Think again. Lifelong introvert Nick Bendel challenged himself to have lunch with 500 complete strangers – and discovered that confidence doesn’t come before taking action, it comes from taking action. In this week's episode, drawing from his new book  The 500 Lunches Effect , the corporate trainer and keynote speaker shares practica...

Is your business valuable without you – and can your team still perform when the pressure rises? In this week’s episode Simon Bedard, Managing Director of Exit Advisory Group, explains why owners should start preparing for an eventual exit long before they’re ready to sell. Then, leadership specialist and Director of Bluestone Edge, Errol Amerasekera, reveals why high-performing...

Is your business embracing AI wisely - and are your financial habits building wealth or holding you back? This episode explores two practical areas every leader of a small or medium-sized business should master. First, Vice President and General Manager of Oracle NetSuite ANZ, Scott Wiltshire, explains how small businesses can safely adopt artificial intelligence to improve productivity without cr...

How would you respond if a workplace crisis struck today, and what does it really take to build a career from the ground up? In this week's episode, crisis expert Paul McFarlane – who has been on the ground during traumatic events like the Lindt Café siege and Black Summer bushfires – explains how leaders can navigate the critical first 60 minutes after a workplace emergency wit...

What's really driving your best employees to leave – and what does it take to achieve exceptional performance? In this episode, Head of HR Solutions at people2people Suhini Wijayasinghe explains why career growth has overtaken salary as the biggest driver of staff turnover. Suhini also shares practical ways businesses can improve retention through better development, clearer expectations and...

How do you protect your business's value when costs keep rising and uncertainty shows no sign of easing – and why does psychological safety matter in your workplace? In this week's episode, business sales and acquisitions expert Simon Bedard explains how rising costs, inflation and economic uncertainty are reshaping business value. Simon – who is Managing Director of Exit Advisory Grou...

Is your team's AI use actually making work easier – or just creating more work for your most experienced employees? In this episode, workplace writing expert Vikki Maver, founder of Communication Skills Academy and Refresh Marketing, explores the hidden costs of AI. She explains how poor governance can increase rework, shift responsibility onto managers and even undermine customer trust. The...

Is your business prepared for mounting cashflow pressures - and are the conversations you're avoiding making things worse? In this episode, commercial finance expert Nadine Connell, founder of Smart Business Plans, explains why many profitable businesses are being squeezed by changing cashflow timing. She also shares practical steps to strengthen financial resilience before small pressures become...

How can setbacks become stepping stones - and what does it take to lead a business through constant change? In this week’s episode, performance consultant, Better Life Lab founder and author Andrew Horsfield explains how to turn setbacks into progress by embracing productive struggle, gaining clarity and building habits that create lasting performance. Then executive coach and leadership tea...

How do you handle tough conversations without creating conflict - and build a team that takes ownership instead of waiting for instructions? In this week’s episode, communication and human skills expert Leah Mether shares practical strategies for navigating disagreement with empathy, curiosity and clarity - helping leaders resolve conflict before it escalates. Then leadership expert Kylie Pa...

What separates businesses that thrive from those that stall - and how can leaders build workplaces where people perform at their best? On this week’s episode, entrepreneur, speaker and author Bernadette Schwerdt shares lessons from Australia’s fastest-growing online brands and reveals what drives successful founders, drawing on her new book  Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs...

How resilient is your business when crisis strikes - and are rigid workplace rules hurting flexibility? In this week’s episode, speaker and founder Bronwyn Reid explains why crises expose weak leadership and poor systems. She also shares several practical ways SMEs can prepare for disruption before it hits. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of HR Consulting Services, Shilo, discusses A...

As business confidence weakens and growth slows; many SMEs are looking for new ways to fund expansion and stay competitive. In this episode, Kate Whitehead, MD of strategic grants and government funding advisory, Avant Group, explains what the 2026 Federal Budget means for business grants, innovation funding and where future government investment is likely to flow. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-...

When it comes to innovation and productivity, the challenge for the Australian government remains the inability to turn good ideas into long-term economic growth. In this episode, Kate Whitehead, MD of strategic grants and government funding advisory, Avant Group, explains what the proposed changes to the R&D Tax Incentive could mean for SMEs, innovation investment and Australia’s broade...

What if the biggest threat to your business is already unfolding - and you can't see it yet? And what do you need to be thinking about ahead of tax time? In this episode, we hear two expert perspectives on getting ahead of small problems before they become serious ones. First, executive coach Chris Power explains why “leadership inflection points” can become dangerous moments for organ...

How can businesses stay future-ready in the age of AI - while keeping compliance under control? In this episode, CEO of Practice Connections Advisory Alan FitzGerald outlines the tech trends every business owner should watch to future-proof their company. He explains how to review outdated systems, choose the right technology, and balance AI-driven efficiency with human expertise. Then, Ilona Char...

What’s more important when it comes to building a successful business: Discipline or vision? And what happens when the next generation can’t even get a foot in the door? In this episode, founder, CEO and author Dane Hudson joins host Grace Jennings-Edquist to explain why vision alone won’t scale a business. Dane shares why disciplined execution, systems, and leadership maturity a...

Hate the idea of self-promotion - and feeling constantly overwhelmed and burned out at work? In this week’s episode, personal branding strategist Rosie Chong explains how to share your wins authentically by focusing on value, storytelling and connection - not ego. Then, leadership coach and author of The Overachiever’s Reset, Fleur Marks, unpacks the "overachiever cycle" that drives bu...

The Federal Budget has just been handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers - so what does it mean for small businesses and the wider economy? In this episode, economist Professor Robert Brooks from Monash University unpacks the balancing act between inflation, growth, interest rates, housing affordability and recession risk - and what it means for SMEs. Then, tax advisor Michael Jones, a Partner at Fo...

Is your workplace ready for what’s coming next - and are you confident enough to lead through it? First in this week’s episode, futurist Gihan Perera explains what it really means to be “future-ready” - from embracing AI to building adaptable, inclusive cultures and developing skills like sense-making in a rapidly changing world  Then, award-winning CEO, author and key...

Struggling to stay focused in an ‘always-on ‘work culture? In this episode, productivity and time management expert Donna McGeorge explains how constant busyness drives burnout - and why building a 15% buffer, setting boundaries, and reducing digital distractions can boost performance and decision-making. Then, personal branding strategist Rosie Chong shares why your brand is more than...

Two challenges many businesses face are: how do we build a culture of honesty? And how do we create client experiences that truly build trust? First up, Dominic Thurbon, author of To Be Honest and director at Alchemy Labs, explains how disinformation shows up inside workplaces. He also outlines why honest cultures drive performance and innovation. Then, serial entrepreneur and founder of Reputable...