Beyond Growth with Reyan Fernando

"Technology is the great enabler, but trust is the foundation." In this episode, host Reyan Fernando sits down with Tristan Ellett , founder of Bigfish Technology , to unpack the rapidly evolving world of IT. From the early days of dial-up to the current AI arms race, Tristan shares his journey of building a business that prioritizes people over pixels. They dive into: The "Level Up...

What if the biggest opportunity for growth isn't beating your competitors, but working alongside them? In this episode, Reyan Fernando sits down with Ryan Toppin , Founder of The Toppin Group , COO of Evolved Ecosystem, Co-Founder Auto Fetch and Melbourne host of Founders Live, to explore why strategic partnerships are becoming one of the greatest competitive advantages in business. Ryan share...

In this episode, Reyan Fernando sits down with Mark Neeld , CEO of Geelong United Basketball , to explore a remarkable leadership journey spanning elite AFL, high-performance sport, and community impact. From his years as a player, coach, and football executive to leading one of Australia's fastest-growing basketball organisations, Mark shares what it takes to build winning cultures, develop g...

Dive into the extraordinary story of Kate Darby , an AFLW pioneer who defied expectations and reshaped the game. From her childhood dream of playing footy to her late-career debut at 27, Kate shares the grit and determination that defined her path. Discover how a life-changing encounter with a young fan ignited her passion for community work, and hear the powerful account of her return to elite sp...

Join Reyan Fernando for an inspiring chat with Tom Simic , founder of Simic Financial , as he reveals his ambitious plan to become Australia's largest virtual CFO advisory. Discover the incredible discipline behind his success, from earning six university degrees before 30 to being named "Young CA of the Year." In this episode, Tom unpacks: His "make friends, not sales" net...

In a special "tables turned" episode, host Reyan Fernando steps into the guest seat as he's interviewed by Vaibhav Kashyap , the creator of the popular LinkedIn series "Espresso Exchanges." Vaibhav begins by sharing his own story: navigating the Australian job market as an international student and creating "Espresso Exchanges" as a powerful tool for intentional n...

How do you build a personal brand that stands out when the internet is flooded with low-grade, AI-generated content? In this episode, Reyan sits down with Zoe Wood, a Video Confidence Coach who helps leaders build unshakeable trust with their audience. Zoë breaks down why old metrics like "engagement" no longer equal revenue and how authenticity has become the most valuable currency. Thi...

Is the secret to world-class sales found in a fast-food drive-thru or a five-star hotel? For sales veteran Leanne Taylor from Taylor Made Sales , the answer is a resounding yes. In this episode, Leanne charts her incredible journey from hospitality and real estate to becoming a powerhouse in tech sales, proving that the core of selling isn't about products, it's about people. She reveals t...

Ever dreamed of turning left when you board a plane but winced at the 5-8x price tag? What if you could fly in business or first class for a fraction of the economy price? In this episode, Reyan sits down with Gagan Gupta , the founder of Turn Left For Less and a travel hacking expert who hasn't paid full price for a premium flight since 2014. Gagan breaks down the exact strategies he has used...

Geelong is one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, but growth on its own does not guarantee prosperity. The real question is how leaders shape that growth so it benefits the whole community. In this episode, Reyan sits down with Matthew Fletcher , the leader who established KPMG in Geelong, starting from his back bedroom and a rotation of local cafés, which has grown into a thriving team of mo...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Anna Osharov , CEO of Launcha and founder of Flintt, as she shares her remarkable journey from a refugee and family translator to a leader in marketing and AI . Discover how her unique background shaped her communication philosophy and led to the creation of Flint, a platform designed to repurpose long-form content with AI, and Launcher, an agency specia...

In this episode, Reyan sits down with Jay Burke from Burke Britton Financial Partners , a financial planner with over 24 years of experience, who shares the profound philosophy that has shaped his career: "Financial planning is life planning." Jay opens up about his unconventional path into the industry, the family tragedy that redefined his purpose, and the "baptism of fire" o...

In this episode, Connie Regan from Geelong United Basketball , takes us through her dynamic, non-linear career journey, from recruitment and tech sales to spearheading the growth of Geelong Venom in the WNBL. Discover the exhilarating story behind building a professional women's basketball team from the ground up, navigating a rapid rebrand, and revolutionising commercial partnerships in women...

This episode unpacks how a lawn mowing business can be the key to a fulfilling lifestyle and significant income. We're joined by Benn Ward , a Regional Franchisor for Jim's Mowing , who bought his first franchise at just 18 years old in 1997. He shares his journey from a hands-on operator with a pager to a regional leader mentoring nearly 90 franchisees. Benn demystifies the world of franc...

What if your greatest challenges were actually your biggest opportunities for growth? From a life-altering injury and 20 years of chronic pain to running the Great Wall of China Marathon, positive psychology coach Stephanie Caldow from Think Collective shares her remarkable journey of defying limits and rewriting what’s possible. In this episode, Steph challenges the idea that strategy or circumst...

In this episode of Beyond Growth, Reyan sits down with Kate Ware , founder of Made Great and a trusted strategic advisor to growing businesses and brands. Kate takes us through the shift small and medium businesses have witnessed in marketing, from the early days of organic social and community building to the rise of AI, search disruption and commercial accountability. Kate shares how her transit...

Join us for a very special episode featuring three winners from the 2025 Geelong Business Excellence Awards hosted by Melanie Turnbull from the Geelong Chamber of Commerce . On this episode, she speaks to: Shannon Kennedy (Kennedy's Group) - 2025 Business of the Year Aamir Qutab (Enterprise Monkey) - 2025 Business Leader of the Year David Greenwood (CentreStage) - 2025 Young Entrepreneur of the Ye...

Join Reyan as he chats to George Hagivassilis , Chief Commercial Officer at Tekspace , shares his unique career journey and the strategic pivot that transformed Tekspace from an MSP into a leader in cybersecurity solutions. Discover how empathy drives design, leadership, and marketing, and delve into the dual impact of AI – from enhancing security tools and internal operations to raising critical...

How do you turn payroll, one of the least glamorous parts of business, into a brand that people actually get excited about? In this episode, we sit down with Ren Wackett (National Sales and Partnerships) and Doménica Tufiño (Digital Marketing Specialist) from Microkeeper , the Geelong-based tech company redefining what it means to stand out in software. They share how a mix of smart strategy, bold...

Could your business keep growing if you took a month off? Or would everything grind to a halt without you? In this episode, we unpack The Holiday Test, the ultimate measure of business freedom, with Stephen McHenry, founder of McHenry Partners. Drawing on three decades of experience helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive, Stephen shares a clear roadmap for building a business that works...

What if your brand had nothing to do with your logo? In this powerful chat, Brand Counsel, Michel Hogan, flips the script on what branding truly means. She argues that a brand isn’t a campaign or a colour palette, but the sum of promises kept and the quiet, unheroic work that builds trust every day. Tune in to explore how to close the story–reality gap , live your values with integrity, and build...

In this episode, Jeremy Crawford, CEO of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, shares his unconventional path to leadership; one shaped by years of navigating chaos, crisis, and community in high-pressure environments. From flash floods at a racecourse to emergency air-conditioning runs at the Grand Prix, Jeremy’s “hospitality war stories” aren’t just entertaining, they reveal the foundations of calm,...

In this episode, Reyan sits down with Luke Chaffey, founder of AIWise, to explore how AI is transforming the way businesses operate. From his early days in web development to leading the charge in AI innovation, Luke shares practical insights on using AI to boost efficiency, cut costs, and unlock growth. We unpack real challenges like shadow AI use, the risks of rushing in without strategy, and th...

What does it take to thrive in a world where sales, marketing, and technology never stop evolving? In this episode, Reyan Fernando chats with Megan Grehan about her journey from traditional sales to digital marketing, and why building genuine relationships always wins over hard selling. Megan also shares her refreshing take on leadership, the value of setting boundaries, and how she’s adapting to...

What does it take to leave Melbourne and build startups in Shanghai? In this episode, Reyan Fernando is joined by Suren Gunatillake to unpack his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Melbourne to building businesses in China. Suren reflects on the challenges and wins of launching startups abroad, the evolution of technology from the 90s to today, and the growing impact of AI on business. Th...