NZ Business Podcast - Paul Spain

Join Paul Spain for a conversation with Greg Macpherson, founder of Pharmacy Direct and SRW Laboratories and a pioneering figure in New Zealand’s pharmacy, supplement, and longevity sectors. From building Pharmacy One and pioneering online pharmacy ventures to advancing biotech innovation and longevity research, Greg shares lessons from decades of business growth, disruption, and reinvention. Lear...

Host Paul Spain is in Cromwell with Mike Casey, the entrepreneurial force behind Electric Cherries, co-founder of Fishburners and GradConnection and CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa. Mike shares his journey from a tech startup founder in Wellington and Sydney to pioneering sustainable, fully electric farming in Central Otago. Mike shares insights on business challenges, the real story behind his successfu...

Tony Falkenstein shares valuable lessons learned from building the Just Water brand, moving the Just Life Group from the NZX to the Unlisted Securities Exchange (USX). He also unpacks his passion for fostering entrepreneurship in schools, the impact of business education, and the driving factors behind successful startups. We hear Tony’s approach to building strong company culture, embracing techn...

Jamie Beaton shares how Crimson has expanded over the past five years entering new markets internationally, including a highly successful return to India and a major leap forward in the United States. Along the way, Jamie shares what it’s really like building global teams, navigating acquisitions, learning from top-tier mentors like Julian Robertson and Sir John Key, and why a thirst for learning...

Paul Spain is joined by Phil Thomson, Co-founder and CEO of Auror, to explore his journey from a career in law to building one of New Zealand’s standout global tech success stories. Phil shares the early influences that sparked his entrepreneurial drive, the key decisions that shaped his path, and the realities of scaling a software company from New Zealand into major markets including Australia,...

Paul Spain sits down with Dawn Engelbrecht, CEO of Kitchen Studio and a trailblazer in both business franchising and governance. Dawn Engelbrecht shares her inspiring journey from a small UK mining town to building an international childcare franchise empire, SKids, and leading business transformations in New Zealand. She opens up about the practical realities of franchising, navigating risk and r...

Join Paul Spain for a compelling conversation with Nick Astwick, outgoing Chief Executive of Southern Cross Health Society. Nick shares his journey from a Christchurch schoolboy who once dreamed of joining the police force to leading some of New Zealand’s most influential organisations. Drawing on his experience helping to launch Kiwibank and guiding Southern Cross Health through major strategic t...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Shane Smith, co-founder of Education Perfect, as they dive into Shane's journey of co-founding a startup in his parents' garage with his brother Craig. The conversation traces how Education Perfect evolved from a simple vocabulary learning tool into an adaptive, curriculum-wide online platform now used by 1.8 million students across Australasia. Shane talks about the...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Claudia Batten, a respected voice in technology and entrepreneurship. From her childhood in Karori to her pivotal role in selling her tech firm Massive to Microsoft for over $200 million, Claudia Batten shares her unconventional journey through business, law, and leadership; moving from a law career to the heart of the New York tech scene, co-founding industry-shakin...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Sam Vye , founder and CEO of Syos Aerospace - a New Zealand and United Kingdom business that has moved with remarkable speed pioneering world-class autonomous uncrewed vehicles, ranging from helicopters to advanced maritime and land platforms, serving both civil and defence sectors around the globe. Sam Vye’s journey is packed with adventure, resilience, and remarkab...

Lachlan Murray , Founder and CEO of Robomate shares his journey building Robomate from a small robotics idea into a nationwide home‑automation leader. Lachlan founded Robomate in 2018 and bootstrapped the company through early setbacks, refining the model through relentless problem‑solving and customer focus. His determination helped Robomate become one of New Zealand’s fastest‑growing companies,...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Sam Kidd, Co founder and CEO of LawVu, for a look at what it takes to build a global legal tech company from New Zealand. Sam shares about assembling an exceptional team, maintaining culture across continents, navigating remote work, and the personal highs and lows that come with building something meaningful. This episode delivers practical insights, honest reflecti...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Rob Woolner , Managing Director of Autex Acoustics . Discover Rob’s fascinating journey from his childhood in England and early years in the police, to leading a global manufacturing company shaping sustainable buildings in New Zealand and beyond. You’ll hear how this New Zealand company started as a humble textile manufacturer and transformed into a global leader in...

In this episode, Paul Spain sits down with Bowen Pan , a technology leader, advisor and investor. Bowen shares about his family's early immigrant experiences, launching his first startup as a university student, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career—including being a key force behind Facebook Marketplace. Hear behind-the-scenes tales of innovation at Facebook, lessons learned from his tim...

Join host Paul Spain in this retrospective Interview recorded in November 2020 with Jamie Beaton , founder and CEO of Crimson Education . From starting the company at just 18 to leading a global team and launching New Zealand’s first online high school, Jamie Beaton shares his fascinating journey through entrepreneurship, scaling internationally, and redefining what’s possible for Kiwi students. L...

Paul Spain sits down with Kiwi entrepreneur Aaron Ward for a conversation about his journey pioneering tech companies like AskNicely and his latest venture, Huckleberry. Aaron Ward shares insights about embracing risk, learning from setbacks and the impact of positive feedback on both employees and customers. Packed with honest reflections, practical lessons, and a peek into the future of voice AI...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Janine Grainger , co-founder of Easy Crypto , to explore her remarkable journey from early ventures and corporate roles at PwC, Westpac, and Air New Zealand, to building one of New Zealand’s leading crypto platforms. Janine shares insights into navigating compliance, managing explosive growth and achieving a successful exit. Her story is packed with lessons on resili...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Christopher Boyle , co-founder of Fabrum , one of Canterbury’s standout high-tech companies. Christopher Boyle shares the journey from Fabrum’s inception, born from university friendships and a passion for engineering—to becoming a global leader in cryogenic and composite technologies. The conversation dives into Fabrum’s groundbreaking work with superconductivity, l...

In this episode host Paul Spain sits down with Neil Livingston , Chief Executive of Kordia , for an inspiring and insightful conversation about leadership, transformation, and the evolution of Kordia, one of New Zealand’s most critical communications companies. Neil Livingston shares stories of innovation, strategic thinking, and lessons learned from working with iconic brands and pioneering chang...

In this episode host Paul Spain is joined by Brooke Roberts , co-founder and co-CEO of Sharesies . Brooke shares her inspiring journey from selling lollies out of her school locker to co-founding one of New Zealand’s most innovative investment platforms. She discusses the pivotal role of mentorship, the power of partnerships, and the challenges building a business from the ground up. Brooke also r...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Simon Huesser , co-founder and director of Huski and soon to be launched Smoco . Hear how Simon and his wife Meika transformed a simple idea—keeping beer cold for longer—into an internationally recognised brand now sold in over 50 countries. Leveraging their backgrounds in marketing, design, and business to build Huski from scratch into a business that delivers award...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Justin Mercer , CEO of Jade Software to explore his journey from a competitive Christchurch upbringing to leading innovative tech company Jade. He dives into stories from working around the globe—from door-to-door sales in Christchurch, to summer camps in the US, and building his career in Spain, Africa, and Australia. Justin opens up about the challenges of business...

In this episode, host Paul Spain sits down with Ben Kepes —entrepreneur, investor, board director, and co-founder of Cactus Outdoor —for a candid exploration of his journey in business and technology. Ben shares the squiggly line of his career, including founding one of New Zealand’s beloved outdoor brands. He offers honest insights into the challenges of co-founder relationships, the evolution of...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Daniel Hopkirk , Founder and Managing Director of BcgCrave , an innovative agency born from the merger of Crave Global and BCG2. Daniel shares his journey working with international marketing campaigns for brands like Red Bull, Kerry Group, and Virgin Australia. He shares valuable lessons learned from building relationships, navigating global markets, and starting hi...

Host Paul Spain is joined by Matthew Hayter , Founder and Chief Product Officer at Projectworks —a New Zealand-born software platform that’s making waves in the professional services sector around the world. Projectworks has evolved from a humble side project into a rapidly growing global business, serving clients across New Zealand, Australia, the US, UK, Canada, and more. Matt shares his journey...