The Growth Equation

What really happens behind the shiny pitch decks and agency buzzwords? This episode lifts the lid on the world of media buying, exposing the tricks, traps, and triumphs that define today’s marketing landscape. Elise Hedley Dale, founder of Media Words, brings decades of hands-on experience—navigating the fast lanes of global agencies and building a thriving independent consultancy from the ground...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to run a digital agency from the ground up—while juggling family, shifting markets, and the daily chaos that comes with building something new? This episode peels back the curtain with Joanna Sharma, founder of Drum Digital, who joins me for a genuinely raw and inspiring chat about the tough stuff most entrepreneurs only whisper about. Joanna’s journey is packed...

Ever wondered why some brands stick in your memory long after a cold call or door knock? In this episode, I sit down with Danny Dimas, the driving force behind gig (Global Interactive Group)—a company built on the lost art (and surprising science) of face-to-face sales. Danny’s business keeps finding new ways to thrive while competitors fade into digital white noise. We get honest about the stigma...

This episode is a deep dive into purpose-driven storytelling with Tiff Ng, the founder and chief storyteller behind The Social Story. Over seven years, Tiff has transformed what began as a freelance passion project into a thriving social enterprise agency that champions impact and authenticity in social media marketing. We unpack the raw realities of building a business that’s not just about profi...

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I’m joined by Alex Lau, founder of Seesharp Group and an accomplished investor managing a family office alongside running a marketing consultancy. Alex shares his fascinating journey from launching a technical production business to evolving into a fractional CMO consulting firm focused on strategic marketing and business growth. We dive deep into how his ma...

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I’m joined by Leah Grinter, founder of Brindle, an agency that evolved from a sole trader marketing consultancy to an omnichannel media performance powerhouse. Leah shares her unique journey from being a CMO licensing her own loyalty program to launching and growing her own boutique agency in a competitive, ever-changing media landscape. We dive deep into ho...

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine Toms, co-founder of Marketing Growth Academy and recently AI Growth Academy. Catherine shares a compelling journey of transformation, pivoting their business from traditional corporate marketing training to an innovative public AI education offering. She dives into the real challenges and rewards of running a fam...

In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Robin Hunuki, the founder of RH Media, to unpack how genuine connection and adaptability can outpace the biggest ad budgets. Robin shares how his journey from tech-savvy sports hopeful to business owner saw him discover that building strong relationships delivers more results than relying solely on campaigns or automation. We dig into why sma...

Some people dream of working from anywhere. Hanna Groves lives it—and built Divergent Media so she could run business on her terms, whether that's from a coffee shop in Medellín or a park in Brisbane. When Hanna and I finally connected (after everything from hammer drills to hurricanes tried to throw us off), I realised her story was more than a playbook—it’s a full-on invitation for business owne...

This episode spotlights Joe Romeo’s inspiring evolution from uncertain job hunts in Adelaide to helming Melbourne’s award-winning Aperitif Agency. Joe’s story unpacks the true grit required to transition from early agency gigs and client-side challenges into building his own fast-growing business, all while juggling leadership and family life. You will also discover how Joe used hard-won lessons f...

In this episode, you’ll hear firsthand from Nathan Farmer, partner at One Picture—a firm that’s navigated over two decades of market turbulence without losing its human edge. Nathan’s story isn’t just about riding the highs of business. It’s about weathering life’s curveballs—capital crunches, shifting markets, and the kind of partnership dramas you never see on LinkedIn. We pull back the curtain...

This episode is a ripper for anyone riding the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. Tristan gets real with Steven Gringlas, founder of Picos Media, about what it takes to build, break, and rebuild a thriving marketing agency in today’s e-commerce game. Steven kicks things off, recounting his humble beginnings: launching the agency from his dad’s spare office, turning café trips with his charismatic dog...

Ever wondered what it looks like to genuinely rebuild from scratch and come out stronger, even after a curveball or two? In this episode of The Growth Equation, I dive deep with Ben Jones, the brain behind Titan Marketer.  Ben’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary: from buying and growing 34 online businesses (and flipping a fair few of them) to surviving seismic Google algorithm...

You don't need a big city to build a big vision. I sat down with Phil Robinson, founder of Back 9 Creative, who is proving just that from his home base in Invercargill. His story is a masterclass in what happens when you decide to back yourself, no matter your zip code. He proves you can build something meaningful far from the city skyline. We cut the fluff and get straight to the lessons. In this...

Justin Meadows built a 25-person remote team in the Philippines. He's the only non-Filipino on the roster. How did he do it? In this episode, he shares his exact playbook for building and managing a high-performing offshore team from the ground up. Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ The Hiring Blueprint: The step-by-step process to find, test, and onboard A-players. ✅ Attitude > Skill: How to screen...

On this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Steve Jaenke from Digimark to talk about what it really takes to push past your comfort zone. His journey is a powerful one—he started in nursing before realizing his true passion was in building websites, which led him to found a successful SEO agency. But it wasn't easy. Steve gets real about the challenges, from battling low-cost freelance...

Ever heard a story that just stops you in your tracks? This is one of them. I sat down with Dan Nikas of Elite Brands. His journey is anything but ordinary. Imagine spending 17 years in policing, over a decade as a homicide detective. Then, at just 36, you're medically retired. For many, that's the end of a chapter. For Dan, it was the start of a new one. He turned to digital marketing and discove...

Ready to ignite your entrepreneurial spark? This episode of The Growth Equation is a must-listen. I'm sitting down with Yvette Adams, founder of Creative Collective, who's been crushing it in marketing for 18 years. She started her business in 2007 from her living room, raising a young family, and built an agency that now spans the Sunshine Coast and Newcastle. Talk about dedication!  Yvette...

Ever wondered how someone goes from graphic design dreams to building a successful branding agency? That's Steve Osborn's story, and it's packed with lessons every entrepreneur can relate to. Steve didn't follow the typical path. What started as design aspirations turned into Identity Marketing when he realized he had a knack for helping businesses figure out who they really are. His journey from...

Ever wondered what it really takes to build a creative business from the ground up, spanning two continents? This episode gets into the nitty-gritty with Rachelle Saevil of Saevil Row. Join us as Rachelle shares the inside story of her branding studio's journey, from its roots in Paris all the way to Sydney. We cover the surprising twists and turns she encountered along the way. In this episode, w...

This episode is all about finding your business niche and why it's a game-changer. I sat down with Joana Inch, co-founder of Hat Media, and she dropped some serious wisdom. Joana's journey is powerful: from a general digital marketing agency to a specialized powerhouse in Account-Based Marketing (ABM) for B2B SaaS and tech. Think targeted. Think results. We dive deep into Hat Media's evolution, na...

You want to balance your business, family, and personal life? This episode of The Growth Equation is for you. I'm talking with Jordan McFadyen, founder of Done By Nine. He’s living proof that you can build a successful business without sacrificing your freedom or family time. Jordan literally started Done By Nine before his 9-to-5 job. That early ambition and focus on flexibility still drive his r...

How can you leverage the evolving freelance market to supercharge your Australian business? That's what I explored with Kate Huber, founder of This is Rocket. She reveals how her company provides a unique solution for quickly finding skilled local freelancers when you're short on time or resources. Kate brings a raw, honest perspective on the freelance world – the highs, the lows, the increased de...

Ready to really move the needle with video marketing and build long-term wealth? In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sat down with Jacob Lawrence, founder of Fisheye, a standout video marketing agency based in Newcastle, Australia. We unpack Fisheye’s fascinating journey from a clever name (inspired by a fisheye lens!) to becoming a leader in video marketing. We discuss the rapid evolution o...

Just wrapped an awesome chat with Isaac Alexander, the brain behind Ape-x. We dove deep into what it really means to run a lean, focused, remote digital marketing agency, especially for high-ticket service businesses. Isaac started out ghostwriting blogs in Brisbane, but they found their sweet spot: SEO and PPC. That move? Game-changer. Narrowing their focus made all the difference, and working wi...