The Mentor with Mark Bouris

Ben Mills is the founder of Shelter, a space that combines fitness classes with relaxation and wellness. Shelter incorporates spin classes and boxing with ice baths, saunas and a custom juice bar - and Ben has big plans. We talk about the story behind Shelter, how to capitalise on the ‘Australian' elements of a brand, particularly with a view to market that internationally, and why Ben wants...

“We want to be the world's biggest digital gym.” The fitness industry is a huge global business - and this episode I'm joined by one of its biggest Australian players, Tobi Pearce. Tobi and his partner, Kayla Itsines, run the online female fitness program, Sweat. The app has been downloaded more than 30 million times, topped the App Store charts in 142 countries, and the business is on...

“Everybody has a voice, and we want everyone to be the best they can be.” This week I'm joined by a special guest, Australia's Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP, to talk about his role in one of Australia's toughest jobs. I get to know Josh a bit better - from his footy team, his background as a tennis player, and his family - as well as putting to him the big questions about the...

“Every day, 300,000 Australians wear a work uniform we've made.” Pamela Jabbour is the founder and CEO of Total Image Group, which has spend 14 years making corporate uniforms for brands like Woolworths, Dan Murphy's, Ford and Pandora. Pam's business is hugely successful, with 30 staff in Australia and 10 in China working to combine quality and function with style and fashion. We talk...

“We make people love their smiles." Alison Egan started her cosmetic teeth-whitening business when she was just 19 years old, and has grown it into an empire with thousands of clients and franchises right across Australia. We talk about how she leverages her Instagram following into clients, how she has a policy to only hire people smarter than she is, and her story about how Sparkling White...

“Technology is an enabler for future jobs, not a replacement.” I'm joined by Walter Davey, who co-founded the Australian hydraulics business Pirtek in the 1980, before successfully exiting the business in 2000. He's been successful in many other businesses as well, and we talk about what it takes to really build a successful brand over time. Wally and I discuss the effects of technolog...

This week on The Mentor with Mark Bouris, “Big business needs small business.” This week we have a special guest, Prime Minister the Hon. Scott Morrison MP. He joined us last year when he was Treasurer and we talk about how his life has changed since taking on the top job of the country. We discuss the economy, why big business needs small businesses to survive, and how he wants to cut...

Furniture is fashion, and Aussies are very house proud.” Dave and Scott Shedden from Oz Design Furniture join me to talk about their 40 years of business. Dave and Scott are the second generation taking over the family business, and we talk about what it's like to grow up in the business, and then move into it full time. We also talk about the challenge of staying fashionable and relevant, a...

“It's the best bit of steak I've ever tasted.” That's my feedback on the Searsmiths barbecue, after founders Dave Thomassian and Paren Arzoomanian joined me to talk about their business. These two quit their jobs in 2016 to start up their own business called Searsmiths, and have gone through 12 prototypes of their barbecue ‘forge' to reach today where they're selling and looking...

"Mistakes happen. How you respond to them is key.” I'm joined by Captain Richard de Crespigny, most famous for piloting QF32, a Qantas A380 which experienced an explosion mid-air in 2010, to land safely for all passengers and crew on board. We previously spoke on the podcast several years ago, and since then Richard has released his second book, 'FLY!'. We talk about the QF32 incident and ho...

“Having a mentor is not about theory, it's about practical, usable resources that you can use straightaway.” Craig West joins me to talk about our Mentored business - and why it's so important for every business owner to have a good mentor. We talk about why everyone needs to ask for help in business, how anybody can have a side hustle, and the dangerous side to the Aussie culture of '...

“Life hands you a bunch of cards and what's the alternative to not playing them the best you can?” Matt Purcell is a fascinating guy - he runs a music and academic tuition school called The Green Room, is a youth worker, a life coach, has his own podcast, and is starting up a social media business in 2019. He's got a lot on but manages to juggle all that with his family life as well. W...

“I choose this life and you don't get a second chance.” Chad Taylor joins Mark Bouris to talk about his healthy meal delivery business, Fast Fuel Meals. They cover topics from how to grow teams, figuring out logistics, how to conquer fear and negative thoughts, and the defining moment in Chad's life that completely changed his approach to business.  Join the Facebook Group. Follow...

“Sometimes you have to do something crazy.” Hear how Olivia Carr started her silk sleepwear business by jumping on a plane and hand-delivering products to the Kardashian family, and then figured out the rest later. It's an amazing story. We talk about manufacturing issues, running a global business, and how to beat your competitors at their own game.  Join the Facebook Group. Foll...

“You have to really love a person to go into business with them.” Adam and Belinda Macdougall join the podcast to talk about growing their business, which includes meal replacement shakes The Man Shake and The Lady Shake, and fitness programs The Man Challenge and The Lady Challenge. We talk about how tough it is starting a business with your partner and having two young kids, as well...

Former Australian rugby union star Drew Mitchell talks about his new venture, the Australian arm of fitness marketplace ESquared Fitness. It's an app connecting consumers with gyms and health clubs, to book exercise classes near them. We talk about what Drew's taken from professional sport into business, and how he approaches taking risks.  Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on ...

“It's really important to tell your brand and company story.” Alexandra Sloane, Facebook's Australian head of marketing, joins The Mentor to talk about how businesses can use story-telling on social media to find customers, grow their audiences and make more sales. Also joining us is Julie Mathers, founder of Flora & Fauna, Australians largest online store for eco-friendly products...

“Your employees are your company's value”. Tim Walmsley joins the podcast to talk about his business Bench On, which allows companies to put their under-utilised employees in short term contracts with other companies when they're in between projects. It's an interesting take on the changing workforce, helping keep people in their full-time work and helping businesses with their cash fl...

Turning plastic bottles into fashion - hear how Vera Yan and Katia Santilli have saved a quarter of a million plastic bottles from landfill with their custom fabric, and what it was like building the Nimble Activewear brand from their shared Bondi lounge room. Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on  Instagram ,  LinkedIn   & YouTube . Want to grow your business and stay...

This week I'm joined by Julian Mitchell, the co-founder of a biotechnology company called Life Cykel, which is trying to change the world with mushrooms. The business started in 2015 and is developing milk products, sweeteners, clothing, supplements and more, all from native Australian mushrooms. To support that business is their “Shroom Room” mushroom growing kits, which allow people...

This week I'm joined by one of Australia's most recognisable faces of the health and fitness industry - Michelle Bridges. From early days as a teenager running her own fitness classes at school, through to close to a decade as a trainer on The Biggest Loser, Michelle is a business machine. She has her own clothing range in Big W, her own food range Delicious Nutritious at Woolworths, and her very...

This week's episode is a little different - I'm talking with a small business owner who has become a politician: Angela Vithoulkas. Angela and her brother ran the successful VIVO Cafe Group in Sydney for the last 18 years, and has been twice elected as an independent councillor for the City of Sydney. Angela's also running as an independent in the upcoming by-election in the seat of Wentworth, cur...

This week I'm joined by Norm Black, the co-founder and CEO of online travel business, TripaDeal. Norm started the business in 2011 by selling luxury travel villas in Bali, and has now expanded rapidly around the world. He's now got over 100 staff based out of Byron Bay, and 1000 contractors around the world, and has really had phenomenal growth over the last few years. We talk about how he manages...

This week I'm joined by Emma Bannister, the founder and CEO of Presentation Studio, a business dedicated to improving pitches, PowerPoints and presentations all around the world. Emma started as a graphic designer, who quickly realised there are so many terrible presentations going around, and wanted to do something about it. 11 years, 2 kids and 32 full-time staff later, Presentation Studio has g...

This week I'm joined by Yasmin Border, founder of luxury Australian bath salt brand, The Soak Life. Yasmin's bootstrapped her business for two years and has grown to have her products stocked in 32 retailers around the country. But like many business owners, she's now at a crossroads about how best to grow The Soak Life, with questions about her product range, manufacturing, staffing and where she...