The Honest CEO Show: Recent Episodes
Caroline Kennedy
The Honest CEO show is a podcast dedicated to sharing the authentic stories of special guests who join the show; they are passionate, extraordinary business people sharing their ups and downs, and their key insights from their journey to building success in business. The show is hosted by Caroline Kennedy, an experienced CEO who has built a reputation as one of Australia's foremost experts on business. Caroline's work has been recognised with both awards and media coverage.
As a business mentor Caroline is passionate about sharing her knowledge, to support others, so they thrive. She love seeing people achieving their wildest dreams, building a life and a business they love.
The Honest CEO show features episodes about key business topics and learning from the people out in the real business world. www.ceohq.com.au
Andrew Tucker is the CEO of ITonCloud which helps businesses simplify and automate their IT systems by leveraging the cloud. Andrew has more than 20 years of experience as a successful business owner and passionate entrepreneur. His goal has always been to build and drive ventures to deliver unmatched service levels, customer value and trust.
Listen in for some gold nuggets from Andrew on how to ensure your business remains sustainable is a rapidly changing market landscape.
The journey to the top for Joel Norton hasn’t been what you would usually expect of a CEO. Having worked his way up from the very bottom, Joel attributes his success not to formal education but rather to experience. Starting his career as a marketing consultant in 1988, Joel has been on the long road to the top progressing through different roles at varying companies from General Manager to CMO and finally to CEO of Kalido, a major business within the ASX listed IVE Group with a turnover in excess of $600 million, gaining immense experience on the way.
We chat with Dominique Lyone, Managing Director of COS (Complete Office Supplies), about his journey from immigrant to head of Australia’s only privately-owned national office supplies business, COS, which has an annual turnover of $130 million.
Dominique’s story is one of family, perseverance and passion. After fleeing Egypt following the 1967 Six Day War, Dominique and his family settled in Western Sydney with almost nothing to start a new life.
Family Business equates to about 70% of all business in Australia, with an average turnover of $12M and the wealth of the sector is estimated at 4.3 Trillion dollars. So, family business is an important sector and Dominique story is one of grit and success.
Elizabeth McIntyre, CEO of Think Brick, the Australian industry body for clay brick and paver manufacturers, on her interesting career journey and her advice for anyone considering about changing career direction.
Elizabeth’s career journey has been far from a straight line. From Ford Motorsport and V8 Supercars to children’s TV with Walt Disney Television International, and now in construction as CEO of Think Brick, Elizabeth’s career has spanned roles in diverse industries.
Elizabeth is often asked what led her to work with such varied sectors. Her response is that each organisation had similar issues – all of them struggled to remain relevant and contemporary and needed repositioning and to reengage with audiences.
As CEO of Holocentric, an Australian technology company, Bruce is fiercely passionate in his belief that companies can achieve greater performance by better understanding how people, process and technology come together to meet strategic objectives as well as regulatory obligations. Holocentric has assisted some of Australia’s largest organisations to implement Holocentric’s innovative BMS platform, which uses bespoke modelling software to provide clarity and accountability over all facets of operations. Holocentic’s clients include the Australian Tax Office, Westpac, Qantas, Western Power, UGL Services, Iceland Air and IP Australia.
As a woman in a male dominated industry, Angela is creating pathways for other women to step up and achieve success. She is also focused on developing the next generation of workplace designers, helping them develop the skills and confidence to make it in a tough industry.
Futurespace works with some of the world’s top companies, including American Express, Microsoft, Qantas, and Google. In the past year alone, Futurespace has worked with PwC, EA Games, KPMG, REA Group, MYOB, Magellan and Astra Zeneca.
Arriving in Australia as a child refugee from Vietnam, with no belongings, no home, and no English, Diem Fuggersberger has risen from challenging beginnings to be a proud, passionate and values driven businesswoman. As co-founding CEO of Berger Ingredients, Diem and her husband Werner have built a multi-million dollar food-manufacturing business. Berger Ingredients is now the supplier behind many high profile food brands including Primo Smallgoods, as well as the home brands of major supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.
My guest today is Sonia McDonald, CEO & Founder of LeadershipHQ; is an Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, Dynamic Keynote Speaker, Leadership Coach and Author. Sonia McDonald was recently named in the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe. She has over 25 years’ human resource management, leadership and organisational development experience. She has held senior leadership roles in organisational development, learning and development, human resources and talent management fields across the Globe. She is passionate about cutting edge research and consulting in her industry as well as innovative tools and strategies around Leadership, Organisational Development, Neuroscience and Diversity. Sonia’s expertise in organisational development, learning & development, facilitating, and leadership development makes her an excellent leader to partner with organisations and CEOs to ensure the full potential of their business is achieved through its people. She is about RESULTS! She is also the Author of the Neuroscience of Leadership Kindle Book on Amazon and her new book Leadership Attitude.
This is a very personal interview for me as I grew up in an environment of addiction, and my guest Lorraine founded the Australia’s leading addiction and mental health centre.
Lorraine Wood is the co-founder and owner of South Pacific Private, Australia’s leading addiction and mental health centre, and is also the author of Love & Addiction, a personal memoir of her inspirational life.
From New Zealand farmer to a successful Australian business owner, Lorraine has certainly had an interesting life full of incredible highs and lows with the highlight being her hospital.
How to Create A Powerful Vision to Kick Start 2017 and Make It Your Best Year Ever! If you feel like you don’t know where to start with goal setting and strategic planning, then this episode is for you. Strategy & Goal Setting is such an important part of business, particularly as we start the new year in 2017. The first part of goal setting is setting the stage for where you want your business to be in 3 - 5 years time. These are your stretch goals, your stretch goals will influence and assist in defining your intermediate and immediate goals and targets. Your goals for the next 12 month, 6 months and the next quarter. Planning doesn’t need to involve a 40 page document.
My guest today is Tim Reid is founder and host of Australia and New Zealand’s number one business and marketing podcast - The Small Business Big Marketing Show, which can also be found on all Virgin Australia domestic and international flights.
Having launched his hit program seven years ago and with well over 300 episodes under his belt, it regularly ranks on iTunes above the Australian Stock Exchange, Alan Jones, Tim Ferris and even outranks Harvard Business School as the number one business marketing podcast.
Tim has built a global audience of motivated business owners in 110 countries, and is also the author of The Boomerang Effect, a popular marketing text. Prior to this, he was the marketing manager for Flight Centre and spent ten years working in Australia’s largest advertising agency looking after the advertising needs of Gillette, AXA, Yellow Pages and Dulux.
Tim was also instrumental in helping AFL legend Jim Stynes raise one million dollars for his youth charity, Reach. Tim travels the world (having spoken at 63 conferences in eight countries in the past 12-months) showing business owners and marketers how to embrace modern marketing methods – gaining success and increasing profits, without spending a fortune. He believes there’s never been a better time to market anything. Ever!
I had the pleasure of talking with Bec Derrington, the founder of disruptor publicity platform SourceBottle, a free subscription service that distributes 50,000+ emails a day, each crammed with free media leads. In 2009, Bec started the service to disrupt the traditional media relations model and ensure everyone had free access to media leads to tell their story. Since then, SourceBottle has significantly altered the way the media and sources connect by helping journalists unearth fresh, unrecognised sources quickly, and by giving businesses and PR pros a platform to communicate directly with journalists and bloggers who have specific, immediate source needs. While a recognised expert in media relations, publicity and influencer marketing, Bec remains on her ‘L’ plates as a work-from-home parent of three boys ten and under. In this interview Bec talks about why she set up SourceBottle and the resistance she initially encountered; how social media, especially Twitter, was instrumental to her success; as well as sharing tips for successfully pitching to a journalist; and how to avoid being ‘bland’. Bec also tells us about her exciting new app ‘Influencer Hub’ which is a different approach to sharing the love of a particular brand. Bec is candid about her struggles to balance the demands of a busy and successful business with a young family and she injects a sense of humour and shares some great anecdotes as she tells her story. Laugh and learn about ‘burnt chop’ syndrome and how to ‘burn the boat’.
Sit back, listen, and I hope you take home one or two of Bec Berrington’s wonderful pearls of wisdom.
Kylie Hammond, CEO and Founder of Director Institute, is a leading board and executive search and board talent management consultant and Australia’s foremost CEO business mentor.
Kylie share with us her expert advice on how to capabilities on a board for business growth.
Director Institute is the fastest growing network of board directors in the region and aims to refresh boards in Australia by addressing the gap around connecting fresh director talent with board opportunities. Kylie has placed more than 2,500 directors in board roles. She is passionate about helping executives create portfolio careers which can include a main employment contract, combined with not-for-profit work, board appointments, speaking and coaching or mentoring engagements. Kylie is a highly regarded commentator about boards and board performance and features regularly in leading publications like The Australian Financial Review, The Australian, Sky News, Sydney Morning Herald, Women’s Agenda and HR Director. Kylie was also listed in the 2016 edition of the Who’s Who of Australian Women.
After talking with 6PR breakfast radio in Perth about the Australian gender pay gap of 16.2%, I recorded this segment which outlines my tips for how women can help close the pay gap. In light of what is happening in Iceland the issue is topical. I encourage the women of the world to take responsibility for effecting the change and take real action. Action, albeit collective or individual is what will be the catalyst for change. If you suspect, you are being underpaid for your role. Do the research, present the facts on the suitable pay for your role. Own your worth. Because, you are worth it.
My guest today is Olivia is the CEO of Australia’s largest community for women, Business Chicks. She started her career in industrial relations, before moving into senior roles in the HR and recruitment industries. At just 24 years old, Olivia was appointed General Manager of a well-respected recruitment firm and went to lead her team to win multiple recruitment agency of the year awards, largely thanks to her ability of understanding customers and commitment to creating a human way of doing business. Olivia led the Partnerships and Brand team at Business Chicks for four years from 2009, before moving to the Commonwealth Bank, where she drove a unique leadership and culture agenda for the corporate banking division. In 2015, she received the CEO Award for the development of a women’s circle within the organisation. In January of this year, Olivia returned to Business Chicks in the role of CEO, overseeing the business’ 100+ annual events, corporate partnerships, quarterly publication Latte and various other digital assets that assist and connect Business Chicks’ 44,000 members daily. Olivia sits on the advisory board of The Hunger Project, an organisation that aims to end world hunger by 2030, and has also led three Hunger Project leadership immersion trips to India. Olivia Ruello is moved and motivated by remarkable women and has a deep passion for women stepping into and realising their own power and potential. As the CEO of Business Chicks Australia, she wants to help women harness their strengths as females – empathy, kindness, collaboration and connection - to create a generation of leaders who care.
My guest today is Amanda Rose. Amanda is Australia’s only Strategic Connector. A Keynote Speaker, CEO of The Business Woman Media, and Founding Director of Western Sydney Women. As one of the most influential people on LinkedIn, Amanda Rose (#BossLady) is quoted as an “internet winning blogger” by TIME.com and contributes regularly to HuffingtonPost, Sydney Morning Herald, SkyBusiness, Women’s Agenda SmartCompany.com.au on how to master a successful brand, career and business.
A passionate keynote speaker, Amanda Rose works with The Australian Defence Force, CPA Australia, Law Institute, UTS, ANZ, Western Sydney University and the Royal Australian Navy.
Innovation is not the work only a genius can perform. Anyone can innovate, given the correct framework and environment. To keep up with the rapidly changing market conditions. Every business should be thinking more creatively. Leverage what exists already and combining them to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. I share my 3 steps process, including examples of how to leverage existing technology to innovate.
My guest today is a highly successful entrepreneur, Kelly Baker-Jamieson. Along with her sister Abbey, runs the chocolate gift emporium, Edible Blooms. From a small business start-up in 2005, Edible Blooms celebrates their 10th birthday in 2015 and employs more than 50 staff across seven locations and has grown into a household name in Australia for gift delivery.
Edible Blooms was named 2009 Telstra Small Business of the Year for Australia and in 2011 Kelly SA Telstra Business Woman of the Year. With a background in marketing and business development Kelly has worked in professional services, publishing and membership organisations. A self-confessed chocaholic, she is passionate about growing her business and helping other women to achieve both their professional and personal goals.
During our chat we delve into the following:
• How and where Edible Blooms began. • Edible Blooms made $1 million in sales in its first full financial year of operation. Kelly tell us about hoe she achieved this. • The turning point where Kelly shifted from working IN her business to ON her business. • Currently the face of Telstra business products, Kelly talks about how technology has impacted the business. • Kelly talks about how important social media is in her marketing plan. • Kelly shares with us the importance of a culture in the workplace. • Kelly shares what she does to ensure culture is a focus. • Tips on how to ensure your business is customer centric, and the importance of putting the customer at the heart of everything you do. • Kelly talks about her experience on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. • Kelly shares the biggest lesson she has learnt in business. • Kelly share with us, how she manages family life, and running a highly successful business. • Kelly provides her advice for anyone struggling in business.
My guest today is Andrew Griffiths. From humble beginnings growing up as an orphan. To global entrepreneur, keynote presenter and international bestselling author. Andrew is a powerful inspiration to business owners around the world.
It has been almost 20 years since Andrew’s first book ‘101 Ways to Market Your first hit the shelves. The way we do business has evolved furiously during this time. In an age where we are drowning in information but thirsty for wisdom. Andrew now has 12 bestselling titles which are sold in over 60 countries.
As a keynote presenter, Andrew’s authenticity is one of his greatest assets. He presents globally on a host of business success topics. As well as diving headlong into the big personal growth concepts of overcoming adversity, communication, curiosity, trust and much more.
Andrew imparts wisdom generously, but with clear expectations. He doesn’t just want to leave a warm and fuzzy lasting impression on his audience. He wants to have a lasting impact on the way they choose to live, work and do business as a result of what they have learned. Recently Andrew formed Small Business Inc. A specialist advisory firm designed to ‘help big business better engage with small business’. In this space Andrew has worked with organisation including CBS, HP, Telstra, Optus and many others. To provide strategic advice on small business engagement.
He is also a media commentator, writer and columnist for Inc.com out of New York, Huffington Post, Flying Solo and MOB Magazine to mention just a few. Most recently Andrew launched Smallville. A small business community offering advice from over 100 of the top small business influencers in Australia.
Andrew is an active philanthropist and passionate campaigner for Not For Profit organisations. Which create better living opportunities for others, including an Ambassador role with Act for Kids. And fundraising support for the Salvation Army, the Red Cross Blood Bank. The RSPCA and Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary to mention a few.
My guest today Mia Klitsas founder and CEO of Millie & More who produce the brand Moxie. Mia is a Melbourne based entrepreneur with a passion for social entrepreneurship and women’s rights. Her “moxie” brand of women’s personal care products are a familiar sight at Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse and other major retailers locally, internationally and also online.
Whilst studying a Bachelor of Business at RMIT, Mia and her business partner identified a gap in the women's personal care market for a range of products that were not only high quality, but also stylish, feminine and conveniently packaged. At the tender age of 21, she started her business, Millie & More, in mid-2005 and launched Moxie personal care products just six months later in 2006.
In October 2014, Mia was named Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year for Victoria and was listed as one of AFR and Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence’. Mia is an active member and board member of the global organisation 'Entrepreneur's Organisation‘ and is proud to be the key-note speaker at this year’s International Day of the Girl forum, run by Plan Australia. She also mentors students and speaks regularly at business-groups, events and schools, sharing her experiences, challenges and successes in running a growing business and brand.
Pawl started his career in 1985 as an Art Director. Ten years later he began building what became a highly successful branding/advertising business in Canberra growing it to more than 50 people over a period of 12 years.
In 2000 Pawl inadvertently entered the hospitality industry by acquiring part of a small commercial building with a leading restaurateur. Six months later, after losing a tenant, he decided to create his first hospitality venue. This was the beginning of CubbinCo, a business management company that Pawl set up to run his expanding group of restaurants, pubs, clubs and commercial properties. CubbinCo now also oversees the financial and administrative aspects of ZOO and other creative businesses Pawl has invested in.
In 2003 Pawl helped establish Australia’s largest regional airline, Regional Express (Rex) as one of the founding shareholders and a board member. He was responsible for the launch, branding, marketing and media strategy of the airline until he sold his shares at IPO in 2006.
In 2007 his business partners sold their shares in their advertising business to the STW group. Three years later Pawl bought the shares back with a dream to create a truly independent agency network, the ZOO group.
ZOO Melbourne opened in 2012, followed by Sydney mid 2013, then Auckland in 2014. Pawl established a board of key partners and external advisers to help strengthen the businesses and expand the group. The Zoo groups Singapore office opened late 2015 and Pawl’s goal is to have 10 agencies in 7 countries by the end of the decade.
My guest today is Catriona Pollard, Founder and Director, CP Communications, one of Australia’s most respected and innovative PR and social media agencies. She is also the author of ‘From Unknown To Expert’, a step-by-step process for growing your profile and expanding your influence by becoming a recognised expert in your field using Public Relations and Social Media.
In her book she shares her story about how she moved from being relatively unknown to a recognised expert. She also shares trade secrets and techniques that can help to build reputation, increase sales and enable new career opportunities.
Catriona founded CP Communications in 2001 and has built it into one of Australia’s leading PR and social media agencies. Recognised as an industry influencer, Catriona is an international speaker and trainer, author and popular media commentator. She has over 20 years’ experience in developing public relations and social media strategies that engage both consumers and businesses.
In 2015 Catriona was named as one of the top 50 most influential women entrepreneurs in Australia as part of the Inspiring Rare Birds project. Catriona created the popular blog Public Relations Sydney that has been listed as the top two business blog in Australia. She is also listed as one of the top 100 PR people worldwide to follow on Twitter. Catriona presented an inspirational and motivational talk at TEDx on the topic of Being Open To Yes. She encouraged people to move from the shadows into the spotlight, to redefine the spotlight so it means something to everyone and to understand we all deserve to be there and share our voice with the world.
My guest today is Cyan Ta'eed, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Envato. Founded in 2006 in Cyan's parent's garage, Envato is a creative eco-system, encompassing the largest digital marketplace in the world. Its 6 million members buy and sell digital stock and services, and Envato has delivered over $400 million dollars of earnings to their community of creatives so far. Cyan is 2015 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year and Envato was awarded Job Advisor's Coolest Company for Women 2015.
My guest today Sarah Bartholomeusz is a South Australian Lawyer, Entrepreneur and Author. In 2015 Sarah was the recipient of the South Australian Telstra Business Women’s Award in the Start-Up category for You Legal. Sarah started her business You Legal when she was seven months pregnant with your second child after being made redundant. And then, in the same week she receives a phone call no one wants, her father has cancer. But rather than letting all this get her down, she picked herself up and embraced the unknown. Sarah started You Legal. Sarah’s business grew 400% in its first year and now has over 20 staff and offices Australia wide. Talk about tenacity!
You Legal is a new category of law firm that has revolutionised the way clients access legal services and how lawyers work. Focusing on a gap in the market and the evolving nature of law firms amidst technological breakthroughs. The virtual company provides top-tier corporate and commercial concierge legal services, and corporate governance support to ASX-listed companies.
In 2015 Sarah released her first book How to Avoid a Fall from Grace: Legal Lesson for Directors which ranked a #1 best seller on Amazon. She also contributes to the CEO Magazine and the Dynamic Business website.
www.youlegal.com.au
Dr Amantha Imber is an innovation specialist, best-selling author, and founder of Australia’s leading innovation consultancy Inventium. Amantha has helped companies such as Google, Coca-Cola, Disney, LEGO, Red Bull, American Express, McDonalds, Virgin Australia and Commonwealth Bank innovate. Inventium was one of Australia’s fastest growing companies in the BRW Fast 100 list, and was also awarded the BRW Client Choice Award for Best Management Consultancy in Australia. In 2016, Amantha was inducted into the Australian Business Women’s Hall of Fame. Amantha was a finalist in the 2015 Telstra Business Women of the Year awards, and she is the co-creator of the Australian Financial Review’s Most Innovative Companies list.
http://www.inventium.com.au/
I had the pleasure of chatting to Tina Tower the founder and CEO of Begin Bright and the Telstra Australian Young Business Woman of the Year in 2014. Not your ordinary Gen-Y female, Tina started her first business at the age of 20 and by the time she hit 30 had built and sold 2 businesses, completed a degree, got married, had two children and started in the challenging world of building a National franchise network. Tina was the 2012 winner of the My Business Awards for Women in Business and Begin Bright won the National Overall Winner for Commitment to Excellence. In 2013 Begin Bright took out the Australian Small Business Champion Awards for Educational Services
www.beginbright.com.au
I had the pleasure of chatting to Kate Morris the founder and CEO of Adorebeauty.com.au Australia’s first online beauty store with a turnover of more than $10 million dollars annually. She launched the business from her garage in 1999 at the age of 21, while still an undergraduate student. In 2015, after 15 years of bootstrapping, Adorebeauty.com.au announced an investment by retail giant Woolworths Limited. Kate was awarded the Business Innovation Award for Victoria at the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in 2014, and was inducted into the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame in 2015.
In this episode, we delve into:
- Solving customer problems.
- Capital raising, how the Woolworths investment helped Adore Beauty achieve significant growth.
- Adore Beauty's expansion into China.
- Kate's biggest lessons in business.
- Balancing being a Mum and running a highly successful business.
- Kate's tips for anyone struggling in business.
www.adorebeauty.com.au, www.findation.com
I had the pleasure of talking to Alicia Stephenson, the 2015 Victorian Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year. Alicia has founded and operated many varied businesses. Most recently Alicia accumulated a panel of experts to build a Multi-Industry Initiative and Alliance to up skill Personal Trainers to become Pregnancy and Perinatal Fitness Specialists, listed on a National Register made available to Hospitals and Maternal Child Health Centres and Nurses as well as other Industry Professionals for referral to fitness services. A fabulous achievement and beginning of a change in approach to pre and postnatal women's fitness and gym attendance. www.ppfspecialist.com.au
I had the pleasure of talking to Christine Khor, MD of Chorus Executive, on her achievements in business to date. An amazing woman committed to making a difference. Christine is the author of "Hire Love: How to Hire Passionate People to Make Greater Profit". Christine is the 2004 winner of the Women's Chief of Enterprise International Award, a in 2015 was a Telstra Business Women’s Awards Finalist. www.chorus-executive.com.au