Entrepreneur
Chaos, Catch 22s and competition? Never mind, GoFetch founder Blair will deliver the goods
Carving out a niche in the sharing economy might seem a tall order, considering the dominance of such heavy hitters as AirBnB and Uber. Rather than being intimidated by the competition, GoFetch founder Blair Smith has braved the chaos and the Catch 22s of the startup world to fulfil his mission to ‘deliver your life […]
No entrepreneur is an island… but escaping to one could help your business
So, you’ve decided it’s time to innovate and level-up your business. You’ll need to brainstorm but confining yourself to a stuffy office cubicle is unlikely to produce that vital ‘aha’ moment. As Sydney-based entrepreneur Chris Dutton explains, sometimes you need to escape your usual work habitat (think somewhere exotic), rub shoulders with your peers and […]
Meditate with Kevin and Nikki: the ‘zen-trepreneurs’ helping overworked urbanites
Society is moving at such a rapid pace that striking a healthy work-life balance seems increasingly impossible. We’re expected to wear multiple hats, juggle competing deadlines and deliver immediate results – yesterday. Meet Centred Meditation’s Kevin and Nikki Jankelowitz, the husband-and-wife team helping workers tame the chaos. Launched in June 2015, Centred Meditation is billed […]
From rundown café to e-commerce giant: the rise and rise of SOL Group’s Emily McWaters
How do you take $10,000 and turn it into $10 million turnover? Best ask Emily McWaters, the tenacious law school dropout who got her hands dirty, shrugged off the naysayers and – with a helping hand from her sisters – became one of Australia’s most successful e-commerce professionals. In 2003, Emily, then 20-years-old, quit […]
Rock out with GiggedIn’s Edwin Onggo: the Sydneysider driving a live music revolution
As Sydney’s Edwin Onggo can attest, some businesses are born out of sheer frustration. While studying at university, Edwin’s passion for live music was put to the test by a student budget, risk-averse friends and an industry plagued by financial uncertainty. “I was frustrated that I never got to see my favourite acts live,” Edwin […]
Break into the bar business – and stay there
How time flies. It has now been 12 years since my baby and all-consuming obsession, Firefly in Neutral Bay, took shape. More than a decade on, Firefly has not only endured but thrived and, in my humble opinion, it’s one of the best bars and restaurants on Sydney’s North Shore. The bar scene can be a cruel mistress. It […]
Business lessons learnt from the best in the world
As someone who mentors businesses for a living, I spend much of my time researching and reviewing business models, marketing campaigns and advice from the top business leaders and experts from around the world. In this article, I am going to share some insight from two leaders who have two very different business models. Richard […]
Three cheers for Friday Beers: the ‘true brew’ Aussies serving drinks to your desk
Friday afternoon drinks – it’s the great Australian ritual that brings workers together so they can celebrate the week’s successes and recover from its trials. But there’s always been one catch: some poor fool has had to go on a bottle shop run. Not anymore… enter Friday Beers. The brainchild of ex-corporates Keegan Sard and […]
Richard Branson: lessons in business from a superstar entrepreneur
Superstar entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson regaled attendees at last week’s World Business Forum in Sydney with tales from his storied career, including lessons learned. But it was a symbolic act early in the proceedings that seemed to perfectly sum up Branson’s business and life philosophy. Appearing on stage to meet with session facilitator […]
Reap the benefits of a higher purpose, says BioPak founder
For organisations, the decision to ‘go green’ and actively seek ways to conserve the environment goes beyond the warm, fuzzy feeling of being a good corporate citizen – it also makes good business sense. Just ask Richard Fine, founder of BioPak. Hailing from South Africa, Richard worked in his family’s plastic packaging business for 15 years […]
Startup jitters? “Just go for it,” says Appscore founder
It takes a certain level of fearlessness to become the captain of your own ship, quit a six-figure corporate job and set sail for relatively uncharted waters: Australia’s tech sector. Alex Louey did just that, co-founding one of the first mobile-first app developers on the scene: Appscore. Six years on, it’s clear Alex’s voyage has […]
The secrets of a successful innovation strategy
Innovation strategy is an elusive concept to many businesses. People talk a lot about it but fail to actually commit to harnessing their innovation efforts into specific areas of focus. Instead, “blue sky” brainstorms are held where any idea is a good idea, and innovation fails to be deliberately focused around anything. Innovating in this […]