Profiles

Making the best out of truly adverse circumstances is embodied in Leola Foon. At just 28 years of years, the fit and healthy Sydneysider nearly lost her life to a brain aneurism.

Sharyn White never set out to be an entrepreneur, and just a few years ago, wouldn’t have believed that in her 60s she would be starting a cosmetics line.

Dynamic Business had a chat to David Smorgon about his career and his latest venture, Point made., which works with family business owners, corporates and senior executives to identify, solve and improve their communication issues.

David Welzman has slowly but steadily built a business performing magic at trade shows, helping companies generate leads through a mix of magic and information.

On the face of it, it seems like a very unusual career move, to go from a 14-year career in the police force, to an animal and wildlife photographer. But the passion and fearless determination in Alex Cearns’ voice is palpable.

The CEO and co-founder of SEEK has had a big year. For Andrew Bassat, winning the 2013 title of EY Entrepreneur of Year last month was the culmination of hard work and believing in oneself.

Bob Beaumont started Beaumont Tiles with his father in 1960. Starting out as just a small shop in the backstreets of Adelaide, Beaumont Tiles has grown to become Australia’s biggest tile merchant and imports some 70 containers of ceramic tiles every single week.

Jarryd Haefele created Zayn Underwear earlier this year after deciding to follow in his mother’s footsteps and open his own business.

After spending 15 years working for the big names in the telecommunications industry, a trip to Africa was the push Renee Bowker needed to follow her social entrepreneurial dreams.

Originally training as a nurse, Penny Spencer spent 16 years working her way up the travel ladder before launching her own agency, Spencer Travel, in 1998.  Spencer has since become one of the big names in the Australian travel industry, with her business now turning over $30 million a year and recently being named one […]

Marion Grasby’s list of achievements is impressive – but it’s her own small business which she considers to be the real feather in her cap.

After travelling the world as a classical singer in her teens, followed by stints as an academic and management consultant, Dr Gemma Munro eventually found her dream career.

The perception that Gen Y is lazy, thinks they know it all, and wants everything without working hard for it, is certainly a tired stereotype. It’s also one that flies in the face of the brothers behind online office furniture business, jason.l.

Finding the money to start a business is a problem for many budding entrepreneurs, but Rob Nixon decided to risk it all by putting $90,000 on his credit cards to get his start.

Matt Perger is a man who knows coffee. Having won his second Australasian Specialty Coffee Association Barista Championship title, as well as an array of international accolades, Perger is a sought-after talent in the coffee industry. Currently the so-called ‘coffee guy’ at Melbourne’s famed St Ali, Perger spends his time ensuring quality is up to […]

For most people, working one job and raising a family is hard enough. For David Burns and Elly Meltzer, working full time and running their beer company is all part of the daily routine. The couple were inspired to create something new while on a holiday in Morocco, where they enjoyed refreshing iced tea and […]

Peter Nuttall was his father’s second employee at RUD Chains. Now, almost 30 years later, he’s managing director of the multi-million dollar company.

How many Royal Australian Air Force pilots leave to start their own natural skincare business? In all likelihood, not many. MooGoo, now stocked by 1,500 retailers and hospitals nationwide, started seven years ago quite by accident.

The word ‘organic’ may mean different things to different people – but this is no marketing ploy. For entrepreneur Aimee Marks, her company is the culmination of a steadfast commitment to core, ethical principles.

Lachlan Donald knows better than most just how much the local startup ecosystem has grown, having worked with graphic design startup 99designs in Australia before heading to San Francisco for three years.