51. Angus Ferguson: From a Career in Soccer to Scaling and Selling a $25M Tech Start-Up

In this episode of the Building Doors Podcast, Lauren welcomes Angus Ferguson, who shares his intriguing journey from a humble upbringing in Echuca and soccer scholarship in Caulfield Grammar, to creating and selling a tech start-up for $25 million. Angus talks about the values instilled in him by his family, the pivotal experiences in playing soccer in the U.S., and transitioning into real estate. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned from founding and scaling a technology startup, including the importance of culture, hiring for fit, and fostering company values. Angus delves into his personal life, the balance between work and family, and the impact of becoming a parent on his leadership style. This episode provides a fascinating mix of personal anecdotes, business insights, and reflections on growth and leadership.Angus is a successful entrepreneur who sold his business to Domain for $25 million five years ago. He is the Head of Customer Solutions at Domain and is recognised by the Australian Financial Review as a BOSS Young Executive of 2023 as an influential young leader in Australia. In this episode we explore:How humble beginnings build resilienceWhy sporting success led to business excellenceTop tips for successfully scaling to sellHiring for company cultureManaging change through mergers and acquisitionsAdapting leadership from small to scaled teamsTeam empowerment and why it's crucialWhat parenting teaches us about leadershipJoin us on the Building Doors podcast as Angus Ferguson unpacks his fascinating transition from soccer to tech and real estate. He shares invaluable insights on scaling businesses, preserving culture during mergers, and mastering effective leadership. Discover how passion, resilience, and strategic hiring can turn challenges into opportunities and drive success. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership and growth.Connect with Angus Ferguson:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-ferguson-00555657/?originalSubdomain=auAbout your host:  Lauren Karan, Director, and Founder of Karan & Co.With over a decade of experience as a recruiter and development coach, Lauren Karan found that her priorities rapidly changed after the birth of her two children. In 2022 she founded Karan & Co flipping the out-dated recruitment model with a focus on retention through career coaching and development.Lauren believes that If opportunity doesn’t knock, you have to build a door – and it’s this same philosophy that inspired her to create the Building Doors podcast.  The Building Doors podcast is for anyone undergoing a transformation in their life. Regardless of whether you feel stuck in your current role, need some inspiration on what steps to take next, want to learn how to level up as a business owner or simply want to listen to the experiences of successful entrepreneurs and industry professionals, the Building Doors podcast is all about unlocking your potential.Help someone else Build Doors in their career.💕 Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts🙏 Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on SpotifyGet more help to Build Doors in your own life 🎬 Follow us on LinkedIn📝 Building Doors newsletter: subscribe to that Want to support the show?1. Hit ‘Follow’.     2. Leave a 5-star rating.    3. Share this episode with a friend (this will help the podcast get discovered by more people so they can Build Doors in their lives too).Thank you for your support! It truly means a lot. 💕 Time to stop waiting and start building…     In case you missed it:You can listen to our previous episode here  👋 To say hello, provide feedback, or express interest in a guest appearance on The Building Doors Podcast get in touch with us at [email protected].