PODCAST · business
Business Focus
by First Focus
If you’re part of a mid-sized organisation with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quality insights for anyone eager to enhance and push their professional performance or that of their team to the next level. Stay updated with the latest trends and updates alongside elite professionals from diverse sectors and industries, ensuring you're always at the forefront of innovation.
Episodes
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Winning More Construction Tenders with Better Data and AI | AI Investment Fund NZ
Fitzgerald Construction General Manager and Quantity Surveyor Charlie Evans joins us to discuss how AI could help the business respond to more tenders, improve bid quality and protect commercial margins.With around 80% of Fitzgerald Construction’s work coming through tendering, the process can...
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How AI Is Changing the Future of Accounting | AI Investment Fund NZ
Craig Nevatt from DNA Accountants joins us to discuss the firm’s winning AI initiative through the AI Investment NZ fund.With $20,000 in funding, DNA Accountants is developing an AI-powered review assistant designed to identify inconsistencies, omissions and errors in accounts, tax returns and...
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Dr Jason Fox on Staying Relevant in Uncertain Times | IT Nation Sydney 2026
Brendan and Ross catch up with Dr Jason Fox at IT Nation ANZ 2026 to explore why wisdom and discernment matter more than ever in an age of rapidly advancing AI. Jason discusses the “midwit trap” and how large language models can create an inflated sense of expertise, even when their answers sound...
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Adam Spencer on AI, Robotics & What’s Coming Next | IT Nation Sydney 2026
Brendan and Ross catch up with Adam Spencer at IT Nation ANZ to explore how much AI has changed over the past 12 months.Adam discusses AI solving complex problems while still making surprisingly basic mistakes, and what that means for human expertise. They also explore the economics of AI, the...
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Did the AI investment fund work? Pengana's story continued
Continuing our conversation with Varun Gupta from Pengana Capital Group, we shift from the technical side of AI implementation to something just as important: creating a workplace where employees are encouraged to solve problems. We earlier covered the business case behind Pengana Capital Group's...
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Hatz Explained: The Secure Multi-Model AI for Businesses | First Focus & CORE
Your people are already using AI. The question is whether your business has the visibility, governance and support needed to make that usage safe, productive and scalable.In this conversation, Brendan Ritchie and Jack Behrns discuss how Hatz fits into the CORE managed services model, and why it…
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AI Adoption, ROI & High Value Use Cases | Ask Me Anything with Jack Behrns
In this AI AMA webinar, First Focus AI Strategy Lead Jack and host Brendan Ritchie answer some of the most common questions business leaders are asking right now, including: ✅ How to prepare your business for AI adoption ✅ Data governance and AI security best practices ✅ Reducing AI tool sprawl…
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ASIC vs FIIG: The Critical Cybersecurity Controls You Might Be Missing
A $2.5 million cybersecurity penalty has changed the conversation around cyber risk in Australia. In this episode, we unpack the ASIC vs FIIG case, what actually happened during the cyber attack, and why regulators are now holding businesses accountable for cybersecurity preparedness. We discuss:...
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Inside the First Focus + Integris Partnership: Building a Global Managed AI & IT Provider for SMBs
A week ago, the news broke that First Focus and Integris are joining forces to build the global managed AI and IT services provider for small and mid-sized businesses. In this conversation, recorded in Chicago, First Focus CEO Ross Sardi sits down with Integris CEO Rashaad Bajwa to go behind the...
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How BCQ Improved Productivity and ROI with AI-Powered Reporting
In this episode, we sit down with Phil McCaw from Business Chamber Queensland to unpack how AI is being used to solve a very real executive problem: time lost in governance reporting. As part of an AI Investment Fund initiative, Business Chamber Queensland is building a solution to automate and...
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How Pengana Capital Is Using AI to Free Up Its Client Service Team
Pengana Capital Group manages roughly $4 billion across six to seven countries. Their Head of Client Service noticed a pattern. During capital raises, the same questions kept coming in, and his team was spending hours on replies that could be templated.In this episode, we sit down with Gupta from...
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First Focus Is Now an Official OpenAI SMB Channel Partner
First Focus has been selected as an SMB channel partner with OpenAI, joining a small group of experts trusted to help mid-market businesses get real returns from AI. In this episode, we break down what the partnership means, why adoption matters more than licenses, and how to make sure your...
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Seafolly: Building an AI Knowledge Agent to Drive Retail Efficiency | First Focus
First Focus is funding a $20,000 AI project with Australian swimwear retailer Seafolly. The goal: build a prompt-based AI knowledge agent that gives casual retail staff instant access to the operational info they need, so they spend less time searching and more time with customers. The...
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Why This Property Development Company Chose AI Over Hiring More Staff
How do you scale property development to 1,500+ apartments without scaling your headcount at the same rate? In this episode, we sit down with Peter, Head of IT at Billbergia, to unpack how a leading Australian property developer is using AI to transform defect management, improve customer...
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How AI Will Save this Investment Firm $100k a Year | Lipman Burgon & Partners
In this episode, Nandita from Lipman Burgon & Partners, a private wealth advisory firm serving ultra high net worth clients, shares how they’re transforming their investment due diligence process using AI .Lipman Burgon & Partners were selected as one of the winners of the First Focus AI…
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Traditional Managed IT Services Are Dead | Introducing CORE
In this episode, Brendan Ritchie sits down with Ross Sardi to unveil our new service offering 'CORE' and unpack how managed services need to evolve as businesses go all-in on AI, automation, data governance, and security.Rather than bolting AI onto old infrastructure-led MSP models, this...
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M&A Done Right - Lessons Learned After 14 Acquisitions
We’ve just completed our 14th MSP acquisition, with more already in motion!In this episode of M&A Focus, Brendan and Ross discuss the exact playbook we use to ensure two things happen every time we acquire a business:- The people who join us feel respected, supported, and excited about the…
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Top M&A Mistakes You Should Avoid: Integrations, Security, & Due Diligence with Ross Sardi
In this episode of M&A Focus, Brendan Ritchie and RossSardi break down the real technology, cybersecurity, culture, and integration risks that determine whether an acquisition creates value or becomes a costly mistake. Drawing on experience across 14+ acquisitions, Ross explains what tolook for…
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Sell, Scale, or Reinvent? Why More MSP Owners Are Ready to Exit
MSP and business owners are selling at a rate we haven’t seen in years, but not for the reasons you might think.In this episode, Ross Sardi and Brendan Ritchie break down the real factors driving the surge in exit conversations: generational fatigue, economic pressure, AI-driven change, customer...
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The CFO's Guide to Mastering AI in Finance
In this final episode of the Finance Focus series, Ross Sardi (CEO, First Focus) and Jarrod Morris (Founder & CEO, Bolden) explore what finance looks like in the age of artificial intelligence.From automation and analytics to hiring the next generation of finance leaders, this discussion explores...
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Why Your Tech Projects Fail (And How Adoption Fixes It)
In this episode of Finance Focus, Brendan Ritchie sits down with Ross Sardi and Jarrod Morris to unpack one of the most overlooked parts of digital transformation: adoption.You’ve invested in technology, built the business case, and forecasted the returns… but what happens if your people don’t…
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Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Finance Tech Stack
In this episode of Finance Focus, host Brendan Ritchie is joined by Ross Sardi (CEO, First Focus) and Jared Morris (CEO & Founder, Balden) to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing modern finance teams — choosing the right technology stack.Together they explore why so many Australian...
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Why 50% of Tech Projects Fail & How to Fix It | Stop Wasting Your IT Budget
Most businesses know they need to invest in technology, but few can actually prove the return.In this episode of Finance Focus, Ross Sardi (CEO, First Focus) and Jarrod Morris (CEO, Bolden) sit down with host Brendan Ritchie to break down the ROI gap: why so many technology and AI projects fail…
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How AI Is Evolving: Insights from Adam Spencer at IT Nation ANZ
AI is moving faster than ever – and Adam Spencer is here to help us break it all down. In this episode of the First Focus podcast, Adam joins Brendan Ritchie and Ross Sardi fresh from the IT Nation Connect ANZ 2025 stage to share his take on: • The real story behind GPT-5 (and why it’s more…
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Microsoft Experts Reveal Top SharePoint Data Clean Up Techniques
In this episode of SharePoint Focus, experts Mia Tait from First Focus and Alyssa Blackburn from AvePoint sit down to share practical steps every Australian organisation can take to clean up legacy file servers and manage information smarter within M365 and SharePoint.They also discuss what it...
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SharePoint and AI: The Secret to Making Copilot Work for Your Business
AI rollouts are everywhere—but why do so many fail before they even get off the ground? 🤔 In this episode of SharePoint Focus, Brendan Ritchie, Mia Tait (First Focus M365 Practice Lead), and Alyssa Blackburn (AvePoint) unpack why most AI proof of concepts don’t deliver results and how SharePoint...
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The Hidden Dangers of SharePoint: How to Encourage Collaboration Without the Security Risks
In Episode 3 of SharePoint Focus, we’re tackling one of the trickiest balancing acts in Microsoft 365: enabling smooth collaboration without creating security risks.🔹 In Episode 1, we discussed the Privacy Act and why data government in SharePoint matters.🔹 In Episode 2, we looked at preparing...
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Use SharePoint Like a Pro: Managing Data Governance, AI Readiness, and Cloud Storage Costs
If you caught Episode 1 of our SharePoint series, you’ll remember we explored why changes to the Privacy Act — along with a rapidly approaching AI-powered future — have put SharePoint data governance back in the spotlight. We also touched on the growing link between good governance and AI…
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SharePoint Data Governance & The Privacy Act: What You Need to Know
Welcome to our new mini-series 'SharePoint Focus'. Over the next six episodes, M365 pros Mia Tait McIntyre and Alyssa Blackburn will join host Brendan Ritchie to share practical tips to help you get clarity, get compliant, and get SharePoint working for your business.In this episode, Mia Tait…
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Why AI in Sales Fails Most Teams (And How to Fix It)
Is your team maximising AI in sales, or is it just adding to the noise? In this episode, Harriet Mellor joins us to break down why most sales teams fail when adopting AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. From poor prompts to bland, generic content, we explore the real reasons AI under delivers and...
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LinkedIn for Sales: Real Tactics, Real Impact with Harriet Mellor
Is your LinkedIn strategy driving real results, or just ticking boxes? In this practical episode, Harriet Mellor from Your Sales Co joins us to unpack what it really takes to turn LinkedIn into a powerful sales engine. Whether you're in marketing, business development, or sales leadership, this…
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Cyber Horror Stories: Part 3 - Ransomware, Resilience & Real Consequences with Matt O’Kane
In the final episode of our Cyber Horror Stories series, Matt O’Kane is back to walk us through a real-world ransomware incident that tested a business’s cyber resilience strategy.In this episode, we cover:🔹 How malware was introduced through seemingly safe software🔹 The critical role of…
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Cyber Horror Stories: Part 2 - How An Unmanaged Laptop Created a Major Security Blindspot
Welcome back to Part 2 of our Cyber Horror Stories series with incident response expert Matt O’Kane. In this episode, we dig into a real-world story from the pandemic era, when a marketing manager, a BYOD MacBook, and a fractured workplace relationship led to a messy cyber security and IP theft...
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Cyber Horror Stories: Part 1 - The Data Breach That Changed Everything
Welcome to Cyber Horror Stories 💻 👻 — a mini-series featuring real incidents, real consequences, and the very real lessons learned from three chilling (and true) cyber security incidents.Joining host Brendan Ritchie is Matt O'Kane, Director at Notion Digital Forensics.When it comes to cyber...
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ASIC vs FIIG - Lessons Learned From this Cybersecurity Incident
This podcast episode features cybersecurity expert Ross Sardi from First Focus, discussing a recent cybersecurity breach that led to legal and regulatory scrutiny. They provide actionable insights on strengthening cybersecurity strategies, mitigating risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance to...
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How First Focus Built a Lasting Legacy | Succession Planning Insights
The Secret to Business Longevity: Succession Planning Done Right! How do successful leaders ensure their business thrives beyond their tenure? In this exclusive episode, Peter Paddon, the visionary behind First Focus, shares his journey, insights, and the succession planning strategies that…
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ISO 42001 Explained: The New AI Governance Standard & What It Means for Your Business
As AI adoption skyrockets, businesses face growing risks, regulatory uncertainty, and ethical challenges. Enter ISO 42001, the first AI-specific ISO standard designed to govern risk, data privacy, and ethical AI implementation.In this episode, Jason Maricchiolo from ISO 365 breaks down how...
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The Business Growth Formula: Peter Paddon's Guide to Entrepreneurship, Resilience, & Scaling Up
💡 What does it take to turn a startup company into a successful industry-leading organisation? In this episode, Peter Paddon, founder of First Focus, draws on 20+ years of experience, sharing the hard-earned lessons behind growing a business from scratch, surviving near-bankruptcy, and scaling…
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B2B Content Marketing Strategies in 2025: Leveraging Video, AI, & Social Media to Generate Leads
In this episode, we’re diving into B2B & tech content marketing strategies with Wim Kerkhoff, a marketing expert and SaaS entrepreneur. We discuss the future of content marketing, the impact of AI, video marketing trends, and how businesses can maximise ROI with a smarter approach to digital...
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Customer Effort Score: Revolutionising Customer Experience in the AI Age
Is there a better way to measure customer experience than the traditional Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)? In this episode, Brendan Ritchie sits down with Mark Alayev, CEO at Thread, to explore how Customer Effort Score (CES) is revolutionising how businesses approach customer experience and...
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Cost Optimisation - How to Use AI, Automation & Workflows to Boost Your Bottom Line
In this episode, we sit down with Kosta, our Head of Software Development at First Focus. From creating seamless automation processes to delivering on-demand reporting and crafting bespoke web and app solutions, Kosta breaks it all down with real-world examples that will inspire you to think...
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What Makes a Happy Customer? Alan Komet on Customer Experience, Success, & Retention
What does it take to create an exceptional customer experience? Join us as we chat with Alan Komet, Chief Customer Officer at ConnectWise, about how to optimise customer journeys using clear processes, technology, and AI. Alan shares his 30+ years of experience in the channel, offering practical...
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The Future of Cybersecurity - Insights from ThreatMate's CEO, Anup Ghosh
Join us as we sit down with Anup Ghosh, CEO of ThreatMate, at IT Nation Connect in Orlando! In this conversation, we discuss: 🛡️ The origins and mission of ThreatMate (and the clever chess analogy behind its name). 🔍 Why focusing on risk and exposure matters more than patching endless...
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How to Fix Your Cashflow: B2B Payment Strategies That Work
Struggling with cashflow challenges in your business? You're not alone, and we've got the insights to help you thrive. In this episode, Brendan Ritchie sits down with Paul MacNeil, VP and GM of Payments at ConnectWise, during the IT Nation Connect conference in Orlando. Paul shares his journey…
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Content-led Marketing that Converts - Tips from a Chief Growth Officer
Join Brendan Ritchie, Chief Growth Officer at First Focus, in this engaging conversation recorded at IT Nation Connect Orlando. Brendan shares his 20-year journey with content-led marketing—from scrappy blogs with no budget to leading a video-first strategy. Discover actionable tips on: ✅ Using...
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AI Adoption in Business: Opportunity or Obstacle?
What will AI will be capable of in the near future? What do we need to be doing now in order to capitalise on AI’s future capability? How do we need to think about the problems it can solve for us in business? As the CEO of First Focus, Ross Sardi regularly speaks to large audiences on these...
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Mac, PC, or Both? How Hybrid IT Drives Customer & Employee Experience
In this episode of the Business Focus Podcast, we explore the impact of hybrid IT environments on both employee experience (EX) and customer experience (CX). Join Brendan and Ed Parangodan, Mac Specialist from Synnex, as they explore how providing the right technology, like Mac or PC options, can...
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How Business Communities & Peer Groups Can Accelerate Growth
In this episode of Business Focus, we explore the power of building authentic business communities and peer groups. Featuring Nick Moran and Greg Lalle, we uncover how creating a strong, trust-based community can drive growth and success for businesses. From the importance of sharing knowledge…
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Beyond Owner-led Sales: Insights for Strategic & Sustainable Growth
Business leaders with extensive experience share their insights on optimising sales and the crucial role of the owner in this process. Whether it's about integrating the owner into the sales strategy or freeing up their schedule to focus on other priorities that match their interests and…
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Sales & Marketing Tips from Business Leaders | Business Focus at IT Nation Sydney
In this episode, we explore the unique sales and marketing challenges businesses may face and provide tips to improve or enhance your business strategy. Join Brendan and Ross as they discuss tips on driving business growth with industry experts Nate Austin, Ben Town, Nigel Moore and Peter Kujawa...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
If you’re part of a mid-sized organisation with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quality insights for anyone eager to enhance and push their professional performance or that of their team to the next level. Stay updated with the latest trends and updates alongside elite professionals from diverse sectors and industries, ensuring you're always at the forefront of innovation.
HOSTED BY
First Focus
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Business Focus have?
Business Focus currently has 68 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Business Focus about?
If you’re part of a mid-sized organisation with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quality insights for anyone eager to enhance and push their professional performance or that of their...
How often does Business Focus release new episodes?
Business Focus has 68 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Business Focus on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Business Focus?
Business Focus is created and hosted by First Focus.
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