Emajin Golf: Beyond the 19th

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Irwin Hau, founder of Chromatix, also known as "The Website Whisperer," to unpack what makes a website actually work in today's digital world. Irwin shares why your website is often the first impression people have of your business, and how trust, clarity, and authenticity can be the difference between winning or losing opportunities. From genuine messaging and social proof to conversion strategy and user experience, this conversation is packed with practical insights for business owners looking to improve their online presence. We explore: • Why most websites fail to clearly communicate who they are and what they do • The balance between great design and conversion-focused strategy • How trust and "proof density" influence buying decisions • The biggest mistakes business owners make with their websites • Whether AI-built websites and chatbots are helping or hurting businesses • Why your website is still one of your most important business assets Irwin also shares a powerful story of a business losing a $2 million tender simply because their website created less trust than a competitor's. 🎧 Tune in now for an insightful conversation on building a website that not only looks good, but actually drives results.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Hugh Perks, Partner at Grant Thornton Australia, for a candid conversation on one of the most important and often mismanaged aspects of running a business: financial management. With over a decade of experience advising business owners across a wide range of industries, Hugh brings real-world insights into the financial mistakes that can derail even the fastest-growing companies, and what it actually takes to build a business that is not just revenue-driven, but financially sound. We explore: Why scaling without financial oversight is one of the most common and costly mistakes business owners make The critical role of cash flow management and why a 12-week rolling forecast could save your business How the ATO is cracking down on business debt, and what the new payday super changes mean for your cash flow The importance of business structure, not just for tax efficiency, but for growth, asset protection, and succession planning How technology, from cloud accounting to AI, is transforming the way business owners access and act on financial data Hugh also shares real stories of businesses that came undone through poor financial governance, and the clear, actionable steps that could have changed their outcomes. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Hugh's insights on building a financially resilient business and why "fail to plan, plan to fail" has never been more relevant.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with John Dyer from Air Adventure, who shares how he's built and scaled a premium travel and golf experience by putting one thing above everything else: the customer. From flying guests into some of the most remote and iconic locations in Australia to delivering seamless, high-end experiences, John breaks down what it really takes to create a brand that consistently delivers at the top end of the market. This conversation explores the balance between operational excellence and growth, and how businesses can scale without compromising on experience. We explore: • Why customer experience must sit at the centre of every decision • How operational excellence underpins premium service delivery • The importance of being "growth ready" before scaling • Building strong partnerships to deliver consistent experiences • Knowing your weaknesses and investing in the right areas to grow John also shares the story behind Air Adventure, from its origins in the Australian outback to becoming a market leader in premium golf and travel experiences. If you're a business owner, founder, or leader looking to build a premium brand, scale effectively, or improve your customer experience, this episode offers a practical and honest perspective on what it takes. 🎧 Tune in now to hear John's insights on building a premium experience that stands out.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Darren Thorpe from Australian Paper Recovery, who shares a powerful perspective on what sustainability really looks like in practice and why businesses can no longer afford to treat it as an afterthought. With more than 40 years in the recycling and sustainability space, Darren has seen the industry evolve from a time where landfill was the default to today's growing push toward circular economies and responsible business practices. This conversation dives into the realities behind recycling, the challenges Australia still faces, and the opportunities ahead as businesses, governments, and industries work to create more sustainable systems. We explore: • Why sustainability needs to be embedded into business strategy, not treated as a side initiative • The truth about recycling rates in Australia and where the gaps still exist • How innovation is driving new solutions in soft plastics and packaging • The commercial realities of sustainability and why cost often slows adoption • Practical ways business owners can take action, even with a small footprint Darren also shares insights into emerging technologies, including converting soft plastics back into oil, and his vision for scaling these solutions to create real impact over the next decade. If you're a business owner, founder, or leader looking to better understand sustainability and how it applies to your organisation, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective on where to start and what matters most. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Darren's insights on building a more sustainable future through business.

In this episode of Beyond the 19th, we sit down with George Guse to unpack the realities of building, operating, and sustaining a business in today's environment. George shares a candid perspective on what it takes behind the scenes, from navigating uncertainty and making high-stakes decisions, to managing growth without losing control of the fundamentals. This is a grounded conversation on leadership, accountability, and the discipline required to build something that lasts. We also dive into: The mindset required to lead through pressure Lessons learned from scaling and setbacks The importance of structure, clarity, and execution What separates businesses that survive vs. those that thrive If you're a founder, operator, or aspiring business owner, this episode offers practical insight without the fluff. Listen now and take the next step in your business journey.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Oscar Van Elten from Event Management Professionals, who shares an extraordinary journey of building and evolving a business over more than 30 years. Oscar's story is anything but conventional. From working in airlines and travel to accidentally stepping into business ownership, he has built, scaled, pivoted, and reinvented multiple ventures across events, travel, and experiential services. This conversation dives deep into what it really takes to stay in business long-term — navigating major global disruptions like 9/11, the GFC, and COVID, while continuously adapting to new opportunities and market shifts. We explore: • Why some of the best businesses are built opportunistically • How to pivot when external events disrupt everything • The importance of staying agile across industries and markets • Building a service-driven culture that actually delivers • Why longevity in business comes down to adaptability, not perfection Oscar also shares how he's evolved his business model over time — from events into bespoke travel experiences — and why thinking ahead to an exit strategy and scalable products is critical for long-term success. If you're a business owner, founder, or leader navigating growth, uncertainty, or change, this episode offers a practical perspective on how to adapt, evolve, and keep moving forward. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Oscar's insights on building a business that lasts.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Andrew McGregor from Design & Build, part of Search4, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing growing businesses today: attracting and retaining the right people. Andrew shares insights from years of working closely with organisations navigating growth, leadership and recruitment in an increasingly competitive talent market. The conversation dives into why many businesses treat hiring as a reactive HR function rather than a core part of their growth strategy — and why that mindset needs to change. We explore the concept of an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and how businesses can clearly define what makes them an attractive place to work. Andrew also explains why organisations should be hiring for potential and future capability, not just for the role that exists today. The discussion also covers: • Why there isn't a shortage of people — but there is a shortage of talent • How leadership and culture shape an organisation's ability to scale • Practical steps business owners can take in the next 90 days to improve their hiring strategy • Why the best businesses treat employees the same way they treat customers If you're a founder, business owner, or leader trying to build a team that can scale with your vision, this episode offers practical insights into how people strategy can become one of your strongest competitive advantages. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Andrew's perspective on building stronger teams and stronger businesses.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Jansen, Regional Leader at Kieser Australia, to explore what it really takes to scale a business while maintaining a consistent and personalised customer experience. Chris shares insights from leading a network of clinics with over 800 team members, discussing the balance between standardised systems and empowering teams to innovate locally. The conversation dives into leadership, culture, and why defining "what good looks like" is critical when growing a business across multiple locations. We also explore topics including: • How strong leadership shapes culture and performance • Why storytelling and company history matter when onboarding new team members • The concept of "running mates" and building strong internal support systems • How businesses can scale without losing the personal touch If you're a founder, leader, or business owner looking to grow your organisation while keeping your culture and customer experience strong, this episode offers practical insights you can apply straight away. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Chris' perspective on leadership, systems, and scaling a business the right way.

What separates businesses that scale from those that stall? In this episode of Beyond the 19th, we sit down with Tim MacKinley from QUANTA to unpack the commercial realities of building a business that's structured for sustainable growth — not just short-term momentum. Tim shares practical insights drawn from working closely with scaling organisations across Australia. From financial discipline and governance frameworks to strategic clarity and leadership accountability, this conversation explores what it truly takes to grow with control, confidence, and long-term enterprise value in mind. We discuss: • Why business structure matters more than most founders realise • The financial blind spots that quietly limit growth • Governance and accountability at scale • Building foundations before chasing expansion • Turning strategy into measurable execution If you're a founder, director, or senior leader navigating growth, complexity, or preparing for your next phase, this episode delivers grounded commercial insight you can apply immediately. This isn't about growth at any cost. It's about building properly.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, Raj is joined by Peter Ishak, founder of Ishaks Conveyancing, for a grounded and insightful conversation on business, leadership, and the realities that come with building something meaningful over time. Peter shares his perspective on what business owners often underestimate - from the pressure that comes with decision-making to the importance of structure, discipline, and long-term thinking. Drawing on his professional experience, he unpacks how clarity, good advice, and sound fundamentals can help founders navigate growth, risk, and uncertainty. The conversation explores what success really looks like behind the scenes, the lessons learned through setbacks, and why sustainable businesses are built through consistency rather than quick wins. Peter also reflects on the value of surrounding yourself with the right people and knowing when to seek guidance as your business evolves. As always, the discussion moves beyond business into mindset, balance, and golf - highlighting how the lessons learned on the course often mirror those in leadership and life. This episode is a valuable listen for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders looking for practical insights, honest reflections, and a long-term approach to growth.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, Raj sits down with Rich Coombes, Partner at Nexus Advisory and long-time Emajin Platinum Member, for a powerful conversation about how business owners can unlock smarter capital solutions to fund growth, protect cash flow, and reduce financial stress.   Rich's story spans the worlds of finance, entrepreneurship, and creativity. From his early career in investment banking with UBS and Investec to co-founding iconic Australian beverage brands like Batlow Cider and Will & Co Coffee, he's built, scaled, and exited multiple ventures before joining Nexus Advisory.   Today, Rich helps business owners access the right kind of funding, without giving up control. He explains how alternative lending, non-bank finance, and private credit can provide the flexibility many SMEs need to grow sustainably, especially in today's shifting economic landscape.   Along the way, Rich shares the lessons learned from years of building businesses: the importance of cash flow discipline, the power of good partnerships, and why success often comes down to having more control over your time and decisions.   And of course, the episode wouldn't be complete without a little golf talk. From growing up on the fairways of Pymble and Coffs Harbour to his dream foursome at Pebble Beach.   Whether you're a founder, entrepreneur, or leader looking to scale smarter, this conversation is packed with practical insights on capital, growth, and mindset.  

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, Raj sits down with James Leslie-Watt, Managing Partner at Corson Fiske Group, for a deep and practical conversation about how business owners can effectively manage risk and future-proof their companies from day one. From his unconventional start in hospitality to building a career spanning law, finance, and advisory, James shares a wealth of experience on what truly makes a business resilient, from getting the right structure in place, to safeguarding intellectual property and planning for a successful exit. He explains why so many founders fall into the trap of poor structuring, missing shareholder agreements, and unprotected IP, and how these oversights can turn into major headaches later. Drawing from real-world examples, James highlights how simple, proactive steps can protect your assets, minimise risk, and set your business up for long-term success. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in advisory and insolvency, how technology is reshaping business operations, and why human insight and empathy still matter most in helping clients navigate financial challenges. Whether you're just starting out or planning your next phase of growth, risk is ever-present. And this episode is full of insights on securing the longevity of your business.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, Raj sits down with Emajin member and business advisor Josh Hallam from Falanga & Co. to uncover insights from his fascinating journey from sport to business and the powerful lessons he's carried into his work as a chartered accountant with hundreds of Australian companies. Josh's path has been anything but linear. A passionate footballer in his youth, he quickly transitioned into sports coaching and delivered programs to over 120,000 participants each year. From there, he pursued an MBA and expanded into corporate consulting across Australia and Asia, eventually finding his home in accounting and business advisory. Today, at Falanga & Co., Josh helps more than 500 business owners "go beyond the numbers," moving past traditional compliance to focus on forecasting, scenario planning, and strategies that genuinely drive growth. He brings a rare mix of lived experience, academic grounding, and entrepreneurial insight to guide leaders through the challenges of scaling, acquisitions, and financial decision-making. In this conversation, Josh shares why understanding your numbers is only the starting point, how to avoid "rowing harder in the wrong direction," and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right advisors and networks. He also opens up about the realities of being a business owner, from the sleepless nights of making payroll to the joy of building something that aligns with your values and vision. Of course, we couldn't finish without talking golf. Josh reflects on picking up the game as a junior, returning to it after a long hiatus, and his aspirations to experience Australia's top courses through the Emajin community. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to go beyond reporting and unlock growth potential from the numbers they track.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, Raj sits down with long-time friend and Emajin Platinum Partner, Julian Fayad, the founder of LoanOptions.ai, to uncover his remarkable journey of bootstrapping a fintech business built on resilience, innovation, and family values. Julian's story is far from ordinary. Originally passionate about technology, he studied web and app development before unexpectedly landing in finance. Over nearly a decade in the industry, he combined his love for tech with financial services—eventually launching LoanOptions.ai during the challenging Covid period. What began in a tiny shoebox office quickly grew into an award-winning business helping thousands of Australians access smarter, faster, and fairer finance solutions. In this conversation, Julian shares how his company has navigated everything from Covid shutdowns and supply chain disruptions to rising interest rates—constantly adapting, diversifying, and staying ahead through cutting-edge AI technology. He explains how LoanOptions.ai empowers customers with transparency and speed, allowing people to apply for loans in under five minutes and instantly view tailored options from over 90 lenders. Beyond business, Julian opens up about his Lebanese heritage, his close-knit family, and how the values instilled by his single mother continue to shape his leadership style and culture today. He also reflects on the discipline of hard work, why resilience matters more than talent, and the importance of embracing challenges as opportunities to grow. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of finance, technology, and family-driven success.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, we're joined by Rebeca Bern, a digital marketing expert, for an insightful conversation about her career journey and her business, Somma Digital. Rebeca, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has an unexpected background—she wanted to be a vet and started riding horses at the age of five. This passion for horses taught her discipline and motivation. After moving to Australia and studying marketing, she eventually founded Somma, a B2B digital marketing agency. The name "Somma" is an acronym for "social media marketing agency" and also means "to add" in Portuguese, reflecting her goal to add value to her clients. At Somma, their philosophy is that if you try to speak to everyone, you speak to no one. This strategy-first approach and commitment to delivering creative, outcome-driven solutions is what sets Somma apart from other agencies. She explains that Somma specializes in branding, web design, social media, and SEO. Rebeca and the team at Somma act as an extension of their clients' businesses, providing an entire marketing department. They focus on understanding a client's specific audience and business challenges, rather than taking a "throw everything and see what sticks" approach. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in B2B marketing, entrepreneurship, or simply how a childhood passion can shape an adult career.  

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Bernard Kassab, Head of Marketing and Strategy at Emajin, to join Raj in an eye-opening conversation about branding, clarity, and the often-misunderstood path to business success.   Bernard started as a graphic designer but quickly realised that design alone wasn't solving his clients' deeper challenges. It was this realisation that led him to co-found Ucidity, a firm focused not just on creative output, but on building clarity across messaging, branding, and marketing strategy. His mission? To help businesses remove the fog from their brand identity and align their messaging to what their customers care about.   According to Bernard, many businesses fall into the trap of selling what they do, instead of highlighting the value they bring. Throughout the conversation, he unpacks how clarity in branding and communication directly influences how well a customer connects with your business. It's not about shouting louder—it's about being clearer. Rather than diving into marketing tactics straight away, Bernard advocates for a "strategy-first" approach. This means understanding your audience, defining your unique offer, and creating a coherent message before putting anything out into the world. Only then, he argues, can businesses truly get return on their marketing efforts.   If you're struggling to align your branding with your business goals—or you've ever felt that your marketing just isn't quite landing—this episode is packed with insights that could change the way you think about communication and growth.    

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! We're incredibly excited to have Irwin Hau, the Director at Chromatix, join Raj to dissect exactly how the right approach to marketing and advertising can dramatically increase your leads and significantly boost your sales! Before he became immersed in the advertising world, he spent years as a dedicated "coding-nerd," having studied computer science. This technical background is what initially led him to a Melbourne advertising agency, eventually inspiring him to open his own successful firm, Chromatix. From Data to Demand: Patching Market Holes Irwin's approach to marketing is heavily data-driven. He constantly analyses vast amounts of information to understand and then strategically influence the customer's perspective through advertising and marketing efforts. Interestingly, he started Chromatix by addressing a problem he personally encountered in the market. This firsthand experience allowed him to directly tackle the principles of supply and demand, effectively "patching up a hole" in the market that he knew needed filling. But how do you close that gap? Spending money on marketing doesn't automatically guarantee leads. Irwin shares his insights on what truly makes the customer call you. The Power of Quality and Quantity: Converting Traffic into Sales Irwin emphasises that not all clients are a perfect fit for your business, even with high website traffic. That's why he advocates for having a conversion tool to leverage that traffic effectively. The goal is to generate valuable, high-quality leads while simultaneously increasing their quantity. His philosophy is clear: get as much relevant traffic to your website as possible to maximize your quality leads and, consequently, your quality sales. This episode is not one to miss! Tune in now.

Join Raj in an engaging conversation with Imagine member Kane Dury, the owner of Discover Buyers Agency! In this episode, Kane shares his fascinating journey into the property market and how he's leveraged it to build a successful investment portfolio. Whether you're looking to step onto the property ladder for the first time or aiming to maximize your investment returns, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Kane breaks down and shares: His unexpected entry into the army and the valuable skills he gained. The pivotal moment at 22 that sparked his passion for property investment. The transition from a secure job to building his own business in the real estate world. The crucial importance of understanding your financial goals and reverse-engineering your property investment strategy. A systematic approach to filtering through Australia's 15,000+ suburbs to identify high-potential investment areas. Debunking common property investment myths and the dangers of clickbait. Exciting insights into current loan options that can make entering the market more accessible than you think! His recent foray into the world of golf and the parallels between strategy in business and on the course. Kane's story is one of taking initiative, strategic thinking, and a passion for helping others build wealth through property. His insights are incredibly valuable for anyone navigating the Australian property landscape.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. In this episode, we have the pleasure of featuring Benji Kushwaha, the Managing Director of White Spot Group. Benji, a valued platinum member of our Emajin Golf community, shares his remarkable and inspiring journey of building a thriving cleaning empire after moving to Australia from Nepal. Benji's story begins in Nepal, where he harboured dreams of becoming a pilot, aligning with his engineering. However, his father's entrepreneurial spirit ignited a passion for business and accounting. This led him to Australia as a student, where he pursued his education and concurrently worked various jobs, including in the cleaning industry.   These early experiences in cleaning unveiled inefficiencies and a lack of systemization within the sector, sparking an idea for Benji to revolutionize it. Starting with basic cleaning tasks alongside his wife, armed with limited resources and a strong work ethic, they laid the foundation for what would become White Spot Group. Today, White Spot Group stands as a testament to Benji's vision and relentless drive, boasting over 600 clients and a team of 300-plus staff. Benji shares the secrets behind this impressive growth, emphasizing their client-centric approach, a "yes-mentality" to challenges, and a commitment to providing solutions. He highlights the importance of listening to client needs, implementing robust systems for reporting and quality control, and navigating the complexities of the commercial cleaning industry. Beyond business success, Benji speaks passionately about his foundation, Wisdom Tree International Foundation, inspired by his community-oriented upbringing. The foundation focuses on supporting disadvantaged individuals, particularly in education and well-being, both in Australia and internationally. Finally, Benji shares his connection with Emajin Golf and his enjoyment of golf, highlighting how it serves as a valuable platform for building relationships beyond the traditional business setting.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th. This episode we have the pleasure of being joined by Erika Wager and Simon Konks from DigiDonate, an innovative blockchain-based donations platform. Both Erika and Simon are valued members of our Emajin community, and share insights into fund raising and distribution, how to incorporate AI into your business and donations using cryptocurrency. Erika born and raised in Switzerland, moving to Australia at the age of 7. When she turned 16, she went back to Switzerland to become a waitressing apprentice, until she started her own automotive business back in Australia. Similar to Erika, Simon came to Australia from Estonia in 2011, bringing his expertise and love of technology to DigiDonate! DigiDonate is a game changer in today's cryptocurrency world, using a transparent blockchain technology to capture and compartmentalised data, ensuring a seamless donating process to keep your personal information safe. Through the blockchain, all transactions can be verified with confirmation from chosen charities on what and how your donation has been spent. With DigiDonate, all of your donation information is in one platform, with 85% of that donation going into the charitable cause. They praise themselves on minimised admin expenses, whereas other organisations can take up to 60% of that donation. Erika and Simon speak about how important it is to take advantage of technology when donating to charities, or when upscaling your business.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we're joined by Ting Wang, Co-founder and CEO of Coinstash. Ting is an integral part of our Emajin community, and is a dynamic leader in the cryptocurrency space.  Ting's journey with Coinstash is emphasised by a deep understanding of technology and finance, with a keen eye for innovation. He is an experienced investor with a demonstrated history of working in financial services, financial analysis and taxation.  Ting has a professional background in Law and Finance, and shares his challenges and triumphs of working in cryptocurrency in the digital age. He speaks about visibility and exposure when wanting to grow your business, and how important goal-setting is for this growth.  Ting highlights the power of intuition in navigating uncertain markets, the necessity of clear intention in every strategic move, and the unwavering intensity required to achieve ambitious goals. It's clear that these principles have been instrumental in the impressive success story of Coinstash.   Key Takeaways: The Crypto Market in Australia is approaching a Billion-dollar market with room to grow Run your business with the three I's: Intuition: Experience as much as you can and learn from them Intention: Be deliberate with everything you do Intensity: Stay fired up and keep the momentum

This week on the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th we're joined by Tim Borham and Vincent Berry from Sajen Legal—longstanding members of the Emajin community and now Platinum members. With Sajen operating for over 30 years, and Tim and Vincent bringing 17 and 7 years of experience respectively, they offer powerful insights into protecting and enhancing your business in today's evolving legal landscape.  Vincent, who specialises in commercial litigation, and Tim, who focuses on the business side, share their expert strategies on safeguarding client relationships, conducting due diligence, and ensuring your business is built on solid legal foundations. From understanding contract terms to protecting assets, this episode is packed with real-world advice every business owner should hear. They break down the importance of Running a Business Health Check—particularly for those looking to sell within the next 3–5 years—and highlight a real-life case where a sale fell through simply because a company didn't know what assets it actually owned.  The conversation also dives into: ·         The power of trademarks ·         The impact of AI in the legal world—its benefits, and where it still falls short ·         The increasing importance of human connection and solid shareholder agreements ·         Why we're likely to see a rise in insolvencies, and how to protect yourself from unfair preference payments  Key Takeaways: 1.      Know and regularly update your contract terms to protect your business. 2.      Don't overlook trademarks—they can be one of your most valuable assets. 3.      AI is a helpful tool, but nothing replaces strong relationships and clear legal frameworks.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we talk with Steve Mitchell, founder and CEO of Nexus Advisory. Steve is one of the founding members of Emajin Golf and has been an integral part of our community from the early days.  Steve shares his journey from the fitness industry to the world of finance and how golf has played a key role in growing his business and expanding his network. Steve started his career studying economics and quickly developed a passion for sales, co-founding Enjoy Health and Fitness Gym in 2012. Through his time in the gym, he learned valuable lessons that would guide his next steps. While managing the gym, Steve launched several startups, eventually leading him to the finance industry. He shares the tough lessons he learned, including running out of money, which forced him to pivot into the car industry. There, he honed his skills in brokerage and learned the importance of scaling a business. In 2017, Steve discovered golf, which has been instrumental in expanding his network and growing Nexus Advisory. Now in its 7th year, Nexus continues to thrive, with plans to explore opportunities in private lending and credit markets. Steve's dream is to play the top 100 golf courses in Australia. He shares his four-ball wish and discusses how golf is not just a sport but a valuable way to connect with others. Key takeaway: Understanding your industry is crucial. For Steve, it's about putting clients in better positions through knowledge. It's vital to understand how your business and industry work and to tailor your solutions accordingly. Knowledge is power—reach out and have a chat!        

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast Beyond the 19th, we talk with David Salim, CEO of Hetherington Legal. He shares his story about family, the law journey, and his passion for giving back. David studied law and commerce and worked in local suburban practices and parliament before starting as a law graduate at Hetherington Legal. A national law firm, Hetherington has been operating for over 40 years, supporting businesses within the resources field in Australia and internationally, including ASX-listed firms, and providing compliance management and regulatory roles. Starting over 15 years ago, David, who progressed through Hetherington to the current role of CEO, speaks passionately about the great people in the sector and how he has been adapting the business from its early focus on tenement, the right to mine, to providing the legal and environmental support through policy transition towards the growth of critical mineral mines that include solar, wind, and hydro, which push us towards zero omissions and sustainability goals. We discover that David and his wife, Vivian Salim non-Executive Director, have created a fourth pillar at Hetherington dedicated to social impact and focused on making a difference within the community. Proactively, the team has done a lot in raising awareness for key causes, including Autism Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, and finding ways to ensure more schools have the capacity to provide spaces for special needs. This was a very engaging listen. We learn David has made it to his bucket golf course at King Island, but you will enjoy learning about his 4 Ball dream team and his favorite drink on the 19th; maybe you can shout him at the next Emajin event.  David's tip for the community: Golf is about sharing. When you are playing golf with someone for over four hours, you do not talk about work; you share what is going on in your life, building the relationship and trust that will enable the business to follow.                                    

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast Beyond the 19th, we chat with Dan Corbett, Founder and Owner and Principal advisor of Superannuation Caddie, who shares insights on cycling, golf, family, and more. As a devoted family man, he believes, "The only people you want stronger than you are your children". His modest upbringing shaped his career choices and his approach to financial stability.  Exploring career considerations, Dan initially studied nursing and moved into sports science, but his love of numbers led him to a career in finance. Dan entered the finance sector in the late nineties when the bond crash affected many retirees' superannuation. This influenced Dan to ensure he would be committed to devising the best ways to safeguard balances. After successfully working in some challenging environments, Dan started Superannuation Caddie a decade ago to provide finance advice. The concept of the caddie is to understand the landscape and to know your abilities - this is Dan's philosophy in the caring execution of his client management, and he shared the following key learnings: Everyone must be prepared for volatilities within the market, but knowing a client's tolerance will shape the portfolio that best suits Superannuation investments are diverse - the key is to review the current state and shop around for the products that clients can understand and align with, requiring the need to put some products back on the shelf and choosing others that, over time, will enable the retirement goals to be achieved Pay attention to US politics is essential, as the president's policies can significantly influence the markets  It is a very interesting listen as we learned Dan, a writer for the Australian Golf Digest, is also a passionate sportsman, having competed in triathlons and taking cycling to an extreme level.  Dan's parting advice: " If you need permission to play a round of golf, explain that you plan to discuss your retirement fund, and you will have ample support."          

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Millie Swan, Managing Director of Compliance ESG, on how important it is to embed compliance in your business and the power of the Third Way philosophy. ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance is a framework used to evaluate a company's operations and performance in the three areas. Millie, a sociologist, has over 30 years of experience working locally and globally in corporate compliance and environment social government processes and shares the ESG vast challenges and opportunities of competitive advantage. Millie's key headlines for businesses: ESG commitments and considerations must be integrated into the business strategy to effect change and achieve long-term commitment It is critical to keep up to date with the regulatory complexity, data collection, and reporting - audits are conducted by a 3rd party to ensure authentic ESG compliance ESG compliance enhances reputation risk mitigation, attracts investment, and enables operational efficiency Millie's organisation. ESG Compliance is a team of leading qualified professionals and experts in ESG. Recently, the team produced a book, "Compliance is not a Dirty Word," designed to assist businesses in navigating the ESG complexities with practical advice and content.  We learn that Millie is drawn to the Third Way philosophy, particularly the collaborative process of achieving better outcomes for the workplace, environment, and community. Full of energy and enthusiasm, Millie shares her journey from Esso Oil and Gastro Pubs to major-impacting social housing reporting. Of course, in balance, she shares her four-ball dream team and the much-needed cold boutique beer that awaits her at the 19th hole. Enjoy and hear how quickly the power of influence and negotiation started.      

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we meet with John Hill, Managing Director Ucidity. John specialises in providing CRM solutions using HubSpot and, in our discussion, offers valuable insights into how your CRM can drive growth, scale, and efficiencies within your business. A mathematical brain with a love of creating, John initially fell into web development. However, it was a part-time gig punching data into a system that led to his curiosity about the power of data and its impact on marketing, sales, and tracking performance. For every role that required building a website, John attached a CRM to best enable the information gathered through the website to be more effective. Ucidity aids businesses in achieving operational clarity by transitioning them from using a variety of tools to a centralised CRM solution. John's tip for any business wanting to maximise that journey is to focus on:  Stabilising to clearly understand the information you need when seeking insights for your business. It's about team collaboration to align everyone within the company and mapping current workplace processes to identify opportunities for simplification, streamlining, and automation through your CRM solution.  Optimising to create and implement innovative CRM tools that enable the team to enhance how you connect with prospective and existing customers. Centralising processes such as communication, the sales journey, marketing, and ongoing needs management is essential. Scaling the business by effectively deploying CRM tools, including integrating all marketing channels with your business, generating reports to evaluate sales and marketing effectiveness, monitoring performance, and facilitating critical and strategic decision-making to ensure the business not only meets but also surpasses its objectives. We learn a lot from John, including his pivot point of following a passion for personal development that led to becoming a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach and his golf goals for the next year. What are your golf goals?  

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, beyond the 19th, we chat with Emajin member Evonne Englezos, Founder of Golf and Talk, who assists us in identifying the red flags in your day-to-day life that could impact your mental well-being and tips for resolving them. Golf and Talk was formed by infusing executive coaching and psychotherapy services for business owners, executives, and professional athletes. Deeper conversations emerge on the course, and golf provides the platform to train the body and mind to overcome those hidden issues that might be hindering high performers from achieving their best. Evonne shares that your mental well-being is simple information that you need to develop other habitual skills to face life and challenges - that information or red flags can include: Your sleep is disrupted Arguments are increasing as patience is limited Vices have increased, from working long hours, alcohol, drugs Not being able to switch off Extreme or risky behavior as an alternative way to succeeding  As leaders, the flags might include staff turnover, lack of alignment on the priorities Listen as Evonne encourages us not to ignore our mental well-being but to treat it like a KPI, learning to incorporate the interventions and support we need to approach life differently into our daily routine. With a smile and giggle, of course, we also learn Evonne's favorite club is the Driver, the 19th hole drink is a Cider, and the 4 Ball dream team is Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry.                

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast, Beyond 19th, we catch up with Stuart Wilson, a Partner at Nevett Ford Lawyers. Stuart provides valuable insights into what to look for when setting up shareholder and partnership agreements, business acquisitions, and divestments. Nevett Ford Lawyers, a multi-practice firm that dates back to 1854, employs over 50 staff. Stuart is only one of 55 lawyers accredited specialists in commercial law by the Law Institute of Victoria and leads the firm's commercial practice. From his extensive experience, Stuart offers thoughts for those entering formal business partnerships. He recognises that such partnerships are long-term commitments, so looking ahead and foreseeing potential issues is essential. Rather than relying on standard agreements, you should be prepared to be interrogated on specifics of your commercial intent so that a tailored agreement guarantees clarity for all parties involved, including: The reason WHY the parties are entering into business together What is the vision for the business and the timeline to succeed  Structural framework - how the business will operate, being clear on roles and decision-making process How are the funding sources formed to establish and the process for additional funds as needed  Dispute resolution processes - providing clarity on how issues will be managed and resolved The exit process - either one party sells, sell agreement insurance trust deed if there is a medical exit or approach to the complete sale and asset allocations We learn a lot from Stuart's experiences, insights on networking, and his 4-ball dream team, which includes Michael Jordon, Tiger Woods, and his sons (currently 5 and 3, so a little wait, but good to know Stuart has them on the driving range already). Who is in yours?        

In this week's episode of the Emajin podcast, Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Graham Shannon, Managing Director of National Sign Build and a key figure within the Emajin community, who shares the evolution of signage and provides some great tips on creating brand visibility through signage. We learned that Graham grew up in the West, where sports were huge. He did anything he could outside, including his early days with friends in the street, setting up golfing challenges. Initially, he wanted to build houses. His carpentry apprenticeship was completed, and he became a skilled cabinet maker, but seeing the bending of neon tubing for the first time shifted his course into signage, and he became a business owner at 23.  A very proud leader of his talented team, National Sign Build provides end-to-end solutions that include consultation, design, manufacturing, and installation locally, and internationally. Fully equipped with the latest technology, the team has delivered innovative projects in retail, corporate, finance, construction, and health sectors, often in high-risk and complex locations. Graham shares the transformation of the sector from high-tech equipment that bends metal and paints to creating impact with public art (check out the recent award-winning Public Art). Experienced in bringing brands to life publicly, he offers the following key advice to any business owner: It is vital to continuously re-invent your brand image to ensure you are attracting new business and re-capturing the attention of those who know your business well Explore creative options - technology has enabled the design process to go beyond the letters, it is easier now to experiment with colour, texture, lighting, and specialty finishes to capture eyeballs and get people talking You will never take for granted a sign you pass now that you know what goes into the process. Of course, we also learn about his dream four-ball team, the must-have 19th-hole drink, and his favorite club, his irons—what is your favorite club?      

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we connect with Volodymyr Katanskyi (Volo), founder and CEO of Worklair. Volo shares the key tips for leading a fully remote team, his ethos of the cumulative effect, and how it has shaped his approach to business and health. Volo completed his studies as a Software Engineer in Sevastopol, Ukraine. After a few years of working remotely as a software engineer, Volo noted the significant issues that prevented the company he worked for from being efficient. That list of issues motivated Volo to create a model for his company, Worklair, to solve them. Worklair is fully remote, and Volo shares the following lessons learnt in leading a remote organisation including: The right workplace Tools are vital - audit your office software tools and rationalise them to ensure that everyone is working and performing within the tools that keep your team connected and linked together  Integrity of communication is critical - structure, volume, information shared, ease of search, and ensuring the communications are trusted Ensure everyone is accountable for the financials - each person and team must assess the financial implications of decisions and the cumulative value Volo's center of gravity is built on the Cumulative Effect, which builds on known and prior efforts. Listen as Volo shares the power of reusing technology and proven solutions that can be leveraged to create new outcomes. This enables the team to focus on the creative elements and not the transactional ones.  Volo only started playing golf this year - initially, practice only made everything hurt. Following lessons with our own Allan Haughie, who stopped Volo from swinging at the ball like chopping wood to ensure his head, grip, and body all moved as one. We learn Volo is inspired by Bryson DeChambeau - who inspires your golf game?                                               its impact on business 

In this week's episode of the Emajin Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we caught up with George Hanna, the Managing Director of HDIT. In our discussion, we gained great insights on using AI to drive business efficiencies and the productivity benefits of Managed IT systems. Since graduating with an Information Systems degree, George has become "the tech guy," working in IT teams across various sectors, including hospitals and finance. While managing an intense corporate career, George was always on hand to help family and friends with their IT needs, which was never a hassle; it provided the confidence to venture out into his own business, HDIT. HDIT is an IT Managed service provider, executing end-to-end daily IT needs for clients and extending to the development of a longer-term IT strategy that provides the roadmap for cost-effective IT transformation. The journey starts with an audit and the HDIT team has learned to improve efficiency for most businesses, you need to: Make sure the solutions you have implemented, IT software and IT products, are the right ones for your business Utilise the functions and features in your software to get a return on investment - we often invest and only use a small fraction of what the tools are capable of and offer Implement AI which can provide at least 10 hours of efficiencies back into your business a week  Listen as George describes the ways to approach and form habits around AI as you get started, the power of IT partnership and the passion George has for enabling technology to improve the way we work. George shares his hole 19 drink - what is yours?                    

In this week's episode of the Emajin podcast, Beyond the 19th, we take a healthy approach with Todd Scarce, COO of Kieser Australia. Todd shares his passion for physiotherapy, the importance of strength training, and setting up a holistic approach to building and maintaining muscle mass to help you play golf pain-free and injury-free while adding an extra 30 meters to your drive... or thereabouts. With over 30 centers, Kieser attracts people committed to outcomes. It is based on the elite sports model, offering the triage of physiotherapy, rehab, and strength training. Exercise scientists work with physios and trainers to create a client-targeted program to manage pain, post-surgical rehab, and strengthening for overall health, enabling everyone to succeed at the activity they love. Only 5% to 10% of the Australian population perform consistent strength training each week - Todd is passionate about creating awareness to prevent muscular strength deterioration that causes aches, pains and impacts performance - the message: Strength training is like brushing your teeth—you brush your teeth daily to maintain dental health; strength training at least twice a week enables your body to maintain and increase muscle health Consider supervision for the effectiveness of your exercise; naturally, you will work harder and use the right technique, which is critical Gym equipment has transformed - you can work the muscle efficiently to fatigue without excessive repetitive rounds. So listen and get started on your journey. You might surprise yourself with improved golf results and a boost of confidence after 18 holes.   Have you told us who your dream four-ball group would be? Todd has.    

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we chat with Julie Cassidy and Luke Ball, who manage over 30 partners for Partners Wealth Group (PWG). They believe that partnerships are integral to building relationships and networks and share the power of those business partnerships in growing your business. The PWG logo is the three Geese, a purposeful logo as Geese assist each other when flying in formation and can travel 70% further together. In the case of PWG, it represents the Client, Accountant, and Advisor—utilising tax, accounting information, and client risk appetite enables PWG to advise clients on their long-term financial solutions. Establishing trusted partnerships with like-minded professionals is essential, enabling PWG to create peace of mind and material outcomes for their clients' lives. Despite diverse backgrounds - Julie has a banking and finance career and Luke has a sporting career - both Julie and Luke are aligned on the critical steps to building your networking and seeking professional partnerships including: Be clear on your vision and values, it will attract those aligned with those values Seek out the experts who can complement your business and balance your strengths Ensure you are curious, open, and actively listening when connecting with people, you are seeking your trusted relationship and it takes time to build the conversations that enable both to see the benefits While you are seeking connections, ensure that you also give back, taking the time to connect with others within your network We learn a lot from Julie and Luke, who share their journeys of successfully making those significant changes to their careers, the memorable moments that also teach you resilience, and most importantly, their passion for golf. Listen also for their picks of great golfers to play with and the Beyond 19th drink—what is your end-of-round drink?    

Did you know that Geese fly 71% further when in formation? For Mathew Cassidy, Managing Director of Partners Wealth Group (PWG), it is a great metaphor to ensure we all have the right partners around us. It's also the reason that the PWG logo is three Geese. Matthew celebrates 21 years of operation, and becoming one of Australia's leading diversified wealth management businesses. Investments and markets over short periods are challenging, but Mathew shares that "success leaves clues" with the following advice: ● Seek professional advice. The financial sector is complex, and navigating tax implications and investment options can be challenging, so partner with those who know the good, the bad, and the ugly. ● Investing is the process of allocating capital to achieve a future goal - so create your game plan against your risk profile ● Invest as early as you can—As Warren Buffet has shared, the 8th wonder of the world is compound interest, which results from years and years of investing, focusing on the long term. Join us on this weeks episode of 'Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th as Mathew guides us through some incredible investing insights. I'd love to hear your thoughts 💭  

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast Beyond the 19th, we speak with member Martin Galea, Director of Tick Box Conveyancing, who shares his business journey into conveyancing, approach to business relationships, and building your network. Martin pursued a legal clerkship, working for a supportive mentor who guided his passion for working with clients in property conveyancing and fostered his natural talents in building an authentic network of relationships. It was not long before Martin, in his early 20s, took the brave step to open his specialist conveyancing practice. Client referrals are critical in conveyancing, so how has Martin maintained success? He shared his building business relationship tips that include: ·        Having the confidence and competency to give the right advice ·        Understanding as quickly as possible, the client's expectations and how you can deliver service in a timely way ·        Find ways to resonate with people in a way that makes it easier to relate In any business, the leader and team need to invest time in building a business network of referrals. For Martin, taking time out of the office tests that the systems work while he is not there and gives him a chance to promote the business. Martin recommends: ·        When you choose to become part of a networking program, don't question; go in with the attitude that you will do what you need to do to be successful with that program ·        Be yourself and allow others around you to be similar, get to know others, and enjoy each other's company ·        Keep away from expectations, look at what you can do and bring to the table, and let anything you receive come naturally and do not force it Martin offers wisdom and sound advice in this engaging discussion. Of course, in addition to business, we learn of his love for the sport, from squash to soccer coaching and, now, golf. Listen for Martin's dream team and bucket list course. I am sure you will want to join him.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we speak with member Simone Chin, owner of Atria Real Estate, who shares her incredible journey making a significant impact in the Arts and the Melbourne real estate market. Simone has a passion for the arts. She started as a ballet dancer, moving away from home at 14 to Sydney and then, at 16, to the Royal London School of Ballet, which ultimately led to 12 years of professional dancing. Simone then ventured into the film industry, taking on Hollywood, successfully working as an assistant to the famous director Fred Schepisi during a peak period of well-known movies for over ten years.  On returning to Australia and raising a family, Simone adapted those creative skills and ventured into real estate, succeeding in learning all aspects of sales and negotiation. Following solid sales results, Simone took on the opportunity to start Atria Real Estate to ensure that the human touch would be the focus in partnering with clients through the emotional complexity of selling and buying. Simone shares several valuable insights into the current real estate market, including stock challenges that are opening up, while also providing the following advice: Seek a real estate advisor you trust - like your doctor and dentist, you need to find your real estate specialist to partner with Ensure you are physically and mentally ready to sell - of course, getting the house physically prepared to present is a must, but also ensure you are mentally prepared for the journey of letting go and knowing exactly your next step Explore options for your first purchase - an emerging trend to get started is purchasing a portion, either with friends or family, to combine resources through binding financial agreements and tenants in common structures, enabling the property purchase and costs to be apportioned and giving a start to grow with the market Stepping up to give back to the community comes naturally to Simone, and it is inspiring, whether it be in the Arts, school support, leading BNI, or, more recently, the dedication to the Girls from OZ, a non-profit that provides travel programs for performing arts for Indigenous girls. It is a great listen to motivate us all to give it a go and give back. Listen out for the 4-ball team and the location; I am sure you would wish you were there.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th we speak with Rob Oppedisano CEO at Big Swing Golf who provides insights on the Golf landscape and making Golf and business accessible to all. Initially Rob wanted to be a metrologist, however after completing university, took up a graduate opportunity to venture into mining. Rob went back to university to complete his MBA and headed into consulting, but it was the opportunity to transform Big Swing Golf tied all of the passions together. Big Swing Golf is a franchise of indoor golf entertainment venues, currently 23 around the country making the group the largest footprint of its type in Australia.  Designed for those of us tough on time, you can play 18 holes in a short time frame, experiencing 140 international courses providing a viable option in addition to the outdoor golf experience. Golf is currently experiencing a significant resurgence, there are more people wanting to play putting pressure of availability of golfing facilities. Rob shares the context of the resurgence of Golf and the impact of the key changes including: Improving Governance - recognising that Golf is Golf, whether played on the course, driving range or indoor, as a result synergy is forming around the governing bodies to ensure consistency of experience and impact Technology - As a distributor of Full Swing simulators which are found in the homes of professionals such as Tiger Woods and Jason Day. Technology is providing effective ways to measure and improve all elements of your game while also providing convenience to practice A great listen for all of us trying to change the dynamic of our sectors.      

In this week's episode of the Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th we catch up with Emajin member Liam Gardener, MD at Expansion Loans.  In this episode, he shares both his golfing and business journey while also sharing insights on how we can best consider funding to grow and expand our businesses. Liam, who had a brief start in banking, spent over 16 yrs travelling the world brokering commercial flights and private jets required for major events and dealing with everyone from billionaires, famous musicians and even technicians for remote field projects.  A natural at building relationships and having a fascination to learn how businesses operated and who was behind them, Liam invested in himself and started Expansion Finance, an enterprise that is enabling businesses realise their future plans and goals. The aim is to change the approach within the sector to give the power back to the business owner, ensuring they have the information available that automates decision making ensuring they are acting fast and with confidence.  Driven by a passion to ensure business owners have the knowledge available on their current asset value, Liam offered the following tips when thinking about expanding to ensure you are empowered: Be clear on your future plan - take the time to think about expansion and growth opportunities - be clear on how you articulate it and how passionate you are about it Understand your capacity - gather the data to determine clearly your assets and liabilities, your credit score, the value of your business and the funding levels available to you.  Seek a trusted provider to test your thinking - everyone is shy when discussing finances and in today's models that human touch to know your capability, competencies, business performance and future is not always available in larger institutions, there are options available to explore and make the call with someone you trust Interestingly, after the love of Rugby but the dislike of injuries, Liam turned to golf and after building his skills over the years hit the recent heights of winning the Emajin Invitational, although he loves connecting with others just as much as the game. We hope you find Liam's insights very helpful. Listen in to find out his interesting response to our question who would be your dream 4 ball and what course is on your bucket list? What is your answer?                      

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast: Beyond the 19th we speak with Dave Levett from the Murmur Group, who shares amazing insights on advertising, branding and marketing - Dave walks us through the establishment of a marketing set up designed to take businesses to great heights for growth and revenues. Dave left school in year 12, like many of us, without a clear plan as he headed to uni. Demonstrating talent on stage at School, Dave initially enrolled in an Acting degree, however it was the marketing subjects that turned on the lights for Dave's creativity, strategic problem solving, customer passion and focus for his future. Initially starting in a retail marketing agency to develop critical skills, Dave progressed to large branding opportunities including Bigpond and Telstra before heading to London to lead marketing for Sky UK. On return to Australia, Dave started taking on key projects for clients, turning that momentum in the creation of the Murmur Group, an award-winning econometric agency, fusing the art and science of marketing to deliver effective, innovative and well-known campaigns. As we all navigate the complex world of advertising, both traditional and digital forms, Dave challenges us with two critical questions: Have you got your marketing setup right? - are your business objectives, aligned to your marketing objectives and campaign objectives, what data are you tracking and is it the right data. Do you measure your marketing effectiveness? - traditionally we measure marketing efficiency through ROI, but we need to measure the effectiveness - what did work in the campaign, what did not work, at which point in each of the marketing platforms had impact on the key goal eg sales In this listen you get a front row seat into insights of a leading media strategist, expert media buyer and passionate marketing data guru who shares the power of the marketing mix modelling along with great insight on building your network hemisphere of luck.        

In this week's episode of the Emjain Podcast: Beyond the 19th we talk to Kane Godfrey, Managing Director of True Projects, a leading commercial fit out firm with a truly unique business model. Kane shares his journey from the NSW wine country to working on significant commercial projects as well as key life lessons on how to get to the top and stay there. Kane's drive is inspirational, initially growing up by the sea there was never time to stop between surfing and sport, moving into the country in his late teens that energy was consumed by the 300acres of land and keeping up with his brothers. Following the need to see the world Kane finally settled into his love of creating and building.  Initially a carpenter and builder in the residential space Kane moved from building with timber to construction with steal and he transitioned into the commercial building space, starting as site manager and successfully climbing to the top role. Described as "People Luck" Kane surrounded himself with experts in the industry to learn from and also work with, shaping his skills and career. Commercial construction and fitouts is a very competitive space that is going through alot of challenges as commercial spaces are being used and consumed very differently. Despite this Kane, along with this business partner, decided to create True Projects, a values led organisation that is true its word and commitments. We learn that Kane has been able to differentiate True Projects in the market by building partnerships with customers and suppliers, offering transparent model that provides a design and construct offereing with a fix lump sum pricing outcome, enabling the team to deliver what they promise, while also managing the risk. This model a has been successful with over 100 projects completed and 55% of the contracts nationally is repeat business. Kane authentically shares his model for success which includes the need to right down your goals and keep checking on them, know the importance of fitness and getting out into nature, invest time to be clear on your future and surround yourself with good people. A true model for us all to succeed by.                      

In this weeks episode of the Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th our special guest is our own Allan Haugie, PGA Professional, Relationship Manager and Head of Victoria at Emajin Golf. Allan shares some great stories both on and off the course, tips for golfers of all abilities and how to master this great game of golf. Allan first picked up the clubs at 2 years old under the watchful eyes of his proud dad. While alot of sports like soccer, cricket and anything he could get his hands on at 13 Allan had his first golf lesson and he became hooked. Practicing after school every day to improve and building skills, it was competing that became the ultimate rush. Allan sacrificed alot to travel weekends to compete at club levels, junior interstate and schoolboys events, toured America as an amateur and pursued playing career on teh Australiasian tour. "Golf is one of the only sport that you can finish practice and be worse afterwards" - Allan shares moments in his golf career that he had the yips, Putting in his teen's, Chipping in early 20's and then and Full Swing yips - at these moments Allan learnt to regroup, go back to the old techniques that worked and break down the actions into smaller steps to practice, an approach that translates to any career when you need to pivot, strengthen and build resilience. Allan's passion for the game has not shifted, achieving success as PGA professional, becoming accredited coach and now connecting like minded business professionals and building a modern golf community. Everyone will enjoy listening to Allan's golf stories, including match play with a young Cameron Smith (listen for the outcome), sharing experiences of beginners who overcame the fear of being judged and the hearing the commitment Allan has for getting everyone at all levels into the game.                                  

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th we catch up with, Steve Dib Managing Director of Soneta Plumbing and Civil, a family-owned business that has been operating for over 40 years. Steve shares with us the insights of leading by example to build an exemplary high performing culture and provides the practical lessons learnt in the evolution of his leadership skills. We all know that moving into a family business does not provide favours. Steve's journey was no different, being destined to move into the family business, finding the passion for the plumbing trade, completing qualifications and starting at the bottom on the tools under the strict guidance of his passionate father. The transitioning off the tools and moving into the leadership role became one of the hardest challenges. Learning new skills from hiring the team, understanding the different mindsets within the group, being across the end-to-end operations, ensuring the quality and high standards of delivery remain while also trying to transform the business to take on increasing complex capital projects. Steve learnt alot in navigating the complexities of leading the organisation, pushing himself out of his comfort zone he reflects on proven elements on his success that includes : Know your numbers - the numbers are telling you what is happening in your business and how you and the team can respond, change and celebrate success Hire for mindset - using a standard framework, Steve assesses for positive mindset over skills, it is the foundation in which the skills can be developed,  Create clarity - ensure your team have clear roles, know what they are responsible for and hold them accountable - find ways for the team to share what they are doing so you are across the quality, with the processes in place you can step away and focus on being the coach, not the player Seek a Coach - as a leader you need to be challenged and continuously evolving your skills to adapt to the changing environments. As a leader you are your own challenge, so you need to focus on how you are impacting others and how to remain effective To Steve, golf provides alot of lessons for business leaders - he notes that every hurdle is a solution, your mistakes are opportunities to grow, you need to keep focused and not dwell on the tough moments but move forward actively, challenging yourself A great listen for all leaders who can reflect on their own moments of being challenged and like Steve, have learnt that if you concentrate on your people your business will be unstoppable.                  

In today's world of global human talent shortage, have you thought about sourcing talent globally and creating staffing solutions, when you need it, and where you need it? In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast where we chat with Kevin van Lith, Head of Growth at Liveware. Kevin and Liveware have are strong corporate members of the Emajin community and in this episode he shares his amazing career journey working in the travelling and tourism industry, in marketing and social media and now working at Liveware delivering great modular staffing solutions for their clients. Kevin shares his insights on Modular Staffing as an integral corporate strategy, as well as the opportuity to build bespoke teams around the globe to support their client's endevours.  This episode is a must listen for businesses of any size or scale.

In this week's episode of Emajin Podcast Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Allan Stewart, our very own COO of Emajin Golf, who shares his careeer insights on creating an effective workplace culture, the power of aligning teams to organisation goals and practical tips to create change in your organisation. Allan has a successful track record, experienced in leading large diverse and complex team across Australia in the US and Asia. As a young person who could not wait to start work, Allan began his career in a graduate program finding the passion in leading teams, moved to Human Resources before transitioning into Business Development and then onto leading Operations. We learn from Allan the power of Role Models who influence your way of operating, your commitment and your ambition. It is through role model influences that Allan adapted successfully to several sectors including Hospitality, FMCG, Technology, Telecommunications, Media and more recently Education. A bias for action, Allan learnt early the benefit of aligning teams around a clear organisation plan, ensuring clear objectives around the priority tasks that would move the organisation forward and the advantage of measuring and celebrating results with the whole team. While working across challeging environments, Allan shares the one binding element regardless of sector, being customer centric. Ensuring the customer is at the centre of the organisation systems and processes, the need for customer communications to be two way and the benefit of customer engagement to create competitive advantage. Allan shares some great experiences and significant projects, providing examples of managing changes that enable us as leaders to reflect on how we might be role modelling behaviour, how clear are our business plans to others, how aligned are our teams and reflecting on how effective our customer systems might be.                        

In this episode of Emajin Beyond the 19th Pod Cast, we chat to Juan Perez and Luisa Perez, from Quest Legal who share with us their story of starting the business, intricacies of working together as a father and daughter team and provide great insights on how to protect your trademark, critical for anyone starting or building a business. Juan, who was born in Columbia arriving in Australia when he was 2, has an established background in general commercial, corporate franchising law and intellectual property. Initially working in-house legal in banking sector and following various roles led to starting his own business Quest Legal. Luisa was never encouraged to go into law, initially following a passion to be a doctor, completing a medical science degree, but after some sole searching all signs were set for a corporate career. Luisa then completed her legal studies and ventured to the Netherlands for a 6 month exchange that turned into a 6 years, returning to Australia to join the Quest Legal team. Quest Legal, specialise in Intellectual Property (IP), Technology and Franchise Law, with offices based in Sydney and Perth. Quest Legal have a strong team of general commercial lawyers bonded with a commitment to support small to medium businesses, being the backbone of the country and enables the team to help alot of people nationally and internationally. In the discussion Juan and Luisa share insights and passion into Intellectual Property - noting that the size of the business makes no difference, but we need to ask ourselves how upset would we be if someone stole our idea, business name or concept and what impact would that have on our market, brand, business performanceand significant investment we made in setting up a business. As Business owners we need to know how to best protect our business, know what is non-registrable and what is to be registered, the rights wihtin the geographies we operate in and also aligning protection to the future business plan including franchising, expanding, partnerships or divesting and evolving the IP scope. A must listen for SME's as Juan and Luisa take us through some real examples of IP incidents, provide tips for businesses to be think about their IP position and how they assist businesses to focus on the core activities while knowing protections are in place for the current and future operating needs.              

In this episode of Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th we catch up with Alex Perry, Managing Director of Sharewise, who shares tips on investing, trending industries to watch out for and thoughts on the current market. Alex, started his career in the sales side of the engineering sector, but with a burning entreprenuial desire, followed a light bulb moment into a successful cup cake business. Alex shared " Many entrepreurs are trying to create the perfect business - just get started - we started the cupcakes as a sideline initially selling at the markets, then created a one page website, moved into events, working hard to eventually open our store." After the divestment of the family business, Alex became focused on his passion in the investment market. Initially employed in a firm, he leveraged his thinking of providing a different approach to clients and investments and once again ventured out on his own, starting Sharewise over 10 years ago. The current investment market is complex and everyone has their own risk levels, during a period in which inflation and costs across the board have dominated. Alex shares the teams approach to scanning industries that will be in growth, reviewing strong brands that have not moved and process to explore new sectors,  Alex provides a professional insight and great lessons learnt in business, including the need for businesses to create a competitive advantage of not saying no to business and finding a way to make it happen, ensuring a diversified customer base that will provide a benefit during different economic times and ensuring you are still having fun.  

In this episode of the Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Stephanie Christopher, CEO of TEC, who provides insights into influencing others, leadership and the "Seven key skills of successful business leaders". We begin the discussion learning that Stephanie actually started her career in a clinical profession, as a speech pathologist, working in hospitals and private practice before moving into a corporate career. The basis of clincial interviewing skills, dianosing problems and working in multi-diciplined teams applied to business, and thinking of an outcome, have a plan and influencing others translated to sales. Gravitating to professional services marketing and sales, various roles led Stephanie to being placed as CEO of TEC over 10 years ago. It is through the various leadership roles that Stephanie learnt that is not always your title that leads change, it is your ability to influence those around you. Influencing enables you to guidie people toward the business outcomes, learning that not everyone is going to be on the same page but leading with insights and showing the value, demonstrating that you are someone who understands. TEC has been in Australia for over 40 years , creating the space for like minded business leaders to access the power of non-competitive peer mentors, enabling business leaders to share their current issues and receive rich, diverse perspectives to assist their approach to move forward - the process enables those vunerable moments within a completely trusted, confidential and caring space with peers who want you to succeed. Stephanie has learnt alot from the TEC community and as a result they have summarised the seven skills for successful leaders. In the discussion Stephanie outlines the skills as follows: Know your numbers - what are the numbers that are make or break for your business Inspire a shared vision - clear on where you are heading, everyone aligned on strategy and clear on their role within it Get the right people on the bus - know who you need, what talent is going to enable the business to succeed Be the Chief engagement officer - leading the culture and inspiring others to be part of it Create a customer-centric culture - making sure it is easy for your customer to do business with you Lead and let others manage - clarity of expectations, trusting the system, people doing things differently is often better Take care of yourself - understanding yourself and invest in those activities that you know enables you to be at your best  It is a great listen, as Stephanie effortlessly provides valuable and very practical tips for our business community from a wealth of experience, you will appreciate the insights provided and the power of sharing.  

In this episode of the Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Nick Urry, MD of Dexterous Group a global bookkeeping and advisory firm, to share his focus on the technological changes that are disrupting the traditional financial models. Nobody at school decides to be a Accoutant, and that was no different to Nick who started his journey in a variety of industries and roles before discovering his passion for finance and numbers. Through networking Nick was listening to the issues many business people were having with their internal finance teams and discovered the need for alternative finance models, the push he needed to start his own business. At Dexterous Group, Nick is leading the education and culture to be comfortable around new technologies, ensuring a human approach to AI, managing the opportunities and risks to offer clients innovative solutions and challenge a different way of working. Nick provides us with key learnings from the branding changes that he has taken his business through to the key point insights on the current systems that are designed to be seemless and remove friction from your key finance processes allowing your team to focus on value add and more engaging activities. If you dream of finding time and peace of mind around your finance team to focus on the value add then you will benefit from Nick comments on embracing alternate models.          

In this episode of the Emajin Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Justin Horo from the Levels Network, NRL player for the Parramatta Eels and the Manly Sea Eagles previously.  Justin shares with us his journey into rugby league, developing his golf and how he founded "Levels Network" a podcast he hosts with his good friend Willie Mason. Throughout his school career he wasn't necessarily the most successful player as a junior but with some patience and commitement he was able to climb up to his debut in the NRL in the same team his dad initially also debuted for, the Parramatta Eels. When Justin finished playing in the super league, he has successfully transitioned to creating the  podcast which involved guests on all sports, creating a digestable and fun way of keeping up with sports.  Justin also shares the exciting details of the not to be missed upcoming Rugby League golf day on the 2nd of October at Concord Golf Club with many legends of the game such as Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary and many others. A great story teller, Justin's journey provides a lot of learning that we can all take away. He highlights through his experiences that one can achieve any heights with being clear and committed to one's goals.