SHFT POD

Dan sits down with Chrae Tawhai, founder of Envision Energy, to unpack his journey from growing up in Alice Springs to building a 100% First Nations–owned energy business. Chrae shares how he transitioned from the tools into entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from scaling a team, and how a near-fatal accident became the turning point that pushed him to pursue something bigger.Chrae also dives into his mission to create generational change through renewable energy, the importance of family and culture in shaping his path, and why making a real impact drives his vision for the future.

Dan and Erin sit down with Jeremy Cabral, co-founder of Finder, to unpack the journey of building a global business from the ground up. Jeremy shares how he helped scale Finder, the leadership philosophy behind hiring for potential over experience, and what it really takes to sustain hyper-growth.The conversation covers self-awareness, identity beyond business, and why knowing when your chapter is done might be the most important leadership skill of all. Jeremy also dives into the future of leadership in the age of AI, the importance of staying adaptable, and how embracing discomfort can unlock your next level.

Dan and Erin sit down with entrepreneur Scott Chapman to unpack a journey that goes far beyond business.From early failures and chasing ego in the corporate world to building purpose-driven ventures that genuinely change lives, Scott shares the raw realities of entrepreneurship.At the heart of this conversation is a deeply personal story that led to the creation of Able Digital Wellness, a platform designed to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.

Dan and Erin sit down with Scott Imlach, a Gold Coast hospitality operator behind some of the city’s most loved venues.From starting as a teenage wedding planner to building a multi-venue hospitality group, Scott shares the realities of the industry, the impact of Covid, and why community, adaptability, and looking after locals is the key to long-term success.

Dan and Erin sit down with James, founder of Agent Hype, who shares his journey from international DJ to building a fast-growing marketing agency.They unpack reinvention, the power of personal branding, and how AI and automation are changing the game for business. This episode dives into adapting in uncertain seasons, staying ahead of the curve, and why the future belongs to those willing to evolve.

Dan and Erin sit down with Wade Tiller, Co-Founder and CEO of Hard Fizz, one of Australia’s fastest-growing beverage brands.Wade shares the reality behind building a high-growth business, unpacking ambition, pressure, identity, and what it takes to keep pushing forward without losing yourself. It’s an honest conversation about success, drive, and redefining what “enough” really looks like.00:00 Intro to SHFT Podcast01:15 Setting up the conversation03:40 The tension between ambition and contentment07:10 Why “more” isn’t always the answer10:30 Internal drivers behind success14:00 Identity and self-worth in achievement18:20 The pressure to keep pushing forward22:10 When ambition becomes unhealthy26:00 Redefining what success looks like30:00 The idea of “enough”34:10 External vs internal validation38:00 Slowing down without losing momentum42:20 Practical ways to stay grounded46:30 Seasons of growth vs seasons of rest50:00 Perspective shifts that change everything54:10 Final reflections56:00 Closing thoughts

Dan and Erin sit down with Brett Viertel, former Coca-Cola GM with 30 years of leadership experience, now founder of Baylife Realty.Brett shares his journey from starting on the ground floor at Coca-Cola to leading at the highest level, the lessons learned from high-performance leadership, and the reality of leaving corporate after decades. They unpack accountability, culture, resilience, and why backing yourself might be the biggest shift you can make.Connect With UsWebsite: shftpod.comSubmit a Question: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-questionSubmit a Guest: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-guestFollow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-richards-b9530765/Follow Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-pickering-880ab91b0/Instagram: @SHFT.Pod00:00 Intro to SHFT Podcast01:10 Dan’s first experience working with Brett05:30 Brett’s early career and life before Coca-Cola09:30 Starting at Coca-Cola from the ground up13:00 Transition from retail to supplier side16:30 Coca-Cola culture and market dominance20:30 Brett’s first leadership role24:00 Early leadership challenges and lessons28:30 High accountability and performance culture32:00 The influence of Brett’s dad37:00 Rising through Coca-Cola to General Manager41:30 Redundancy, identity, and leaving corporate46:30 Why staying too long in corporate can hurt you50:00 Backing yourself and going into business54:00 Entering real estate and starting again58:00 What Brett took from corporate into business1:02:00 Competing in a saturated real estate market1:06:00 Authenticity and building trust with clients1:10:00 Lessons from buying and selling property1:14:00 Leadership advice and key principles1:18:00 Final thoughts and advice for listeners

Dan and Erin dive into leadership, team culture, and the shift away from old-school leadership styles. They discuss accountability, building strong teams, the difference between A-players and B-players, and why communication is one of the most important leadership traits. They also explore how AI and technology may reshape the way leaders guide and support their teams in the future.00:00 Intro to the SHFT Podcast01:20 Dan’s Sydney trade show trip04:00 New luxury client discussion05:20 The gap in modern leadership08:30 Why great workers don’t always make great leaders11:10 The “old school” leadership mentality15:00 Can anyone become a leader?18:30 Leading by doing vs leading by telling20:45 A-Players vs B-Players in teams24:00 The role of culture and onboarding27:00 Why clarity and context matter for employees29:30 Rethinking performance reviews33:30 Feedback culture in successful businesses35:40 Traits of poor leadership38:00 Leadership insecurity and knowledge sharing41:20 What to do if your manager is a bad leader45:30 Dan’s “why” behind leadership coaching49:00 Work, family, and setting boundaries52:00 Screens, kids, and modern distractions55:30 AI and the future of leadership59:00 The future of teams and human leadership1:01:00 Wrapping up + future podcast guestsConnect With UsWebsite: shftpod.comSubmit a Question: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-questionSubmit a Guest: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-guestFollow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-richards-b9530765/Follow Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-pickering-880ab91b0/Instagram: @SHFT.Pod

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Wyatt, the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Marketplacer. Jason is the visionary behind some of the world’s most successful online marketplaces, including BikeExchange, but his approach to leadership is rooted in something much deeper than technology.We explore how his background in competitive sport shaped his "lean" business mentality and why he believes the best teams are built on resilience, compartmentalisation, and simply being a "good human". Now a resident of the Gold Coast, Jason shares his mission to foster a thriving local business community and why he’s betting big on the future of the region.0:00 – Welcome to Episode 2: Meeting Jason Wyatt.03:45 – The transition from Corporate Finance to Entrepreneurship.09:12 – Lessons from the field: How sport dictates Jason's leadership qualities.15:30 – The Marketplacer Story: Solving global problems through "frictionless" tech.22:15 – Why "Profit for Purpose" matters in the modern economy.28:40 – Beyond the Title: Jason’s daily habits, surf culture, and staying grounded.35:10 – Impact on the Gold Coast: Building a local legacy.42:00 – Closing thoughts and the "SHFT" of the week.Connect With UsWebsite: shftpod.comSubmit a Question: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-questionSubmit a Guest: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-guestFollow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-richards-b9530765/Follow Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-pickering-880ab91b0/Instagram: @SHFT.Pod

Welcome to the very first episode of SHFT POD. Before we dive into conversations with some of the most influential leaders, we wanted to pull back the curtain on who we are. In this episode, your hosts Dan and Erin share their personal career journeys, the "lightbulb moment" that sparked this podcast, and why we believe the world needs a new perspective on leadership. We aren't just looking at titles; we’re looking at the people behind them. Join us as we define what it means to SHFT leadership in a positive and impactful way. In This Episode, We Discuss:The Origin Story: How a conversation about corporate culture turned into SHFT POD. Meet the Hosts: Dan and Erin’s and their backgrounds. Beyond the Title: Unpacking the stories of the leaders beyond the title. The Mission: Our goal to inspire the next generation of founders and leaders. Giving Back: Why mental health for leaders is at the core of our business model. Connect With UsWebsite: shftpod.com Submit a Question: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-question Submit a Guest: https://shftpod.com/pages/submit-a-guest Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-richards-b9530765/ Follow Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-pickering-880ab91b0/ Instagram @SHFT.Pod

Get ready to shift.