Real Ambition

“You can’t just sit there and do your trade, you have to nurture every part of the business.”In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie sits down with Georgia Agar, founding principal of Agar Singh Legal in Geelong, to unpack the leap from solo practice to partnership.Georgia shares how she launched Agar Legal from a spare bedroom during COVID, and how the struggle of trying to do everything herself as a sole principal led her to partnership and the birth of Agar Singh.Georgia and Iolanthe discuss the mindset shift required to move from ‘my practice’ to ‘ours’, and why equality between partners is essential. The conversation also covers the importance of nurturing relationships, what sustainable growth looks like in a regional city, and why clients in smaller towns often prefer a lawyer from outside of their own pond.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

“I've always loved lawyers. I know it's a weird thing to say!”In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie is joined by legal technology expert Chantal McNaught, PhD Candidate in Law and founder of the Fully Automated Luxury Lawyering newsletter. Together, Iolanthe and Chantal discuss the tension between law as a noble profession and law as a business, exploring how lawyers can embrace technology and business thinking without losing their professional values.Chantal shares her research on ethics as a framework for structuring decisions when multiple values collide, how the right perspective can help firms cut through tech hype and choose tools that solve real problems, and how compliance can be an opportunity to demonstrate integrity and strong systems to clients. Chantal also contrasts the work-life balance and collegiality of New Zealand’s legal culture with Australia’s more demanding hours.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"It's incredibly hard to run a good law firm."In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie speaks with Ben Deverson, founder and director of Lawganised and director of The Kind Lawyers, about the unique expertise that non-lawyers can offer to law firms. Ben shares insights from his extensive experience providing professional services to the legal industry, emphasizing the importance of empathy, workplace culture, and client-centric approaches in law firms. Iolanthe and Ben discuss the value of relationships, growing and learning in business, and the evolving landscape of legal consultancy.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"Purpose is all about the work you're doing and the people you surround yourself with."In this insightful episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe speaks with Ines Jusufspahic of Rocket & Ash Immigration Law about her journey in immigration law and the importance of purpose in legal careers. Ines highlights the often-overlooked complexities of immigration law and the need for a supportive legal community. Ines shares her experiences of balancing law practice with motherhood, the challenges of marketing in the legal field, and offers advice for aspiring lawyers on navigating their careers. The discussion culminates in a reflection on the importance of celebrating life amidst the demands of the legal profession.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

“Sometimes it does mean getting a bit out of your comfort zone.”In this episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe is joined by Sarah Rey, Principal and Co-Founder of Justitia, for an enlightening discussion approaching legal practice through a business lens.Sarah shares insights on the challenges of business development in the legal profession, the evolving mindset of lawyers and the importance of adapting to change in legal practice. Sarah also highlights the need for generosity in leadership, the significance of building authentic client relationships, and the challenges and opportunities faced by women in business development.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"We want this to be a human system."In this episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe is joined by Dr. Carly Schrever, lawyer, psychologist and Director of Human Ethos to discuss her pioneering work on judicial wellbeing, the unique stressors faced by judges and the importance of mental health support in the legal profession. Dr. Schrever highlights the need for empirical research to understand judicial stress and the impact of this stress on public trust in the legal system. The conversation delves into the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in the judiciary and offers practical takeaways for other high-demand professions.Note: Earlier this year, the General Assembly of Nation States sitting in New York voted almost unanimously to declare 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing – signalling a level of global recognition and acknowledgement about the importance of judicial wellbeing that several years ago was unthinkable.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

“Every case is different, every victim is different.”In this illuminating episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe is joined by Mary Anne Ryan, highly respected barrister and current president of the Tasmanian Bar, to discuss the implications of the Friseal & Friseal [2025] appeal case on family law, particularly regarding coercive control and family violence. Mary Anne unpacks the role of evidence over demeanor in court, the key steps in determining allegations of coercion and control, and the impact of the case on how practitioners present cases involving family violence. The discussion highlights the complexities of legal proceedings in family law and the necessity for practitioners to adapt to new understandings of coercive control.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic violence, support is available.In Victoria:The Orange DoorSafe Steps: 1800 015 188In Tasmania:Safe Choices: 1800 806 189Nationally:1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Family Violence Law HelpBeyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Lifeline: 13 11 14If you are in immediate danger, call 000

“If that’s a bad risk to take or a good risk to take, you’re going to find out.”In this lively episode, host Iolanthe Gabrie is joined by James D'Apice, principal of Gravamen Law and creator of Coffee and a Casenote, for an engaging conversation exploring innovative approaches to legal practice, marketing, and client relationships. Together they discuss the concept of 'Fuck Around and Find Out' as a guiding principle for experimentation and risk-taking in business. The discussion also delves into the complexities of ROI, the value of branding in attracting the right clients and the merit in saying no to those who don't align with your values. James shares insights on building resilience, embracing uncertainty, and how charity can reflect corporate values. The conversation concludes with a unique mashup of horror movies and the legal profession.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"There must be a better way to do things."In this episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe interviews Leon Berger, co-founder of dignity.edr, a new law practice focused on mediation and family law. Leon shares his journey of establishing a practice that prioritises dignity in resolving disputes, the challenges faced in the beginning, and the importance of work-life balance. The conversation delves into the value of mediation in family law, the dynamics involved, and real-life success stories that highlight the benefits of this approach over traditional legal routes. Leon also reflects on the lessons learned from his experiences in family law and how they have shaped his personal growth.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"Money is one of the most important relationships we have."In this episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe speaks with Angela Meyer, co-founder of Hi Money, a platform designed to help women explore their emotional relationship with money. Angela shares her personal journey that led to the creation of Hi Money, emphasizing the importance of understanding the emotional and psychological aspects of financial wellbeing. The conversation delves into feminist financial principles, the impact of societal norms on women's financial decisions, and the significance of open discussions about money in relationships. Angela highlights the transformative power of financial independence for women and the need for a supportive community to foster confidence in managing money. The episode concludes with insights into upcoming projects and the vision for Hi Money.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"Women are an unrecognized force in the industry."In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie speaks with Verity Hare, founder of TradieWives, an Australian community supporting partners of tradies. They discuss the unique challenges faced by these partners, the evolution of TradieWives from a small support group to a thriving community, and the importance of recognizing the role of women in the trades industry. Verity shares insights on monetizing community support, the success of real-world events, and some funny experiences in the DIY world.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"You're never going to have everyone like you."In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie interviews Lauren Cassimatis, a prominent Australian criminal lawyer (amongst other things!) and Principal of Gallant Law. Lauren shares her journey from family law to criminal law, discussing the challenges she faced as a woman in the profession and her passion for helping vulnerable clients. She emphasizes the importance of work-life balance for lawyer parents and the strategies she employs to maintain her wellbeing amidst the emotional demands of criminal law. Lauren also discusses the founding of Connecting Lawyer Mums, a network aimed at supporting lawyer parents, and the innovative events she organizes to address personal and professional challenges faced by women in law. Iolanthe and Lauren unpack her recent sell-out event 'S*xy In the City', which addressed sexual health and overall wellness for individuals who work in the law and similarly high-demand professional categories.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

In this episode, Iolanthe reflects on her experiences across throughout 2024, a year marked by personal and professional growth. She discusses the challenges of navigating maternity leave while managing her business, Ruby Assembly, and highlights the importance of team collaboration and support. Iolanthe shares insights into what it is like to design a new offering, (such as Ruby Assembly Media's podcasting service) and emphasizes the significance of community engagement through sponsorships and support (Go the Preston Bullants!). She also touches on personal milestones, such as her family's Disney cruise and her goals for 2025, which include becoming a more costly service, and expanding her professional workspace. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠⁠. Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠⁠. Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

In this conversation, Iolanthe Gabrie interviews Caralee Fontanele about the challenges legal practices face in scaling their businesses. They discuss the mindset shift required for lawyers to transition from technicians to business owners, the importance of effective marketing strategies, and the role of AI in enhancing legal practices. Caralee shares insights from her experience and emphasizes the need for clear messaging and community support among legal professionals. The discussion also highlights the upcoming LawBizCon aimed at helping law firm owners grow their practices.

"Return on investment is a very lazy way of quantifying marketing efforts." In this episode, Iolanthe discusses the limitations of focusing solely on return on investment (ROI) in marketing. She argues that an obsession with measurable outcomes can stifle creativity and hinder business growth. By exploring the nuances of holistic marketing, she emphasizes the importance of building brand reputation and customer relationships beyond quantifiable metrics. Today's pod encourages business owners to rethink their approach to marketing, viewing it as a multiplier that enhances all aspects of their operations. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠⁠. Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠⁠. Explore ⁠⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

"Creativity is for all of us." In this episode of Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie speaks with Esther Anatolitis, a candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne. They discuss Esther's diverse career in arts, culture, and policy, and how her experiences position her ideally for this role. The conversation explores the importance of creativity in politics, the need to amplify Indigenous voices, and the gaps in Melbourne's governance. Esther shares her vision for a creative city recovery, sustainability initiatives, and reimagining Melbourne's nightlife, emphasizing collaboration and community engagement. Learn more about Esther Anatolitis and Team Hakim. Learn more about ⁠⁠Iolanthe⁠⁠ and her agency ⁠⁠Ruby Assembly⁠⁠. Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠⁠100 Days of Brave⁠⁠. Explore ⁠⁠Good Axe⁠⁠ flexible workspace.

In today's episode of Real Ambition, Iolanthe interviews legendary designer Tess McCabe about her book Self Promotion Without Social Media. Tess generously shares effective self-promotion strategies that don't involve social media, emphasizing the importance of website optimization, personal connections, and email newsletters. Tess also highlights the role of visual branding in non-digital marketing and the value of authenticity in connecting with customers. She encourages small business owners to play the long game and invest in their brand over time. Learn more about ⁠Iolanthe⁠ and her agency ⁠Ruby Assembly⁠. Buy Iolanthe's book ⁠100 Days of Brave⁠. Explore ⁠Good Axe⁠ flexible workspace.

In this pilot episode of her new podcast Real Ambition, host Iolanthe Gabrie introduces herself and unpacks the oft-divisive concept of wanting more. She shares her background, including her experience as a business owner, author, and co-founder of a co-working space. Iolanthe emphasizes the importance of ambition in driving personal and professional growth, and challenges the negative connotations often associated with ambition. She also discusses how ambition has evolved throughout her entrepreneurial journey and the role it played in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Learn more about Iolanthe and her agency Ruby Assembly. Buy Iolanthe's book 100 Days of Brave. Explore Good Axe flexible workspace.