Zaffar Khan is the Corporate Strategist for Cocoon SDA Care. Cocoon SDA Care delivers personalised care to help people with disabilities live with greater independence, safety, and an improved quality of life. In this episode, Zaffar lays bare his entire career journey from driving taxis and how that led to his neighbours calling the police to his first business, to bankruptcy, before rebuilding and branching into other businesses. He discusses how those experiences influenced his business philo...
Mar 03, 2025•39 min•Ep 99•Transcript available on Metacast Aret Muradyan is a Lawyer and retired Sergeant with the Victoria Police. Aret retired from Victoria Police after thirty years of service, and his approach to management today is influenced by the lessons he learnt on the force. In this episode, Aret shares his journey with policing and its impact on his management style. He opens up about how police use “work mode” to manage high-stress situations, the importance of mental health support and peer-to-peer aid in addition to profession...
Feb 17, 2025•47 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast So you have savings, but they aren’t growing as fast as you’d like. That’s where investing comes in. In this episode, David and Sevan discuss different investment methods and the key differences between defensive and aggressive investment strategies. David also shares the “Rule of 72” with Sevan, explaining how to calculate how long it will take to double your investment through compound interest. Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on Twitte...
Feb 03, 2025•36 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode of The Bottom Line, Sevan is joined by Craig Sanford from Sierra Legal. After spending 19 years at a major law firm, Craig made the bold move to establish his own boutique legal practice with a unique remote-first model long before COVID-19 made it commonplace. In this episode, you'll hear Craig's insights into preparing a business for sale from a legal perspective, how Sierra Legal operates differently from traditional law firms by avoiding personal budgets for lawyers, and f...
Jan 20, 2025•36 min•Ep 96•Transcript available on Metacast You’ll find a lot of newly minted millionaires on social media bragging about their new Lamborghinis and how business success is as easy as wanting it badly enough. By contrast, it feels like every other week we’re seeing news stories about major Australian businesses entering administration, liquidation, or otherwise struggling in the current economic climate. So what’s the difference between a business that succeeds and one that fails? In this episode, Sevan and David discuss...
Jan 06, 2025•25 min•Ep 95•Transcript available on Metacast Eyob Yesus is the Chief Events Officer at Icon Corporate Events. Icon Corporate Events is a corporate event management firm with many years of experience planning and executing everything from conferences and exhibitions to galas and Christmas functions. In this episode, Eyob digs into different kinds of corporate events, their benefits, and how they tie into a larger marketing or branding strategy. He highlights the importance of running events with purpose and post-event activities before emph...
Dec 23, 2024•33 min•Ep 94•Transcript available on Metacast David Campbell is a Partner at Brand Rebellion. Brand Rebellion is a brand and workforce consultancy firm dedicated to helping organisations empower their workforce and enhance their brand. In this episode, David discusses why he and his wife founded Brand Rebellion and the lessons they’ve learnt along the way. He expands on the importance of employee engagement, continuous learning, and tailing business strategies for the individual. He also shares practical tips for fostering a positive workpl...
Dec 09, 2024•39 min•Ep 93•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, Sevan takes a seat in the guest chair as he is interviewed by David Posterino, co-host of The Bottom Line and director of AS Wealth Advisors. Sevan Tuna is the Managing Director at Alexander Spencer and host of The Bottom Line. Sevan shares his journey. He highlights the importance of mentorship and growth opportunities for all team members and how his strategic initiatives led to Alexander Spencer joining the ranks of Australia's top 100 accounting firms. Resources and links...
Nov 25, 2024•34 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast Peter Craig is the Managing Director at ODC Design. ODC designs and constructs innovative, modern offices for businesses. Peter and the ODC team helped to execute the new offices for Sevan and the Alexander Spencer team. In this episode, Peter explains how office design has evolved over the past three decades and the important considerations business owners must consider when refurbishing an office. He also shares the one item he vetoed from Sevan’s office wishlist. Resources and links: ODC Desi...
Nov 11, 2024•37 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast David Posterino is the Managing Director at AS Wealth Advisors. AS Wealth Advisors provides personalised strategic financial guidance and wealth management advice. In this episode, David shares his journey from accounting to financial advising. He explains the benefits of having strong insurance policies and the essential nature of understanding client goals to help them reach their financial targets. Resources and links: AS Wealth Advisors website David Posterino on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander ...
Oct 28, 2024•33 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast Frederic Joye is a Managing Partner at Arcanys Ventures. Arcanys Ventures offers investment to innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs to help them achieve their vision in the late-seed and series A stages of tech start-ups. In this episode, Frederic outlines how Arcanys Ventures created a unique investment model that combines talent provision with equity participation. He also provides valuable insights into tech start-up valuations, the importance of effective founders, and the challenges of ra...
Oct 14, 2024•30 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast Dee Madigan is the Executive Creative Director at Campaign Edge. Campaign Edge is a full-service creative advertising agency. In this episode, Dee offers her insights on building strong brands, engaging audiences, and adapting to the evolving digital landscape. She emphasises the importance of creativity and discusses how understanding your brand and what you bring to the table enables you to execute a successful marketing campaign and build an emotional connection with potential customers. Reso...
Sep 30, 2024•30 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast Robert Nisi is the Director and Co-founder of Astute Theory. Astute Theory aims to help businesses navigate the digital landscape by providing a unique cloud-based enterprise management system and digital implementation strategies. In this episode, Robert shares how businesses can leverage AI and customised software to improve efficiency and gain an edge over competitors. He addresses the challenges of adopting new technology and the benefits of gamification before he shares his advice for busin...
Sep 16, 2024•24 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast This is part two of our two-part conversation with AI Consultant, Inbal Rodnay, about the impact of AI on small businesses. In this episode, Inbal expands on the importance of developing a workplace AI policy and aims to inspire businesses to make better use of available technology. She also highlights how AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can help with tasks to improve workflow without worrying about security concerns. Resources and links: Inbal Rodnay’s website Inbal Rodnay on LinkedIn Connect: ...
Sep 02, 2024•27 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast Inbal Rodnay is an AI Consultant. Inbal provides guidance and support to businesses as they go through the process of integrating AI and automation into their operation. In this episode, Inbal explains the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT and shares her journey of helping accounting firms innovate. She also discusses different types of AI tools and how to integrate them but highlights the importance of upskilling staff while creating an open culture of experimentation. Resources and links: Inbal ...
Aug 19, 2024•20 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast Adam Tambakau is the Creative Director at Social Star. Social Star is a marketing agency helping businesses and professionals to build their brands and tell their stories. In this episode, Adam discusses his passion for content creation and the importance of engaging video content for businesses. He explores the evolution of video consumption, common challenges for newcomers to video creation, and practical tips for businesses expanding into video. Adam also shares his personal experience with Y...
Aug 05, 2024•35 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast Christopher Goodwin is the Principal at Goodwin Property Advisory Pty Ltd. For over 25 years, Christopher has provided tenants with expert real estate advice about leasing commercial office and industrial premises. In this episode, Christopher breaks down the complexities of commercial leasing. He shares his top tips on negotiating lease terms, understanding market incentives, and how proper planning helps business owners succeed in commercial leasing. Resources and links: Christopher Goodwin on...
Jul 22, 2024•41 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast Doris Spielthenner is the Managing Director of SMA Australia. SMA is a global specialist in photovoltaic and electricity system technologies focused on decentralised, digital, and renewable energy. In this episode, Doris discusses the importance of renewable energy for businesses, the growing consumer demand for sustainability, and the practical steps companies can take towards becoming more sustainable. She emphasises the importance of quality products and describes SMA’s involvement in produci...
Jul 08, 2024•32 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast Hish Kasem is the Director of AS Mortgage Partners. When it comes to finance, Hish is the master and we’re so glad to have him as a part of the team at Alexander Spencer. In this episode, Hish discusses how his personal journey influenced the path his career took and shares a surprising personal connection to Sevan. He also digs into the most important considerations for securing a business loan and buying a business. Hish provides practical advice using real client stories to highlight what wor...
Jun 24, 2024•28 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Clayton Bates is the Founder of Inspire Small Business. Inspire Small Business is a registered Shopify expert and helps product-based businesses create or rebuild their websites to maximise conversion from visitors to paying customers. In this episode, Clayton discusses his entrepreneurial journey and how it led him to build and rebuild websites. He shares key considerations when building a website, explains how businesses can balance customer needs with business aims, and underscores how a well...
Jun 10, 2024•31 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast Fletcher Wimbush is the Founder and CEO of Discovered Performance Hiring Software. Discovered Performance Hiring Software combines hiring coaches, AI, and smart software to make the hiring process smoother. In this episode, Fletcher walks through his journey into the recruitment industry while building several successful businesses. He explains why business success relies on recruiting candidates with integrity who match the culture of your workplace. He gives tips for finding new talent and pro...
May 27, 2024•32 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast Jessica Levin is the COO of Abacus Worldwide and Regional Director for Abacus North America. Abacus Worldwide is an international accounting and law firm association. They provide member firms with the resources and information to allow them to grow and better serve their clients. In this episode, Jessica explains what Abacus Worldwide is and the tools it provides to member firms to improve their customer experience. She discusses the importance of culture in running a successful business, the v...
May 13, 2024•24 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew Baxter is the Founder of 24HR Business Plan. 24HR Business Plan provides strategic consulting services to give business owners everything they need to achieve their strategic planning goals. In this episode, Andrew emphasises why you need a clear business plan from the outset and shares his insights into the challenges experienced by small businesses during the critical execution stage. He also highlights some struggles businesses often experience in acquiring the expertise needed to crea...
Apr 29, 2024•35 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast Anthony Dobson is the General Manager of Tropical Pines. Tropical Pines is one of Australia’s largest pineapple suppliers and has run a hybrid packing and marketing operation from its sites in rural Queensland for almost 40 years. In this episode, Anthony will break down how supply chain optimisation works. He opens up about managing relationships with retailers and distributors, and how to use technology and innovation for supply chain management and operational optimisation. And he also shares...
Apr 15, 2024•33 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew Martin, CEO of Teamgate, transformed his military discipline into business growth, advocating for CRM to streamline customer data as businesses scale. Today, he advises small business owners on the pivotal switch from spreadsheets to CRM, enhancing customer relations and operational efficiency. On today's episode, you'll learn what CRM is and why it's important, find out when to switch from spreadsheets to CRM, and how future communication will affect customer interactions. Plus, Andrew s...
Apr 01, 2024•29 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast Jonathan Pease is the Head Coach at Winning The Room and the Author of “Winning the Room: Public Speaking Skills For Unforgettable Storytelling”. Winning The Room is an executive training program designed to improve presentation abilities for better, more confident delivery of any presentation. In this episode, Jonathan explains how to cut through the noise in an increasingly loud world, how to stand out as a communicator, and how his program empowers leaders. He also shares how you can build st...
Mar 18, 2024•37 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we have a special "Spotlight Episode" for you. Our curated "Spotlight Episodes" are a selection of the best content from our back catalogue that you may have missed previously. We're shining a spotlight on this one because it truly deserves your attention again. Briony Kennedy is the Founder and CEO of Adorn Cosmetics. Adorn is an all-natural skincare and makeup brand that aims to nourish your skin and protect the planet. In today's episode, Briony shares the story of how she got to where...
Mar 04, 2024•45 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast Sarah Forrai and Lewis Battersby are Co-founders of Contour Cube. The Contour Cube is the coolest tool in the arsenal of beauty enthusiasts looking to take their skincare to the next level with ice facials while keeping your hands warm and dry. In this episode, Sarah and Lewis discuss the Contour Cube’s origin story, how they used TikTok to grow and document their business, and how Shark Tank gave them the cash infusion and investor expertise to continue expanding. They also touch on the surreal...
Feb 19, 2024•35 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast Todd Foot is the CEO and Co-founder of Hatch Brands. Hatch Brands is a private equity investment firm that acquires and builds up niche e-commerce businesses. In this episode, Todd breaks down the world of e-commerce. He’ll share his insights into how to use e-commerce as part of a growth strategy, how to choose and thrive on the platform of your choice, and what preparations you need to make. Resources and links: Hatch Brands website Todd Foot on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alex...
Feb 05, 2024•37 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Higgins is the CEO and Co-founder of Loopit. Loopit is an all-in-one car subscription, management, and billing platform that allows businesses to flexibly maintain and upgrade their fleets in line with their needs. In this episode, Michael delves into the origins of Loopit, how they chose to pursue venture capital as a strategy for growth, and the nuances of raising external capital. He’ll also share what he learnt about the role of investors and building relationships with them. Resourc...
Jan 22, 2024•29 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast