How I Made It
How I Made It is a podcast hosted by Lauren Sams and Yolanda Redrup that explores the journeys of Australia's top entrepreneurs. Each episode delves into how these business leaders built their fortunes and the lessons they learned along the way. The show offers insights into the challenges and successes of building a business in Australia.
Episodes
What working on David Bowie’s yacht taught Boost founder Janine Allis
Growing up, Janine Allis never thought about starting her own business. “I didn’t even know what an entrepreneur was,” she says. But after spotting a gap in the market, there was no stopping the founder of a now-global smoothie company that’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars. On the final episode of season five of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds ou
‘It's the Mount Everest of careers’: How Fleet’s CEO built an $800m company
Since she was a little girl, Flavia Tata Nardini was obsessed with space. The Italian-born rocket scientist began her career at the European Space Agency but moved to Adelaide in her 20s, where she found herself confronted with a lack of industry. Left with no other choice, she started her own business. On this week's episode of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how the CEO
A scam set WA’s fertiliser king on a path to a $5b fortune
Vikas Rambal came to Australia from India on a prospective business trip in 2000. But the project he was looking into was not what it seemed. It was a moment on his five-day trip that would prove to be pivotal. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how a scam and a chance encounter set about the Perdaman Group founder’s dream to build the co
How a former IBM executive redefined Australia’s restaurant scene
Chris Lucas grew up in the world of hospitality, often spending time in his dad’s pub in Geelong. But it wasn’t until his mid-30s that one of the country’s top restaurateurs entered the industry himself. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how working at IBM as a sales and marketing executive inspired Lucas to become one of the biggest figure
He could’ve been Qantas CEO. Instead Bruce Buchanan started a $7.2b company
Leading Australia’s largest airline is by all accounts a dream job. But in 2012, Bruce Buchanan – who was on track to become chief executive of Qantas – walked away from the national carrier. He now runs one of the world’s hottest tech companies: $7.2 billion e-commerce marketing tech firm Rokt. This week on How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup pulls back th
Trinny Woodall, What Not To Wear and a multimillion-dollar company
Trinny Woodall first became a household name as one half of the dynamic duo, Trinny and Susannah. Together the pair built a career issuing fashion advice to women on their long-running BBC series, What Not to Wear. But at the age of 53 Woodall decided it was time to step out on her own, launching eponymous beauty brand Trinny London. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, fashion editor La
How the (banker) founder of MJ Bale took over menswear
Growing up on a sheep farm, Matt Jensen has long had an appreciation for natural fibres. But it was during a stint in London working as a banker that the budding entrepreneur spotted a gap in the menswear market. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, fashion editor Lauren Sams finds out how the failure of one business led to the success of another – menswear giant MJ Bale. This podc
How Bruce Keebaugh turned $500 into a global events company
When the co-founder and former chief executive of The Big Group was 21, he had just $500 in his pocket. Not afraid of risk, Bruce Keebaugh and his wife, Chyka Keebaugh, used it to champion the competitive world of catering and events. This week on How I Made it, The Australian Financial Review’s Lauren Sams finds out how this hospitality guru came to dominate an industry. This podcast was sp
‘The napkin came across the table’: How software giant Xero was born
From the start of high school, Rod Drury was captivated by computing. It was a fascination that would go on to create one of the largest ASX-listed tech companies, accounting software giant Xero. In this week’s episode of How I Made It, The Australian Financial Review Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how a passion in high school became a $28 billion company. This podcast was s
The founder of O&M had one big idea. It became a global haircare empire
Jose Bryce Smith came to Australia on holiday. Seven years later, she founded what would become one of the country’s biggest haircare brands. With products stocked in more than 30,000 salons across 21 countries, Original & Mineral (O&M) is a dominant force in the hair industry. In this week’s episode of the new season of How I Made It, The Australian Financial Review fashion ed
Trailer: 'How I Made It' Returns September 22
How I Made It is back with new hosts Lauren Sams & Yolanda Redrup. Join us to learn how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sam Kroonenburg’s success is only possible because of his wife
Sam Kroonenburg built a company from his bedroom, with him and his brother Ryan both making about $500 million. But Sam, 40, is doing what he can to avoid the trappings of wealth. Further reading: Aussie who sold cloud start-up for $2b jumps on AI for ads Young Rich Lister says more founders should take cash off the tableSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How exquisite timing helped Kerry Harmanis forge a fortune
After deciding working at Legal Aid wasn’t the career for him, Kerry Harmanis applied to an art school. He was rejected and turned to prospecting in WA. It was a journey that led to the $3.1 billion sale of Jubilee Mines right as nickel prices peaked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Blackburne: Why cars, boats and houses won’t make you happy
Paul Blackburne built a property company that in 2016 land him on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated $536 million fortune. He’s also seen other people make lots of money and says there’s a success trap entrepreneurs need to be mindful of. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Richard White avoids risk at all costs
Richard White wanted to be a rock and roll star. He ended up developing software for companies in the logistics industry. In 1994 he founded Wise Tech Global and is now the 11th wealthiest person in Australia. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i
Steph Claire Smith’s top tips to building a social media empire
How a back of the napkin plan put fitness star Steph Claire Smith on the Young Rich List. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Woodland: From Maccas to building a $100m company with zero qualifications
Mark Woodland was expanding his education start-up before realising he’d overlooked a critical component for its success. He had to fix it, even if it meant a bunch of staff walked out the door. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nick Bell's first business flopped, his next made him millions
Serial entrepreneur Nick Bell sits down with Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his latest business venture, which aims to help people live longer. He also details his recent trip to Mexico, where he spent $700,000 on injections to alter his genes. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click hereSee
Shaun Bonétt: The homeschooled billionaire who built a fortune before turning 40
In this week's episode, Precision Group founder Shaun Bonétt chats to Julie-anne Sprague about becoming one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. A journey that went from home schooling to buying his first shopping centre at just 24 years of age. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private clic
Coming soon: How I Made It season 4
How I Made It is back for a 4th season and this time we're giving you can chance to ask a Rich Lister a question yourself. Are you building a company and want to scale up, do you want advice on funding your growth or have you just got an idea and you want to know what to do next, well here is your opportunity. Send a question to howimadeit@afr.com and we’ll get a Rich Lister to help you. Episode
Summer Series: From golf balls to 1c TVs - how Ruslan Kogan built a $300m empire from $0
His parents moved to Australia with just $90 to their name, raising their young family in a housing commission flat in Melbourne. It was there Ruslan Kogan honed his selling skills, making a buck selling golf balls and washing cars. He’s now worth about $300 million after creating online retailer Kogan.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summer Series: How Simon Beard went from 'toolie' to Culture King worth $600m
The How I Made it team is on a summer break but have curated a special summer series featuring some of our favourite episodes. In this third episode, Simon Beard joined Julie-anne Sprague in 2022 to chat how he and his wife Tah-nee started Culture Kings as a market stall on the Gold Coast. They’d go on to cut a deal that valued their retailer at $600 million. In this episode, Simon shares his rou
Summer Series: How Tammy Hembrow built a fitness empire from $400
The How I Made it team is on a summer break but we’ve curated a special summer series featuring some of our favourite episodes. Our second episode in this summer series features Tammy Hembrow who joined the Julie-anne Sprague in August 2022 where she shares her story of being told her life was ruined when she unexpectedly fell pregnant at 19. She’d go on to develop a fitness app and clothing bran
Summer Series: How Jack Cowin brought KFC and Hungry Jacks to Australia
Happy New Year! The How I Made it team is on summer break but for your listening enjoyment they have compiled a collection of some of their favourite episodes from our rich catalogue of interviews with the nation’s Rich Listers. The first episode in this summer series features Jack Cowin, the Canadian door-to-door salesman who left of Australia and opened fast food chains KFC and Hungry Jack’s. He
How Sam Kennard built a $2.6b empire storing other people's stuff
Sam Kennard always had ambition to work and grow the family company. But he never expected his dad to give him total control when he was just 24 years of age. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The sliding doors moment that led typist Cathie Reid to build a $550m fortune
In this week's episode How I Made It podcast, Icon Group founder Cathie Reid chats to Julie-anne Sprague about wanting to be a typist. Instead she became a pharmacist before spotting a gap in the market and becoming an entrepreneur alongside husband Stuart Giles. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How online gamer Kevin Gosschalk made $173m stopping internet bad guys
This week on How I Made It, Julie-anne Sprague chats to Young Rich Lister Kevin Gosschalk, the co-founder Arkose Labs on the challenges of going head to head with Google in offering companies solutions to thwart cyber criminals. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Mark Carnegie 'thumb-sucked' his way off the Rich List
In this week's episode, Julie-anne Sprague chats to investor and corporate adviser Mark Carnegie on how being born with a silver spoon and having a chip on his shoulder has motivated him to succeed in business. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How school dropout Nigel Satterley built a $500 million property empire
This week, Nigel Satterley joins Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his journey from Levi's salesman to becoming Australia’s biggest private land developer whose company, Satterley, is worth more than $500 million. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: 15 Minutes with the Boss (episode preview)
Follow The Australian Financial Review’s newest podcast offering called 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s a weekly podcast, in which AFR’s Boss Editor Sally Patten sits down with one of the country's top CEOs and asks them to share all the valuable advice and wisdom they’ve gained during the course of their careers. They’ll chat about their successes and failures and everything in between. Here’s a l
Sam Hupert: From wine tasting meeting to a $9 billion medical software giant
In 1983, Sam Hupert and IT specialist Anthony Hall joined forces after meeting at a wine tasting. Their brainchild, Pro Medicus is now worth $9 billion with shares recently hitting an all-time high of $83, marking a spectacular return for early investors who bought in at $1.15 per share in 2000. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Kim Kardashian is helping Gen Z-er Alex Tomic make $1 billion
Alex Tomic quit university after just six months, to create a company to sell teeth whitening kits with his childhood friend Alex Mirkovic. Almost a decade later, the pair are closing in on $1b in sales, cementing their place on the Young Rich List as chase a global expansion, which has had a handy boost after Kim Kardashian posted to her gazillion followers about how much she just loves their pro
How Carolyn Creswell went from check-out chick to $170m muesli empire
Carolyn Creswell’s company Carmen's dominates the supermarket shelves. But it didn’t start that way. In the early days, she had to come up clever ways to get ahead. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Coming soon: How I Made It season three
How I Made It is back for a third season. From the Australian Financial Review, How I Made It takes you inside the world of the country’s top entrepreneurs. They'll share insights on what makes them tick, their business advice and how they overcame the odds to grace one of the AFR's Rich Lists. If you want to know how business empires are made, join host Julie-anne Sprague on Monday September 11
Female Founders: Trenna Probert: From concierge to fintech start-up founder
Super Fierce founder Trenna Probert chats to Julie-anne Sprague about her bold mission to close the wealth gap between men and women. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Female Founders: Hannah Drury: From blow-up mattress to a fragrance empire
From an initial $50,000 investment and regularly sleeping on a blowup mattress on the factory floor, Hannah Drury is now looking to expand her fragrance empire with her own perfumery. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Female Founders: Gab Manning and Manning Cartell
Gabrielle Manning chats with Julie-anne Sprague about quitting her job in her 30s to set up her own business alongside her two sisters. But a decade later it nearly collapsed as they got distracted by the critics. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Female Founders: Ava Matthews, Bec Jefferd and Ultra Violette
In 2014 Bec Jefferd and Ava Matthews met in a carpark. Fast forward to today, their skinscreen line Ultra Violette has completely changed the way we view sunscreens. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Female Founders: Priscilla Hajiantoni and Bangn Body
Priscilla Hajiantoni suffered from skin breakouts. She’d tried everything and nothing seemed to work. So she set out to make her own. Priscilla now runs a multi-million dollar skincare business that's on the cusp of going global. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investmentSee om
Female Founders: Jo Horgan and Mecca
This week, entrepreneur Jo Horgan invites Julie-anne Sprague into the nerve centre of Mecca to reveal how her love for English literature led to her founding the international cosmetics giant. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment Background reading: How two Melbourne ent
Female Founders: Tania Austin and Decjuba
In 2008, Tania Austin took a risk buying five retail stores under the Decjuba banner. 15 years on Decjuba is now a women's fashion powerhouse with more than 140 stores across Australia and New Zealand. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment Background reading: Meet the thre
Female Founders: Kristy Chong and Modibodi
Kristy Chong revolutionised personal care products for women all over the world by creating an underwear range that absorbs leaks. The company she founded in 2013, ModiBodi, sold for $140 million last year and now Chong is turning from entrepreneur to investor. But there’s a caveat. The companies she’s backing must be founded by women. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit
Coming soon: Female Founders
Starting March 20, you’ll hear stories from women who’ve faced down enormous challenges to take a simple idea and build a business. Some would go global. They’re changing the face of Australian business and paving the way for a new generation of female leaders. We’ll uncover the daily hacks they use to get ahead and they’ll share some unique challenges that, rightly or wrongly, get thrown at the
Introducing: The Fin
A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country. Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Chanticleer
Australia’s most prestigious business column is now a podcast. Chanticleer is a weekly news breakdown of all things business, finance and markets. Every Friday, Australian Financial Review columnists Tony Boyd and James Thomson go behind the doors of corporate Australia to give you their unvarnished analysis. The first episode drops 5pm, Friday September 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy
How selling TVs for 1c led Ruslan Kogan to owning an online empire
His parents moved to Australia with just $90 to their name, raising their young family in a housing commission flat in Melbourne. It was there Ruslan Kogan honed his selling skills, making a buck selling golf balls and washing cars. He’s now worth about $300 million after creating online retailer Kogan.com. Background reading: This Rich Lister quit his job as a consultant to sell TVs for 1¢ While
Aaron Hornlimann quit uni after 12wks, now he's worth $42m
Aaron Hornlimann bred guinea pigs to earn a buck as a kid. By his early 20s he was developing a text messaging system for Jetstar and now, at 35, the Young Rich Lister worth an estimated $34 million, is growing Elenium, a company making things easier for people to get in and out of airports. Background reading: ‘Sure, of course I can’: From uni dropout to young rich list Aaron Hornlimann, 35, is
How Gold Coast 'toolie' Simon Beard made $600m
Simon Beard and his wife Tah-nee started Culture Kings as a market stall at the Carrara Markets on the Gold Coast. Last year they cut a deal to sell their company for more than $600 million. Here’s how they did it. Background reading: From tight-arse teenager to the Rich List As a kid, Simon Beard saved every cent given to him, stashing it in a drawer. By the time he finished high school, he had
How Robbie Ferguson became the youngest Rich Lister
At 25, Robbie Ferguson is the youngest person to make the list since it began in 1983. He and his brother James have a combined wealth of $1billion thanks to the success of their crypto business Immutable. Background reading: The Rich Lister tipping a crypto rebound Australia’s youngest Rich Lister used to frustrate his parents by devoting a lot of time to video games. Now he co-owns a company w
Sarina Russo's success may lie in how many times she's been fired
Sarina Russo failed high school English classes and was fired from her job as a legal secretary. She’s proof that determination and perseverance can triumph after joining the Financial Review Rich Women List earlier this year with an estimated $267 million fortune. Listen to how she did it. Background reading: She failed high school English. Now she’s worth $267m ‘Watch me’: Sarina Russo’s 8 less
How Tammy Hembrow built a fitness empire from just $400
After dropping out of uni and with starting out with $400, Tammy Hembrow has built online fitness app Tammy Fit and clothing brand Saksi Collection into businesses that's given her an estimated $38 million fortune. Background reading: 13 lessons to turn $400 into $38m How this 28-year-old built a $38m fortune How I Made It website here. Email us at howimadeit@afr.com For more stories about succe
Why quitting his job at a bank was the best thing David Tudehope did
David Tudehope quit working for CBA at 25 to start a company with big ambitions. Macquarie Telecom would take on Telstra. It’s been so successful he’s found his way onto the Financial Review Rich List. Tudehope shares his secrets for success, which includes something they’ve developed called the Noah’s Ark. Background reading: The key to the group’s 28-year-success in the fast-changing tech indus
$78 'rort' that's turned Blackmagic's Grant Petty into a billionaire
When Grant Petty was growing up in Shepparton in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, his family didn't have much money so he took to 'rorting' the system to fund his early education in electronics. Petty went on to start Blackmagic Design, a company that designs cameras and editing systems for the entertainment industry that turned over ¾ of a billion dollars in 2021. How I Made It website here. Email us
Coming soon: How I Made It season two
Australian Financial Review's Julie-anne Sprague takes you inside the world of the country’s top entrepreneurs. They'll share insights on what makes them tick, their business advice and how they overcame the odds to grace one of the AFR's Rich Lists. If you want to know how business empires are made, listen to How I Made It. Season two premieres Monday July 18. Subscribe to the Australian Financi
Episode 8. Michael and Matt Heine
Michael Heine, 72 and his son Matt, 42, together run Netwealth, one of Australia’s fastest growing wealth management businesses. They come from a long line of entrepreneurs, never finished university and the family is now worth around $2.8 billion.They talk about taking on Australia's big banks, working with family, risking it all for a good idea and Dolly Parton. Background reading: Th
Episode 7. Jessica Sepel
Jessica Sepel, 32, went from working at Priceline after school to creating one of their fastest growing brands JS Health Vitamins. She’s a nutritionist and wellness blogger who quit her day job and is now worth an estimated $426 million. She talks about her struggle with food, getting scammed by manufacturers, how to deal with the social media haters, and one lesson she lives by: “Life
Episode 6. Wes Maas
Wes Maas, 41, was doing “okay” playing in the NRL for the South Sydney Rabbitohs but knew he was never going to be in the top 20 per cent. So the “workaholic” from Dubbo went home and bought a bobcat for $14,000 and borrowed $25,000 to buy a tip truck. His company employs over 600 people, listed on the ASX last year, and Wes is now knocking on the door of the nation’s
Episode 5. Graham Turner
Graham Turner, 72, grew up on an apple farm in Queensland and attended a one-teacher primary school where he had to make up numbers on the netball team. He’s a trained vet who went from driving double decker tour buses around Europe to starting Flight Centre with a couple of mates. It’s now one of the world’s biggest travel agencies with operations in 24 countries. Flight Centre
Episode 4. What does it take to make the Rich List?
The Australian Financial Review started tracking Australia’s 200 richest people in 1983. Back then, they were worth a combined $4.7 billion. Fast forward to this year and the total value of Australia’s 200 richest people sits at $479.6 billion. In this bonus episode of How I Made It, host Julie-anne Sprague is joined by Rich List co-editor Michael Bailey and Chanticleer columnist James
Episode 3. Tony Walls
Tony Walls, 57, is a Wollongong boy who went straight to work from Port Kembla High School, attended university at night and spent all his spare time programming computers. He started his own business right before the early ‘90’s recession from a bedroom in his parent’s house. Objective Corp now employs over 400 people and Tony is one of Australia’s newest tech billio
Episode 2. Jane Lu
Jane Lu, 35, started fashion retailer Showpo in 2010 after scoring her dream job at a big consulting firm and realising she would "never be a good accountant". Showpo now sells 6000 styles, employs over 100 people and Jane - who has been on the Financial Review's Young Rich list since 2017 - is worth around $50 million. Lu talks about starting school in Australia without speaking any English; how
Episode 1. Jack Cowin
Jack Cowin, 79, is the fast food billionaire who brought KFC and Hungry Jacks to Australia and then turned $400,000 into more than $2.6 billion by investing in a pizza business called Domino's. But he also had a failed career as a professional athlete, studied psychology and sold trees door-to-door while at university. He talks about how his first KFC store almost never happened because of a footb
Coming Soon: How I Made It
Stories of building wealth from the ground up and business advice from members of the Australian Financial Review Rich List. How I Made It premieres October 10th 2021. Subscribe to the Australian Financial Review here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
