Notes From The Executive

Mina Amso
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Notes From The Executive is NZ's no-BS business & entrepreneurship podcast for Auckland owners running established companies - $1M-$10M revenue, 5-50 staff - who want to grow faster, protect their margin, and build something worth selling. Hosted by Mina Amso (Podcaster + Founder), every episode has real NZ founders sharing the numbers, decisions & hard lessons. Topics: cash flow, scaling, hiring, business value & exiting high. Tired of generic advice? This is the show. 🔎 NZ business | Auckland entrepreneur | scale a business NZ | NZ podcast

  1. 2d ago

    NZ is About to Change: Here's What 2040 Really Looks Like | Ft. Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM

    AcademyEx Build Business Software Using AI Tools (without becoming a professional developer). With AcademyEx Program. Sign up 👉 https://academyex.com/courses/micro-credential/understanding-software-development-processes-and-tools-micro-credential/ Course Starts 17 September (Applications Close 10 September) Pwrfully Get Recognised and speak to your ideal market on podcasts. https://www.pwrfully.com/bookacall Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM is a New Zealand futurist and professional company director, and the founder of FutureCentre.nz. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for services to the technology industry, and at 15 was the youngest woman of her time to attend a New Zealand university. After more than 25 years as a technology entrepreneur and chief executive, she now sits in boardrooms as an independent director. Her board roles include Wētā Workshop, Atkins Ranch, Alpine Energy, Squirrel and the energy-transition body Ara Ake, and she was the first independent director of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and former deputy chair of Radio New Zealand. She teaches strategy and disruption for the Institute of Directors. What I Asked Melissa What are NZ boardrooms really talking about behind closed doors right now? Am I investing in the customer I have, or the one I will have in 10 years? Are CEOs wrong about how much AI will actually lift productivity? What will New Zealand look like in 2040? How do I train myself to think 10 years ahead? Follow Melissa LinkedIn Website FutureCentre Timestamps 0:00 - what is a street smart futurist 1:24 - sponsor: AcademyEx for NZ business owners 2:04 - what does planning for the next 10 years actually mean 3:19 - what are NZ boardrooms really talking about right now 4:58 - where should I invest spare cash for the next 10 years 10:45 - how does a futurist decide where a business spends money 11:53 - am I building my business for today instead of the future 13:00 - what is agent to agent AI and why does it matter 17:50 - are CEOs wrong about how much AI will boost productivity 19:34 - sponsor: AcademyEx AI software programme and free podcasts 22:00 - why is AI just giving me the average answer 26:08 - should boards let AI do their thinking 28:20 - who will my customers be in 10 years 30:47 - why do boards keep getting blindsided by shocks 36:49 - why do we keep building for the past not the future 41:10 - how do I train my team to think 10 years ahead 49:44 - how do I make decisions when the future is uncertain 54:10 - what happens when you are 30 years too early 56:00 - how do you lose a $190 million business overnight 1:07:18 - what will New Zealand look like in 2040 1:19:46 - is New Zealand's low debt actually hurting the economy 1:23:00 - what does high tech farming look like in New Zealand 1:26:34 - the one thing every business owner should do now Follow Me YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram LinkedIn

    NZ is About to Change: Here's What 2040 Really Looks Like | Ft. Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM

  2. Jul 14

    I Made $500K In 11 Weeks: The Fastest Way To Use AI Agents To Make $$ & Be More Productive (No Code)

    AcademyExBuild Business Software Using AI Tools (without becoming a professional developer). Sign up 👉https://academyex.com/courses/micro-credential/understanding-software-development-processes-and-tools-micro-credential/Course Starts 17 September (Applications Close 10 September) PwrfullyGet Recognised and speak to your ideal market on podcasts.https://www.pwrfully.com/bookacall Stanley Henry is the founder and managing director of The Attention Seeker, an Auckland-born organic social agency that works with 200+ brands across New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK and the UAE with a zero-ad-spend model. He spent about 12 years in hospitality around the world before returning to New Zealand in late 2019 to build the agency, and also founded The Nesian Network for Māori and Pasifika business owners. In this episode he breaks down how he used Claude Code to build a "context brain" of his whole business and turn it into ten digital products, including a $150 workshop he says brought in $95,000 and, by his account, around half a million dollars in 11 weeks. What I Asked StanleyHow do I actually make money with AI instead of just chatting to it?Do I need to be technical to set up an AI system for my business?Why do most New Zealand business owners waste their ad budget?How do I sell a low-ticket product without talking to every customer?Why does trying to be "the best" actually stop you growing? Follow StanleyLinkedInInstagram Follow MeYouTubeSpotifyApple PodcastsInstagramLinkedIn Time Stamps0:00 - Intro1:26 - Sponsor: AcademyEx intro for NZ business owners2:14 - How most people use AI vs. how Stanley uses Claude Code2:56 - Building a "business brain" folder that ingests all company context3:53 - Packaging agency expertise into digital products for small businesses7:05 - Using Claude to design workshops and validate offers with Reddit & social data9:53 - Auto-updating AI brain from emails, chats, and meeting transcripts11:24 - Why webinars over courses & the product ladder strategy15:06 - Social "TV show" content series & $20k vs $900 offer for small businesses17:37 - What makes a great workshop: transforming thinking, not teaching tactics20:00 - Sponsor: AcademyEx 12-week hands-on AI software program21:00 - Why one repeatable content idea beats constant new ideas (Friends analogy)24:29 - Workshop structure based on debunking misconceptions (Veritasium method)28:30 - Claude builds the sales stack: Stripe, Klaviyo, Meta ads & ad scripts31:12 - Pricing the webinar at $150 and doing $75k in 2 hours33:39 - Low, mid, and high-ticket offers (Apple, retainers, and volume)35:17 - Why they only run Meta (FB/IG) ads and how much they spend39:12 - 3:1 return on ad spend, scaling ad budget, and advice for business owners

    I Made $500K In 11 Weeks: The Fastest Way To Use AI Agents To Make $$ & Be More Productive (No Code)

  3. Jul 7

    Why Australia Stopped Taking NZ Seriously: Phil O'Reilly ONZM

    Is New Zealand quietly getting poorer while we tell ourselves we punch above our weight? AcademyExBuild Business Software Using AI Tools (without becoming a professional developer). With AcademyEx Program. Sign up 👉 https://academyex.com/courses/micro-credential/understanding-software-development-processes-and-tools-micro-credential/Course Starts 17 September (Applications Close 10 September) PwrfullyGet Recognised and speak to your ideal market on podcasts. Start for Free https://www.pwrfully.com/bookacall Phil O'Reilly is one of the most connected business figures New Zealand has. He is the former chief executive of BusinessNZ and has chaired Business at the OECD, the OECD's official business advisory body. He has sat on the governing body of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, worked through the B20 and G20 process, and served on New Zealand government review groups including welfare and child poverty. He now runs his own advisory firm. His sharpest argument in this episode: the "we punch above our weight" story is a comfortable lie that gives New Zealand an excuse not to try harder, at exactly the moment we are getting poorer. What I Asked PhilWhy do you think New Zealand is quietly getting poorerWhat is the myth Kiwi business owners need to stop believingHas Australia stopped taking New Zealand seriouslyWhy won't a capital gains tax fix what people think it willWhat should a NZ business owner actually do in the next six months Chapters00:00 What global business leaders are worried about04:54 Re-globalisation and where NZ fits07:55 Why the world ignores New Zealand10:33 Selling more than food to Europe13:22 Why NZ service businesses get stuck going global18:53 Does the OECD help everyday owners24:22 The case against a capital gains tax25:52 Why the NZ stock market is so weak27:05 Why NZ must invest in science30:47 Is New Zealand going broke39:53 The myths holding NZ business back42:57 What to do in the next six months Follow PhilLinkedIn: search Phil O'Reilly [verify URL before publishing] Follow MeYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcpApple https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso Notes From The Executive is New Zealand's no-BS business podcast for Auckland owners running established companies. I sat down with Phil O'Reilly, former BusinessNZ chief executive, on whether New Zealand is really going broke, why he thinks a capital gains tax is the wrong fix, why we underinvest in science, and why Australia is quietly taking us for granted. If you run a New Zealand business and you want the honest read on the economy, trade, and where the country is actually headed, this one is for you. Grab my free list of NZ podcasts to get booked on: https://pwrfully.com/freepodcasts?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=freelist

    Why Australia Stopped Taking NZ Seriously: Phil O'Reilly ONZM

  4. Jun 30

    What's Actually Destroying NZ Companies? The Undertaker Speaks Out

    Get Booked & Paid With Podcasts. Start for Free 👉 https://www.pwrfully.com Damien Grant is the principal of Waterstone Insolvency and one of New Zealand's best-known liquidators. He has run Waterstone since 2006 and writes a weekly column for Stuff. His firm has handled some of the country's most public collapses, including Waikato construction firm Stanley Group, Ponsonby restaurant SPQR, and Burger Burger, the gourmet burger chain placed into receivership owing around $1.8 million. In this one he argues it is not the economy closing good companies. It is the Inland Revenue Department, and a mistake most owners do not see coming. What I Asked Damien Is the economy really what is closing NZ businesses, or is it something else Why is the Inland Revenue Department quietly forcing good companies into liquidation If I cannot pay my tax bill, what is the first move Can a profitable business buried in old debt still be saved Why do so many owners hold on until it is too late Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:35 Is the NZ economy as bad as the news says? 04:06 Is it the economy or bad business decisions? 06:03 Why are company insolvencies spiking right now? 06:28 Is the IRD forcing NZ companies to shut down? 08:25 Why is the IRD chasing unpaid tax so hard now? 09:23 Which NZ industries are failing the most? 11:42 What do you do when you cannot pay your tax bill? 13:20 Is not paying the IRD a crime in NZ? 16:06 What mistakes are honest business owners making? 21:18 Why do more men fail in business than women? 25:50 What is the biggest mistake in business? 26:34 What does losing your business actually do to you? 28:33 When should you call an insolvency practitioner? 32:04 What happens in the first insolvency meeting? 37:02 Can you restructure a business to survive the debt? 41:13 What to do after one bad business decision 42:02 Where to find Damien Grant Follow Me Mina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast Mina on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcp Mina on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812 Mina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/ Mina on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso Follow Damien Damien on LinkedIn https://nz.linkedin.com/in/damien-grant-a7463317 Notes From The Executive is New Zealand's no-BS business podcast for Auckland owners running established companies who want to grow faster, protect their margin, and build something worth selling. New episodes weekly. 3,023 NZ companies closed in the past year, according to Centrix. This episode looks past the headline to ask whether the failures are a temporary dip or a structural shift, why the Inland Revenue Department is driving the spike, and what an owner buried in tax debt can actually do about it. Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of the New Zealand economy, business failure, and what it means for your company.

    What's Actually Destroying NZ Companies? The Undertaker Speaks Out

  5. Jun 23

    How to Sell When the NZ Economy Is This Bad (Sales Expert's Recession Playbook)

    Get in front of your ideal clients, start for free!Check out: www.pwrfully.com(REPLAY) New Zealand sales expert Bill James breaks down how to win sales when the economy is against you and buyers have gone quiet.He shares the Rule of Two No's, the referral process that returns 105 leads for every 100 clients, and the one word that is silently lowering the value of everything you say.If you run a business in Auckland and selling has got harder this year, this is the conversation that gives you something to do on Monday morning.Follow MeMina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastMina on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcp?si=c12e08e33f604916Mina on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812Mina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/Mina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso

    How to Sell When the NZ Economy Is This Bad (Sales Expert's Recession Playbook)

  6. Jun 16

    Why New Zealand Is Going Broke: 3 Top Economists Explain Why (Plus a Social Scientist)

    Get started with podcasting for free. Check out Pwrfully.com Follow Me Mina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastMina on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcp?si=c12e08e33f604916Mina on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812Mina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/Mina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso

    Why New Zealand Is Going Broke: 3 Top Economists Explain Why (Plus a Social Scientist)

  7. Jun 9

    'Should I Sell My Company?' Could This Be The Worst Time to Sell Your NZ Business?

    Pwrfully Get Booked & Paid With Podcasts. Start for Free https://www.pwrfully.com Hannah McQueen is a New Zealand chartered accountant, financial adviser and entrepreneur. She began at KPMG before founding Enable Me, a financial coaching business built on a mortgage-structuring formula she developed with the University of Auckland. She grew it to around 100 staff and 10 offices, worked with roughly 15,000 clients, and exited about three years ago. She is a regular finance voice across NZ media and now runs Age Brightly, a venture focused on improving older person healthcare in New Zealand. What I Asked Hannah How do I know if my business is actually ready to sell, or if I am still years away? You sold when three buyers turned up unannounced. Was that luck, or a signal every owner should be watching for? Most Kiwi owners decide to sell on a weekend and list on the Monday. How long does a proper exit really take? What did selling actually feel like, and what surprised you about life after the deal? If you had to build and sell all over again, what would you refuse to leave this late? Follow Me Mina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast Mina on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcp?si=c12e08e33f604916 Mina on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812 Mina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/ Mina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso Follow Hannah Age Brightly https://agebrightly.co.nz Timestamps 0:00 Is growing a business in New Zealand actually harder than it looks? 1:07 Who is Hannah McQueen beyond her business success? 2:48 What's broken in New Zealand's aged care system, and can we fix it? 8:08 How did getting fired lead Hannah to create Enable Me? 13:46 Why do smart people still struggle to do "the right thing" with money? 17:34 How big did Enable Me really get, staff, offices, clients, revenue? 23:41 What should founders know about scaling from $2M to $20M? 32:41 What was Hannah's most expensive lesson about hiring and products? 46:55 How did Hannah juggle 100 staff, a baby, and a growing business? 1:07:08 How can founders protect their wealth, health, and plan an exit?

    'Should I Sell My Company?' Could This Be The Worst Time to Sell Your NZ Business?

  8. Jun 2

    Bernard Hickey: The NZ Housing Game Is Over (It's Not Coming Back)

    Bernard Hickey is one of New Zealand's best known economics commentators. Trained as an economist and as a journalist, he has spent more than three decades covering money, markets and housing. He now runs The Kākā, a subscription newsletter and podcast, and co-hosts an ANZ-funded economics podcast. Episode Sponsors AcademyEx Get ahead with AI https://discover.academyex.com/mina Pwrfully Get Your Free Podcast List https://www.pwrfully.com Follow Me Mina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast Mina on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4QgZGJdrnfjZ1sEm6MeGcp?si=c12e08e33f604916 Mina on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/notes-from-the-executive-podcast/id1586953812 Mina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/ Mina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/minaamso Follow Bernard The Kākā (subscription newsletter and podcast) https://thekaka.substack.com/ Bernard on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-hickey-44334a14/ Timestamps 5:11 why isn't the NZ economy growing the way we were promised 10:44 is the lack of a capital gains tax the real problem 13:48 why does every other country make it easier to invest outside property 18:08 when did buying more houses become the only way to get rich here 34:07 why have we bet the whole economy on the housing market 35:48 what happens when everyone has borrowed as much as they can 45:02 why won't another rate cut start the boom again 45:22 if housing is done, where do I actually build wealth now 50:14 is immigration really what's holding the economy back 1:12:12 how does any of this hit a business owner turning over a million 1:22:18 what would actually fix this if anyone in power listened 1:25:04 why are a third of our graduates leaving the country 1:33:33 how do I stop my kids and grandkids from leaving NZ 1:37:05 where to find Bernard Hickey and The Kākā

    Bernard Hickey: The NZ Housing Game Is Over (It's Not Coming Back)
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About

Notes From The Executive is NZ's no-BS business & entrepreneurship podcast for Auckland owners running established companies - $1M-$10M revenue, 5-50 staff - who want to grow faster, protect their margin, and build something worth selling. Hosted by Mina Amso (Podcaster + Founder), every episode has real NZ founders sharing the numbers, decisions & hard lessons. Topics: cash flow, scaling, hiring, business value & exiting high. Tired of generic advice? This is the show. 🔎 NZ business | Auckland entrepreneur | scale a business NZ | NZ podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Mina Amso
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mina Amso
  • Show Website
    Notes From The Executive

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