Ep#28: The Sebastian Robertson Story

Sebastian Robertson recently stepped down from batyr - the organisation he founded 12 years ago. batyr is a preventative mental health charity which has reached over 355,000 young people through evidence-based programs. We talk about why and how Sebastian started batyr and what his plans are for the future. Where this podcast fits in to the broader Good Investing thematic is partly around mental health in the workplace (see Ethical Partners major report of March 2023 - “Promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace”), partly around leadership succession planning and also around how to manage a start up business. Not that many people have started a charity and a separate commercial business – and I’m referring to birdi – the aerial intelligence company, Sebastian’s latest venture. There is a lot to learn and absorb from this episode including insights into how parents can talk to their kids about these issues.

Highlights

1.03 Longest introduction ever

8.40 Episode summary

9.45 Seb’s background (including rare facts not known by many)

14.35 Celebrating Seb stepping down from batyr

16.40 Seb’s story in his words

17.55 Leaving behind the support network

26.05 The link with peers

27.40 What can parents do and say?

30.01 Why a start up?

34.30 The hospital model vs prevention            

37.05 Succession planning – The three stages

45.48 Top 5 batyr moments

57.00 Mental health in the workplace

59.02 The Report: Promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

106.55 Establishing birdi - the aerial intelligence company

Link to Promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace: https://www.ethicalpartners.com.au/post/mental-health-and-wellbeing-in-the-workplace

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