7 Questions

Wayne Gerard
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  • Entrepreneurship
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7 Questions is a practical conversation series with the founders and investors building innovative Australian companies. Hosted by Wayne Gerard, each episode uses a simple structure, seven questions to explore the founder journey, how decisions are actually made, where unintended consequences show up, and what matters most when building a company for the long term. Thoughtful conversations grounded in real founder and investor experience. For: 1. Founders looking for insights they can apply 2. Investors spotting companies worth a closer look 3. Customers curious about the thinking behind innovative Australian companies A Prtnr (Partner Ventures) podcast. https://prtnr.au Connect with Wayne on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynegerard/ Follow Prtnr on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnerventures

  1. Aug 31

    Ep19 Your Board, Your Advantage | Jane Andrews

    What makes a great board for a high-growth company? In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with board director, investor, founder and former research scientist Jane Andrews to explore how the right board can become a genuine advantage for a growing business. Drawing on her experience across research, venture capital and biotech, Jane shares her journey into the boardroom and the lessons that have shaped her approach to working with growth companies. She discusses when businesses should start formalising their governance, why taking on significant external capital is an important trigger, and how the right directors can bring complementary skills, experience and perspective to the table. Wayne and Jane also explore how boards can support growth without taking away the entrepreneurial energy that drives a company forward. They discuss strategic risk-taking, alignment between founders and investors, the importance of trust and transparency, and why early-stage governance sometimes needs to be pragmatic and hands-on. Jane also shares why founders should see their board as a valuable resource rather than simply a formality. What You'll Learn ☑️When a growth company should start formalising its board and governance. ☑️Why significant external capital can be an important trigger for stronger governance. ☑️How to choose directors who complement the founder's skills and bring valuable experience. ☑️Why alignment around vision, risk tolerance and expectations matters. ☑️How to balance governance with entrepreneurial speed and strategic risk-taking. Why boards should focus on opportunities and strategy, as well as risk. ☑️The importance of trust, transparency and strong relationships between founders, investors and directors. ☑️How governance needs to evolve as a company moves through different stages of growth. ☑️Why early-stage companies may need a more pragmatic approach to governance. ☑️How the right board can provide insights, connections and experience that help unlock a company's potential. A great board isn't simply there to oversee a company. The right people around the table can bring experience, perspective and connections that help founders navigate uncertainty, take thoughtful risks and make better decisions as the business evolves. Follow and connect: 🔗 Jane Andrews https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-andrews-901688/

    Ep19 Your Board, Your Advantage | Jane Andrews

  2. Aug 25

    Ep18 Governance: Handbrake or Accelerator? | Jacqui Walters

    In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with experienced director and chair Jacqui Walters to explore what “right time, right size” governance looks like for high-growth businesses. Jacqui shares why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to governance and how founders can recognise when it’s time to bring in fresh perspectives, clearer decision-making structures and the right people around the table. Together, they explore how to balance governance with speed, establish the right risk guardrails, and avoid imposing mature-company processes too early. From knowing when to introduce a board to understanding how boards, founders and management teams should evolve together, this conversation explores the role of trust, constructive challenge, strong leadership and strategic experimentation in helping companies navigate growth. In this episode, we cover: ☑️ How to recognise when a founder has become a decision-making bottleneck ☑️ When to introduce formal governance - and when an advisory board may be enough ☑️ How to identify the voices and perspectives your company needs around the table ☑️ Why governance should evolve with the business rather than follow a fixed formula ☑️ Balancing risk guardrails with speed, opportunity and entrepreneurial culture ☑️ How to recognise when your company has outgrown its existing governance model or board ☑️ Why the right board members for one stage may not be the right fit for the next ☑️ Building trust, clear accountability and constructive challenge between founders, management, investors and directors ☑️ The role of the chair in keeping everyone focused on what matters most ☑️ How boards can approach AI, from productivity gains to strategic experimentation Governance isn’t about adding complexity for the sake of it. Done well, it can help founders make better decisions, manage risk at the right time and bring the right experience and perspective into the business without losing the entrepreneurial energy that made it successful in the first place. It’s a conversation about founders, boards and the role of governance in helping high-growth companies reach their potential. If you’re building, leading or supporting a growing company, there’s plenty to take away from this episode. Follow and connect: 🔗 Jacqui Walters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-walters-faicd-5582975/

    Ep18 Governance: Handbrake or Accelerator? | Jacqui Walters

  3. Aug 18

    Ep17 Governance That Accelerates Growth — with Elaine Stead

    In this first episode of Season 2 of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with investor, entrepreneur, and experienced board director Elaine Stead to explore what good governance really looks like inside a high-growth company. Elaine is an investor at Main Sequence Ventures, where she looks after the health tech portfolio, and has spent 20 years in venture capital and served on more than 30 boards across investor, founder, and independent director roles. The conversation explores when high-growth companies should start formalising their boards, how founders can build the right mix of experience and perspectives around the table, and why a great board should challenge founders rather than simply agree with them. Elaine also shares why good governance should remove friction rather than create it — helping founders make better decisions while maintaining the speed and entrepreneurial culture that drives growth. Wayne and Elaine also dive into the warning signs of dysfunctional governance, the role of the chair, the importance of trust and healthy conflict, and how boards can add real value through experience, networks, risk management, and support for the founder. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ When a high-growth company should start building a formal board ☑️ What investors look for when assessing company governance ☑️ Why founders need directors who will challenge their thinking ☑️ How to build the right mix of skills, experience, diversity, and perspectives ☑️ Why good governance should remove friction, not slow the company down ☑️ How a board can give founders the "air cover" to make big decisions ☑️ The warning signs that a company has outgrown its governance model ☑️ Why healthy conflict and transparency are essential to a productive board ☑️ The role of the chair in keeping a board functional ☑️ When board subcommittees can help a growing company move faster It’s a practical conversation about founders, boards, investors, and the role governance can play in helping high-growth companies reach their potential. If you’re a founder, CEO, investor, director, or anyone involved in building a high-growth company, this is a great way to kick off Season 2 of 7 Questions. Follow and connect: 🔗 Elaine Stead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainestead/ 🔗 Main Sequence: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mainsequence/posts/?feedView=all

    Ep17 Governance That Accelerates Growth — with Elaine Stead

  4. Jun 1

    Ep16 The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones

    The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with entrepreneur, academic, and innovation strategist Uri Sternberg, co-founder and CEO of MW Autonomous Systems. Uri shares his journey from Israel to Australia, combining more than 20 years of startup experience with a long academic career teaching innovation and entrepreneurship around the world. The conversation explores how MW Autonomous Systems is building fully autonomous drone solutions for industries like agriculture, infrastructure, maintenance, and security — and why understanding the customer’s real operational challenges matters far more than simply deploying technology. Rather than starting with technology and looking for somewhere to apply it, Uri and his team spend time understanding the operational realities customers face on the ground. From cattle farms to infrastructure inspections, he explains how asking better questions often uncovers a completely different problem than the one first presented — leading to far more valuable solutions. Wayne and Uri also dive into startup failure, founder resilience, deep tech in Australia, and the lessons that come from building things that haven’t been built before. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why the best founders focus on asking better questions, not having all the answers ☑️ How autonomous drone systems are transforming agriculture and infrastructure operations ☑️ Why customer discovery is critical when building deep tech products ☑️ How MW Autonomous Systems creates bespoke solutions without long enterprise timelines ☑️ Why full autonomy is about solving operational problems, not just flying drones ☑️ What founders can learn from failure and shutting down ventures ☑️ Why Australia has a growing opportunity in deep tech and autonomous systems ☑️ How Uri balances intense founder focus with protecting energy and creativity ☑️ Why innovation ecosystems need to support experimentation and failure It’s a thoughtful and practical conversation about deep tech, entrepreneurship, and building systems that solve real-world problems. If you’re interested in autonomous systems, AI, robotics, agriculture, infrastructure, or founder journeys, this episode is well worth a listen Follow and connect: 🌐 MW Autonomous Systems: mw-systems.com.au 🔗 MW Autonomous Systems: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mwsystems/ 🔗 Uri Sternberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sternberguri/

    Ep16 The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones

  5. May 25

    Ep15 The Brutal Truth About Defence Tech Investing | Steve Baxter

    Australia is entering a new era of defence and national security. Yet many of the technologies needed to protect sovereign capability struggle to get funded, commercialised, and deployed. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with one of Australia’s most recognisable entrepreneurs and investors, Steve Baxter, for a candid conversation about defence technology, sovereign capability, venture capital, and the realities of building globally competitive businesses from Australia. Steve reflects on the founder journey that began during the early days of the internet boom, the lessons learned from building and backing companies over decades, and the accidental launch of Beaten Zone Venture Partners — a defence-focused venture fund investing in Australian sovereign capability. He shares why Australia has underinvested in defence innovation, how the “chasm of death” prevents great technologies from reaching market, and why the US represents a massive opportunity for ambitious Australian founders. The conversation dives into the differences between the Australian and US defence ecosystems, why founders need to be physically present in-market, and how Beaten Zone is helping Australian defence startups access the world’s largest defence market. Wayne and Steve also explore the future of defence innovation, the role of private capital in national security, and the lessons Steve has learned building and raising a specialised venture fund in one of the world’s most strategically important sectors. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why Australia has underinvested in defence innovation ☑️ What the “chasm of death” means for defence startups ☑️ Why the US defence market is such a massive opportunity ☑️ Why founders need to be physically present in-market ☑️ How defence procurement differs between Australia and the US ☑️ The role private capital plays in national security innovation ☑️ Lessons from building and raising a specialised venture fund ☑️ What it takes to scale globally from Australia Follow and connect: 🌐 Beaten Zone Venture Partners: beatenzone.vc 🔗 Beaten Zone Venture Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaten-zone-venture-partners/ 🔗 Steve Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-baxter-021448/

    Ep15 The Brutal Truth About Defence Tech Investing | Steve Baxter

  6. May 19

    Ep14 Solving Healthcare’s Recovery Gap with Ali Stokes

    Many patients leave hospital after surgery with little more than a few photocopied instructions. Yet recovery is where some of the biggest challenges begin. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Ali Stokes, founder and CEO of Beyond the Clinic, to explore how healthcare can move beyond fragmented recovery experiences and toward continuous, patient-centred care. After years working as a registered nurse and across corporate healthcare, Ali saw firsthand how disconnected patients often feel once they leave the clinical setting. Support is limited, engagement drops, and too many people are left trying to manage complex recovery journeys on their own. Ali is working to change that. Through Beyond the Clinic, she is building a digital health platform designed to combine technology with human support. Rather than relying solely on apps and automation, her team has embraced a hybrid care model that keeps real people involved throughout the recovery process. This is where the opportunity lies. By combining virtual care, health coaching, and accessible technology, Beyond the Clinic is helping patients feel more supported, more informed, and more confident managing their health. This conversation explores the future of digital healthcare, the importance of human connection in patient engagement, and the realities of building a healthcare startup in a highly complex system. As healthcare systems face increasing pressure, the need for scalable, human - centred care has never been greater. Ali’s vision challenges the idea that technology should replace people - instead, showing how the right combination of digital tools and human support can create better outcomes for everyone. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why most digital health platforms struggle with patient engagement ☑️ How hybrid care models improve recovery outcomes ☑️ The importance of human support in healthcare technology ☑️ How Beyond the Clinic is transforming patient self-management ☑️ Why partnerships matter in healthcare innovation ☑️ The realities of building a digital health startup ☑️ How technology can make healthcare more accessible and personalised Follow and connect: 🌐 Beyond the Clinic: https://beyondtheclinic.io/ 🔗 Ali Stokes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-stokes-66a464193/ 🔗 Beyond the Clinic: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-clinic-btc/

    Ep14 Solving Healthcare’s Recovery Gap with Ali Stokes

  7. May 12

    Ep13 From Zimbabwe to Queensland: Stew Glynn's Venture Journey

    Growing up in Zimbabwe during extreme economic instability taught Stew Glynn one thing early: entrepreneurship is often born from necessity. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Stew Glynn, Managing Partner & Co-founder of at TEN13, to explore the realities of startup investing, leadership, AI, and building resilient businesses in uncertain environments. Stew shares his journey from Zimbabwe to Australia’s startup ecosystem, reflecting on how adversity shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and approach to investing. He unpacks the evolution of venture capital, the importance of transparency in founder relationships, and why hard conversations are often the most important ones. The conversation also dives into the future of AI and health tech, and how emerging technologies are reshaping industries, investment strategies, and the future of entrepreneurship itself. This is where the opportunity lies. As AI accelerates change across every industry, founders and investors who can adapt quickly, stay resilient, and focus on solving meaningful problems will have the greatest advantage. Stew also shares lessons from building and scaling TEN13, coaching founders through difficult decisions, and maintaining energy and balance while operating in high-pressure startup environments. This conversation explores the realities of venture investing, the mindset required to build enduring companies, and why the next generation of innovation will be driven by adaptability, resilience, and bold thinking. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ How environment shapes entrepreneurial mindset and risk tolerance ☑️ The difference between necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship ☑️ Why transparency and radical candor matter in venture capital ☑️ How AI is reshaping industries, startups, and investing ☑️ The importance of focus and limiting scope in early-stage companies ☑️ Strategies for building high-performing teams and sustainable cultures ☑️ Emerging trends in AI, MedTech, and health tech investing ☑️ Lessons from building, scaling, exiting, and investing in technology companies ☑️ How founders can maintain resilience and energy through uncertainty Follow and connect: 🌐 TEN13: https://www.ten13.vc/ 🔗 TEN13: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ten13/ 🔗 Stew Glynn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewglynn/

    Ep13 From Zimbabwe to Queensland: Stew Glynn's Venture Journey

  8. May 5

    Ep12 Clarissa Yates on Predicting Postpartum Depression Early

    Postpartum depression affects millions of mothers. Yet most cases are only identified after symptoms appear. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Clarissa Yates, CEO and co-founder of Ketim Technologies, to explore how mental health care can shift from reactive to predictive. Imagine a future where understanding your mental health is as straightforward as a blood test. Clarissa is working to make that future a reality. Drawing from her background in neuroscience, she shares her journey into health tech and the motivation behind her work. She breaks down the gaps in how postpartum depression is currently diagnosed and treated, and why existing approaches have not meaningfully evolved in decades. Today, through Ketim Technologies, she is building a proactive and data-driven approach to maternal mental health. By combining biological markers with psychosocial insights, her team aims to predict the risk of postpartum depression before symptoms appear. This is where the opportunity lies. By moving beyond self-reported assessments and toward measurable biological signals, Ketim Technologies .is working to reshape how mental health is understood and treated. This conversation explores the science behind that shift, the challenges of translating research into clinical practice, and the broader vision for more predictive and personalized mental health care. For clinicians, it offers a new way to think about early intervention. For founders, it highlights the complexity of building in health tech. For anyone interested in mental health, it shows how innovation can improve outcomes at scale. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why current approaches to postpartum depression fall short ☑️ How biomarkers can help predict mental health risks ☑️ The role of biological and psychosocial data in diagnosis ☑️ What it takes to translate research into clinical practice ☑️ Why early intervention changes outcomes ☑️ The challenges of building a health tech startup ☑️ How innovation can reduce stigma around mental health Follow and connect: 🌐 Ketim website: ketim.com.au 🔗 Clarissa Yates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissayates/ 🔗 Ketim Technologies: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ketimtherapeutics/

    Ep12 Clarissa Yates on Predicting Postpartum Depression Early
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About

7 Questions is a practical conversation series with the founders and investors building innovative Australian companies. Hosted by Wayne Gerard, each episode uses a simple structure, seven questions to explore the founder journey, how decisions are actually made, where unintended consequences show up, and what matters most when building a company for the long term. Thoughtful conversations grounded in real founder and investor experience. For: 1. Founders looking for insights they can apply 2. Investors spotting companies worth a closer look 3. Customers curious about the thinking behind innovative Australian companies A Prtnr (Partner Ventures) podcast. https://prtnr.au Connect with Wayne on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynegerard/ Follow Prtnr on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnerventures

Information

  • Creator
    Wayne Gerard
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) Prtnr 2026
  • Show Website
    7 Questions

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