Engineering Success

Rick Merten

Every entrepreneur starts their business full of dreams. Whether it’s innovating a better product or service, creating wealth, building a life to be proud of, or changing the world in some way, engineers are no different. ’Engineering Success’ is a podcast about keeping your dreams alive when things get tough. Because even the strongest technical skills can get overwhelmed by the endless demands of building a business, and one day, you realise that even the best product or service isn’t enough to guarantee success. ‘Engineering Success’ features engineering and industrial leaders chatting candidly about their journey to long-term success: the challenges they encountered, the lessons they learned and the solutions they put in place. Whether you’re an engineering consultancy, an industrial service provider, or a manufacturer, you’ll hear actionable insights from your peers on how they established strong company cultures, systemised operations, leveraged sales and marketing to generate customers consistently, overcame financial challenges, faced increasing competition, adapted to change and managed growth. The host, Rick Merten, has been running his own business for over two decades, partnering with hundreds of SMES to help them achieve sustainable success. Rick’s ambition with this podcast is to let entrepreneurial engineers know you are not alone, and to share real-world insights that will help you engineer your success and build a better business.

  1. 2025. 11. 25.

    Merging Firms to Multiply Impact: Moussa Youssef, Vanguard Consulting Engineers

    What happens when an engineer gets fed up watching projects fail because no one coordinates properly? Moussa Youssef started BMY Engineering in 2018 after years of witnessing costly mistakes that could have been prevented. Six years later, he made a bold move—merging with Prime Engineering to create Vanguard Consulting Engineers, a 24-person multidisciplinary firm with a reputation for never missing deadlines.  In this conversation, Moussa shares the reality behind that merger: the first six months of chaos when communication broke down, how three partners learned to run decisions through one funnel instead of three, and why writing down roles and responsibilities saved the business. He talks about the systems that allow any team member to pick up where another left off, the weekly coordination meetings that keep projects on track, and the balance between over-committing to impress clients and burning out trying to deliver.  You'll also hear why Moussa believes scaling culture is harder than scaling capacity, how early engagement with clients shifts the relationship from consultant to partner, and the long-term vision for building a firm where engineers want to stay for their entire careers. This is an honest look at the messiness of growth, the importance of having hard conversations early, and what it takes to build systems that actually work when the unexpected inevitably happens.

    42분
  2. 2025. 10. 22.

    From Solo Founder to 23 Staff: Scaling a Fire Compliance Business: Aleks Culic, Projex Fire

    What does it take to start a business at 20, in the middle of a pandemic, and turn it into one of Australia’s leading fire compliance companies? Aleks Culic is the founder of Projects Fire, a passive fire compliance company he launched in 2020 while most of his peers were still at university. By spotting a gap in the market and backing himself, Aleks built a business that now employs over 20 people and delivers complex fire safety solutions across the country. Known for his strong technical capability and commitment to doing things right, he has earned a reputation for integrity and innovation in one of construction’s most safety-critical fields. In this conversation, Aleks shares how an early focus on emotional intelligence helped shape his leadership and decision-making from day one. He discusses what it means to build credibility at a young age, the lessons learned from rapid growth, and how he transitioned from working solo to leading a joint-venture team of 23. Aleks also opens up about the challenges of scaling systems, managing older teams, and maintaining quality as Projex Fire continues to grow. If you have ever wondered whether you are too young or too uncertain to start your own business, Aleks’s story is proof that belief, integrity, and a relentless work ethic can overcome any doubt. This episode is for every entrepreneur determined to do things the right way, even when no one is watching. Episode Highlights (00:00) Meet Aleks Culic: Founder of Projects Fire (10:00) Lessons from Mentorship and Emotional Coaching (12:00) Scaling Through Partnership and Trust (15:00) Managing Rapid Growth and Systems Under Pressure (25:00) Developing Processes for Quality and Compliance (28:00) Leading Older Teams with Confidence and Respect (33:00) Advice for Young Entrepreneurs   Connect with Aleks Culic https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleks-culic-bb0756138/ Connect with Rick Merten https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmerten Subscribe to the Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/inside-out-with-rick-6956089421838307328/

    35분
  3. 2025. 09. 29.

    Next Generation Thinking and the Future of Structural Engineering: Andrew Gall, Argall

    Andrew Gall walked away from a secure engineering career to challenge the industry’s biggest perception problem: that engineers are box-ticking cost centres rather than creative partners in design. Andrew is the founding director of ARGALL, a structural and civil consultancy based in Melbourne, with over 15 years of technical expertise and an entrepreneurial mindset. He has positioned ARGALL as the partner of choice for progressive architects, developers, and councils across Australia. The firm is recognised for its next-generation thinking, combining sustainability, creativity, and operational maturity to deliver award-winning projects. If you’re an engineering leader looking to grow without losing your values, this conversation is a blueprint for scaling smart, building a team that thinks differently, and proving that structural engineering can deliver both creativity and commercial success. Episode Highlights:  (00:00) Meet Andrew Gall: Founder of ARGALL (05:25) Next Generation Thinking in Practice (13:48) Scaling Argall Without Compromising Values (17:42) Transitioning from Technical Expert to Business Leader (33:10) Building a Strong Team with DISC Profiling (37:21) Future Vision and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs   Connect with Andrew Gall  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrgall/ Connect with Rick Merten https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmerten Subscribe to the Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/inside-out-with-rick-6956089421838307328/   Engineering Success is an InsideOut Group production. -------------------------------- Get our latest insights on marketing wisdom and SME success tips. Subscribe: https://insideoutgroup.com.au/#letstalk Our thinking: https://insideoutgroup.com.au/blog/ Our work: https://insideoutgroup.com.au/case-studies/ Join the conversation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insideout-group/   #b2bmarketing #sme #smallbusinessmarketingtips #businesstips #businesspodcast

    41분
  4. 2025. 08. 26.

    You Can't Design a Solution to a Problem You Don't Understand: Ray Keefe, Successful Endeavours

    Ray Keefe discovered that being a brilliant engineer wasn't enough when his business coach challenged him: "Are you any good? I don't believe your answer - prove it." This brutal honesty launched a transformation that saw his electronics manufacturing consultancy win over 60 awards and challenge how Australian businesses think about local manufacturing.  Ray confronts uncomfortable truths about Australian business culture. Learning that Australia ranks dead last globally for business collaboration (181st out of 181 countries), he built Successful Endeavours on partnership and collaboration in an industry known for keeping trade secrets.  His pricing philosophy provides a masterclass in value thinking. When a client brought failing $70 Chinese circuit boards, Ray charged $200 but eliminated $1,200 in labour costs and warranty failures. The client saved money overall and saw sales skyrocket. This illustrates his philosophy of designing for the total cost of ownership, not the unit price.  Ray addresses what many engineering owners face but rarely discuss: he spent six years running "a job with tax benefits" because he had technical expertise but lacked business skills. His systematic approach to developing business acumen provides a roadmap for technically brilliant entrepreneurs struggling with commercial challenges.  Rather than accepting that everything must be made cheaper overseas, Ray demonstrates how Australian manufacturers win through operational efficiency, customisation, and total solution value. His examples show that designing specifically for local capabilities often beats offshore pricing while delivering superior outcomes.  The episode explores his "hot teams" philosophy - small groups of domain specialists tackling difficult problems - offering an alternative to the scale-at-all-costs mentality. This approach keeps businesses agile while building deep, specialised expertise.  For engineering business owners struggling with pricing, positioning, or transitioning from technical expert to business leader, Ray's journey offers practical guidance and proof that Australian manufacturing can compete globally while creating local value.

    43분

예고편

소개

Every entrepreneur starts their business full of dreams. Whether it’s innovating a better product or service, creating wealth, building a life to be proud of, or changing the world in some way, engineers are no different. ’Engineering Success’ is a podcast about keeping your dreams alive when things get tough. Because even the strongest technical skills can get overwhelmed by the endless demands of building a business, and one day, you realise that even the best product or service isn’t enough to guarantee success. ‘Engineering Success’ features engineering and industrial leaders chatting candidly about their journey to long-term success: the challenges they encountered, the lessons they learned and the solutions they put in place. Whether you’re an engineering consultancy, an industrial service provider, or a manufacturer, you’ll hear actionable insights from your peers on how they established strong company cultures, systemised operations, leveraged sales and marketing to generate customers consistently, overcame financial challenges, faced increasing competition, adapted to change and managed growth. The host, Rick Merten, has been running his own business for over two decades, partnering with hundreds of SMES to help them achieve sustainable success. Rick’s ambition with this podcast is to let entrepreneurial engineers know you are not alone, and to share real-world insights that will help you engineer your success and build a better business.