Beyond Growth with Reyan Fernando

Reyan Fernando
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Leadership lessons from business, life, and the journey within. Beyond Growth with Reyan Fernando is a podcast for leaders navigating the real work of business and personal growth. Hosted by Reyan Fernando, a business leader and coach, this show goes behind the scenes to explore what it truly takes to align a team, scale a business, and build something that lasts. Subscribe and join the journey beyond growth.

  1. Oct 20

    No Plan B: Resilience, Real Estate and Staying True to Yourself with Michelle Winckle

    On this episode of Beyond Growth, host Reyan Fernando sits down with Michelle Winckle, Director of HayesWinckle and one of Geelong's few female auctioneers, to talk about resilience, leadership and what growth really means when there's no plan B. Michelle shares her journey from community radio and tough years as a single mum on the dole, to listing 14 homes in her first month and becoming the number one agent across the Ray White network, before she and Daniel Hayes put their own names on the door in 2011. Together, they unpack the reality of rebuilding after losing half a team, why climbing to the top can be easier than staying there, and how Michelle learned to take holidays, step back from day-to-day management and lead with empathy. Key Topics Covered: No Plan B: Why going all in, with no backup plan, sharpens focus and drives results. The Long Game: Building relationships that pay off years later, including a 19-year listing. Leading and Mentoring: Spotting when your people need a lift, and creating ownership paths for future directors. Growth Through Hard Times: Finding the lesson in the darkest moments, and why you should always stay teachable. Michelle Winckle is a Director of HayesWinckle, an auctioneer, and a mother and grandmother. She started the agency in 2011 with next to nothing, and today it is ranked among the top 100 agencies in Australia. If anything in today's conversation has brought something up for you, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14. This episode was proudly brought to you by ISO365 - ISO Compliance, as a Service. You can connect with Reyan Fernando via LinkedIn or by heading to www.reyanfernando.com.au

    No Plan B: Resilience, Real Estate and Staying True to Yourself with Michelle Winckle

  2. Oct 6

    Purpose Over Politics: Navigating AI, Strategy, and Organisational Roots with Robine Stephenson

    On this episode of Beyond Growth, host Reyan Fernando sits down with Robine Stephenson, founder of Straforma, to explore the intersection of strategic execution, organizational culture, and emerging technology . Robine shares lessons from her varied career—from reality TV auditions and early process innovation at the Ministry of Justice to executive roles as Chief of Staff—unpacking why traditional workplaces often struggle with burnout, politics, and strategic drift . Together, they delve into the real impact of AI on operating models, why businesses must protect their core "roots" before scaling branches, and how leaders can eliminate the tyranny of BAU to create space for deeply human, purposeful work. Key Topics Covered: Roots vs. Branches: Why clarity on your foundational "why" and core processes must precede any new initiative or tool. The Reality of AI Adoption: Moving beyond hype to automate administrative workflows and deploy agentic models responsibly. Defeating Strategic Drift: Eliminating workplace politics and making data-informed decisions to kill off legacy projects that no longer deliver value . Sustainable Leadership: Why responsiveness is not control, and how intentional reflection creates long-term performance. Robine Stephenson is a failed reality TV star and the founder and Managing Director of Straforma. She helps organisations turn their strategy into behaviour, with a simple rallying cry: Stop the drift. Find your form. This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reyan Fernando⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au⁠⁠⁠

    Purpose Over Politics: Navigating AI, Strategy, and Organisational Roots with Robine Stephenson

  3. Sep 22

    Your Next Employee Might Be AI: Building, Trusting and Governing the Future of Work with Mark Kuch

    AI is changing how quickly businesses can build, solve problems and get ideas into the world. But as AI becomes more capable, a bigger question emerges: how do we know we can trust what it builds? In this episode of Beyond Growth, Reyan Fernando sits down with serial tech entrepreneur Mark Kuch from FieldTaskora to explore what happens when AI moves from being a tool we use to something that starts working alongside us. Mark shares lessons from his experience building multiple technology businesses and explains why the biggest challenge with AI may not be development, but governance. His approach is simple: if you're going to treat AI like a new employee, you need to give it clear processes, documented standards, boundaries and quality gates. They explore: Why sometimes the best instruction you can give AI is to slow down.How business owners can start using AI safely and practically today.Why the startup world is shifting from pitching ideas to demonstrating working products.The hidden risks of AI-driven development and who is ultimately responsible when things go wrong.What happens when AI can build software faster than humans can understand the code.Why governance, trust and validation will become increasingly important as AI takes on more responsibility.A fascinating conversation for founders, leaders and anyone trying to understand not just what AI can do, but what it means to actually trust it with important work. This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Reyan Fernando⁠⁠⁠⁠ via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au⁠⁠⁠

    Your Next Employee Might Be AI: Building, Trusting and Governing the Future of Work with Mark Kuch

  4. Sep 8

    Running for Geelong: Lee Troop on Olympic Resilience & Building a Legacy

    Join us for an in-depth conversation with three-time Olympic marathoner Lee Troop as he shares the unfiltered story of his journey from a young boy running with his father to a world-class athlete and now, a community visionary. Lee provides a raw and honest account of his twenty-year professional career, unpacking the relentless discipline required to run 250-kilometer weeks and complete a 1,000-day running streak. He reflects on the highs of his major city marathon performances and the hard-won lessons from three vastly different and challenging Olympic campaigns. He also speaks candidly about the immense physical and psychological toll of elite sport, including the career-ending injury that reshaped his life's purpose. The conversation then shifts to his current passion: an eight-year mission to bring a world-class running festival to his hometown, Geelong. Lee details the immense logistical hurdles, from navigating city-wide road closures to emergency service access plans. This is a masterclass in community building, as Lee explains how the Geelong Running Festival is designed to be "more than just a race." Discover the intricate details behind its purpose-driven model, including partnerships with local charities, the creation of an Indigenous running group, a meticulously designed medal celebrating Geelong's heritage, and a finish-line festival built to celebrate every single participant. This is not just a story about running; it's a powerful narrative about resilience, the importance of mentorship, and transforming a lifetime of personal achievement into a lasting legacy for an entire community. Sign up for the Geelong Running Festival by visiting https://www.geelongrunningfestival.com.au/ This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with ⁠⁠⁠Reyan Fernando⁠⁠⁠ via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au⁠⁠

    Running for Geelong: Lee Troop on Olympic Resilience & Building a Legacy

  5. Aug 25

    From a Punt to 600+ Billboards: The Gawk Story with Luke Course

    What happens when two brothers take a punt on a few billboards and end up building a regional media business with more than 600+ billboards and 50+ people? In this episode of Beyond Growth, Reyan sits down with Luke Course, co-founder of Gawk, to unpack the real story behind the business. What started as an idea to build a few passive-investment billboards turned into something much bigger. Luke shares the highs, lows and plenty of lessons from the journey, including the early days of getting their hands dirty, navigating COVID, making bold decisions during uncertainty, and building a business where people and culture sit at the centre. They talk about why the brothers chose to focus on regional Victoria, how Gawk has maintained its unique larrikin culture while scaling, and why investing in people has become one of their biggest competitive advantages. In this episode, they explore: ​Taking a punt and turning an idea into a growing business​The early challenges that shaped Gawk​Why COVID became a major turning point​Betting on regional Victoria and seeing an opportunity others overlooked​Building and protecting culture while growing beyond 50 people​Making sophisticated advertising technology accessible to local businesses​Why being independent and genuinely consultative matters​The lessons Luke has learned about leadership, people and scaling If you're a founder trying to grow, a leader navigating the challenges of scaling, or simply love a good underdog story, this conversation is about backing yourself, backing your people and doing business differently. Find out more about Gawk by heading to www.gawk.com.au This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with ⁠⁠Reyan Fernando⁠⁠ via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au⁠

    From a Punt to 600+ Billboards: The Gawk Story with Luke Course

  6. Aug 11

    AI Can’t Do This: Why Local Radio is Winning In a Digital Age with Rachel Patterson

    In an era of AI, digital saturation and endless content, why is local radio still thriving? Reyan Fernando sits down with Rachel Patterson, General Manager of Geelong Broadcasters (K Rock & Bay 93.9), to explore the enduring power of localism and what makes radio so difficult to replicate. From her journey across 25 radio stations to her “listening-led” leadership style, Rachel shares what she’s learned about building genuine connections with audiences, teams and communities. Together, they unpack the “magic bundle” of radio, from real-time human connection and local relevance to authenticity, personality and community. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and artificial content, this conversation explores why the human touch might just be the ultimate competitive advantage. This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with ⁠Reyan Fernando⁠ via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au

    AI Can’t Do This: Why Local Radio is Winning In a Digital Age with Rachel Patterson

  7. Jul 28

    From Detective to Purpose: Dale Smith's Scaada Story

    After 21 years as a police detective, Dale Smith made a life-changing decision to walk away and build Scaada, an environmental solutions business driven by people, planet, and community. In this conversation, Dale shares the personal transformation behind the business. He reflects on letting go of an ego-driven leadership style, navigating ADHD, and learning that true leadership comes through collaboration, trust, and empowering others. We also explore how Scaada has built a culture that hires for character, develops leaders from within, and tackles some of Australia's toughest environmental challenges, from disaster response to water conservation. This is an honest conversation about leadership, personal growth, and building a business that creates a lasting impact. This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠⁠, as a Service. You can connect with Reyan Fernando via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au

    From Detective to Purpose: Dale Smith's Scaada Story

  8. Jul 14

    Mentorship, AI, and the Art of Family Business with Bill Winter and Mark Edmonds

    Join Reyan Fernando for a deep dive into the professional lives of Bill Winter and Mark Edmonds, two seasoned business leaders with decades of experience across family business consulting, corporate retail, and board governance. In this episode, we explore: The "Sliding Door" Moments: How pivotal decisions shaped their careers and led them to where they are today. Family Business Dynamics: Practical strategies for corporatizing family firms without losing their unique culture, and the importance of formal governance. The Power of Mentorship: Why lived experience beats theory, and how to find the right guidance. Tech & The Future: How they are leveraging AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to drive productivity while maintaining the essential value of face-to-face connection. The "True Business Stories" Journey: A look behind the scenes of their own podcasting venture and their mission to uncover the hidden stories of the Geelong business community. Whether you are navigating succession planning, looking to join a board, or simply seeking wisdom on leadership and giving back, this conversation offers a masterclass in staying engaged, curious, and forward-thinking at every stage of life. This episode was proudly brought to you by ⁠ISO365 - ISO Compliance⁠, as a Service. You can connect with Reyan Fernando via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ or by heading to ⁠www.reyanfernando.com.au

    Mentorship, AI, and the Art of Family Business with Bill Winter and Mark Edmonds
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Leadership lessons from business, life, and the journey within. Beyond Growth with Reyan Fernando is a podcast for leaders navigating the real work of business and personal growth. Hosted by Reyan Fernando, a business leader and coach, this show goes behind the scenes to explore what it truly takes to align a team, scale a business, and build something that lasts. Subscribe and join the journey beyond growth.

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