In The Trenches

Hanif Ibrahim

Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed—it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast created for Perth business owners who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights—practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter—helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches—this is the podcast for you.

  1. S02E12: AI, IP and Legal Risk: What Business Owners Need to Know w/Juan Perez

    May 11

    S02E12: AI, IP and Legal Risk: What Business Owners Need to Know w/Juan Perez

    AI legal risks, AI copyright law, AI liability, and intellectual property risks are becoming major issues for business owners using generative AI and agentic AI tools. AI is changing the way businesses operate, from writing code and creating content to managing workflows, contracts, client communication, and internal processes. But as more businesses adopt AI tools, a bigger question is emerging: who is responsible when AI gets it wrong? In this episode of In the Trenches, Hanif sits down with Juan Perez from Quest Legal to unpack the legal risks of using AI in business, especially around intellectual property, copyright, confidential information, privacy, surveillance, and liability. They discuss whether AI-generated code is protected by copyright, what happens when confidential client information is entered into ChatGPT or other AI tools, why AI hallucinations are creating problems in court, and why business owners may still be liable for the actions of AI agents. This conversation is essential for business owners, professionals, founders, lawyers, accountants, consultants, and anyone using AI tools inside their organisation. What Juan unpacks: • AI legal risks for business owners using generative AI tools • AI copyright law and who owns AI-generated content • Intellectual property risks when using AI to write code or documents • Confidential information risks when using ChatGPT and other AI tools • AI hallucinations in legal documents, court cases, and professional advice • AI meeting bots, recording consent, and surveillance law risks • Business liability when AI agents make mistakes or act without proper guardrails • AI policies, governance, and compliance for businesses using AI in Australia Powered by The Finance Agency — salary-paid finance brokers for forward-thinking Australian business owners. financeagency.com.au   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Juan Perez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanperezlink/ Website: https://questlegal.com.au/

    1h 6m
  2. S02E11: Why Most Leaders Fail at Communication (And What to Do Instead) | Alan Sieler

    Apr 28

    S02E11: Why Most Leaders Fail at Communication (And What to Do Instead) | Alan Sieler

    What does it actually mean to communicate and why do we get it wrong so often? In this episode, Alan Sieler, Founder of the Ontological Coaching Institute, explores communication at a deeper level, not just as a skill, but as a fundamental part of being human. Because to be human is to relate, and where there is interaction, there is often miscommunication. We unpack why communication breaks down, how our emotional state or "mood" shapes every conversation, and what leaders can do to take responsibility for how they are heard and understood. From assumptions and reactive responses to the importance of listening and timing, this conversation brings practical frameworks leaders can apply immediately. At its core, this episode challenges a common belief. Communication is not just about what you say. It is about how you show up. If you want to lead better, build stronger relationships, and create real understanding in your team, this is a conversation worth listening to.   🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ai22Ty1DyGg?si=K40Sby8BAkUI8LN4 🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod  🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-sieler-ab102711/  🔗Connect with Alan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-sieler-ab102711/ Website: https://ontologicalcoaching.net/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1h 8m
  3. S02E10: From Waste to Wealth: How Greg Watts Is Rebuilding Soil, Farming & the Future of Food

    Apr 20

    S02E10: From Waste to Wealth: How Greg Watts Is Rebuilding Soil, Farming & the Future of Food

    What if the key to rebuilding our soils and transforming farming has been sitting in our waste all along? According to Greg Watts, that "waste" might be the answer to improving soil health, strengthening farm economics, and shaping the future of food. As CEO of C-Wise, Greg is turning organic byproducts into high-performance compost at scale, helping farmers reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers, improve soil health, and unlock better yields. But this isn't just about compost. It's about a much bigger shift. In this episode, Greg breaks down how decades of modern agriculture have stripped carbon from our soils, pushing them closer to desert, and why the solution isn't more chemistry, but biology. We dive into:  The hidden problem with synthetic fertilisers   Why soil carbon is the foundation of productive farming   How compost can improve yield, reduce costs, and increase resilience   The commercial realities farmers are facing today   And why we're entering what Greg calls "the age of biology"  This is a conversation about business, science, and the systems that feed us, and what it will take to fix them. 🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC0b8-2XYeI 🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod  🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/  🔗Connect with Greg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-watts-29922822/ Website: https://cwise.com.au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    52 min
  4. S02E09: Why Young Men Are Struggling (Masculinity, Confidence & Social Skills) w/Mark Boulton

    Apr 6

    S02E09: Why Young Men Are Struggling (Masculinity, Confidence & Social Skills) w/Mark Boulton

    In this episode, we sit down with Mark Boulton from Arakan Martial Art to discuss the growing challenges facing young men today. From social isolation and gaming addiction to declining confidence and communication skills, many boys are struggling to develop the tools they need to navigate life. We explore what is driving these changes and how they are impacting identity, relationships, and self-worth. Mark shares insights from working closely with young people, highlighting how discipline, physical training, and shared experiences can help build resilience, confidence, and emotional control. This conversation goes beyond martial arts. It focuses on personal development, masculinity, and what young men need to become capable, grounded individuals. Key takeaways: Why many young men lack confidence and social skills The impact of isolation and digital environments How discipline and training build resilience The importance of real-world challenges and mentorship     🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/762ryGp-dDs   🔗In The Trenches Podcast 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Mark Boulton: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arakanmartialartperth Website: https://www.arakan.com.au/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1h 3m
  5. S02E08: Inside Australia's Defence Boom No One's Talking About w/Fred Bkamdin

    Mar 26

    S02E08: Inside Australia's Defence Boom No One's Talking About w/Fred Bkamdin

    Australia and Western Australia are entering a major defence and shipbuilding boom, but it is happening largely under the radar. In this episode, Hanif sits down with Fred Bkamdin, National Business Growth Manager-Marine (Defence & Commercial Excellence) at Energy Power Systems Australia and President of Australian Industry & Defence Network WA, to unpack what is really going on inside the industry. From the scale of investment and long-term pipeline of work, to the urgent demand for skilled workers, Fred shares why this is not a short-term spike, but a sustained shift that will shape Australia's economy for decades. They explore the realities of defence manufacturing in Australia, the flow-on impact to jobs and infrastructure, and why collaboration, trust, and capability are critical in an industry where the stakes are ultimately about safety and security. If you want to understand where real opportunity is emerging in Australia right now, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.   🎥Watch the full episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/6xVlkx8ma_k   🔗https://linktr.ee/In_The_Trenches.pod 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ 🔗Connect with Fred Bkamdin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-bkamdin-b2b6296/   If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.     Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

    1h 1m

About

Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed—it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast created for Perth business owners who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights—practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter—helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches—this is the podcast for you.