104 episodes

Founders who've scaled. Founders still striving.

What could you achieve if you knew the secrets and strategies of the Founders who've already achieved scale? Join Sean Steele as he interviews the Founders who've made it, learns from industry experts, and follows a group of Founders still striving to scale.

The ScaleHQ Podcast is more about strategy and practical tools, than inspiration.

ScaleHQ Podcast Sean Steele

    • Business

Founders who've scaled. Founders still striving.

What could you achieve if you knew the secrets and strategies of the Founders who've already achieved scale? Join Sean Steele as he interviews the Founders who've made it, learns from industry experts, and follows a group of Founders still striving to scale.

The ScaleHQ Podcast is more about strategy and practical tools, than inspiration.

    101 — 5 Simple Steps to Building a Founder-Led Content Engine with Teeth in Just 30 Minutes Per Week

    101 — 5 Simple Steps to Building a Founder-Led Content Engine with Teeth in Just 30 Minutes Per Week

    This week on the ScaleHQ Podcast, we’re tearing up the rulebook on personal branding and why it’s not just fluff – especially for the likes of Founders want to step back from the business, not further into it.



    We’re talking B2B content marketing with Robert Katai, the brains behind the B2B Creator Newsletter and a bit of a smarty-pants in helping brands stand out in a sea of digital noise.



    Why bother, you ask? Here’s the kicker:



    Personal branding isn’t just about getting your boring corporate headshot on LinkedIn. It’s about weaving helping the essence of “you” be seen and understand by those who matter – customers, partners, advocates, and talent.



    Robert cracked open a treasure trove of insights on how to do just that, with more practicality and less fluff than you’d think:


    Why Your Story Matters: Turns out, your journey, beliefs, and insights are gold dust for engaging with everyone who interacts with your business.
    Cut Through the Noise: In a world gone mad with content, your personal brand is the beacon that guides your ship to port – or, in less poetic terms, makes you stand out.
    Engage on a New Level: We dove into how your personal brand can be a powerful tool for engagement, building deeper connections with your network.
    Attract and Retain Talent: The best talent want to be inspired by someone (that’s you), not just work for a company. Show them who’s at the helm, and show them the real you, and they’re more likely to come aboard and stay for the journey.
    Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact: Robert shares practical, actionable tips to elevate your personal brand without it becoming your new full-time job.



    So, before you write off personal branding as something for the “other guys,” take a listen. Robert Katai might just change your mind as he did mine.



    Catch the full scoop on this week’s episode. It’s crammed with straightforward, actionable advice that even the busiest founder can fit into their schedule.



    Tune in now and start shaping the brand of “You” to help your business elevate to the next level.



    Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA

    Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4

    YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    ScaleHQ website: www.ScaleHQ.com.au/101

    • 56 min
    100 — Lessons Learned After 100 Interviews with 8, 9 and 10-Figure Founders and Experts on Scaling

    100 — Lessons Learned After 100 Interviews with 8, 9 and 10-Figure Founders and Experts on Scaling

    100th episode!



    Today I reveal my 6 biggest takeaways from 100 interviews with successful Founders and experts on scaling. And a little update on my crazy move to Europe.



    After 2 years of speaking to successful Founders, experts on many aspects of business you need to master to scale, we have finally reached the 100th episode! (woop woop).



    This week, I summarise my 6 biggest takeaways from the first 100 episodes.



    Whether you’re a regular listener or new to the ScaleHQ Podcast, this is one you won’t want to miss this very special episode if you want to scale to 8 figures + .



    Oh.. and I add a few special updates on new episode formats for 2024 AND an update on my recent crazy, life-changing move to Europe.



    The highlights from this week’s episode:

    🔗 03:22 Takeaway #1 - Develop a clear growth strategy to develop competitive advantage.


    🔗 05:08 Takeaway #2 - Always build with an exit in mind (whether you plan to exit or not)


    🔗 06:30 Takeaway #3 - Level up a few key roles as early as possible


    🔗 09:17 Takeaway #4 - Don’t write off acquisitions because you’re afraid of them (I’ll explain why)


    🔗 10:49 Takeaway #5 - You’ll have to listen to find out!


    🔗 13:36 Takeaway #6 - You’ll have to listen to find out!


    🔗 19:41 - The future of the ScaleHQ podcast in 2024


    🔗 21:48 - My family’s recent crazy move to Europe - how to follow the journey



    Watch or listen to the full episode on:

    Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA

    Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4

    YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    ScaleHQ website: www.ScaleHQ.com.au/100



    #scaleup #businessgrowth #successtips

    • 29 min
    99 — Lessons Learned Building a High Profit 8-Figure Education Business in Just 5 Years - Ben Handler

    99 — Lessons Learned Building a High Profit 8-Figure Education Business in Just 5 Years - Ben Handler

    After co-founding then exiting Australia’s largest buyers agency Cohen Handler, Ben founded Buyers Agent Institute.



    In just 5 years, he scaled it into a high profit, 8-figure business.



    This week, I interview him to find out what his secret is to building a successful, high-growth business.



    After amassing 3 billion in residential and commercial property purchases in just 9 years, Ben Handler decided it was time to exit his role as Co-Founder and CEO of Cohen Handler, Australia’s largest buyers agency and start the Buyer’s Agent Institute (BAI).



    BAI is an education business focused on helping people become buyers agents.



    He scaled it to 8-figures, and high levels of profitability in just 5 years.



    In this episode, Ben reveals his secrets to building a lean, variable-cost business model and his approach to building predictable, scalable sales funnels that consistently produce high growth rates.



    Some of the best bits:

    04:06 - “Building a business with someone else is more exciting than going it alone”

    26:41 - “The best marketers are expert in only one platform, do revenue shares and don’t take many clients”

    31:54 - The intricacies of designing scalable sales funnels

    37:09 - “People can copy your website, but they can’t copy your story”

    48:29 - “The more fulfilled you are outside your work, the better your growth will be”



    Watch or listen to the full episode on:

    Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA

    Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4

    YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    ScaleHQ website: www.ScaleHQ.com.au/99



    #EducationBusiness #GrowthStrategy #SalesFunnels

    • 57 min
    98 — How to Build Strategic Partnerships that will Accelerate Your Business Growth - Talila Kroy

    98 — How to Build Strategic Partnerships that will Accelerate Your Business Growth - Talila Kroy

    This week, Talila Kroy is back to reveal how you can use strategic partnerships to take your business growth to the next level.



    Customers buy from people they trust, and they like. But how do you short-cut the inevitable time it can take to develop trust with a new customer?



    Strategic partnerships is one incredible way. Why?



    Because recommendations from partners of your work instils instant trust in that customer, and saves you having to establish it for yourself.



    Strategic partnerships are like planting an orchard of fruit trees, rather than going to the shops to buy fruit each day.. which would be like direct sales.



    Yes.. it’s quicker initially to just buy that fruit directly and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s tiring and requires a higher workload over time.



    If you plant an orchard, there’s more work upfront, but if you then nurture that orchard and allow it to grow, and mature.. that orchard (strategic partnership) will deliver ongoing, high quality fruit exactly the way you like it, season after season, after season.



    This week, I have Talila Kroy from the award-winning emple (experts in developing repeatable client acquisition systems) back for a third time on the ScaleHQ podcast, sharing her secrets on how to set up enduring strategic partnerships that deliver value for both parties, in an authentic and genuine way that protects your and their brand and your respective customers.



    You’ll love learning how to use strategic partnerships as a key channel that enables your business growth.



    Here are the highlights of this week’s episode:

    04:46 - The benefits of strategic partnerships over direct sales
    08:36 - The typical conversion rates in partner-delivered leads
    18:15 - The ingredients that make strategic partnerships flourish
    26:33 - Different ways of creating value for each partner (and their clients)
    36:08 - The rhythms that matter in the partnership as it matures
    48:05 - The things that can go wrong and how to avoid them



    Watch or listen to the full episode on:

    🔗 Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA

    🔗 Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4

    🔗 YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    ScaleHQ website: www.ScaleHQ.com.au/98



    #Acquisition #Partnerships #LeadGeneration

    • 1 hr 1 min
    97 — From Zero to 350m+ and 4,000 People in 21 Years - Ben Marsonet

    97 — From Zero to 350m+ and 4,000 People in 21 Years - Ben Marsonet

    How do you add 200m in revenue in 2.5 years?

    This week Sean interviews Ben Marsonet the Group CEO of Altus Traffic to understand their rapid transformation.

    Ben Marsonet’s had an incredible journey.

    From Traffic Controller at 18, to Group CEO of ANZ’s largest traffic management business.

    2.5 years ago they had $140m in revenue, under new ownership and Ben’s leadership they now have $350m in revenue having completed 4 acquisitions in just 12 months.

    You’ll love this week’s humble and inspiring guest on the ScaleHQ podcast. Join us as we unpack Ben’s story, and the secrets behind this rapid growth.


    Some of the highlights from this week’s episode:
    03:55 - The current scale of Altus.

    10:00 - The pivotal inflection points that have led to the significant transformation.

     14:15 - When is the right time to take on private equity investment.

    22:12 - The biggest challenges under private equity ownership.

    26:51 - The ingredients that led to the 140m-350m. transformation.

    35:42 - Ben’s biggest learning as a new CEO.

    -----------------------------------------------------
    Watch or listen to the full episode on:
    • Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA
    • Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4
    • YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    ScaleHQ website: 
    [www.ScaleHQ.com.au/97] (https://www.scalehq.com.au/97)

    #growthjourney #scaleups #ceotips

    • 42 min
    96 — What I Learned Building 4 Companies in 15 Years and the Inevitable Burnout that Followed

    96 — What I Learned Building 4 Companies in 15 Years and the Inevitable Burnout that Followed

    From Startups and Success to Burnout: A 15-Year Entrepreneurial Journey

    Only 2.3% of businesses successfully scale beyond $10 million.

    And of those, even fewer manage to succeed in building 4 successful companies in a 15 year period. But that’s exactly what Ryan Trainor has done.

    Since the age of 24 Ryan has founded and led or co-founded, a labor force company, three successful education businesses and the largest video game and entertainment venues business in the southern hemisphere.

    But these sorts of achievements unfortunately can take a significant toll on your physical health and your relationships with those around you.

    Ryan, after burning out in 2022, realised he had to take a look at how he was managing his ambitions, his health and his relationships.

    You’ll love hearing both the strategies that helped him succeed as a serial entrepreneur, and how he’s grappling with the impacts of his burnout.



    Here are this week’s best bits from the full episode

    02:18 - The foundations of Ryan’s repeated successes

    07:48 - The issues that arise when you start assigning genius to what you’ve done

    11:47 - Was building to step back a plan, or an accident?

    17:25 - How to manage financial risks when you step back from CEO

    23:07 - What happens when you ignore the signs on the way to burnout

    33:28 - How to find success at home when you’re used to finding it in your business



    Watch or listen to the full episode on:

    • Spotify: https://loom.ly/NuK50WA

    • Apple: https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4

    • YouTube: https://loom.ly/u_vibuw

    • ScaleHQ website: www.ScaleHQ.com.au/96



    #BusinessGrowth #Burnout #Relationships

    • 46 min

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