EO Melbourne Values Awards: Honouring Excellence and Commitment to Core Values

In a momentous stride towards acknowledging excellence and embodying core values, EO Melbourne has proudly introduced its prestigious Values Awards. This distinguished accolade stands as a chapter-wide celebration, passionately designed to bestow well-deserved recognition and honour upon exceptional members who consistently epitomise and embody the core values of EO.

A Celebration of Values 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards mark a significant occasion, a unique opportunity for the organisation to pay homage and extend heartfelt appreciation to those individuals who not only uphold but passionately demonstrate the very essence of EO's values. As an esteemed organisation, EO Melbourne steadfastly adheres to the following values:

• Together we grow - We are committed to each other’s success and well-being—and we unite to celebrate those differences. We may be from different cultures, religions and have different lived experiences, but EO binds us together across cities and continents.

• Trust and respect - Each of us is unique and equal. This is fundamental to EO. Living this value with an open mind and appreciation for different points of view enables us to create a space where everyone can be their complete, authentic selves.

• Thirst for learning - We have an insatiable curiosity. It is through curiosity that we grow and widen our horizons. Learning is about more than a class or a workshop—it is about asking the right questions, trying new things and having curiosity about other members, their life experiences and their perspectives.

• Think big, be bold - We innovate and take risks to make the world a better place for our teams, our families, our communities, and humankind. We think big, we are bold. We want to make a difference beyond ourselves. We see entrepreneurship as a way to create a better world for all, and we explore new opportunities to make a positive impact with our work.

Honouring Excellence 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards provide a platform to recognise those who passionately embody EO's core values. Members are invited to nominate deserving individuals using the designated nomination form. These nominations should be accompanied by specific examples that showcase how the nominees exemplify EO's values in their actions and interactions.

The nomination process is an ongoing endeavour, spanning throughout the year. Every month, the chapter announces the nominees, shining a spotlight on those who embody EO's values in exceptional ways. As a testament to the collective spirit of EO, nominating a fellow Forum colleague is rewarded with 10 points, while honouring a member from a different Forum is rewarded with an extraordinary 20 points. Through these celebrated nominations, each exceptional member has the potential to accrue up to 40 points per month.

A Community United by Values 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards reflect the essence of EO's tight-knit community, where success is measured not only by individual achievements but also by collective values. As the chapter continues to celebrate and honour those who personify these values, it reinforces the commitment to growth, trust, learning, and bold action that define EO and its exceptional members.

Thus, the EO Melbourne Values Awards stand as a testament to the dedication and commitment of EO members to their core values. This celebration of excellence serves as a reminder that, within the EO community, success is not only measured by personal accomplishments but by the shared values that unite and inspire every member.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Coaching Room Becomes EO Melbourne's Strategic Alliance Partner

EO Melbourne, the go-to organisation for entrepreneurs and business leaders, is ecstatic to announce its latest Strategic Alliance Partner (SAP): The Coaching Room. This strategic collaboration brings unparalleled opportunities for EO Melbourne members to supercharge their leadership skills, communication prowess, and overall performance, setting a fresh benchmark for professional growth and development.

The Coaching Room takes the lead in executive training and coaching, specialising in entrepreneurship and executive development. Their unwavering focus on delivering transformative communication and leadership training has cemented their status as a trusted authority in the field. What sets them apart is their innovative integration of artificial intelligence and systems thinking across all their coaching and leadership programs. This cutting-edge approach propels rapid and substantial changes, consistently surpassing clients' expectations and unveiling rewarding discoveries along the way.

As a global coaching and training services provider, The Coaching Room has collaborated with prestigious clients such as Williams Racing Formula One, Fiji Airways, the Department of Defence, Specsavers, and countless small to medium-sized entrepreneurial businesses. Their wealth of expertise and proven track record makes them the ideal partner for EO Melbourne.

Dr James L Murray, Founder and Director at Work Healthy Australia and EO Melbourne Chapter President has availed of The Coaching Room’s services and has this to say, "When I first found out about The Coaching Room in a workshop with Jay Hedley, it all sounded a little too good to be true. We all had that experience where vendors were big on promises and perhaps a little short on delivery. Their promise to support you in unlocking your real potential -- in business, leadership, communication, high-performance sport and in real life -- seems maybe a bit grandiose. However, I can now speak with real experience, and the experience has been great. Currently, four of the most critical people in my life, work and business -- 2 CEOs, a COO and an Executive Manager are being coached by Jay. I will let you know that they are not the cheapest option around, but in my experience, they have been the best that I have used so far in my 23 years in business. I encourage you to find out more about their breakthrough methodology of coaching leaders."

EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room value the importance of building trust between a new SAP and its members. To cultivate this trust and showcase their immense value, The Coaching Room is excited to offer several complimentary introductory benefits to EO Melbourne members and Forums.

Forums can tap into The Coaching Room's expertise through engaging Forum presentations covering diverse topics, including performance, communication, and leadership. These captivating presentations offer valuable insights and strategies to fuel growth and success within each Forum.

In addition, The Coaching Room extends bespoke coaching sessions tailored to elevate Forums to peak performance. Their seasoned coaches provide personalised guidance, actionable strategies, and constructive feedback, empowering Forum members and bolstering their overall effectiveness. These coaching sessions are tailored, honing in on each Forum's unique needs, and furnishing them with a competitive edge in their respective industries.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by business leaders, The Coaching Room ensures a confidential call to address business or leadership hurdles. In a safe and secure environment, members can candidly discuss obstacles, receive expert advice, valuable insights, and result-driven strategies to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and unlock their full potential as visionary leaders.

But that's not all! The collaboration between EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room ushers in a plethora of additional benefits for members.

Prepare for a deep dive into leadership concepts with a full-day Leadership Workshop, an immersive learning event open to all EO Melbourne members. This comprehensive workshop arms participants with the tools and knowledge needed to excel as leaders in their businesses. Scheduled throughout the financial year, members have ample opportunities to participate and glean valuable insights from this transformative learning experience.

Further strengthening this partnership, exclusive quarterly Leadership Workshops cater to EO Melbourne members in leadership roles, including Moderators. These workshops offer invaluable insights and practical tools to fortify leadership skills within the chapter, facilitating effective organisational leadership. By actively participating in these sessions, members can enhance their leadership acumen and contribute to the continued success of EO Melbourne.

This strategic alliance between EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room represents a potent partnership that strives to unlock the untapped potential of EO Melbourne members. By harnessing The Coaching Room's expertise, members can elevate their leadership skills, refine their communication abilities, and propel their performance to new heights. This collaboration underscores EO Melbourne's steadfast commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial excellence, ensuring the growth and success of its members remain at the forefront.

Read more about this partnership at https://www.eomelbourne.org/the-coaching-room.

EO Melbourne gears up for FY 2023/24

As the Financial Year 2022/23 comes to an end and a new FY is about to begin, EO Melbourne ushers into the coming FY 2023/24 with a line-up of programs and events that will take its members’ entrepreneurial journeys to new heights.

The year starts off with a virtual learning experience in July, featuring Jim Penman, the brilliant mind behind Jim's Group, a globally recognised franchise and one of Australia's most notable and reliable brands. Jim successfully established Jim's Mowing as Australia's largest franchise chain and the most recognised lawn mowing business in the world.

In this special one-hour virtual event, Jim will share his inspiring story, explain his business principles, and discuss his philosophy of prioritising service and people over profits. He will also take us on the journey of how he expanded his empire from limited resources to cover Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Also in July, EO Melbourne Member and Elite Akademy Founder Kusal Goonewardena will take an exclusive deep dive into the cutting-edge science of High Performance. Kusal will talk about the strategies that will empower people to adopt high-performance behaviours and mindsets in all areas of their life. With Kusal's expert guidance, participants will learn how to leverage the latest research in sports physiotherapy, physiology, and neuroscience to unlock their full potential.

Following this event, EO Melbourne will gather a panel of experts specialising in four alternative sources of funding for growth-stage businesses - spanning bank debt, non-bank debt, venture capital, and private equity funding sources.

Facilitated by Jason Ellenport, EO Melbourne Member & Founding Partner at Edison Growth Fund, this event will have the following panel of experts: Kingsley Oldfield, Senior Relationship Manager at ANZ Bank, Hunter Watkin, Venture Capital Investor at Rampersand, Mike Thompson, Head of Private Equity at Edison Growth Fund, and Michael Kurland, Joint MD and Founder at Arrowpoint Capital.

They will share their valuable insights and experiences while engaging attendees in a lively discussion providing a comprehensive understanding of the funding landscape. Those who will attend can expect to gain practical knowledge on how to navigate each funding option to their advantage.

Within the first quarter of FY 2023/24, EO Melbourne will hold the ​​Accelerator/Key Executive Learning Day focusing on Cash, one of the four quarterly full training days built on the principles developed by Verne Harnish from his bestselling book Scaling Up.

Speaking of which, this leads us to one of the biggest events of FY 2023/24 Q1 — Mastering Pricing & Compensation by no less than the man, the myth, and the LEGEND, Verne Harnish – who is returning to Melbourne for this special, not-to-be-missed event.

Verne's award-winning Scaling Up workshops are renowned for their impact and actionable insights. His latest workshop focuses on Pricing and Compensation, as well as how Web 3.0 drives the emerging Org 3.0, using practical EO company examples that incorporate AI, "team of teams," pricing, and compensation strategies.

In this engaging workshop, Verne will reveal various pricing approaches for both B2C and B2B businesses and discuss the 5 key compensation design principles that transform the largest expense into a strategic advantage.

Moreover, EO Melbourne will also have a new intake for its Mentorship Program, one of the benefits of EO Membership. The program spans 12 months and participating EO Members will be paired with a mentor and provided with all the resources, tools, and knowledge they need for their monthly one-hour catch-ups, as well as ongoing support from their Mentorship Chair. The program will help members learn from other business leaders and grow as an entrepreneur.

There is so much in store for the coming FY that EO Melbourne members will enjoy and learn from.

EO Melbourne events during the first half of 2020-2021

It is halfway through the 2020-2021 term, and amidst all the challenges of lockdown and other restrictions, EO Melbourne has endeavoured to provide various avenues for its community of entrepreneurs, as well as their families, to grow in their journey.

A well-attended Mentorship Program Launch and Online Training.

Despite events taking place virtually, it didn’t stop the chapter from coming up with interesting, informational and enjoyable activities that are beneficial to its members. Here are some of the online events that have happened for the last six months:

Learning events

Committed to providing opportunities for personal and professional growth and development to its members, EO Melbourne has lined up several learning events online that could equip them with tools and additional knowledge.

This included webinars and Zoom calls with experts and business leaders who shared their experiences, lessons learned and insights to the EO community. These virtual talks featured the following speakers: Jeffrey Cole (The Coronavirus Disruption Project), Dr Emma Fulu and Hannah Kassay (Diversity and Inclusion), Austin McChord (his entrepreneurial journey), Joe Pane and Katerina Papamarkou (Readjusting to life after lockdown), Adam Ross (Launching a VC-backed startup during the pandemic), and Adam Bennett (In conversation with a “White Hat Hacker”).

There were also member-led virtual events such as the “Building Brands that Last” with Andrew McKinnon and the “Influencer Marketing” with Hannah Vasicek. There were also various online sessions with the chapter’s Strategic Alliance Partners like Airwallex, BlueRock, EOS, and Evans & Partners.

Moreover, it was a successful Mentorship Program launch and online training that saw the participation of 27 pairs of mentors and mentees.

Socials and family events

Apart from the learning events, EO also organised social events to provide fun and light moments for the members and even their families.

There were virtual wine tasting nights where participants and their partners enjoyed a thing or two about winemaking while exchanging stories over bottles of wine. It was an entertaining and magical day for parents and kids as they learned new tricks from Australia’s greatest magician, Cosentino, during the EO Academy of Magic.

With the absence of physical gatherings, EO came up with catch-up events, such as the Chat Roulette and Needs & Leads, that allowed members to get to know one another and lend support to each other.

APAC events

The EO Asia-Pacific region has also put together several webinars and special interest virtual events for chapters within the area. The APAC Celebrity Webinars featured the likes of Marc Randolph of Netflix, Jack Daly, Dr Angus Hervey and Tane Hunter of Future Crunch, Bhutan's former Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Starbucks Coffee Company International’s former president Howard Behar.

Meanwhile, the EO APAC Inspiring CEO Series took participants through the entrepreneurial journeys of Globe CEO Ernest Cu, Jindal Steel & Power Limited Chairman Naveen Jindal, Taylor's Education Group CEO Dato' Loy Teik Ngan, and Flight Centre Travel Group co-founder and CEO Graham “Skroo” Turner.

Apart from these activities, forums within the chapter continued to meet-up online. As restrictions are now easing after lockdown, some activities and events move towards the physical space. Although there is a face-to-face interface, safety measures and protocols are still strictly observed.

The calendar year 2020 is almost coming to an end and a new chapter in 2021 is about to unfold. Despite the challenges, EO Melbourne remains true to its mission of supporting entrepreneurial education by supporting the needs of the 360° entrepreneur through business, family, community & personal experiences and offering world-class learning events, skills-specific workshops and a venue to exchange business stories that can help its members learn and grow.

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Do you need this kind of support in your entrepreneurial journey? Check out here on how you can join and be part of EO Melbourne.

The Coronavirus Disruption Project: a webinar with Jeffrey Cole

"Daily life is far more disrupted by the pandemic than after 9/11 or the beginning of World War II, and anxiety is at levels only seen after Pearl Harbor and the Great Depression," said Jeffrey Cole, Director of the Center for the Digital Future in the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The Center conducted a study titled "The Coronavirus Disruption Project: How We are Living and Coping During the Pandemic," which found rapid life changes and concerns as to how Americans confront the pandemic.

Jeffrey recently held a webinar with EO Melbourne on The Coronavirus Disruption Project and shared the findings of this study, which provided insights that helped better understand the thoughts of people who go through similar life experiences, anxieties and coping mechanisms.

Jeffrey has been at the forefront of media and communication technology issues both in the United States and internationally for the past three decades. An expert in the field of technology and emerging media, he serves as an adviser to governments and leading companies around the world as they craft digital strategies. In 2016, Jeffrey was one of the founders of the Global Disruption Fund (GDF), a technology investment fund based in Australia. He is one of the members of the Investment Committee identifying innovative companies and those about to be disrupted, making investments based on his work.

Veering from the Center's traditional work in annually examining digital change since the year 2000 in 35 countries, The Coronavirus Disruption Project took an extended look at life during the pandemic. As people are living through the greatest social science experiment of all time without warning or preparation, millions have had to suddenly move their work, learning, buying and everything else online. To see how everything has changed and will continue to change, Jeffrey gave a detailed look at how people have lived and coped during the crisis.

It was an insightful webinar for the attendees as Jeffrey elaborated on the data they gathered last April and June. People revealed what they missed most when isolated due to the pandemic. He also tackled people’s hobbies, habits, and sources of information with the new lifestyle that COVID-19 has brought to people's lives. With the shift of activities to the online and virtual space, the study revealed how people are navigating through the changes and how they perceive the transformations in their lives. Following his presentation was a healthy discussion as Jeffrey answered questions from the webinar participants related to the topic.

EO Melbourne continues to hold online learning events like this that allow its members and community to acquire additional knowledge and deeper understanding not only of the business environment and the entrepreneurial journey but also of the adjustments and modifications entrepreneurs can employ to adapt to the present environment.

Check out EO Melbourne’s past events in this page and its 2020-2021 Q1 events through the video at the homepage. Are you interested to be part of EO Melbourne? Read here on how to join.

“How to Build Successful Families” Workshop with Warren Rustand

EO Melbourne members and their families had a fun engagement at the How to Build Successful Families Workshop with Warren Rustand. Out of the 80 participants, 33 were family guests or children of EO members. This workshop coincides with the chapter’s focus this year on family and in bringing those most important on the same journey.

The workshop revolved around the principles and values of how to create high performance, successful families. It included specific activities and techniques that could be used within a family to make it happier and more productive.