EthnoLink’s founder and CEO Costa Vasili is a son of migrant parents. His father, who was born in Cyprus, moved to Australia at 13 years of age. It is where he met Costa's mother, who is also of Cypriot descent, and where Costa was born. To ensure that Costa had the best chance of success in Australia, his parents spoke to him and his brother mostly in English rather than in Greek. While this decision had a positive impact on Costa's English language skills, it impacted Costa's ability to speak Greek.
Brendan O’Brien: engineering energy, engineering his business
It’s a business that is often not visible in plain sight, but according to O’Brien Boiler Services (OBS) Executive Chairman and co-founder Brendan O’Brien, boilers provide steam for breweries, laundries, hospitals, petrochemicals, glass, textile and industries that involve mechanical processes. Boilers and steam engines were the early forms of automation that have industrialised many cities and brought several changes to our lives today.
Ashley Woodcock’s message signs for entrepreneurs
RPM Hire owner and director Ashley Woodcock began his entrepreneurial journey while he was still at university, starting with only three signs for hire. He had low expectations for the business. Never has he imagined that he would grow his venture into a successful enterprise and enjoy the experience along the way.
Alex Louey’s lessons on entrepreneurship through smartphone apps
With millions of apps available online that are increasing each year, an average smartphone user has a wide array of options on which ones to use that correspond to his needs. For Appscore co-founder and Managing Director Alex Louey, whose company has been developing apps, websites, cloud solutions, Internet of Things (IoT), and other technology-based products, it’s more than just building a software. Its mission is to create great customer experiences for their clients and make their lives easier every day.
Victoria Kluth’s path to being great and being grateful
Be great and Be grateful. These are the two corporate values of Araza, a technology systems integrator and consultancy company, specialising in cloud and digital solutions. Its co-founder and Managing Director, Victoria Kluth, endeavours to live by these values as she leads others towards the vision and goals of her company.
Jason Scher’s energy boosters for entrepreneurs
Speaking from experience, VÖOST co-Founder and Orange & Green Director Jason Scher affirmed that there are many difficulties that business owners encounter along the entrepreneurial journey. “Every single day, you're going to be challenged with something that will make you think, ‘I'm not good enough. It is not working.’ Then, you start to have those thoughts of quitting,” he said. It takes a lot of effort, time, resources and inspiration to start a business and see it through.
Matt Beesley’s courage to make difficult decisions
“Don't try to be all things to all people. Have the courage to know what it is that you do well and focus on that.” These are words from Matthew Beesley, Founder and Director at Premier Technology Solutions. It all started in his garage at home, where he began fixing home personal computers (PCs). Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined himself to own and run a company someday.
Ben Trinh helps others become life ready
To make other people life ready, Benjamin Trinh, founder and CEO of Life Ready Physiotherapy and Pilates, helps people on their journey towards finding their best quality of life. Understanding what is essential to his life, he builds his corporate structure that starts with his family. He and his wife, Linda, create an annual rhythm as a family, and then he fits his work rhythm into that annual rhythm. For Ben, it’s all about reverse engineering everything around what is important to one’s self.
The colourful business journey of Antoine Bakhache
If one has to describe the entrepreneurial journey of Antoine Bakhache, owner and Managing Director of Bakhache Luxuries, it is a life full of vivacity and hue. Born in Lebanon, Antoine has lived in the US, Thailand, India and Malaysia and worked and set up ventures in some of these countries. From events to jewellery to silverware to food, he has experienced it all - running businesses in various industries and now, expanding to Australia, another entrepreneurial adventure to add to his experiences.
James Eling’s road to outstanding
James Eling believes that having a vision, adhering to it, and working relentlessly towards it are the important parts of his entrepreneurial journey. He has established and now owns three businesses: Extreme Networks, 4x4earth.com, and Marketing4Restaurants. James works closely with his wife, Tina, in Extreme Networks while he devotes more time in Marketing4Restaurants.
Nicky Tzimas advocates for people’s rights through education
Hannah Vasicek and her meaning of success
“Success means nothing unless you're giving back.” Hannah Vasicek, Founder and Director of Francesca Collections, lives by this philosophy, which has also become the tagline of her business. More than just making jewellery, Hannah subscribes to the belief that her business is also meant to create an impact on people’s lives.
Ben Stickland adds value to people’s lives
“My philosophy is I want to find a way for everybody to win. There are some cultures where you only win if other people lose. I want to do business with people and want them to have a great experience. I want to be able to meet every client that I've worked within 20 years’ time and make them feel that they got good value. It's one of the core values I have that I add value to people's lives and not take away,” declares Alliance Software CEO and Owner, Ben Stickland.
An entrepreneur spelled out
What is an entrepreneur? Dictionaries describe an entrepreneur as someone who starts and runs a business venture. However, every entrepreneur may vary from one to another, depending on their capability, preferences and work style. Still, business owners need certain qualities to help them through the stumbling blocks and challenges that the entrepreneurial journey poses to them.
Andrew Colliver on embracing change
“Be resilient. You need to be able to learn to do pain well. When you’re in self-doubt and fear, understand that you’re going through a personal growth phase, where you’re being asked to change, adapt or improve. Your capacity to respond to those occurrences ultimately turns to success. I usually embrace those periods even though I don’t enjoy them,” Banjo co-founder and CEO, Andrew Colliver, shares. He subscribes to this business philosophy, which has guided him through all these years.
Getting fit with Aaron Smith
All these years, Founder and CEO of KX Pilates, Aaron Smith, has been advocating for physical fitness. As he went about his entrepreneurial journey, he found that he can also help people become financially fit through his business. “Empowering people to make positive changes in their lives is fantastic. That's why I got into franchising as well. I always have a general nature of helping people. Whether it be in fitness or business, it's satisfying to me, that's for sure,” he stated.
Keeping pace with Frunch Nazzari
Francesco “Frunch” Nazzari is what he calls himself a serial entrepreneur. “I love starting a business. I love to see an opportunity. But not only do I love an opportunity, as all entrepreneurs do, I also love to see a niche, an actual community. I like to have a visceral experience around that community,” the Managing Director and Co-founder of Rooftop Cinema declared.
Timo Karnath’s positive energy
“Everything is possible. I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. I stay positive, and I look for solutions until I succeed. I truly believe that many people who have a clear vision of something, if they stay true, it can be achieved.” Such is the unwavering faith, optimism and energy of Timo Karnath, TCK Solar’s Director and Founder, when it comes to getting things done.
Joshua Lyle: maintaining businesses for growth
Many say that achieving success is just the initial hurdle to overcome. The biggest obstacle is to maintain such momentum and steer it towards bigger successes. Such is Joshua Lyle’s challenge, Director of the Lylex Group, and he hopes to take it on by refining his products and improving his systems and business model. While he’s on it, he also ensures that he meets the property maintenance needs of his clients.
Jamie Lingham braves the entrepreneurial waves
Jamie Lingham, CEO of Absolute Immigration, has a deep affiliation with the ocean. His love of the seas makes him enjoy swimming, surfing and paddleboarding. That affinity with everything related to the waters also brought him close to environmental causes. Braving the crashing waves and coming out after being struck by its force bring a different kind of thrill that Jamie can liken to the entrepreneurial journey.