Shows
The Way ForwardS3/E8: Gratitude at Work during challenging times (Priya from PaperKite)Discover the remarkable transformation of an office environment as Priya shares the journey from a "club" to a space of inclusion and gratitude. We also dive into how companies can adapt to remote work, foster flexibility and well-being even through challenging times. 2024-09-2539 minThe Way ForwardS3/E7: Creating Productive and Inclusive Remote Environments (Lauren Bardebes from Matomo)Navigating remote work can be challenging, but Lauren from Matomo offers practical advice on maintaining productivity and effective communication across different time zones. Discover strategies to keep your remote team dynamic, including clear documentation, proactive communication, and setting healthy boundaries to prevent burnout. We also explore the essentials of decision-making and collaboration tools that uphold company values while ensuring a secure and productive remote work environment. 2024-09-0437 minThe Way ForwardS3/E6: Mastering the Art of Personalised Recruitment (Chris McGeechan from Figured)The candidate experience can make or break your recruitment process. This episode highlights the value of informal, off-site meetings and comprehensive follow-ups to truly understand a candidate's personality and cultural fit. Chris shares his insights on headhunting techniques, emphasising personalised outreach and the essential collaboration with hiring managers to refine the search process. Join us as we explore the role of cultural recruitment, concise communication, and genuine follow-up practices that can help you attract and retain top talent.2024-08-1439 minThe Way ForwardS3/E5: Avoiding Tokenism with Diversity and Equity (Siân Govind from Auror)Our guest today is Siân Govind, Director of Global Talent at Auror and Founder of BeHeard. We shine a spotlight on the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the tech sector, especially within New Zealand. Siân delves into the nuances of creating genuinely inclusive workplaces and explains Auror's robust DEI framework, which prioritizes listening, learning, unlearning, and actioning to build a truly diverse workforce. The insights shared will challenge you to move beyond token diversity initiatives and build equitable systems that genuinely engage and retain employees from underrepresented group...2024-07-2435 minThe Way ForwardS3/E4: Transforming HR Strategies and the Future of Work with AI (Lynne Miller from Fonterra)Our guest today is Lynne Miller, GM of Strategic Delivery at Fonterra. We dive into the pressing need to align educational pathways with industry demands in New Zealand. Our guest shares valuable perspectives on how strategic workforce planning and proactive career advising can bridge critical gaps in sectors like IT, engineering, and healthcare, offering a roadmap to a more balanced and sustainable future for New Zealand’s workforce.As we explore the future of work, the undervaluation of the teaching profession comes into sharp focus, raising the question of systemic changes needed to elevate it. We...2024-07-0237 minThe Way ForwardS3/E3: Fair Hiring and Real-Time Feedback for a Better Culture (Loren Thomas from TradeMe)We're in conversation with Loren Thomas, the Head Of People at TradeMe. In this episode we dive deep into employee engagement, mental health, and the art of bias-free hiring practices. We also discuss actionable strategies for utilising tools like Officevibe for real-time feedback and long-term cultural shifts, making sure your team feels genuinely engaged and valued. From coaching leaders to fostering peer-to-peer learning and conducting fair interviews, this episode is packed with strategies to help you build a thriving and inclusive workplace. Looking to hire 40% faster? Check out PICWA.io 2024-06-1335 minThe Way ForwardS3/E2: Transforming Workplace Culture For Success (Anna Darling from Sharesies)What if you could transform your HR strategies to attract top talent, even in the toughest market conditions? Our guest Anna shares her personal journey into the world of human resources. She provides profound insights on the importance of a strong Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and emphasises the necessity of continuous feedback and iteration to build an exceptional organisation and team. In this episode, we discuss how to craft employee experiences that are not only inclusive but also engaging, ensuring your recruitment and onboarding processes are always ahead of the curve.Looking to hire 40% faster? Check out...2024-05-3029 minThe Way ForwardS3/E1: Fostering Trust & Empowering Employees in Times of Uncertainty (Sarah Ritchie from Journey)Join Sarah Ritchie, Head of People & Culture at Journey Digital, as we dive into the impact of restructures on company culture and the process of rebuilding trust. Sarah offers insights on balancing business integrity with the tough decisions of restructuring. We explore the emotional toll, growth opportunities for affected employees, and the human side of HR and talent management.Finally, we examine proactive measures for success through employee investment, including career progression, continuous performance assessment, and Employee Assistance Programmes. The insights shared serve as a guiding light for HR professionals and business leaders alike. 2024-05-1649 minThe Way ForwardTaking A Human Approach To Leadership with Liam Forde (CEO of The Zone)Today we’re in conversation with Liam Forde who is the founder and CEO of The Zone, which makes organisations more human through coaching and leadership development.Liam’s passion for people shines through in this episode as we talk about the importance of your values and how to embrace them in the workplace. We also hear Liam’s stories on optimising his time, keeping remote teams engaged and hiring, where he reveals simple yet effective tips for leaders to implement today.Struggling to hire tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire2022-07-0728 minThe Way ForwardBuilding with Purpose & Making A Real Impact with Tane van der BoonToday we’re in conversation with Tane van der Boon who co-founded mattress startup Winkl; MAUI63, a not-for-profit protecting marine life; and Inviol, an AI-driven workplace safety solution.Tane treats us to practical and realistic advice around bringing in a successful business model overseas, disrupting traditional industries, and the operations behind next-day delivery. We also hear Tane’s passion for protecting marine biology as he talks about MAUI63, before diving into his advice on using off the shelf tech and financial forecasting.Struggling to hire tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: http...2022-06-0230 minThe Way ForwardAn Honest Conversation About Tech Startups with Toby Cox (CTO of Dovetail)Today we’re in conversation with Toby Cox who is the CTO of Dovetail.Toby shares his advice for best practices for your MVP, how to identify a good fit when recruiting and building a strong engineering culture. We also hear his unique experiences in tech solutions and startups - from developing an app for Dreamworks, to being an Entrepreneur in Residence in the UK and to conducting due diligence on tech startups.Struggling to hire strong tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire01:14 - Toby’s passion for co...2022-05-1827 minThe Way ForwardFrom Litigator to Tech Entrepreneur In 1999 - Against All Odds with Greg San MiguelToday we’re in conversation with Greg San Miguel who is the co-founder and CEO of RegTech scaleup Law of the Jungle. Greg takes us back to 1999 as he talks through his journey diving into startups as a litigator with no background in tech, starting a tech company during the .com crash and building a high-performing team. Greg also shares how he navigated product-market fit, outsourced teams and sales, sharing gold nuggets of advice for other startup founders. Struggling to hire tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hireTime...2022-05-1143 minThe Way ForwardExcelling In The Fintech Space with Trent Gunthorpe (ex American Express, ex GE Capital and ex Cuscal)Today we’re in conversation with Trent Gunthorpe, the Chief Product Officer of payments company ASL.Trent tells us about his 20 years of experience in financial services as a part of GE Capital and then leading strategy and payments at American Express. We walk through his learnings from the GFC, high-pressure scenarios, thriving in foreign environments and negotiation. We also hear his thoughts on what fintech startups and SMBs could learn from corporates and even Web3. Looking to hire tech talent globally? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire...2022-04-0624 minThe Way ForwardHow To Succeed As A VC Investor with Rob Vickery (Managing Partner of Hillfarrance Venture Capital)Today we’re in conversation with Rob Vickery, the founder and Managing Partner of Hillfarance Venture Capital.In this episode, we get an insider’s look into how Rob evaluates startups and what he cares about as a VC. We also uncover the person behind the title, touching on Rob’s life outside of work, his experience with burnout, and how he sets boundaries to respect his time and mana.Struggling to hire tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hireTimestamps:01:13 - Rob’s beginnings...2022-03-2231 minThe Way ForwardGetting Publicly Listed, De-Listed & Then Making An Impact With Renewable Energy with Ben Hutt (CEO of Evergen)Today we're in conversation with Ben Hutt, the CEO of Evergen. Ben tells us his roller-coaster journey growing an early-stage startup to a global marketplace, going public, then venturing into the renewable energy space with Evergen. This episode is packed with Ben's raw and honest look at the mistakes he's made leading an early-stage startup and also as a first-time publicly listed CEO. This episode is important for anyone that wants to grow their company, know what it’s really like to be publicly listed or get an insider’s look into the wins and challenges in the e...2022-03-1538 minThe Way ForwardHow To Build A High-Performing Team (Data-Driven Approach) with Lauren Peate - CEO of MultitudesToday we’re in conversation with Lauren Peate, the founder and CEO of Mutlitudes, which helps managers and CTOs use data to improve their team's culture and performance.Having worked around the world, Lauren’s experiences abroad fueled her passion for using technology and data for equity and inclusion as we chat about Multitudes. We explore the unique attributes she looks for when building an early-stage high-performing team, and how to scale teams without sacrificing on values. Our conversation takes many interesting turns as we dive into a range of topics, from keeping compensation fair in a rapi...2022-03-0737 minThe Way ForwardFrom Working In A Bar To CEO of Starmate, In Conversation With Michael BatkoToday we’re in conversation with Michael Batko, the CEO of Startmate.After years in finance and consulting in his early days, Michael moved to Australia to work in a bar - and ended up at early-stage startup Mad Paws. We have the pleasure to hear Michael’s career journey in the startup space and the things he’s learnt along the way. If you’re interested in hearing his advice to founders and VCs alike–from the worst way to pivot to how to find a niche as a VC–this episode is for you.Struggling...2022-02-2835 minThe Way ForwardHow To Align Your Tech Strategy & Product Goals - Seb Poole (Co-Founder Frankie Health)Today we’re in conversation with Seb Poole, the co-founder of med-tech startup Frankie Health, a Giant in residence for Blackbird and the former CPO/CTO for Hulii. Seb brings a wealth of experience on the operations and tech side of growing tech startups. Lucky for us, he’s sharing them through practical tips and tools and some straightforward advice. If you’re a CTO, engineer or someone interested in starting a tech startup, this episode is for you.Struggling to hire tech talent? We’ve got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire2022-02-2135 minThe Way ForwardQuadrupling Revenue - Strategically Scaling with Sachee Perera (COO of CorePlan)Today we’re in conversation with Sachee who was recently appointed the COO of CorePlan, helped with the growth of startups like UberEats and was the founder of Bugle. Sachee tells all, revealing his lessons from building a marketplace, quadrupling CorePlan’s revenue, and on a more personal note, burnout.Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome to The Way Forward00:20 - Sponsor shoutout 00:47 - Intro to Sachee1:23 - Sachee’s early career and scaling teams to becoming the best in the country2:54 - Lessons from starting a marketplace startup...2022-02-1437 minThe Way ForwardHow A Startup CFO Thinks (CFO of Eucalyptus and Former Finance Manager Of Canva.com & Koala.com)Our first guest of Season 2 is Alexey Mitko, the former Finance Manager of Canva.com and Koala.com. He is now the current CFO for Eucalyptus and is powering the next generation of digital healthcare companies.Today we learn about building financial models for simple and complex startups, how to make your numbers align with your mission and why CFOs should put on a long-term lens rather than focus on the short-term. We also dive into 'getting ahead' hacks, that have served Alexey well during his career. Struggling to hire tech talent? We've g...2022-02-0758 min
The Zone16. Not Cutting Corners in Business or Life with Anuj Sahni🖥️ AJ is a nickname from his first business - a clickbait site that caused a lot of trouble and taught him many lessons. 01:29🩸 With a family background in the medical field, AJ decided to study programming and work to impact the medical space. 06:41💪🏼 Big challenge: working on hard things. 07:59🎯 His dream is to be a part of multiple MedTech startups to create better, longer lives. 08:46😇 Being a net giver rather than a net taker. 10:27😎 Tech shortage in NZ: the value of immigrating people in the country. 11:16👍 Need for a commercial aspect to...2022-01-1426 min
The Zone16. Not Cutting Corners in Business or Life with Anuj Sahni🖥️ AJ is a nickname from his first business - a clickbait site that caused a lot of trouble and taught him many lessons. 01:29
🩸 With a family background in the medical field, AJ decided to study programming and work to impact the medical space. 06:41
💪🏼 Big challenge: working on hard things. 07:59
🎯 His dream is to be a part of multiple MedTech startups to create better, longer lives. 08:46
😇 Being a net giver rather than a net taker. 10:27
😎 Tech shortage in NZ: the value of immigrating people in the country. 11:16
👍 Need for a commercial aspect to...2022-01-1426 minThe Way ForwardStartup Growth & Strategically Muscling Through Tough Periods with Sachee Perera (COO of CorePlan)Today we’re in conversation with Sachee Perera, he’s recently been appointed the COO of CorePlan, he’s held multiple growth positions for companies like Uber Eats, SideKicker and also has built his own startup. If you’re interested in growth for your startup or you feel a bit uneasy about the initial slow success, then this podcast is for you. We dive into the methods, elements that Sachee harnessed to fuel growth for the startups he's worked for and also dive into how you could strategically muscle through tough times with your startup if you're...2021-10-2944 minThe Way ForwardRocket-Charge The Success Of Your Startup (With Flavio)Today we’ve got Flavio, who’s coached multiple startups within the New Zealand tech space. He's helped validate tech ideas, rocket-charge revenue operations, and build strong money + business models. Now if you don’t know what some of this means, then you must listen to this podcast, we go through it all, in this hour-long podcast that could potentially rocket-charge your startup. If you want to learn more about how Flavio helps the startup space rocket-charge their success then please view Selfstarters.co Struggling with hiring tech talent? Here's a long-t...2021-10-2159 minThe Way ForwardBuild Your People And Your People Will Build You - With Tracey Taylor (CEO Of Yellow)Today we’re in conversation with Tracey Taylor, the current CEO of Yellow. She has got a wealth of experience in the people space, managing the human side of a business. In this podcast, we talk about business, startups, and high performance from a human perspective. Regardless of where you are in your journey, I’m sure you’ll capture a couple of epiphanies and that they will help you pave the way forward. Struggling with hiring tech talent? Here's a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/2021-10-1327 minThe Way ForwardWhat You Don’t Know About Being a CTO - With Gerard (CTO of Qsic)When we talk about tech startups, a CTO plays an incredibly crucial part in its success. In today’s conversation, we dive into what being a CTO entails and how you as a software engineer or even a founder could move into a CTO position. Regardless of where you are in your startup journey, you’ll learn a thing or two about building + scaling a tech team and system. Struggling with hiring tech talent? Here's a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/2021-10-0434 minThe Way ForwardAn Investors Perspective On Startups - Finance, VC Funding & Culture with Hursh Shah (Part 1)A conversation about startups but from an investor's perspective. We demystify VC funding, dive into the impacts of an economic crisis on a startup, and discuss how to create a growth-driven culture. For all of you looking to start a venture, or in the midst of scaling one, you’ll definitely take a lot from this conversation here.Note: This is Part 1 Of 2. Struggling with hiring tech talent? Here's a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/2021-09-2240 minThe Way ForwardWorking At Google vs Building A Startup - In Conversation With Mark Tanner (COO & Co Founder - Qwilr)Today we’re in conversation with Mark Tanner, the COO of Qwilr. Qwilr was founded in 2014 by Mark & Daniel in NSW, Australia. We dive into Marks's journey, starting from McKinsey & Co, when the GFC happened, to his first gig at a Startup, then an amazing role at Google, and now finally to Qwilr. You’ll learn how he jumped in and out of the startup world, what he learned within the enterprise world and how you can apply all his learnings to your journey. Struggling to hire tech talent? We've got...2021-08-261h 02The Way ForwardAgainst All Odds - Jason Paris (CEO Of Vodafone)Today we’re in conversation with Jason Paris, the CEO of Vodafone. His journey will inspire all of you because, without a degree or MBA, he’s been the CEO of MediaWorks, CMO of Spark, and is now CEO of Vodafone. His path has had adversity and also a lot of hustle. We also touch on how tech startups today could better position themselves and also muscle through breaking new norms when solving problems using new technology. Struggling to hire tech talent? We've got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire2021-08-151h 32The Way ForwardA Publicly Listed Perspective On Startups with Sophie Moloney (SkyTV CEO)Running a public listed company has its similarities to a startup but the KPI’s are much larger, the ship to navigate is much more complex and has its large employer size but the reason why I’m saying this is because I believe that a lot can be learned and applied from them within the startup space. So, Today we’re speaking with Sophie Moloney, the CEO of SKY TV and we’re going to get to learn about her journey, including her career in the UAE. Of course, with this all, we’re going to cover the advice she...2021-07-2941 minThe Way ForwardTech, Teams, Mobile Games and Startup lessons with Dan Borthwick (CTO Mindset Health)Today we’re in conversation with Dan Borthwick, The CTO of Mindset Health. Dan began his tech career in 1998 and has worked in multiple mobile game startups. Where he's worked on games such as Pet Society, The Sims, Need for Speed, and more. In addition to all this, he’s been the tech leg of many startups in the VR and MedTech space. With a lot of experience building tech teams, in this podcast, we dive into the tech side of a startup, why it’s overlooked and sometimes undervalued, particularly at the early stages. Regardles...2021-07-081h 33The Way ForwardThe Truth About Startups & Going Global - Serge Van Dam (Tech Investor & Adviser)If you want your startup to go global, then this podcast is for you. Serge was a part of the M-Com team that pioneered mobile payments from 2005 - 2011, he was involved with its global expansion (USA dominantly) and acquisition by NASDAQ listed: Fiserv. Today, Serge is a B2B SAAS investor and is involved with around 6 startups as we speak. He has a wealth of wisdom and in this podcast Q&A, I got to pick his mind. Regardless of where you are in your startup (Idea stage or scaling stage), you’ll capture a lot of epi...2021-06-211h 09The Way ForwardWhat is your startup missing? Sales & Leadership with Vanessa Sorenson (MD- Microsoft NZ)Today we’re in conversation with Vanessa, the MD of Microsoft (New Zealand). Microsoft in the past years has pivoted a lot into becoming enablers for the next generation of tech and startups. Vanessa is extremely passionate about the startup space. And interestingly has had an incredible journey from being a receptionist at Wang to the MD of Microsoft New Zealand today. Her story inspires and fuels a new paradigm of thinking. In this podcast, we talk about her journey, sales and leadership advice that the startup space can embrace and use it to pa...2021-06-1053 minThe Way ForwardFrom Physiotherapist to the CEO of Kanopi, an insurance tech-startup. With Nigel Fellowes-FreemanToday we’re in conversation with Nigel Fellowes-Freeman, the CEO of Kanopi, an insurance tech startup. We talk about how he went from being a Physiotherapist to a CEO of a Tech-Startup and within this, we discover loads of tips and tricks on how to start a startup, especially if you’re a non-technical founder. Most importantly, we speak about the entire process of taking your idea from an MVP to a fully funded startup and even touch the elements of scaling up. For those of you that are non-technical founders, this will truly unlock greate...2021-05-3153 minThe Way ForwardOverlooked Methods SAAS Startups Can Apply To Gain Sales ConsistencyToday we’re in conversation with Alex McNaughten, he’s helped multiple NZ and Australian Tech Startups increase their sales and conversion rates. This episode is full of overlooked tips & tricks that’ll help your startup unlock higher conversions and of course, more sales. We go through: How to bring methods and consistency into your sales strategy How to use a Playbook to easily onboard new SDRs and Sales Staff Common misconceptions startups have about sales and how to fix them. There's more...Struggling to hire tech talent? We've got a long-term solution: https://pic...2021-05-1841 minThe Way ForwardHow Tim Warren Went From Aspiring Rockstar to Goldman Sachs and Then Tech EntrepreneurFrom aspiring rockstar to Goldman Sachs and then successful tech entrepreneur. We’re in conversation with Tim Warren, the co-founder, and CEO of Ambit.ai. We're going to learn about how his journey started as a drummer and then progressed through the most unusual and inspirational twists to where he is today. Struggling to hire tech talent? We've got a long-term solution: https://picwa.io/hire2021-05-061h 07