In this episode of Bold Ideas, I’m joined by Tobi Skovron, the trailblazing founder and CEO of Creative Cubes - Australia’s most dynamic coworking ecosystem that puts people and purpose at the heart of work.

Tobi’s bold idea was born from his experience as an entrepreneur in Los Angeles, where the power of community transformed his business - and his life. Determined to bring that same magic home, he created Creative Cubes: a thriving network of spaces designed to “enable success and deliver happiness.”

In this episode, you’ll hear how Tobi built an ecosystem that champions connection over competition, what it really takes to create a winning culture, and how optimism, authenticity and a jelly-like mindset can carry you through the darkest days of entrepreneurship. Plus, he opens up about his new venture, Rise Network, and why the future of work is all about belonging.

[00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Tobi Skovron – founder of Creative Cubes and champion of community-driven entrepreneurship

[00:02:15] – The Spark: From LA coworking to creating Australia’s most connected workspace

[00:07:40] – Building Creative Cubes: How culture, community and “delivering happiness” became the mission

[00:14:10] – Lessons in Leadership: Why ego kills culture and service drives success

[00:21:30] – Scaling Up: The acquisition of Workspace365 and the birth of Cubes Co

[00:28:45] – Corporate vs. Creative: Evolving the brand to meet different mindsets

[00:35:00] – Rise Network: Going deeper into community and redefining connection for ambitious leaders

[00:41:20] – The Future of Work: Flexibility, belonging and earning the commute

[00:47:00] – Founder Mindset: Optimism vs. realism and how to “be jelly” when business throws curveballs

[00:53:15] – Advice Corner: “Just do it” - Tobi’s no-nonsense take on turning ideas into action

[00:56:50] – Legacy and Purpose: Building spaces - and lives - that enable success

Find Cubes at www.cubes.co, or on Instagram at @creativecubesco

To get in touch with us, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

In this episode of Bold Ideas, I’m joined by Chloe Walker, the founder of Pirk - Australia’s first cosmetic surgery concierge.

Chloe’s bold idea was born from her own experience navigating an industry filled with confusion, mixed messaging, and a lack of transparency. After struggling to find trusted information and qualified surgeons, she set out to create Pirk - a platform that connects clients with vetted plastic surgeons, demystifies pricing, and supports them through every step of the decision-making process.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Chloe went from corporate sales leader to founder, what she discovered mystery-shopping over 150 clinics, and how she’s tackling the stigma and misinformation surrounding cosmetic surgery. Plus, stay tuned until the end for a look at Pirk’s exciting next chapter - from AI-powered support to nationwide expansion.

[00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Chloe Walker, founder of Pirk – Australia’s first cosmetic surgery concierge

[00:01:15] – The Spark: A personal experience that exposed major flaws in the cosmetic surgery industry

[00:05:05] – From Corporate to Founder: Lessons from leading high-growth teams at iSelect

[00:08:30] – Building Trust: Mystery-shopping 150 clinics and setting new safety standards

[00:12:45] – Plastic vs Cosmetic Surgeons: Why the distinction matters for patient outcomes

[00:17:20] – Transparency & Education: Making pricing clear and empowering client choice

[00:21:10] – Beyond Vanity: The real reasons people seek surgery – confidence, comfort, and wellbeing

[00:25:30] – Early Traction: 50,000+ visitors, 2,000 guided conversations, and 250+ consults

[00:29:00] – Raising Capital: Navigating a regulated, misunderstood market as a female founder

[00:37:40] – Future Vision: Expanding across Australia and redefining the cosmetic journey

[00:41:15] – Advice to Founders: Trust your intuition, validate deeply, and move boldly

Find Pirk on Instagram at @pirk.au and online at https://pirk.au

To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

In this episode, I’m joined by Larissa Leone, the pioneering founder of Homb - Australia’s first postpartum hotel.

Larissa’s bold idea was born from her own experience with postnatal depression and anxiety after the birth of her daughter. Determined to reimagine how we care for mothers and families after birth, she created Homb - a nurturing space designed to “mother the mother” and transform the postpartum experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear about the darkness that sparked Larissa’s idea, the courage it took to build something entirely new in Australia’s healthcare landscape, and the reality of being ahead of your time. Plus, stay tuned until the end for our post-recording chat, where Larissa opens up about the emotional decision to close Homb and what comes next.

[00:00:00] – Pre-Recording: The reality of disruption – Homb’s closure and Larissa’s courage to keep the conversation going

[00:00:42] – Introduction: Meet Larissa Leone, founder of Australia’s first postpartum hotel

[00:02:10] – The Spark: How postnatal depression inspired a vision to “mother the mother”

[00:07:15] – Breaking the Silence: The unseen struggles of new motherhood

[00:14:50] – From Pain to Purpose: Transforming personal experience into innovation

[00:17:30] – Doing the Work: Market research, COVID challenges and testing demand

[00:25:12] – Naming Homb: The meaning behind the “B” – from womb to Homb

[00:28:25] – Creating a New Category: Council, insurance and breaking through systems

[00:33:10] – Mothering the Mother: Why Western culture gets postpartum care wrong

[00:37:00] – Inside Homb: The four-night stay that nurtures, nourishes and restores

[00:45:50] – The Homb Trust: Making postpartum care accessible for every family

[00:49:10] – Future Vision: Normalising postpartum care as part of our healthcare system

[00:54:40] – Post-Recording: Larissa on closing Homb, community support and what’s next

To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

Welcome to the very first episode of Bold Ideas.

I’m your host, Marianne Marchesi, and in this intro episode I share the story behind Bold Ideas and why it means so much to me.

Several years ago, I took a leap that changed everything – leaving behind the safety of the traditional legal industry to launch Legalite. A people-centred, multi-award-winning law firm that thrives on bold ideas.

In this episode, you’ll hear about the doubts, breakthroughs and life-changing lessons that came from taking one bold step – and what you can expect from this podcast.

Episode Timestamps

[00:00:01] – Why bold ideas matter and what this podcast is all about

[00:01:05] – The Spark: Growing up believing in a “set path” and the first inklings of a better way

[00:01:58] – Fear & Delay: The excuses that held Marianne back and the breaking point in 2016

[00:02:50] – Taking the Plunge: Starting Legalite in 2017 with $5,000 and six clients

[00:03:28] – Early Struggles: Doubts, market resistance, and redefining success

[00:04:56] – Transformation: How one bold leap changed both career and life

[00:05:50] – The Podcast Vision: Honest conversations with founders, creators and innovators

[00:06:13] - Closing Thoughts

To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/