Business Focus

By First Focus

If you’re part of a mid-sized organisation with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quali... more

· Business

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Business Focus:

How many episodes does Business Focus have?

The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.

Business Focus episodes:

July 28, 2024How to Think Like a CEO – Building a Successful Mindset
Learn what it truly takes to become a CEO: In this Business Focus episode, we're exploring the mindset and strategies required to think like a CEO and build a successful business.Join us as we chat with seasoned CEO Ross Sardi, who shares his journey from state manager to the helm of a leading Managed IT Services company. Ross provides invaluable insights on what it means to be an effective leader, the importance of self-belief and vision, and how to grow a thriving company culture.Key Takeaways:
The role of self-belief and vision in leadership.

How to transition from a direct contributor to an effective leader.

Building and maintaining a high-performing team.

Understanding the financial aspects of running a business.

The importance of managing up and balancing stakeholder expectations.

How to maintain personal well-being and manage stress as a CEO.
Whether you’re an aspiring CEO, a current leader, or just interested in the intricacies of top-tier management, Ross shares personal anecdotes and tips that can help you prepare for a CEO role or enhance your current leadership skills.
...more
44min
July 22, 2024 First Focus CEO on the CrowdStrike Outage - What Happened and What's Next?
In this impromptu episode, we look into the recent CrowdStrike update that led to a massive global IT outage, affecting millions of Windows devices. Join us as we discuss:
- The timeline of events on the day of the outage
- How a faulty update from CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions
- The immediate and long-term impacts on businesses and essential services
- CrowdStrike's response and the manual remediation process
- The role of Microsoft and how the incident was perceived in the media
- Insights into disaster recovery planning and business continuity
We’ll also share our experiences and observations, including how the IT community came together to tackle this crisis. Whether you’re an IT professional or just curious about the intricacies of cybersecurity, this episode provides valuable lessons on resilience and the importance of robust update procedures.
Don't miss out on this critical discussion about one of the largest IT disruptions in history. Tune in to understand what went wrong, how it was fixed, and what we can learn from this event to prevent future failures.
...more
19min
July 17, 2024 Life-improving Tech - Innovation in Diabetes Treatment
In recognition of Diabetes Week, we are honoured to have Ross Sardi, CEO of First Focus and a type 1 diabetes patient, join us for a special episode. Ross shares his personal journey with diabetes and discusses the cutting-edge technology he uses to manage his condition and enhance his quality of life. Discover the tools that help him maintain control and live a healthier, more balanced life. Join us for an insightful conversation that blends personal experience with professional expertise, offering valuable information for anyone affected by diabetes.
...more
22min
July 07, 2024 AI in action – Meet our new onboarding AI assistant
AI has sparked much controversy; it has been introduced into our daily lives but its use has been limited to certain personal tasks. Our Head of Technology has designed a bot that assists in the onboarding process. In this episode, we chat with him to discuss how he created it and what his vision is for the current and near-future landscape of AI. We also tested the bot live!
...more
27min
June 24, 2024 5 Essential Tips for IT Project Success, Learned From 10+ Years Experience
Every business will run an IT project at some point, and if you're the project owner, you'll want to do all you can to make sure it's delivered on time and on budget. In this episode, Mia draws from her 10+ years of experience to share 5 essential tips that ensure IT project success. These tips are specifically designed for those in roles other than IT Manager.
Whether you're a project manager, team leader, or business owner, Mia’s insights will help you steer your IT projects to success. Learn how to navigate common pitfalls, enhance team collaboration, and keep everything on track. With practical advice and proven strategies, Mia’s tips will empower you to deliver outstanding results.
...more
27min
June 10, 2024 Making Good Choices: The Key to Time Management
Are you constantly feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day? In this episode, we tackle the art of managing your time, focussing your attention and making effective decisions. Join us as we explore practical tactics to help you align your daily choices with your personal and professional goals.

Key Takeaways:
• Time is a universal currency; manage your attention and choices wisely.
• Prioritise tasks that align with your goals using simple frameworks.
• Build a structured week that fits your work and personal life balance.
• Rely on a support network to provide feedback and maintain accountability.
• Regularly review and adjust your time management strategies to stay effective.

Guest Speaker: Ron Schwartz Founder of Brass Tacks and an expert in creating positive change for leaders and businesses. Ron shares his insights and practical tips on making good decisions to manage your time effectively.
...more
24min
May 26, 2024 How to influence, persuade and sell your ideas through stories
Ever read Sapiens? If so, you know that stories are the glue that has made human excellence possible; those who know how to craft stories in order to communicate effectively have an advantage.

This is a skill that can be developed, and there are structures that can help you do just that. Great communication starts with a plan, and relies on effective delivery.

Ron Schwartz is an expert in the field; he has framed clear and effective steps to master conversations with a capital 'C,' those that generate changes, have impact, and yield results.

He has been very kind to share a template with the MEE structure, which is a formula for designing how a message is transmitted with impact. Request it at the following email: [email protected]
Learn more about his project through his website: www.brasstacks.net.au and find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-schwartz-79755685/
...more
23min
May 12, 2024 The M&A Playbook: Strategies for Selling or Acquiring a Business
Whether buying or selling, when involved in a merger or acquisition you want to maximise your outcome. In this episode we will draw on Ross Sardi’s extensive experience in the M&A field to tell you how to drive up enterprise value, structure your deal, and nail the integration.
...more
48min
April 28, 2024 Pricing Principles: Strategies for Maximising Revenue - Ron Wood
In the world of business, driving profitability hinges on three key factors: price, volume, and cost. While pricing often receives the least strategic attention, it's important for long-term success. In this episode we’re joined by pricing expert Ron Wood. Through his consultancy firm The Pricing Insight, Ron has empowered countless businesses to boost their profitability with a systematic, value-based approach to pricing. Tune in now to start your crash course on mastering your pricing strategy.
...more
1h 4min
April 14, 2024 Better Tech, Higher Return: Your strategic guide to sourcing IT services - Philip Barton
We’ve seen it done well, and we’ve seen it done very badly. Phil Barton, Chief Customer Officer at First Focus, has 20+ years of experience in IT procurement, and he is going to help you save time and money for your business by learning from the mistakes he’s seen. This week he joins Brendan, taking a vendor agnostic approach to talk about how businesses with 50-200 staff should go to market for IT services. Phil talks structure, what to/not to ask, and how to get maximum value. The guys will go past a simple ChatGPT list of RFP inclusions and talk more to gotchas and how different IT companies come at these sorts of responses. They also cover off on how different approaches will see some MSPs drop out and others get more interested.
...more
39min

FAQs about Business Focus:

How many episodes does Business Focus have?

The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.