Catching Up With CUB

Daniel catches up with Jessy Marshall, Founder of Hive HQ, a boutique Sydney-based PR and events agency helping beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands stand out. Hive HQ works with some of Australia's most talked about brands including tbh Skincare, Naked Sundays, Bangn Body, and more.

Daniel and Jessy discuss leadership as a young entrepreneur and how to build and maintain a strong team. They explore how to craft compelling brand stories that capture media attention, the evolving role of influencer marketing in PR, and more.

Daniel catches up with Blake Micola, Founder of GMS Media Group, a digital agency specialising in ads, creative, and web optimisation to drive growth. Since 2016, GMS has managed over $217 million in ad spend and earned Tier A premium agency partnerships with META, Google, TikTok, Snapchat, and more.

Daniel and Blake discuss what's currently trending in the digital marketing world, how the industry has evolved, and the importance of having a strong sales process to back up effective marketing strategies.

Daniel kicks off the first episode of 2025 with his brother Thomas Hakim, Founder of WISECAST, a Sydney-based podcast and content studio known for previously working with global names like John Travolta, Chris Williamson, and Nedd Brockman.

Daniel and Tom dive into the power of podcasting as a marketing channel and the importance of creating authentic content that genuinely connects with audiences. They explore the evolving content landscape, how brands can build trust through storytelling, and much more.

Daniel catches up with Brittany Wheeler, founder of One Wardrobe. Brittany shares her journey of turning a side hustle into a success and opens up about the challenges she faced during the early stages of her business.

Daniel catches up with Candice Feng, the founder and CEO of skincare brand Ms Morning. Immigrating to Australia without speaking English, Candice defied cultural expectations and broke societal norms to pursue her entrepreneurial vision.

In this episode, Daniel and Candice explore her inspiring journey—from arriving in Australia alone to taking an entrepreneurial leap with her partner. They also delve into how Ms Morning is challenging industry norms and reshaping the way we think about skincare products and morning routines.

Daniel catches up with Adam Bouris, Co-founder of Who Is Elijah, Australia's fastest-growing fragrance brand, created with his wife, Raquel. From humble beginnings in a Sydney garage to being sold in over 700 stores globally, the brand recently hit over $1 million in Black Friday sales.

Daniel and Adam discuss Who Is Elijah's meteoric rise and what it takes to thrive in a competitive e-commerce market. They speak about how to operate a business successfully as a couple and much more.

Daniel catches up with the world-renowned artist George Raftopoulos, whose work has been exhibited both in Australia and internationally, including in New York, Hong Kong, and Paris. George's artworks have achieved remarkable acclaim, fetching up to tens of thousands of dollars at auction.

On this episode, Daniel and George dive into the world of art and the importance of being completely vulnerable as an artist. They uncover striking parallels between the art and business worlds, and the lessons we as business owners can draw from artists themselves.

Daniel catches up with Navid Haddadan Guia, Founder and CEO of CDA CoLiving. CDA provides value-driven furnished accommodation, subletting over 1200 rooms across Sydney and growing from a two-person team to over 50 staff in just three years.

On this episode, Daniel and Navid discuss his entrepreneurial journey, which began 8 years ago with his wife. They explore weathering the storm of tough economies as a business owner, standing out in a saturated market, and the critical role of systems and operations in scaling successfully.

Daniel catches up with Andrew Brooke, a mindset and leadership expert & one of Australia's leading business consultants. Before launching his own business, Andrew climbed the corporate ladder, ultimately serving as Executive Director at a nine-figure fintech company. He now brings his wealth of experience to his own entrepreneurial ventures.

Daniel and Andrew discuss how your internal dialogue and self-belief dictate what you accomplish in life and the decisions involved in rebranding a business for growth or future sale. They dive into the current state of the economy in Australia, how to navigate it and build resilience as a leader.

Daniel catches up with Mel Gholami, Founder and CEO of Planix Projects, a multi-award-winning project management company known for its success in the government and non-profit sectors. From migrating to Australia at 16 in search of freedom and opportunity, Mel transformed adversity into ambition, building one of the country's most respected project management firms.

Daniel and Mel speak about Mel's journey as an immigrant and the values that have driven her remarkable career. She shares unique insights on integrating work and life, creating a meaningful company culture, and harnessing your unique qualities to stand out as a leader.