In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Paul Cottingham!

Paul is the Chief Operating Officer at Meredith Connell, with a 30-year career in professional services that spans PwC, KPMG, and major law and engineering firms. Originally from Newcastle in the UK, Paul now calls New Zealand home and brings a unique mix of sales-driven growth experience and values-led leadership.

This episode dives into Paul’s broad view of wealth—not just financial, but also emotional, relational, and spiritual. He reflects on his journey from paper rounds and butcher shops to helping scale a business from $35 million to $275 million in six years. He shares a deeply personal story about volunteering at a Tanzanian orphanage, raising £7,000 to build a roof, and how that experience reshaped his perspective on purpose.

Paul and Charlie discuss the health toll of unchecked ambition, the importance of work-life balance, and his philosophy of empowering others as a leader. Paul also outlines his long-term vision of splitting time between New Zealand and Europe as a non-executive director—where learning, relationships, and contribution stay at the centre of his life.

Check out Meredith Connell here: www.mc.co.nz

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts

#WaysToWealth #LeadershipWithHeart #ProfessionalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #UKtoNZ #MeredithConnell #ImpactfulLeadership #PurposeDrivenCareer #EmpowermentOverEgo #RelationshipWealth #RedefiningSuccess #ServiceAndSuccess #StartUps

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Dave Rous!Dave is an entrepreneurial leader and the CEO of CarbonClick, a climate tech company focused on high-quality carbon offsetting. With a career spanning aviation, business turnarounds, and social enterprise, Dave brings a uniquely practical perspective to building and deploying wealth.The conversation traces Dave’s journey from commercial pilot to business auditor, where he negotiated a profit-sharing deal to run an airline’s Auckland base. He went on to build a track record of identifying underperforming businesses, optimising operations, and exiting them profitably—his most notable turnaround involved a municipal engineering firm where he nearly tripled revenue and quintupled profits within two years.Dave shares his philosophy around wealth, which he views as a tool for impact. He describes his approach as “philanthropic gambling”—supporting early-stage founders and innovative start-ups that align with purpose over profit. The conversation also explores challenges in climate tech, particularly public distrust of low-quality carbon offset schemes. Dave explains how CarbonClick ensures integrity through stringent project vetting and transparent reporting.Check out CarbonClick here: www.carbonclick.comWatch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #ClimateTech #BusinessTurnaround #CarbonOffsetting #StartUps #ImpactInvesting #WealthWithPurpose #SustainableBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LegacyBuilding

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Richard Wilson!Richard is a British entrepreneur who spent nine years in Brazil before relocating to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife and two sons. His international career spans renewable energy projects, oil and gas, and executive search. He now works with Voluntas, a firm dedicated to elevating founders and reimagining business impact.Richard and Charlie discuss the challenges of moving cultures—from Brazil to New Zealand—and the art of adapting to new social norms. They explore a broader view of wealth that includes family, relationships and spiritual fulfilment. Richard shares his concerns about global conflicts and their local effects, reflections on New Zealand’s multicultural and Māori-Pākehā dynamics, and the risks of social media addiction at all ages.He offers leadership lessons drawn from Warren Buffett’s humility, the power of focusing on strengths rather than flaws, and the importance of curiosity and adaptability in an uncertain world. Along the way he emphasises presence over productivity, the value of goodwill in business, and optimism despite global headwinds.Check out Voluntas Group here: www.voluntas.group

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #GlobalEntrepreneurship #CulturalAdaptation #FamilyWealth #SpiritualWealth #Leadership #SocialImpact #PresenceOverProductivity #MulticulturalNZ #FounderMindset #WealthRedefined

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by William Fotherby!Will is a partner at Meredith Connell, where he specialises in fraud, civil recovery, and white-collar crime. With more than a decade of legal experience, he shares his unconventional path through the legal profession—starting in regulatory and criminal prosecution before moving into complex financial misconduct cases.The conversation covers the mental resilience needed to thrive in law, the unpredictability of the courtroom, and how high-stakes litigation sharpens both technical skill and judgment. Will and Charlie draw strong parallels between legal practice and entrepreneurship, including the pressures of leadership, managing risk, and sustaining long-term performance.They also explore the transition lawyers make from technical experts to business leaders—navigating team management, client relationships, and firm strategy, despite little formal training in these areas. Will offers candid insights into career setbacks, stress management, and personal reinvention, with a perspective that balances ambition with wellbeing.From reflections on financial accountability and the ethics of short selling to the human side of legal practice, this episode offers depth, honesty, and inspiration for professionals building meaningful, resilient careers.Check out William’s profile at Meredith Connell: www.mc.co.nz/people/william-fotherby

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #WhiteCollarCrime #LegalLeadership #StartUps #ResilientCareers #MentalResilience #LawAndBusiness #CareerGrowth #FraudRecovery #YoungProfessionals #EntrepreneurshipInLaw

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by William Fotherby!Will is a partner at Meredith Connell, where he specialises in fraud, civil recovery, and white-collar crime. With more than a decade of legal experience, he shares his unconventional path through the legal profession—starting in regulatory and criminal prosecution before moving into complex financial misconduct cases.The conversation covers the mental resilience needed to thrive in law, the unpredictability of the courtroom, and how high-stakes litigation sharpens both technical skill and judgment. Will and Charlie draw strong parallels between legal practice and entrepreneurship, including the pressures of leadership, managing risk, and sustaining long-term performance.They also explore the transition lawyers make from technical experts to business leaders—navigating team management, client relationships, and firm strategy, despite little formal training in these areas. Will offers candid insights into career setbacks, stress management, and personal reinvention, with a perspective that balances ambition with wellbeing.From reflections on financial accountability and the ethics of short selling to the human side of legal practice, this episode offers depth, honesty, and inspiration for professionals building meaningful, resilient careers.Check out William’s profile at Meredith Connell: www.mc.co.nz/people/william-fotherby

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #WhiteCollarCrime #LegalLeadership #StartUps #ResilientCareers #MentalResilience #LawAndBusiness #CareerGrowth #FraudRecovery #YoungProfessionals #EntrepreneurshipInLaw

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Jono Lloyd-West!Jono is a young entrepreneur and the founder of Lloyd-West Tax & Advisory, as well as co-owner of a catering supplies business. Now based on the Gold Coast, he manages both ventures remotely in New Zealand. Jono’s journey began with side hustles at university and has since evolved into building two profitable companies before the age of 30.The conversation explores how growing up without financial abundance shaped his mindset around wealth. Jono shares his early foray into crypto at age 14 (including a Bitcoin lost on a failed iPhone trade), and his personal mission to become a millionaire by 35.They discuss lessons from starting a business straight out of university, buying a business from a client, and using both time and capital to create income-generating assets. Jono also opens up about the realities of accounting as a service model, the disruption of AI in the profession, and his current focus on acquiring and optimising small businesses (SMEs) as a long-term wealth strategy.This episode is packed with practical insights on leverage, ownership, and building wealth through entrepreneurship at a young age.Check out Lloyd-West Tax & Advisory here: www.lloydwest.nz

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #YoungEntrepreneurs #BusinessAcquisition #WealthBuilding #StartUps #AccountingInnovation #CryptoLessons #RemoteOwnership #SMEGrowth #AIInAccounting #FinancialFreedom

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Anil Thapliyal!Anil is the Executive Director of eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC), a global organisation dedicated to improving access to mental health support through digital innovation. With a background in counselling, family therapy, and psychology, Anil has spent more than two decades working to bridge the gap between need and access in mental healthcare.The conversation traces his journey from frontline therapy to global advocacy, beginning with a powerful moment in 2000 when he saw patients waiting up to 18 weeks for mental health support. Since then, he has been focused on using digital tools to provide earlier, more equitable access to care.Anil and Charlie discuss New Zealand’s evolving mental health system, from its pioneering campaigns like “Like Minds, Like Mine” and the National Depression Initiative, to its current challenges—particularly high youth suicide rates and the alarming statistic that 60% of people who complete suicide never engage with traditional health services.This episode explores the role of early intervention, the power of 24/7 digital support, and the need to move away from outdated, clinic-bound systems. It’s an insightful, hopeful conversation for anyone interested in mental health reform, digital health, or building wealth that includes emotional wellbeing.Check out eMHIC here: www.emhicglobal.com

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #MentalHealthInnovation #DigitalHealth #PublicHealth #StartUps #MentalWealth #YouthSuicidePrevention #HealthTech #EmotionalWellbeing #WellnessLeadership #eMHIC

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Andrea Leslie!

Andrea is Executive Director at Primary ITO, the vocational training arm of Te Pūkenga focused on the primary industries. With more than 30 years of experience across education, governance, and hands-on farming, Andrea brings a unique perspective to the future of New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.

She shares her unconventional journey—from kindergarten teacher to pig and sheep farmer to sector leader—and explores the skills that modern farming demands, from financial management to supply chain awareness. Andrea speaks passionately about the role of vocational training in helping New Zealand double its export value over the next decade, and how better on-farm practices can increase product value, citing examples like French rack lamb cuts.

Key wealth-building themes include the value of strategic property investment, education as a credibility tool with financial institutions, and the importance of early inheritance distribution in intergenerational wealth planning. Andrea also reframes wealth as something broader than money—highlighting work ethic, family stability, and personal responsibility.

This episode offers practical and philosophical insights for aspiring farmers, sector professionals, and anyone seeking to build meaningful wealth in New Zealand’s most enduring export industries.

Check out Primary ITO here: www.primaryito.ac.nz

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts

#WaysToWealth #PrimarySector #VocationalTraining #StartUps #WealthTransfer #IntergenerationalWealth #Agribusiness #NZFarming #EducationAndWealth #StrategicFarming #ExportGrowth

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Emily Rust!Emily is an organisational psychologist who transitioned from traditional consultancy firms to running her own practice five years ago. She specialises in helping businesses tackle strategic challenges related to hiring, retention, leadership development, and organisational change. Emily is also the co-founder of Stones, a leadership development platform built for modern leaders in small to medium enterprises.The conversation explores Emily’s career journey—from psychology graduate to independent consultant—including her formative experience winding down struggling businesses, which taught her valuable lessons in resilience and relationship management. She shares candid insights into solo consulting, from managing unpredictable cash flow to setting realistic timelines and boundaries with clients.They also discuss the launch of Stones, a platform designed to bridge the leadership development gap for mid-level managers. Combining micro-learning with local expertise, the platform offers a fresh approach to leadership that balances agility with depth.This episode is packed with strategic insight for business owners, consultants, and anyone leading people through periods of growth or change.Check out Stones here: www.leadwithstones.com

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts

#WaysToWealth #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganisationalPsychology #StartUps #BusinessStrategy #ConsultingLife #SMEGrowth #MidLevelManagers #Entrepreneurship #WorkplaceCulture

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Greg Alnutt!

Greg is a partner at Pivot & Pace, a strategic consulting firm that helps medium-sized New Zealand businesses navigate growth, succession, and long-term value creation. With 20 years of military service and six operational tours, including in Afghanistan, Greg blends leadership experience with commercial strategy in what he calls a “pracademic” approach.

The conversation explores Greg’s transition from the military to public sector roles and eventually into business consulting. He shares insights on leading through complexity, the discipline needed to build sustainable companies, and how to develop strategy when the full picture isn’t clear—a principle borrowed from the military’s "fog of war" doctrine.

Greg also unpacks common challenges in intergenerational business transitions, including succession planning and wealth transfer without forcing liquidity events. He introduces a useful metaphor for strategic thinking, urging leaders to shift between "the scrum," "the coach’s box," and the "satellite view" to maintain long-term clarity while staying grounded in execution.

This episode is ideal for owners, operators, and leaders of growing businesses who want to lead with intention and create enduring value.

Check out Pivot & Pace here: www.pivot-pace.com

Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts

#WaysToWealth #StrategicLeadership #BusinessConsulting #IntergenerationalWealth #SuccessionPlanning #MilitaryToBusiness #StartUps #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #IntentionalWealth