Emajin Golf: Beyond the 19th

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Cartledge, Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, for a fascinating conversation about the mining industry, managing risk, making decisions with imperfect information and building a specialist business with global ambitions.

With 25 years in mining, Tim shares how he went from civil geotechnical engineering to starting his own consultancy during the GFC, driven by a desire to better serve the mining industry. Today, his work takes him across Australia and around the world, solving complex geotechnical challenges.

Tim takes us behind the scenes of an industry where you rarely have perfect information. From assessing the stability of mine walls to making calls that affect the safety of people and equipment, he explains how his team manages uncertainty and mitigates risk.

We also talk about entrepreneurship, finding opportunities to create value, expanding into new markets, building the right team and having the confidence to challenge conventional ways of doing things.

We explore: • How to make critical decisions when you don't have all the information • The responsibility of managing safety and risk in a high-stakes environment • How practical thinking has helped Tim's team find major efficiencies and cost savings for clients • What working across Australia, Indonesia, Mongolia, PNG, Africa and other markets has taught him about entering and adapting to different markets • The opportunities and talent challenges facing Australia's mining industry

Whether you're in mining or another industry, there are plenty of takeaways on managing uncertainty, backing your judgement and solving problems differently.

🎧 Tune in to hear Tim's journey, his outlook for mining and the lessons he's learned growing a specialist business.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Richards, founder of Amateur Club Golfer, a bespoke international golf tour business built around one simple idea: people should arrive as golfers and leave as friends. After years running franchise businesses, Paul made the leap to build something at the intersection of his two passions, golf and creating great experiences for people.

Paul shares how his background running franchise businesses, from school photography to food, shaped the way he thinks about delegation, seasonality and delivering a seamless experience when so much of it is out of your hands. It's a conversation about building a business around genuine hospitality, and what it really takes to keep customers happy when things don't go to plan.

We explore:

• How Paul went from franchising into building bespoke golf tours

• Why he delegates to specialist local operators instead of trying to do everything himself

• The revenue and staffing challenges of running a highly seasonal business

• What "arrive as golfers, leave as friends" means in practice

• How to respond when something goes wrong that's outside your control

• Why clear communication and following up matters more than perfection

If you're a founder, business owner or executive who wants to understand what it really takes to build a business around experience and trust, this episode is full of practical, honest insight from someone who's done it across multiple industries.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Paul turned a lifelong love of golf into a business built on relationships.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Coco Hou, Founder of Platinum Accounting Australia and Platinum Professional Training, to unpack her journey from an international student tutoring classmates through university to building a nationwide network that has trained over 10,000 accountants and now mentors more than 40 public practices across Australia.

Coco shares how a knack for pattern recognition, first spotted while helping a struggling classmate pass an exam, became the foundation for everything she built next. She opens up about walking away from a high paying corporate career against her family's wishes, the sudden loss of her husband that forced her to rethink her entire business model, and why she believes the structure around your money matters more than the investment itself.

We explore:

· How a university tutoring side hustle became a national training business

· Why Coco walked away from a corporate career to build her own path

· The life-defining moment that led to Platinum's licensee model, now mentoring 40+ practices

· Why picking the right financial structure matters more than picking the right investment

🎧 Tune in now to hear how resilience and recognising the right patterns can turn setbacks into the foundation for something bigger.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Chuong Mai-Viet, founder of Fuse Technology, to unpack two of the biggest challenges facing modern businesses: how to use AI without losing control of it, and how to protect your business from a cybersecurity landscape that's evolving faster than most founders can keep up with.

Chuong explains why AI adoption works best when it starts with the everyday tasks your team already complains about, and why cybersecurity isn't really a technology problem at all, it's a people and process problem. Together, Raj and Chuong break down how founders can build smarter systems, avoid common security mistakes, and know when it's time to upgrade the tools and partners supporting their business.

We explore:

• Why the best AI tools solve the tasks your team hates doing most
• The difference between using off-the-shelf AI and building your own in-house tools
• Why 90-95% of cybersecurity breaches come down to people, not technology
• How phishing and supply chain attacks spread through trusted business networks
• The warning signs that it's time to upgrade your IT provider as you scale
• Simple, low-cost steps every business owner can take to check their security

If you're a founder, business owner or executive who knows technology matters but isn't sure where to start, this episode breaks AI and cybersecurity down into practical, actionable advice you can apply immediately.

🎧 Tune in now to learn why getting your tech fundamentals right early could become one of your biggest competitive advantages.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Zell, Head of Growth and Partnerships at Tax Debt Manager, to unpack one of the biggest financial challenges facing Australian businesses today: the growing ATO tax debt crisis, which has now surpassed $100 billion.

With economic pressures continuing to impact businesses across Australia, Andrew explains why tax debt isn't always a sign of a failing business, how cash flow challenges can quickly snowball, and why seeking help early can make the difference between surviving and shutting the doors.

We explore:

• Why Australia's ATO tax debt has grown beyond $100 billion

• How profitable businesses can still fall behind on tax obligations

• Why early action is critical

• How payment arrangements and negotiations with the ATO work

• The financial and personal impact of unresolved tax debt

🎧 Tune in now to learn how the right strategy can help you avoid ATO debt becoming a business-ending problem.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Abhinav Goyal, Director of Migration Centre of Australia, to explore how business owners can use skilled migration as a competitive advantage. Drawing on years of experience helping businesses recruit and retain top talent, Abhinav shares why the conversation around migration is about far more than visas. It's about solving one of the biggest challenges facing Australian businesses today: finding the right people.

Together, we discuss why expanding your talent pool can accelerate business growth, how sponsorship can improve employee retention, and why many of Australia's fastest-growing businesses are looking beyond local recruitment. Whether you're struggling to hire, planning to scale, or simply want to build a stronger team, this conversation offers practical insights every founder should consider.

We explore:

• Why skilled migration should be viewed as a business growth strategy
• The biggest hiring challenges facing Australian businesses
• How sponsorship can help attract and retain exceptional talent
• Why attitude often matters more than experience when hiring
• The common misconceptions around sponsoring employees
• What founders need to know before hiring internationally
• How migration helps businesses scale faster through stronger teams

If you're a founder, business owner or executive looking to build a high-performing team in an increasingly competitive hiring market, this episode offers a fresh perspective on recruitment and long-term growth.

🎧 Tune in now to discover how thinking globally about talent could become one of your biggest competitive advantages.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Victor Tsaccounis, CEO of Hubify, to explore how business leaders can embrace AI, strengthen cyber security, and build technology strategies that drive long-term growth. Hubify helps Australian businesses simplify and manage their technology through managed IT, cyber security, cloud, communications, and AI solutions.

As AI continues to transform the way businesses operate, Victor shares practical insights into the opportunities it creates, the risks many organisations overlook, and why technology decisions should always align with business strategy.

We explore:

• Why small and medium-sized businesses are becoming prime targets for cyber attacks
• The hidden risks of employees using AI without the right governance
• How to adopt AI strategically instead of chasing the latest trend
• Why cyber security is now a leadership responsibility, not just an IT issue
• The practical steps every business can take to improve resilience and stay ahead

Whether you're already integrating AI into your business or just starting your journey, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you leverage technology with confidence.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how the right technology strategy can become a true competitive advantage for your business.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Jose Ramirez, Founder & CEO of HOPR, to explore how he built a new functional beverage category from his kitchen counter.

Starting with $38,000, no beverage industry experience, and a personal desire to rethink his relationship with alcohol, Jose shares how HOPR began as a home experiment during COVID and grew into a multi-million-dollar business competing in one of the most crowded consumer markets.

We explore:

• How Jose's own experience with alcohol sparked the idea for HOPR • Why he saw an opportunity beyond traditional non-alcoholic beer, wine, and soft drinks • What it takes to create and educate the market on a new category • How HOPR combines adult taste with functional relaxation • Why Jose chose to build the brand online instead of chasing retail from day one • How honesty, consistency, and "building in public" helped create a loyal community • The role of customers and retailers in growing HOPR organically across Australia • Jose's long-term vision to help one million Australians build a better relationship with alcohol

Jose also shares the realities of bootstrapping a beverage brand, designing the product himself, learning digital marketing from scratch, and staying close to the community as the business scales.

For founders, business owners, and leaders looking to understand category creation, community-led growth, and what it takes to challenge an established market, this episode offers a practical and inspiring look at building something different.

🎧 Tune in now to hear Jose's journey from kitchen counter experiment to building HOPR into one of Australia's most exciting functional beverage brands.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Mitchell Lobb and Christian Goodall from Distinctive Finance to discuss a principle every business owner should live by: "In times of peace, prepare for war."

Drawing on decades of experience in private banking and finance advisory, Mitchell and Christian share why the best business owners don't wait until they need funding to start planning. Instead, they position themselves early, build the right advisory team around them, and ensure they're ready to act when opportunities arise.

We explore:

• What "In times of peace, prepare for war" means in today's business environment • Why access to capital should be planned before it's needed • How strategic debt can support growth, acquisitions, and cash flow • The importance of strong banking and advisory relationships • Common mistakes business owners make when planning for growth or exit • How to prepare your business for economic uncertainty • Why the most prepared businesses are often the first to capitalise on opportunity

Mitchell and Christian also share how their private banking backgrounds shaped Distinctive Finance's relationship-first approach, and why tailored funding solutions can help business owners think beyond traditional lending.

For founders, business owners, and leaders looking to strengthen their financial position and prepare for future growth, this episode offers practical insights on staying ready for whatever comes next.

🎧 Tune in now to hear Mitchell and Christian's insights on preparation, capital strategy, and building a business that's ready to seize opportunity.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th.

In this episode, we sit down with Martial A Peter, founder of MartialPeter.com, for a powerful conversation on mindset, resilience, leadership, and the hidden role the subconscious mind plays in performance. Martial unpacks the concept of "Neuro Synchronology", the alignment between the conscious and subconscious mind, and explains why so many business owners, leaders, and teams struggle to perform at their full potential despite having clear goals.

Drawing from his experience working with elite athletes, CEOs, investment managers, and leadership teams around the world, Martial shares practical insights into building mental resilience, creating high-performing cultures, and developing the mindset required to succeed under pressure.

We explore:

• Why 90% of our behaviour is driven by the subconscious mind

• How fear, procrastination, and self-sabotage are often signs of internal misalignment

• The importance of resilience and why pressure builds mental strength

• How leaders can create high-performance teams through alignment and culture

• Why "personal best" matters more than competing against others

• The difference between motivation and true intrinsic drive

• How top performers train their mindset to perform under pressure

• The role of intention, energy, and self-awareness in leadership Martial also shares his personal story of losing $390 million in just 27 days, the mindset shift that helped him rebuild, and why resilience will become one of the most important leadership skills in the years ahead.

This episode is packed with practical lessons for business owners, leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to improve their performance, strengthen their mindset, and lead more effectively.

🎧 Tune in now to hear Martial's insights on mindset, resilience, and unlocking high performance through the power of the mind.