Emajin Golf: Beyond the 19th

What separates businesses that scale from those that stall?

In this episode of Beyond the 19th, we sit down with Tim MacKinley from QUANTA to unpack the commercial realities of building a business that's structured for sustainable growth — not just short-term momentum.

Tim shares practical insights drawn from working closely with scaling organisations across Australia. From financial discipline and governance frameworks to strategic clarity and leadership accountability, this conversation explores what it truly takes to grow with control, confidence, and long-term enterprise value in mind.

We discuss:

• Why business structure matters more than most founders realise • The financial blind spots that quietly limit growth • Governance and accountability at scale • Building foundations before chasing expansion • Turning strategy into measurable execution

If you're a founder, director, or senior leader navigating growth, complexity, or preparing for your next phase, this episode delivers grounded commercial insight you can apply immediately.

This isn't about growth at any cost. It's about building properly.

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

In this episode, Raj is joined by Peter Ishak, founder of Ishaks Conveyancing, for a grounded and insightful conversation on business, leadership, and the realities that come with building something meaningful over time.

Peter shares his perspective on what business owners often underestimate - from the pressure that comes with decision-making to the importance of structure, discipline, and long-term thinking. Drawing on his professional experience, he unpacks how clarity, good advice, and sound fundamentals can help founders navigate growth, risk, and uncertainty.

The conversation explores what success really looks like behind the scenes, the lessons learned through setbacks, and why sustainable businesses are built through consistency rather than quick wins. Peter also reflects on the value of surrounding yourself with the right people and knowing when to seek guidance as your business evolves.

As always, the discussion moves beyond business into mindset, balance, and golf - highlighting how the lessons learned on the course often mirror those in leadership and life.

This episode is a valuable listen for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders looking for practical insights, honest reflections, and a long-term approach to growth.

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

In this episode, Raj sits down with Rich Coombes, Partner at Nexus Advisory and long-time Emajin Platinum Member, for a powerful conversation about how business owners can unlock smarter capital solutions to fund growth, protect cash flow, and reduce financial stress.

Rich's story spans the worlds of finance, entrepreneurship, and creativity. From his early career in investment banking with UBS and Investec to co-founding iconic Australian beverage brands like Batlow Cider and Will & Co Coffee, he's built, scaled, and exited multiple ventures before joining Nexus Advisory.

Today, Rich helps business owners access the right kind of funding, without giving up control. He explains how alternative lending, non-bank finance, and private credit can provide the flexibility many SMEs need to grow sustainably, especially in today's shifting economic landscape.

Along the way, Rich shares the lessons learned from years of building businesses: the importance of cash flow discipline, the power of good partnerships, and why success often comes down to having more control over your time and decisions.

And of course, the episode wouldn't be complete without a little golf talk. From growing up on the fairways of Pymble and Coffs Harbour to his dream foursome at Pebble Beach.

Whether you're a founder, entrepreneur, or leader looking to scale smarter, this conversation is packed with practical insights on capital, growth, and mindset.

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

In this episode, Raj sits down with James Leslie-Watt, Managing Partner at Corson Fiske Group, for a deep and practical conversation about how business owners can effectively manage risk and future-proof their companies from day one.

From his unconventional start in hospitality to building a career spanning law, finance, and advisory, James shares a wealth of experience on what truly makes a business resilient, from getting the right structure in place, to safeguarding intellectual property and planning for a successful exit.

He explains why so many founders fall into the trap of poor structuring, missing shareholder agreements, and unprotected IP, and how these oversights can turn into major headaches later.

Drawing from real-world examples, James highlights how simple, proactive steps can protect your assets, minimise risk, and set your business up for long-term success.

The conversation also delves into the role of AI in advisory and insolvency, how technology is reshaping business operations, and why human insight and empathy still matter most in helping clients navigate financial challenges.

Whether you're just starting out or planning your next phase of growth, risk is ever-present. And this episode is full of insights on securing the longevity of your business.

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

In this episode, Raj sits down with Emajin member and business advisor Josh Hallam from Falanga & Co. to uncover insights from his fascinating journey from sport to business and the powerful lessons he's carried into his work as a chartered accountant with hundreds of Australian companies.

Josh's path has been anything but linear. A passionate footballer in his youth, he quickly transitioned into sports coaching and delivered programs to over 120,000 participants each year.

From there, he pursued an MBA and expanded into corporate consulting across Australia and Asia, eventually finding his home in accounting and business advisory.

Today, at Falanga & Co., Josh helps more than 500 business owners "go beyond the numbers," moving past traditional compliance to focus on forecasting, scenario planning, and strategies that genuinely drive growth.

He brings a rare mix of lived experience, academic grounding, and entrepreneurial insight to guide leaders through the challenges of scaling, acquisitions, and financial decision-making.

In this conversation, Josh shares why understanding your numbers is only the starting point, how to avoid "rowing harder in the wrong direction," and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right advisors and networks.

He also opens up about the realities of being a business owner, from the sleepless nights of making payroll to the joy of building something that aligns with your values and vision.

Of course, we couldn't finish without talking golf. Josh reflects on picking up the game as a junior, returning to it after a long hiatus, and his aspirations to experience Australia's top courses through the Emajin community.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to go beyond reporting and unlock growth potential from the numbers they track.

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

In this episode, Raj sits down with long-time friend and Emajin Platinum Partner, Julian Fayad, the founder of LoanOptions.ai, to uncover his remarkable journey of bootstrapping a fintech business built on resilience, innovation, and family values.

Julian's story is far from ordinary. Originally passionate about technology, he studied web and app development before unexpectedly landing in finance. Over nearly a decade in the industry, he combined his love for tech with financial services—eventually launching LoanOptions.ai during the challenging Covid period. What began in a tiny shoebox office quickly grew into an award-winning business helping thousands of Australians access smarter, faster, and fairer finance solutions.

In this conversation, Julian shares how his company has navigated everything from Covid shutdowns and supply chain disruptions to rising interest rates—constantly adapting, diversifying, and staying ahead through cutting-edge AI technology. He explains how LoanOptions.ai empowers customers with transparency and speed, allowing people to apply for loans in under five minutes and instantly view tailored options from over 90 lenders.

Beyond business, Julian opens up about his Lebanese heritage, his close-knit family, and how the values instilled by his single mother continue to shape his leadership style and culture today. He also reflects on the discipline of hard work, why resilience matters more than talent, and the importance of embracing challenges as opportunities to grow.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of finance, technology, and family-driven success.

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

In this episode, we're joined by Rebeca Bern, a digital marketing expert, for an insightful conversation about her career journey and her business, Somma Digital.

Rebeca, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has an unexpected background—she wanted to be a vet and started riding horses at the age of five. This passion for horses taught her discipline and motivation.

After moving to Australia and studying marketing, she eventually founded Somma, a B2B digital marketing agency. The name "Somma" is an acronym for "social media marketing agency" and also means "to add" in Portuguese, reflecting her goal to add value to her clients.

At Somma, their philosophy is that if you try to speak to everyone, you speak to no one. This strategy-first approach and commitment to delivering creative, outcome-driven solutions is what sets Somma apart from other agencies.

She explains that Somma specializes in branding, web design, social media, and SEO. Rebeca and the team at Somma act as an extension of their clients' businesses, providing an entire marketing department. They focus on understanding a client's specific audience and business challenges, rather than taking a "throw everything and see what sticks" approach.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in B2B marketing, entrepreneurship, or simply how a childhood passion can shape an adult career.

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

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Bernard Kassab, Head of Marketing and Strategy at Emajin, to join Raj in an eye-opening conversation about branding, clarity, and the often-misunderstood path to business success.

Bernard started as a graphic designer but quickly realised that design alone wasn't solving his clients' deeper challenges. It was this realisation that led him to co-found Ucidity, a firm focused not just on creative output, but on building clarity across messaging, branding, and marketing strategy. His mission? To help businesses remove the fog from their brand identity and align their messaging to what their customers care about.

According to Bernard, many businesses fall into the trap of selling what they do, instead of highlighting the value they bring. Throughout the conversation, he unpacks how clarity in branding and communication directly influences how well a customer connects with your business. It's not about shouting louder—it's about being clearer.

Rather than diving into marketing tactics straight away, Bernard advocates for a "strategy-first" approach. This means understanding your audience, defining your unique offer, and creating a coherent message before putting anything out into the world. Only then, he argues, can businesses truly get return on their marketing efforts.

If you're struggling to align your branding with your business goals—or you've ever felt that your marketing just isn't quite landing—this episode is packed with insights that could change the way you think about communication and growth.

Welcome back to the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th! We're incredibly excited to have Irwin Hau, the Director at Chromatix, join Raj to dissect exactly how the right approach to marketing and advertising can dramatically increase your leads and significantly boost your sales!

Before he became immersed in the advertising world, he spent years as a dedicated "coding-nerd," having studied computer science. This technical background is what initially led him to a Melbourne advertising agency, eventually inspiring him to open his own successful firm, Chromatix.

From Data to Demand: Patching Market Holes

Irwin's approach to marketing is heavily data-driven. He constantly analyses vast amounts of information to understand and then strategically influence the customer's perspective through advertising and marketing efforts. Interestingly, he started Chromatix by addressing a problem he personally encountered in the market. This firsthand experience allowed him to directly tackle the principles of supply and demand, effectively "patching up a hole" in the market that he knew needed filling.

But how do you close that gap? Spending money on marketing doesn't automatically guarantee leads. Irwin shares his insights on what truly makes the customer call you.

The Power of Quality and Quantity: Converting Traffic into Sales

Irwin emphasises that not all clients are a perfect fit for your business, even with high website traffic. That's why he advocates for having a conversion tool to leverage that traffic effectively. The goal is to generate valuable, high-quality leads while simultaneously increasing their quantity. His philosophy is clear: get as much relevant traffic to your website as possible to maximize your quality leads and, consequently, your quality sales.

This episode is not one to miss! Tune in now.

Join Raj in an engaging conversation with Imagine member Kane Dury, the owner of Discover Buyers Agency!

In this episode, Kane shares his fascinating journey into the property market and how he's leveraged it to build a successful investment portfolio. Whether you're looking to step onto the property ladder for the first time or aiming to maximize your investment returns, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Kane breaks down and shares:

• His unexpected entry into the army and the valuable skills he gained.
• The pivotal moment at 22 that sparked his passion for property investment.
• The transition from a secure job to building his own business in the real estate world.
• The crucial importance of understanding your financial goals and reverse-engineering your property investment strategy.
• A systematic approach to filtering through Australia's 15,000+ suburbs to identify high-potential investment areas.
• Debunking common property investment myths and the dangers of clickbait.
• Exciting insights into current loan options that can make entering the market more accessible than you think!
• His recent foray into the world of golf and the parallels between strategy in business and on the course.

Kane's story is one of taking initiative, strategic thinking, and a passion for helping others build wealth through property. His insights are incredibly valuable for anyone navigating the Australian property landscape.