How do the most effective leaders inspire action—not just compliance? According to Margo Halbert, it starts with learning how to truly engage.

In this episode, Hanif Ibrahim sits down with Margo—an executive coach, professional speaker, and business advisor to some of Australia's top organisations including Chevron, Wesfarmers, BHP and Crown.

With a passion for helping leaders communicate with clarity and presence, Margo shares how building influence isn't about performance for performance's sake—it's about earning trust, elevating reputation, and opening doors to greater opportunity.

Together, they explore the subtle (and powerful) cues that make people want to follow your lead, how to overcome nerves and imposter syndrome, and why mastering communication is one of the most strategic investments a leader can make.

Whether you're presenting to a boardroom or leading a team of students, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you show up—and what it means to truly connect.

🔗Connect with Margo Halbert:

Website: https://margohalbert.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margohalbert/

🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/

If this episode made you reflect—follow, share it with your team, and leave us a review.

Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/

Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

👉Welcome to another episode of In The Trenches.

After landing in Perth with just $50 to his name, Thibaut Holl started knocking on doors with a second-hand whipper snipper and a lot of hustle. More than a decade later, he's built Perth Landscaping Group into a successful, systemised business that runs largely without him. In this episode of In the Trenches, host Hanif Ibrahim talks with Thibaut about the long road from survival mode to sustainable growth—and the tough decisions it took to get there. They unpack the messy middle of building a team, letting go of control, and learning to simplify a business that had become too complex to scale. This is a raw, relatable look at what it really takes to build a business from the ground up—and what you need to let go of to keep it growing. 🔗Connect with Thibaut: Website: https://perthlandscapinggroup.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaut-holl/ 🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/ If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review. 🎧 Listen on: 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pucBCy... 🍎Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔵Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/d... Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

In this episode of In the Trenches, host Hanif Ibrahim sits down with Dr. Thomas Jreige, Cybersecurity and Counter Terrorism Expert, to explore why cybersecurity often fails to protect the businesses it's meant to serve—and what needs to change.

They dive into the flaws of reactive security models, the complexity that overwhelms leadership, and how to rethink cyber from the ground up so it actually works for people, not just systems.

Forget feel-good fluff—this is a conversation grounded in experience, shaped by tough decisions, and full of strategies that actually work in the real world.

🔗Connect with Thomas:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjreige/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/shimazakisentinel/

🔗Connect with Hanif Ibrahim:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/

If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.

Watch on:

🎥YouTube: https://youtu.be/RMLkHpu3di4

Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/

Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

In this episode of In the Trenches, host Hanif Ibrahim sits down with Alan Chau, Founder of 10X Ventures, to explore how persistence, family, and hard lessons shaped his journey from a spare room to running a global distribution business.

They dive into the realities of early failure, rebuilding from loss, staying grounded in community values, and what it really takes to survive and grow in business when everything is on the line.

Forget feel-good fluff—this is a conversation grounded in experience, shaped by tough decisions, and full of strategies that actually work in the real world.

If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.

Watch on:

🎥YouTube: https://youtu.be/_lMv90RnRAc

Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/ Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

A practical, straight-talking take on what's driving the economy right now—without the noise.

In this episode of In the Trenches, host Hanif Ibrahim sits down with Daniel Gradwell, Economist and Associate Director, Property at ANZ, to explore how a grounded, human view of economics can help business owners make smarter decisions in unpredictable times.

They dive into the disconnect between macro data and real-world experience, the limitations of traditional economic models, and what business leaders should really focus on when trying to make sense of the market—especially in Australia.

Forget feel-good fluff—this is a conversation grounded in experience, shaped by tough decisions, and full of strategies that actually work in the real world.

Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-gradwell-47530123/ Connect with Hanif Ibrahim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-ibrahim-18175a9/

If you're building something great—hit follow, share the episode, and leave us a review.

Watch Episode on:

🎥YouTube: https://youtu.be/w6SFkfbzn7o

Powered by The Finance Agency: https://financeagency.com.au/

Recorded at Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/

Running a business isn't easy. The late nights, tough decisions, and constant pressure to grow, adapt, and succeed—it's all part of the journey. In the Trenches is a business podcast created for Perth business owners who know what it's like to be in the thick of it. Each episode dives into real stories from business owners, industry leaders, and experts who have faced challenges head-on, found opportunities in unexpected places, and made the decisions that shaped their success. We're not here for vague theories or feel-good advice. We focus on tangible insights—practical strategies, financial realities, and the lessons that actually make a difference in running a business. Brought to you by The Finance Agency, In the Trenches is about more than just storytelling. It's about equipping business owners with the knowledge, inspiration, and commercial insights they need to navigate their own path. Whether you're scaling up, managing cash flow, or tackling industry shifts, we bring you the voices and experiences that matter—helping you make smarter decisions and move forward with confidence. If you're building something great, if you're making tough calls every day, if you're in the trenches—this is the podcast for you.