What does a business really look like from different seats at the table?

In this episode of It’s Family Business, we’re joined by Elise Burgess, daughter of Adrian and Cheryl. Having recently undertaken her own entrepreneurial journey, Elise brings a unique perspective on how business feels from both sides.

Together, we explore how business looks completely different depending on your role as either an employee, a leader, a founder, or someone just starting out on their own. From misconceptions about working for your parents, to the unseen pressures business owners carry, this conversation unpacks what most people never get to see behind a small business.

We dive into the realities of balancing family and work, the shift in mindset between being an employee and becoming a business owner, generational differences in the workplace, and the lessons that come from growing up around entrepreneurship. The Panel also touches on trust, leadership, delegation, workplace dynamics, and what it really takes to build and sustain a business.

Whether you’re a young professional building your career, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a business owner navigating leadership and growth, this episode offers an honest look at the perspectives, pressures, and lessons that shape life inside a business.

In this episode you'll learn about:

• The biggest misconceptions about working in a family business

• What changes when you step into ownership or leadership

• The hidden responsibilities business owners carry behind the scenes

• How different generations approach work and business differently

• Why business looks completely different depending on your role

• Lessons from growing up around entrepreneurship and building a business from the ground up

If you’ve ever wondered what employees don’t see, what founders carry, or why people in the same business can experience it so differently, this episode is for you.

In this episode of It's Family Business, Cheryl sits down with Lizzie Renkert— founder of Lizzie Renkert Creative and former fashion magazine editor — to talk about the realities of running a business, working with family, and building a career that actually fits your life.

Lizzie shares her journey from the fast-paced world of fashion publishing to co-founding successful fashion label We Are Kindred, before ultimately launching her own boutique creative agency focused on brand storytelling, marketing strategy, social media, content creation, and small business growth.

Lizzie also shares powerful advice for aspiring business owners and creatives, including why experience matters, how to navigate uncertainty, and the importance of building a business that aligns with your lifestyle and values.

If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, creative, marketer, working parent, or someone dreaming about starting your own business, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical wisdom.

🎧 Listen now to hear an authentic conversation about family business, entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience, and finding success on your own terms.

What does it really take to run a successful family business with your partner—without it tearing your relationship apart?

In this episode of It’s Family Business, we sit down with Dale and Kirsty Neale, owners of a thriving service-based business in the funeral industry, to unpack their journey from humble beginnings to building a 40+ staff operation.

They share honest insights into:

• Scaling a business from scratch while raising a family
• Managing a growing team and creating a strong workplace culture
• Navigating the challenges of working with your spouse
• Balancing business demands with family life and personal priorities
• The reality of 24/7 businesses and how it impacts relationships
• Lessons learned from business failures, partnerships, and big risks
• Defining success—beyond money, status, and growth

From “never saying no” in business to learning when to step back and prioritise family, this episode is packed with real, unfiltered advice for business owners, couples in business, and anyone thinking about starting a family-run company.

Whether you’re scaling your business, struggling with work-life balance, or wondering how to successfully work with your partner—this conversation offers practical takeaways and relatable moments you won’t want to miss.

Building a strong community is one of the most powerful ways to grow a successful fitness business — yet many business owners struggle to move beyond transactional relationships with their clients.

In this episode of It's Family Business, Cheryl and Kirsten share 5 practical strategies to help Pilates studios, boutique fitness businesses, and wellness brands build a loyal, engaged community that keeps clients coming back.

Learn how to create meaningful connections with your members, increase client retention, and stand out in a competitive fitness market filled with franchises and discount-driven offers.

Whether you're running a Pilates studio, gym, yoga studio, or wellness business, this episode will give you actionable ideas to transform your space into more than just a place to work out — but a place where clients feel seen, heard, valued, and part of something bigger.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between transactional vs relational client experiences
• How listening to client feedback strengthens loyalty
• Simple gestures that create lasting member relationships
• Ways to show value beyond discounts and promotions
• How to connect with your local community to grow your brand
• Ideas for events and touchpoints that encourage member connection

If you want to improve client retention, strengthen brand loyalty, and build a thriving fitness community, this episode is for you.

🎧 Perfect for:

Pilates studio owners, fitness professionals, boutique gym operators, wellness entrepreneurs, and small business owners wanting to build stronger customer relationships.

Following the success of a recent online webinar hosted by Pilates Reformers Australia on equipment maintenance, this episode continues the conversation — diving deeper into how to properly care for your Pilates equipment and protect your investment for the long term.

In this discussion, Adrian shares practical insights from years of hands-on experience working with Pilates equipment, highlighting why regular maintenance is essential not only for preserving performance and longevity, but also for ensuring safety for every user. Through exploring key equipment components i.e. springs, clips, wheels and more, Adrian highlights the key warning signs to watch for, the most common maintenance mistakes, and the simple checks that can prevent costly issues down the track.

Whether you’re a studio owner or a home user, you'll learn how small, consistent care can:

• significantly extend the life of your equipment,
• support warranty protection,
• and maintain the high-quality experience your clients expect.

If you own Pilates equipment — or are considering investing — this episode will give you the knowledge and confidence to protect its performance, safety, and long-term value.

Want to review our live Equipment Maintenance Masterclass? Access the Webinar recording here:

pilatesreformersaustralia.com.au

In this heartfelt episode of It’s Family Business, we sit down with Charmaine Smith, Director of Cut It Out Hair Design, to unpack the realities of building a successful business while raising a family.

With over 23 years in business, multiple salon locations under her belt, and three children at very different life stages, Charmaine shares an honest look at what it really takes to juggle growth, staff leadership, motherhood, and the ever-present pull of mum guilt. From opening a second salon while pregnant, to navigating COVID, staffing challenges, and consolidation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t come without vulnerability, resilience, and a whole lot of grace.

If you're a business owner, a mother, or simply someone trying to balance ambition with family life then this episode is for you - because behind every “she’s got it all together” moment is someone quietly figuring it out as they go.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to navigate business growth while raising a young family
• The importance of delivering exceptional service

• Why mum guilt is inevitable—and how to manage it without burning out
• The importance of building a family-first culture with staff and clients
• How to lead confidently through change, even when you don’t have all the answers
• Why giving yourself grace is essential to long-term success

A candid, relatable, and inspiring conversation about leadership, motherhood, and showing up—especially on the hard days.

Burnout doesn’t always arrive overnight — sometimes it builds slowly until one day, you simply can’t keep going. In this episode, Steph Neal opens up about her experience with burnout, the guilt of stepping back, and the hard but necessary changes she made to protect her mental and physical health.

Together with Cheryl, she explores people-pleasing, boundaries, and how learning to say no can be an act of self-respect. An important conversation for business owners, teachers, and anyone who gives too much of themselves.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How burnout can show up quietly — and why it’s often missed
• The physical and emotional signs that your body is asking you to slow down
• Why guilt and people-pleasing can accelerate burnout
• How to start setting boundaries without feeling like you’re letting others down
• The value of asking for support and not navigating burnout alone
• Why stepping back doesn’t mean failure, and how it can lead to better alignment
• Small, practical ways to check in with yourself before burnout takes hold

In this episode, Giants Netball star Amy Sligar joins Kirsten to unpack the high-performance habits and mindset tools that shape both her life on the court and her growth beyond it.

Amy shares her journey from junior netball to the professional arena, offering valuable lessons on self-discipline, trusting the process, dealing with pressure, building resilience, and staying grounded through big transitions.

Whether you’re an athlete, a business owner, a student, or someone navigating your own career path, Amy’s reflections on team culture, personal development, confidence, and overcoming setbacks offer inspiration you can apply to any part of life.

A powerful and uplifting conversation for anyone curious about motivation, leadership, wellbeing, and the mindset behind high-performance success.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to build high-performance habits that support consistency, discipline, and long-term success
• How to trust the process even when progress feels slow or uncertain
• How to bounce back from setbacks and view challenges as opportunities for growth
• How to manage pressure and self-doubt with practical mindset tools
• How to strengthen your confidence in both personal and professional environments
• How to communicate more effectively within teams, partnerships, and workplaces
• Develop resilience when navigating big goals, transitions, or high expectations
• The importance of prioritising wellbeing and balance, even in busy seasons
• How to recognise the power of support networks — and how to cultivate them in your own life
• How to find purpose in the journey, not just the end result

In today’s competitive business landscape, industries can shift from niche to saturated almost overnight. New competitors enter the scene, prices are driven down, and the pressure to stand out intensifies. So how do you ensure your business — or your career — doesn’t get lost in the noise?

In this episode, Adrian, Cheryl, and Kirsten dive into the realities of working in and around saturated industries, sharing practical insights that go beyond buzzwords. Reflecting on their own experiences running businesses in the Pilates industry, they unpack the challenges, successes, and inevitable lessons to be learned by those fighting to stand out amongst the crowd.

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Have you ever poured hours of energy into your business, content, or creative work but were met with silence? In this episode, Cheryl and Kirsten are diving into the tension between wanting affirmation and learning to create without applause.

Cheryl and Kirsten will explore why silence doesn’t always mean failure, how to measure impact beyond likes and comments, and why consistency and resilience matter more than instant feedback.

Through honest conversation and real experiences, this duo unpack the psychology of showing up in the quiet seasons, the hidden impact your work might already be having, and practical ways to stay motivated when results feel invisible.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or creative navigating social media, this episode will remind you that your efforts are seen—even if the recognition comes later. Because sometimes, the people who are impacted most by your work are the ones who never hit “like.”

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