Jackie Smith is the Co-Founder and Director of Caci Clinic, one of New Zealand’s most established aesthetic and skin confidence brands with 75+ clinics nationwide.

Over 30 years, Jackie helped pioneer laser hair removal in NZ, introduced nurse-led injectables before it was mainstream, and built one of the country’s most recognised franchise brands using a membership model that changed the industry.

From living off $2 McDonald’s lunches to investing $170,000 in one of the first public laser machines in the world — this is a masterclass in scaling a franchise business the hard way.

◽️ How to scale a franchise business from 1 clinic to 75

◽️ The real difference between being a franchisee vs franchise owner

◽️ Why “burn the boats” commitment matters in business

◽️ The $170,000 laser bet that nearly broke them

◽️ Why membership models create predictable growth

◽️ Mistakes with surgery, gyms & buying the wrong franchise contracts

◽️ What most people misunderstand about “passive income”

◽️ The 3 non-negotiables she looks for in franchisees

👉🏻 NZBusiness Magazinewww.nzbusiness.co.nz

👉🏻 Podcast Guestwww.podcastguest.co.nz

Find Caci Clinic: https://caci.co.nz

Find Me:

https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/

Apple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8v

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Simon Bridges is the CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, New Zealand’s former Energy Minister, and the former leader of the New Zealand National Party (and thus Leader of the Opposition, 2018–2020). 

Episode Partner:

👉🏻 NZBusiness Magazine - www.nzbusiness.co.nz

What Simon reveals

◽️ The NZ business outlook: costs, competitiveness, and why he’s cautiously optimistic

◽️ Why power bills are high—and the case to split power companies (generators vs retailers)

◽️ AI adoption in NZ: where SMEs get productivity now (and where hype still dominates)

◽️ Data centres, renewables, and building enough generation to power growth

◽️ How an India–NZ FTA could open doors for exporters (horticulture, services, screen)

◽️ His execution playbook: pick 3–4 priorities that “make the boat go faster”

FOLLOW SimonFind Simon via the Auckland Business Chamber: https://www.aucklandchamber.co.nzFOLLOW MEhttps://www.instagram.com/minaamso/WATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Paul Spoonley is a New Zealand social scientist and demographer who has led research on aging, fertility decline, immigration and regional development. He has advised government and business on long-term planning, productivity and labour markets, and has worked on immigration and settlement policy, social cohesion, and the future of work and education.

Episode Partners:

👉🏻 NZBusiness Magazine www.nzbusiness.co.nz

👉🏻 Podcast Guest www.podcastguest.co.nz

What Paul reveals

◽️NZ’s future is being decided by older voters and a birth rate that’s falling off a cliff. That’s not “demographics” - it’s your operating environment.

◽️Immigration isn’t a plan. It’s a patch. And we keep ripping it off and reapplying it like that won’t hurt.

◽️SMEs aren’t “struggling to hire.” They’re competing for a shrinking pool

◽️Auckland keeps winning because we let it. The regions don’t “lose people”, they get outbid and outbuilt.◽️Productivity doesn’t improve with another report. It improves when businesses adopt tech, retrain hard, and stop pretending our diaspora is irrelevant.

FOLLOW ME

https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/

WATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for Spotify & Apple descriptions)

https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast

LISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Renting vs buying NZ, net worth tracking, and the mindset shift from scarcity to abundance — chartered accountant-turned-entrepreneur Luke Kemeys goes deep on how Kiwis can build real financial well-being without being chained to a mortgage. We cover when renting beats buying, monthly net-worth tracking (assets minus liabilities), using debt (carefully), and the exact habits that unlock growth for founders.What Luke reveals

◽️ When renting beats buying in NZ (and for whom)

◽️ The 1 habit that builds financial progress: monthly net-worth tracking

◽️ How to treat your household like a business (cash in, cash out, decisions)

◽️ The $500 plan that actually changes your life (not “buy this coin”)

◽️ Using debt in business: when it accelerates vs. when it’s dangerous

Episode Partners

👉🏻 NZBusiness Magazinewww.nzbusiness.co.nz

👉🏻 Podcast Guestwww.podcastguest.co.nz

FOLLOW LUKE

Search: “Luke Kemeys”, “Next Advisory NZ”, “Keep the Change podcast”

FOLLOW ME

https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/

WATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for Spotify/Apple listeners)

https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast

LISTEN ONApple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Luke Kemeys is a chartered accountant, business adviser, and co-founder of Next Advisory. He also hosts Keep the Change, a money podcast/newsletter followed by thousands of Kiwis each week. Luke works with founders on pricing, cashflow, and growth strategy, and is known for practical frameworks that get owners out of scarcity and into action.

NZ property investment strategy that built a $20M portfolio. Ilse Wolfe shares the BRRRR framework, renovation tactics for cash flow + capital growth, and how leverage accelerates wealth building in real estate.

In this episode, Ilse Wolfe breaks down:

• The BRRRR framework (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat)

• How to achieve both capital growth AND cash flow

• Leverage strategies for property investment

• Renovation tactics that maximise returns

• Zero to $20M path

• From portfolio to coaching

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Zero to $20M property portfolio story

1:14 - Welcome and introduction

3:02 - Starting in NZ real estate investment

4:13 - What is leverage in property investment

5:00 - Leverage: jumping on shoulders of giants

5:22 - Shortcut time with leverage strategy

7:07 - Health and wealth mindset for investing

8:18 - Learning from property investment mistakes

9:18 - Negative cash flow hole disaster

9:53 - Moving in with in-laws to save portfolio

10:51 - BRRRR framework explained (Buy Renovate Rent Refinance Repeat)

11:57 - Finding solutions for capital growth AND cash flow

12:43 - BRRRR cycle breakdown

13:05 - Building property business while renovating

13:27 - Teaching clients to copy-paste portfolio success

15:05 - Specific skills needed to build property wealth

16:03 - Catalyst: losing mother and going full-time

18:39 - First renovation: Mangere over-capitalisation mistake

20:00 - Builder coaching on renovation skills

22:01 - Every property performs better than the last

22:37 - Scaling from houses to ex-motels and unit blocks

25:05 - Key decision that set trajectory

26:06 - Surrounding yourself with right people

27:20 - Overcoming intimidation in networking

28:31 - Sitting next to future PM John Key

31:05 - Building connections with education business founder

33:46 - Property negotiation skills development

34:38 - Four key lessons for scaling property business

35:00 - Lesson 1: Lean into your top skills

40:00 - Selling properties at a loss for long-term gain

42:54 - Biggest property investment mistake

43:47 - Council changed minds causing delays

44:10 - Project cost $140k and took 10 months

45:33 - Problem-solving: paying 3x for fire door

48:59 - Turning property portfolio into coaching business

50:24 - Passive income exceeding active income

53:06 - Choosing the right property mentor

55:16 - Struggles as a woman in property investment

57:34 - Buying out partners and going independent

59:41 - Stop overestimating yearly goals, focus on long-term

1:00:09 - Don't sweat the small stuff in property deals

🔗 FOLLOW ILSE

Website: https://www.wolfeproperty.co.nz/

Instagram: @wolfpropertycoaching

📲 FOLLOW MINA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaamso/

📧 Subscribe to Notes From The Executive for tactical business insights from NZ's top entrepreneurs https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast?sub_confirmation=1

🤝 EPISODE PARTNER

NZ Business: www.nzbusiness.co.nz

#NZPropertyInvestment #PropertyInvestingNZ #BRRRRStrategy #WealthBuilding #RealEstateNZ #IlseWolfe #PropertyPortfolio #CashFlowProperty #CapitalGrowth #PropertyCoaching #NewZealandBusiness #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #PropertyRenovation #NotesFromTheExecutive

Four of New Zealand’s most experienced business leaders join this episode:

Tony Falkenstein (CEO, Just Water Group)Ashish Saxena (Wholistic Leadership Coach)Richard Conway (Founder, Pure SEO)Lloyd Budd (CEO, Bayleys Auckland)

Together, they break down the real fundamentals of scaling a business. From the controversial strategy of "looking bigger than you are" to the psychology of presence, the power of storytelling, and why moving too fast can quietly destroy growth.

What The Experts Explain

Tony Falkenstein - Why he does not set goals, how to look big before you are big, and why execution beats ideas every time.

Ashish Saxena - Why business is ultimately about asset creation, not just income, and why listening may be your most profitable skill.

Richard Conway - The $10,000 lesson on storytelling, transparency, and why vulnerability builds stronger teams.

Lloyd Budd - The danger of "Ready, Fire, Aim" and the three pillars of building client trust: time, network, and value.

Episode PartnerPodcast Guest

Download your free podcast guide:www.podcastguest.co.nz

Follow Mina:linkin.bio/minaamso

Watch the episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://shorturl.at/UkJ8v

Listen on Spotify:https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Lisa O'Neill is a kiwi Keynote Speaker, Author of Energy: Get, Guard it, Give it & Everything You Want along side other books.

She's one of New Zealand’s leading Energy Experts. Known for her unapologetically blunt style, she teaches audiences how to stop living a "default life," manage their energy like a CEO, and become the main character of their own story.What Lisa explains◽️ Why "Energy" is a decision you make, not a personality trait you have◽️ The "Browser Tab" Analogy: How unprocessed grief and trauma drains your battery◽️ Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth and how to live in "Seasons" insteadEpisode Partners:👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamps00:00 The Lie: Why doing "all the right things" leaves you miserable00:34 "What Oven Were You Cooked In?" (Nature vs. Nurture)03:10 ADHD Hacks: The "Movement Break" strategy for neurodiverse brains03:57 "Wanty vs. Needy": Why suppressing your wants destroys your soul06:10 Energy is a Decision: How to stop being "awful" to be around08:45 Your Body is a Rental Car (And you're wrecking it)12:45 Burnout, "Seasons," and the lie of balance16:50 The Cost of Attention: The responsibility of holding 500 people's time19:06 Blunt Truths: "The stripes don't make you fat"20:32 The "Open Browser" Analogy: Grief, suicide, and emotional energy24:03 Why "Offend" is a choice (and why you need disruption)26:35 Finale: How to be the CEO and Main Character of your lifeFOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Justin Flitter is the Founder of AI New Zealand and the New Zealand Tech Marketers Group. He serves on the Board of Business Mentors New Zealand, helps organize TEDxAuckland, and is the country’s leading authority on integrating practical AI workflows into enterprise and SMBs.What Justin explains◽️ The difference between AI Assistants and "AI Agents" (your new digital colleagues)◽️ How to save hundreds of admin hours using tools like n8n and Zapier◽️ The exact prompt strategy to teach yourself how to use any AI tool◽️ ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which model to use for what task◽️ How to rank your business in "AI Search" (GEO) when Google traffic declines👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamps00:00 Intro05:23 What are AI Agents? (The shift to a "Digital Workforce")08:00 The current state of AI adoption in New Zealand businesses10:38 Case Study: How a property firm saved hundreds of admin hours/month13:15 Why you cannot compete in 2026 without AI integration14:52 The "Expert Prompt" technique for beginners to learn AI fast17:50 Tool Breakdown: ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Claude vs. Gemini26:10 The death of traditional SEO: AI Search vs. Google Search28:02 Tactical Guide: How to force your business to rank in ChatGPT results30:35 The "Clean Instance" test to verify your AI search ranking38:27 Live Demo: Using Advanced Voice Mode to work while driving40:00 How to use AI as a language teacher and research assistantExamples and guide on styleFOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

The future of business in NZ is changing fast.AI, customer behaviour, marketing, education, and trust are all shifting at once, and most New Zealand businesses are not prepared.In this Notes From The Executive montage episode, three respected New Zealand thinkers break down the future of business NZ leaders need to understand heading into 2026. These are not theories. These are signals already playing out in the New Zealand market.Watch other episodes:Scott Wilson https://youtu.be/f1wHt5QBTyMRichard Conway https://youtu.be/7-7qiWeSBJoFrances Valentine https://youtu.be/xGdPHmqwofoWHAT THEY EXPLAIN◽️ The future of business NZ after peak AI automation◽️ Why face-to-face relationships are returning in New Zealand◽️ How AI is changing customer behaviour in NZ businesses◽️ Why websites may disappear as AI agents handle buying◽️ How AI voice search will affect NZ customer discovery◽️ Why personal brand matters more in the AI era◽️ How education and skills must change for New Zealand’s workforceEPISODE PARTNERS👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire🔥 Enter to WIN Free Jet Ski Rides 🔥Enter here: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7aTIMESTAMPS00:00 Future Of Business NZ – What’s Changing00:38 Why Face-To-Face Is Coming Back In NZ Business02:00 Short-Form Content Replacing Seminars In NZ03:45 Subscribe – Why This Matters For NZ Leaders04:10 Will Websites Disappear? AI And The NZ Market07:15 Buying Inside AI Platforms – What This Means For NZ09:30 AI Voice Search And NZ Customer Behaviour11:45 Why Testing AI Tools Builds Trust With NZ Clients14:20 Personal Brand In The AI Era – NZ Perspective16:00 Sponsor Message16:45 AI Is Bigger Than The Internet – NZ Business Impact19:55 Why Education Must Change In New Zealand22:30 Digital vs Analog Businesses In NZ26:40 Removing Friction To Win NZ Customers29:20 Final Thought – Who Wins In NZ Business By 2026FOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCmb8GUvqh3KYZHgLB1qjBBA LISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXABOUT THE EPISODEIn this 2026 prediction special, we explore the collision of AI and human connection. Richard Conway argues that websites as we know them are disappearing, replaced by AI agents. Frances Valintine explains why the "Analog" way of doing business is a death sentence, while Scott Wilson predicts a massive market correction back to face-to-face human relationships.

This special montage episode features three of New Zealand’s top business minds: Marisa Fong (co-founder of Madison Recruitment, sold for $30M+), Lisa O'Neill (Energy Expert & Author), and Rich Ellis (Executive Health & Mindset Coach).Together, they reveal the brutal truth about entrepreneurial burnout. They discuss the cognitive collapse of "decision fatigue," why the concept of balance prevents scaling, and the specific energy management protocols needed to survive the early stages of building a business.What they explain◽️ The "Bandwidth Collapse": Why female founders suffer from decision fatigue first◽️ The "Demon Hours": The exact window where you must sacrifice balance to win◽️ Energy Stacking: How to transition from "CEO Mode" to bedtime without crashing◽️ The "8-Week Postpartum" Reality: The irreversible trade-offs of an exit-level founder◽️ Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth that keeps you small (and what to aim for instead)Timestamps00:00 Intro01:30 Lisa O'Neill: Why energy is everything (and where to start)03:15 How to find a way to keep your energy up05:40 "What season are you in right now?"08:10 Rich Ellis: The reality of burnout and why it’s not "nice"12:45 The "Bedtime Transition": Stacking small opportunities for rest15:30 Marisa Fong: Mental Overload and Bandwidth Collapse18:15 The Myth of Balance: Why you can't have it all while scaling20:40 "Working like demons": The necessary window of obsession22:50 The Cost of Success: Energy, Time, and Sacrifice24:10 The 8-week tradeoff: Marisa’s irreversible decisionExamples and guide on styleFOLLOW MElinkin.bio/minaamsoWATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for spotify and apple only)https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXABOUT THE EPISODEIn this compilation, Marisa Fong, Rich Ellis, and Lisa O'Neill dismantle the myth of work-life balance for entrepreneurs. They explore the cognitive cost of decision-making, the necessity of "demon work" periods, and how to manage your energy so you don't burn out before you cash out.Episode Partners:👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire: 🔥 WIN Free Jet Ski Rides 🔥Enter: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7a👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nz