Olive Insights

Thinking about buying a business?
If you’re considering growth through acquisition, whether it’s buying a competitor or expanding into a new service area, this episode of Olive Insights is packed with practical advice to help you make an informed decision.

Sarah Petty and Kerrie McGilvray kick off the conversation by answering a listener question from Sean, a business owner exploring his first acquisition. Like many founders, Sean’s excited about the potential but also concerned about risks like overpaying, losing clients, or overwhelming his team. This episode unpacks those concerns and walk through what to consider before you buy.

In this episode, Kerrie shares:

• Why she chose to grow by acquiring a business
• How she approached the search and negotiations
• What to look for during due diligence
• The risks and opportunities in integrating (or not integrating) two businesses
• Tips for communicating the change to clients and team
• How to structure a deal, even if you don’t have a big chunk of capital up front

Meet Our Guest: Kerrie McGilvray
Meet Kerrie McGilvray – Empire Wrangler, chaos tamer, and the powerhouse behind multiple growing brands. She’s the founder of The Admin Superheroes, where she helps overwhelmed business owners trade the daily grind for scalable growth with smart systems and rockstar support. Kerrie also owns Virtually Yours, one of Australia’s longest-running Virtual Assistant communities, connecting top-tier VAs with business owners ready to delegate and scale. As co-founder of Built 4 Amazement, Kerrie’s now adding property flipping to her growing empire.

With over 20 years of experience across operations, leadership, and business improvement, Kerrie knows what it takes to turn big visions into smooth-running machines. She brings a no-fluff, all-heart approach to business, blending cheeky humour with serious strategy. Whether she’s fixing back-end chaos, mentoring emerging leaders, or protecting her team like a true superhero, Kerrie is all in.

Get ready for stories from the trenches, real talk about business, and insights you can actually use. Because building an empire doesn’t mean doing it all alone – and Kerrie’s here to prove it.

Connect With Kerrie

Website: The Admin Superheroes | Virtually Yours

LinkedIn: Kerrie McGilvray | The Admin Superheroes | Virtually Yours
Facebook: The Admin Superheroes | Virtually Yours
Instagram: @theadminsuperheroes | @thevaadvocate

About Olive Business Partners
Olive Business Partners is a Virtual CFO firm founded and led by Sarah Petty, a seasoned CFO passionate about helping business owners take control of their finances and scale with confidence. Whether you're planning to hire a team, invest in technology, expand into new markets, launch new products, take on larger clients, raise capital, or prepare for acquisition, we’ll help you make informed financial decisions that support your long-term success.

Like the olive tree, we believe in steady, resilient growth. We connect ambitious business owners with experienced CFOs, providing tailored support for the stage you're at and the challenges you're facing. Our flexible model gives you access to expert financial guidance when and where you need it without the cost of a full-time CFO.

Connect with Olive Business Partners:

Website: Olive Business Partners

Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners

LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of the Olive Insights podcast, Sarah Petty interviews Jehan Perinpanayagam, CEO of Infomate, about the benefits of outsourced finance resourcing. They discuss the various services offered by outsourced finance teams, the challenges of finding good talent, and how virtual finance support can help small businesses manage their financial functions more effectively. Jehan shares insights on common financial mistakes businesses make and discusses the importance of data security when outsourcing financial tasks.

Links
Website: Infomate
LinkedIn: Jehan Perinpanayagam| LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of the Olive Insights podcast, Andrew Jepson, founder of The FBP Team, shares his journey from a traditional finance role to becoming a finance business partner. He discusses the importance of effective communication between finance professionals and non-finance stakeholders, the critical role of cash flow management in small businesses, and the tools that can enhance finance business partnering. Andrew also highlights common financial mistakes made by business owners and emphasises the need for measuring the right metrics to drive business success. He shares insights on how finance business partners can add value by asking the right questions and fostering collaboration.

Links
Website: Finance Business Partners
LinkedIn: Andrew Jepson | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty interviews Kiran Bhullar, Private Client Advisor at UniSuper, to discuss the critical importance of retirement planning for business owners, particularly focusing on superannuation. Kiran shares insights on the risks of relying solely on business success for retirement, the necessity of diversifying financial strategies, and the importance of developing financial literacy. They also talk about practical budgeting methods like the 50-30-20 rule and the value of working with a financial planner to enhance personal financial outcomes.

Links:
Website: UniSuper
LinkedIn: Kiran Bhullar | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty chats with Steve Grace, CEO & Founder of The Nudge Group, who shares his extensive entrepreneurial journey, discussing the various businesses he has built and the lessons he learned along the way. He talks about the importance of taking entrepreneurship seriously, understanding cash flow, and the value of community and mentorship. Steve also reflects on his early challenges, standout moments, and the freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur. He provides practical advice for aspiring business owners and shares insights on managing multiple ventures without burning out.

Links:
Website: The Nudge Group
LinkedIn: Steve Grace | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode, Sarah Petty chats with Carla Canning, Founder of Connect Lead Achieve, to talk about the critical role of HR in business growth, focusing on the signs that indicate a company is ready to expand its team, common hiring mistakes startups make, and strategies for retaining talent. They discuss the importance of workplace culture, compliance, and capability, and explore the necessity of workplace wellness, especially in remote settings. Carla shares practical advice for business owners on how to manage their teams effectively while fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

Links
Website: Connect, Lead, Achieve
LinkedIn: Carla Canning | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty interviews Ashwini Shankar, CFO at NAATI, to discuss the significance of digitisation in finance, emphasising its role in enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. She outlines practical steps for businesses to embrace digitisation, including starting with small wins and selecting the right technology. Ash also highlights the importance of measuring success through clear metrics and maintaining a balance between automation and human oversight. She shares insights on the evolving structure of finance teams and the necessity of continuous learning in a digital landscape, concluding with essential tips for businesses embarking on their digitisation journey.

Links
LinkedIn: Ashwini Shankar | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of the Olive Insights podcast, Sarah Petty speaks with Graeme Poules, co-founder of EmpEx Consulting about his business journey. Graeme talks about the evolution of his business, the challenges of managing finances as a new entrepreneur, and the importance of networking and leveraging relationships for success. Graeme shares insights from his journey, including the transition from corporate roles to consulting and the strategies he employed to build a successful business. He provides insights on building relationships, the importance of listening, and the value of networking in the consulting business. Listeners can learn from his approach to client engagement, lessons from mistakes, and the organisational habits that have helped him succeed. 

Links
Website: EmpEx Consulting | Stir Up Your Employee Experience
LinkedIn: Graeme Poules | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode, Sarah Petty sits down with Jenna Paulin, founder of Now Actually, to discuss the intricacies of building a thriving remote work culture, the importance of hiring for cultural fit, and the challenges faced by businesses in managing remote teams. Jenna emphasises the need for effective communication, creating a sense of belonging, and treating offshore employees as integral members of the team. Jenna also shares insights on aligning remote teams with company values and the significance of having proper documentation and compliance in place.

Links
Website: Now Actually
LinkedIn: Jenna Paulin | LinkedIn
Instagram: Now Actually | Your People Are Our People

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty interviews Fatimah Abbouchi, owner and director of Agile Management Office and mental health advocate. They discuss the challenges of scaling businesses, the importance of project management, and Fatimah's innovative "AMO Way" for facilitating change. Fatimah shares insights on integrating technology effectively, building resilience to avoid burnout, and the significance of experimentation in business growth. 

Links:
Website: AMO | Agile Management Office
LinkedIn: Fatimah Abbouchi | LinkedIn

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners