Owner Insights

This episode features one of the most driven person you’ll ever meet.

Trudy MacDonald is a multi-time CEO, award-winning global speaker, former elite ballet performer, and founder of TalentCode HR - an HR consulting firm working across Australia with no offices and a fully remote team. She’s built and sold numerous businesses, and at just 25, moved to the US in search of opportunity, eventually leading a team of 150.

Returning to Australia, she spent three years commuting six hours a day (including a 4:30am train ride and yoga before work), all while raising young children.

These days, her 5:30am starts are on the water, training up to 12 times a week as part of the NSW Masters Rowing Team, which she recently represented at the Australian Championships.

 In this episode, Trudy shares powerful insights, including:

• Why she’s so driven - and lessons for others
• How to lead a remote team that performs
• Why you should tear up job descriptions
• The three steps to building a high-performance culture

Don’t miss this fast-paced and inspiring conversation with someone who truly knows what it takes to build a great business - and a great life.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard sits down with Andrew Downs, founder of SAGE Group, to unpack one of Australia’s most compelling business success stories. What began in a back shed with humble aspirations became an international company with 750 employees and $230 million in turnover - and has now been acquired by a US-based Nasdaq-listed company for $150 million, with the potential for even more based on performance. 

Recorded before the sale, Andrew shares how two pivotal events - being sued by his local council, nearly ending the business before it began, and the GFC, which put everything on the line - shaped his thinking around risk, growth, and leadership. From mowing lawns as a teen to becoming a relentless growth-focused entrepreneur, his journey is one of resilience, customer-first thinking, and strategic reinvention.

Andrew also shares hard-earned lessons on debt, the value of mentors, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Most notably, he reflects on letting go of control to allow SAGE to thrive beyond him and ultimately position it for a major international sale.

In episode 5 of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks to Matthew McArthur, Executive Director of McArthur – one of Australia’s most respected recruitment and temporary staffing firms. What began in 1969 as a homegrown business founded by Matthew’s father, John, has grown into a national enterprise with six offices, over 200 internal staff, and more than 6,500 people employed each year.

This is a story about legacy, resilience, and quietly building a business that lasts. Matthew reflects on the early days of literally building the company from the ground up – assembling partition walls for interview rooms with his siblings – and on the incredible example set by his father, who only stepped down as Chairman at the age of 95. With a focus on sustainability and long-term relationships, McArthur was built to withstand change and challenge, including the global pandemic, with a cautious, steady approach that’s kept it recession resilient.

From navigating the challenges of working in a family business to the complexities of creating a truly national culture, Matthew shares valuable insights into leadership, succession, and staying relevant across decades. This episode is a masterclass in building not just a business – but a business that lasts.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks to Stephen Evans, founder of Footsteps Dance Company, a global business teaching dance and drama in schools. From a competitive ballroom dancer with an Economics degree to running a thriving international enterprise, Stephen’s story is one of passion, timing, and entrepreneurial energy.

Footsteps began over 30 years ago, rapidly expanding to work with 50 schools in South Australia within its first year. Today, it operates in every Australian state, New Zealand, and the United States, with a successful online program launched during COVID – an extremely innovative approach to going global without a physical presence.

Stephen reflects on his challenges, from a failed franchise attempt and financial missteps to the importance of hiring the right people. Guided by his grandfather’s simple mantra, “Spend half and save half,” he built a debt-free business that thrives on seizing opportunities and learning from setbacks.

This episode is packed with insights on turning a passion into a global success story.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Angus Sobels, a business owner whose journey embodies resilience, risk-taking, and purpose-driven wealth creation. From a childhood marked by his father’s sudden departure and his family’s loss of 100 years of generational wealth in the wine industry, Angus shares how these experiences shaped his philosophy on financial security and life’s priorities.

Angus reveals how he balances financial success with personal fulfilment, turning profits from a commercial landscaping business into building two further businesses, including a thriving property investment business, and stepping back from active work by 40. When tragedy struck in 2015, he leaned on the values instilled by his mother and the security his businesses provided.

This episode is packed with lessons on embracing uncertainty, taking risks, and backing the right people - proving that life’s true riches go far beyond money.

Welcome to episode 2 of Owner Insights, where James Orchard sits down with a true South Australian icon - Scott Salisbury. Known for his remarkable journey from a young carpenter and semi-professional footballer to creating South Australia’s most awarded custom home builder, Scott’s story is one of resilience, hard work, and staying true to a core principle his father instilled in him at 17: “just do it right the first time.”

In this episode, Scott shares the pivotal moment he finally secured his spot with Glenelg Football Club after three years of being rejected - a turning point he describes as “the best thing that’s happened in his career.”  With over 200 games played, including representing South Australia and earning All Australian Selection, his story is a testament to the power of perseverance.

As the head of Scott Salisbury Group, overseeing over 200 homes currently under construction, Scott also discusses how he’d fix Australia’s current housing crisis. Tune in for a conversation that blends personal insights and professional wisdom from one of South Australia’s best.

In the first episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard sits down with Jim Whiting, Executive Chairman of BADGE Constructions, to explore the story behind one of Australia’s largest privately owned building companies. Jim shares his unique experience of growing up with seven brothers and founding BADGE with them - taking the helm as Managing Director with a 50% ownership, with his brothers owning the other half.

What began as a small team of just three employees in the 1980’s has grown into a powerhouse with over 2,500 people on site at any given time and a turnover of $450 million in 2024. But, as Jim emphasises, “It’s not the turnover but the leftover that matters.” His unwavering focus on profitability has been a cornerstone of BADGE’s success.

Whether you’re a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the stories behind successful businesses, Jim’s insights offer a rare glimpse into what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of commercial construction.