The Business Of

Can one person build a billion-dollar company with AI? The tools have expanded what a single founder can do, but how realistic is a “one-person unicorn”? 

David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW Sydney, works with thousands of entrepreneurs through the UNSW Founders program. In recent investment cohorts, solo founders jumped from 5% to 20% of the group. Startups today can be built faster than ever, but David says investors still look closely at the team behind the product. 

David explains how small teams can use AI tools, what investors want to see, and why established leaders should start experimenting now. 

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Want to hear more about startups? Listen to our episode with Roby Sharon Zipser, the founder of Hipages, an online marketplace for tradespeople and people who need them. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Professor Fahim Khondaker, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What sets your business apart when your competitors all have access to the same AI capabilities?  

AI is the biggest technological shift of our generation, and it could completely revolutionise your business. But simply bolting AI tools onto your pre-existing workflows won't give you a competitive edge. So how can you re-design how you work, with AI in mind?  

UNSW Business School Dean Proessor Paul Andon says, "the trap is rushing straight into application. We need to think first, act next."  

If the future of work is AI-driven, how will you adapt? 

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Interested in hearing more about AI and work? Listen to our episode with Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute   

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Professor Fahim Khondaker, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For generations, the roadmap to the “Australian Dream” was linear: get an education, work hard, buy a house, and set yourself up for life. But today, even high earners find themselves at the mercy of a skyrocketing property market.  

If you’re finding it harder to buy assets, spend, and invest, plus wealth is tied up in older generations, what does that mean for the future of our economy? 

UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Professor Richard Holden warns that when the dream of homeownership feels out of reach, it could trigger a bigger psychological shift. "If people think that they're never going to own a home, never going to be able to build wealth, and don’t have a stake in their future, then that's a very damaging thing."  

If you can't rely on bricks and mortar to build wealth, how do you get ahead? 

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Interested in hearing about how businesses are reacting to the housing shortage?  Listen to our episode with UNSW Professor Philip Oldfield.  

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When did you last give your finances a proper health check? If the answer is “I’m not sure”, you’re not alone.  

A staggering 45% of Australian adults lack the basic financial literacy needed to navigate today’s economic and financial world. Millions of Australians aren’t confidently able to manage savings, tackle debt, or grasp how shifting interest rates impact them. Gaining a clear picture of the economy is essential for you to make the best possible choices with your own money.  

We’ve entered an era of "frictionless" spending, where digital taps and "buy now, pay later" tools make money feel invisible. UNSW Economics Professor Isabella Dobrescu breaks down why this convenience could be working against you, and how you can get a handle on your finances. 

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Need to sharpen your financial literacy? Access evidence-based learning through RBA Education Resources or visit Moneysmart, a free, independent site managed by ASIC to help you make informed financial decisions. 

Want to hear more about the future of money? Listen to our episode with UNSW Scientia Professor, Richard Holden.  

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Even something as innocent as joint finances, joint bank accounts can so easily be flipped and weaponised.”  

A joint bank account. A new company registration. Signing on the dotted line for a family trust. When you build a life or a business with a partner, combining your money feels like the ultimate team move. But what happens if things take a wrong turn?   

In Australia, 16% of women and 8% of men experience intimate partner financial abuse. UNSW Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar explains how easily standard financial structures can be manipulated for financial abuse.   

Founding Director of the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic, Professor Kayis-Kumar, shares the simple steps you could take to check your financial safety. And for professional advisors, hear the crucial workplace practices you can put in place to ensure you aren’t facilitating the abuse. 

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Need help? You can reach out to 1800 Respect (1800 737 732), a 24/7 free, national domestic violence hotline. For help navigating financial safety, contact Financial Abuse Service NSW at Redfern Legal Centre.  

Want to ensure your customer data is actually safe? Listen to our episode with Laura Newton, Regulatory Lawyer and Cyber Incident Response Lead at Herbert Smith Freehills. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you noticed White Fox Boutique billboards and bus wraps popping up everywhere lately?  The teen fashion favourite is making a very calculated move, and the new social media ban has everything to do with it. 

With Australia’s new under-16 social media ban, millions of young teens are locked out of their favourite platforms. Savvy brands are pivoting fast, turning from algorithms to real-world engagement.  

UNSW Business School’s Associate Professor Carmen Leong says, this ban is forcing a total reset of the marketing ecosystem. The race is officially on to find entirely new ways to meet the next generation where they are. 

Find out what the ban means for the future of the creator economy, and what your business can do to stay ahead.  

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Interested in brand disruption? Listen to our episode with James Cridland, editor of PodNews. He explains why podcasting was the ultimate disruptor in the marketing world.  

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A green tag. A leafy logo. A tagline promising  "eco-friendly," "recycled," or "low-impact." If you’re a conscious consumer, you’re adding that to your cart because you want to make better choices for the planet.  

But what if the product inside doesn't match the promise on the packaging? From fashion houses to investment funds, everyone is racing to go green. But when are these environmental buzzwords accurate? 

UNSW Law and Justice academic Dr Riona Moodley says consumer watchdogs are cracking down on greenwashing. And some of Australia’s biggest brands are being caught out.  

So, what do brands need to know to be truly sustainable? And as a consumer, how do you spot the marketing spin? 

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Interested in hearing about how one entrepreneur turned her frustration with greenwashing into a movement for change? Listen to our episode with Lottie Dalziel, founder of Banish. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It looks like your CEO. It sounds like your CEO. It isn't your CEO. And millions of people just watched it. 

"You can easily just pay a subscription of $20 and create a fake of a brand," says UNSW Business School’s Associate Professor Eric Lim. That's the reality of a deepfake threat, and it’s already happening – from cloned voices to viral fake news reports. 

A business can spend decades building its reputation, only for an AI clone to hijack it in seconds. Deepfakes are now so ingrained in our online world that it's hard to tell what's real, and what's a convincing scam. 

You can't stop AI fakes from being made, and A/Prof. Lim says detection tools will always be one step behind. He says the strongest defence has nothing to do with technology, "you start with the individual, because that's the only defence that you can control." 

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Want to hear more about how AI decides what you pay? Listen to our episode with Associate Professor Sam Kirshner. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by UNSW Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The real threat isn’t a machine replacing you...it’s a competitor using AI to outpace you.” 

If you’ve been weighing up how to bring AI into your workplace but are hesitant on how to do it, you aren’t alone. 

Australia’s leading AI scientist, Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute says that, by handing AI your dull, repetitive tasks, you can focus on high-level decisions that actually drive growth.  

Learn how to invest in an AI-literate workforce and why your human skills are about to become your most valuable asset. 

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Interested in how AI is disrupting other industries?  Listen to our episode with UNSW alum Jackie Rabec, co-creator of ThinkMD ai, an app revolutionising healthcare. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you typically log on for work?  

For many people, it’s no longer a simple answer. A few days at home. A few in the office. A routine that shifts depending on the week, the workload, and when your dishwasher repair person is arriving.  

Hybrid work promises more balance. But it also brought a new set of problems. 

How do you stay focused when you are always contactable? How do you switch off when work is always within reach? And for leaders, how do you build a cohesive team, when your people are scattered?  

UNSW Scientia Professor Manju Ahuja has spent years researching how flexible work is shaping decision-making and relationships, and how to reclaim the flexibility that was supposed to make work better.  

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Interested in how to create better, healthier workplaces? Listen to our episode with UNSW Associate Professor Carlo Caponecchia on psychosocial safety at work. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.