The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals

What does it take to build a culture where ordinary people can do exceptional work and what happens when that culture begins to change?

In Part 2 of our three-part series, Rod Watkins, former Technical Director and Group General Manager of SOLA, shares how the company kept up with 40% year-on-year growth, the product gap that helped push its owners to sell, and what changed when Pilkington took over.

Along the way, Rod paints a picture of the kind of culture that gets ordinary people doing exceptional work: how long it takes to build, and how quickly it can disappear. If you're building a team in your own practice, there's plenty here to take away.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources


Key Topics with Timestamps:

4:11 - Life after the sale of SOLA

8:22 - Factors that influenced Laubman and Pank’s decision to sell

10:47 - Pilkington's management philosophy

13:39 - Building a business is different from buying one

15:27 - How SOLA managed 40% year-on-year growth

17:54 - The challenges behind SOLA’s global growth

18:54 - SOLA's greatest strength

20:22 - What changed after the Pilkington acquisition

22:32 - Sola was built by ordinary people who stepped up 

24:57 - The challenge of doing global business before

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

Most people in Australian optometry have heard the name SOLA. Fewer know it started life inside a nine-person optometry practice in Adelaide, and even fewer know it briefly ran neck-and-neck with Essilor as the biggest ophthalmic lens manufacturer in the world.

In this first instalment of a three-part series, Michael Nasser sits down with Rod Watkins, former Technical Director and Group General Manager of SOLA (Scientific Optical Laboratories of Australia), who joined the company in 1970 and stayed until 1984, the years the company grew from 200 people in one Adelaide site to 4,500 people across 14 countries.

Rod takes us back to how a nine-person optometry practice ended up producing a material used in spectacle lenses worldwide, the trio behind it, the regulatory shake-up that forced the entire industry off glass almost overnight, and just how close the whole thing came to running out of cash before any of it paid off. It's a story of the risk, grit, and improvisation behind the lenses we fit our patients with every day.

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All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

1:26 - Scientific Optical Laboratories of Australia (SOLA)

5:02 - Rod Watkins before joining SOLA and the early days of Laubman & Pank

7:26 - How a chance meeting with Don Schultz led Rod to SOLA

12:35 - SOLA's real origin story

15:40 - The people who built SOLA: David Pank, Don Schultz and Noel Roscrow 

20:27 -  Scaling from 9 to thousands of staff 

23:50 - Why CR-39 beat glass on weight and scratch resistance

27:53 - What let David, Don and Noel stay ahead of the growth curve

33:44 - The mandate that changed the industry: 1972 and the end of glass lenses 

38:26 - SOLA as one of the main players in the production process of CR-39

43:48 - Why the rest of the world turned to CR-39

45:00 - Inside the casting process: how CR-39 lenses were actually made

48:43 - Solving the 40% rejection rate

55:23 - The cash-flow crunch; staff loans, shares as salary, and SOLA's air freight bill

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

Your patients are Googling you before they ever book an appointment, and if they can't find you, they're already questioning whether they can trust you.

In this episode, we're joined by Sarah Makris, a former corporate communications executive turned personal branding strategist, who's spent years helping senior executives and professionals build brands that open doors. Sarah shares why personal branding isn't optional anymore, and how showing up authentically, even imperfectly, builds more trust than staying invisible.

Throughout the conversation, Sarah and Michael dig into the real tension optometrists face around visibility, how business owners should handle staff who start building their own following, and the simple, low-pressure way to start putting yourself out there, starting with the questions your patients already ask you every day.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:56 - Meet Sarah Makris from PR to personal branding

5:56 - Why relying solely on your organisation's brand can be risky

7:44 - Why personal branding is more important than ever

10:47 - Alignment of thought leadership with personal brand

14:55 - Managing personal brand and business brand

15:56 - Building an authentic personal brand

21:32 - Embrace and leverage your team's personal brands

26:02 - How to move away from the discomfort of building your personal brand

29:10 - Release the perfectionism mentality

31:44 - Consistency turns visibility into a habit

35:56 - Personal branding and strategic networking

39:48 - The 15-minute physio consultation example

43:06 - Your 30-day personal branding plan

44:41 - How to reassess your personal branding efforts

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

Dry eye doesn’t have to be a highly specialised service requiring expensive technology or a dedicated clinic. Meaningful dry eye care can start with the tools and knowledge you already have and grow with your practice.

In this episode, we are joined by Shaina Zheng, clinical optometrist, practice owner and founder of Dry Eye Impact, to explore how to build a practical dry eye service regardless of your resources. Shaina shares her personal experience with dry eye and her approach to identifying, communicating, and managing the condition, from foundational care through to advanced treatments such as IPL and radiofrequency.

Throughout the conversation, you’ll learn how to incorporate a simple three-minute dry eye check, communicate the condition more effectively, build confidence in your clinical approach, and get your entire practice team behind the service.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:53 - Shaina's dry eye journey

6:47 - Understanding dry eye and her passion to manage it

8:48 - From basic treatments to advanced technology

10:41 - How to start building dry eye into a practice

13:25 - The biggest barriers to getting started

16:30 - Finding support and building confidence

20:00 - The three-minute dry eye check

23:11 - What to do after identifying dry eye

27:11 - Key diagnostic signs and tear break-up time

30:38 - Moving from basic to advanced dry eye care

34:21 - Where to start when investing in advanced dry eye care

38:30 - Technology + foundational habits

40:51 - Building a culture-first approach

43:34 - When and how to refer dry eye patients

47:32 - Common mistakes when building a dry eye service

50:14 - Why Shaina created Dry Eye Impact

52:19 - Australia's opportunity in dry eye care

55:00 - Shaina's advice for optometrists getting started

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

What would you do if you had just 48 hours to decide whether to buy an optometry practice?

In this episode, we are joined by Eliza Whiteley, Owner and Optometrist at Whiteley Optometry, to unpack the unexpected opportunity that led her to independent practice. From taking a pay cut to learn alongside an ophthalmologist, to navigating a last-minute practice opportunity, supplier roadblocks, self-doubt and the realities of building a regional practice.

During the conversation, Eliza also shares what it takes to build a strong team culture, why regional optometry can offer unique clinical opportunities, and how she learned to keep moving when the path ahead isn't always clear. 

If you're a student, early-career optometrist or aspiring practice owner, listen in for an honest look at the decisions, challenges and opportunities that can shape a career in independent eye care.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

3:35 - Eliza Whiteley’s background before becoming a business owner

4:27 - The decision to choose optometry as a career

10:07 - Leaving home, university life, and finding confidence

14:49 - The first job that taught Eliza what really matters

18:56 - Sidestep journey to learn clinical optometry

26:44 - The LinkedIn message that changed everything

30:33 - Buying a practice within 48 hours

34:57 - Seeking opportunities and capitalising on it

41:07 - Biggest challenge in reinvigorating the business

44:54 - The value of having a business coach

48:21 - Leading through personal adversity

54:17 - Navigating self-doubt as a business owner

59:10 - Why regional optometry creates incredible opportunities

1:02:53 - Highlighting the potential of each team member

1:05:53 - One piece of advice from Eliza

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

A pair of glasses collecting dust in your stock room could be the reason someone sees clearly for the first time.

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In this episode, we are joined by April Petrusma, Chedy Kalach, and Allyson Freind, who share how the South Pacific Eye Care (SPEC) Foundation is opening the door for independent eye care professionals to give back.

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For years, meaningful eye care outreach has largely been reserved for the big corporate players. Today, we're exploring how that's changing and how independent eye care professionals can be part of it.

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Throughout the conversation, they discuss the Foundation's journey, the unique value of its dispenser-led model, the life-changing impact of accessible vision care, and how outreach transforms volunteers both professionally and personally. They also share the many ways individuals and businesses can get involved.

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If you're passionate about independent eye care and making a lasting impact, this episode will leave you inspired to be part of something bigger.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:53 - SPEC Foundation members and their background

4:21 - How a Fiji outreach sparked the creation of SPEC Foundation

6:15 - What the SPEC Foundation actually does

9:08 - The biggest surprise after creating the foundation

10:57 - The gap that the SPEC Foundation fills

13:28 - Turning dead stock into a life-changing vision

15:48 - What makes SPEC Foundation unique from other charitable institutions

16:59 - Why a dispenser-led foundation matters

19:46 - Professional and life development beyond the practice

23:27 - Expanding the community support beyond Fiji

24:56 - The volunteer point of view of SPEC Foundation

31:42 - Practical ways you can support the foundation

36:17 - Why volunteers need to be an ODA member

39:36 - What DGR-1 status means

41:42 - The first step to getting involved with SPEC Foundation

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

What separates practices that continue to grow from those that reach a plateau?

In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Stilwell, strategy advisor, business mentor, and author of The 7% Club, to share the leadership and business strategies that help founders build businesses with lasting value.

Throughout the conversation, Jenny explores why business value extends far beyond revenue, how systems and delegation strengthen a practice, and why every business owner should start with the end in mind, even if selling isn't part of their plan.

If you're looking to build a practice that's more profitable, more resilient, and less dependent on you, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth and leadership.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at 

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

3:11 - Jenny's background and journey from CEO to business advisor

5:28 - Starting a business with the end in mind

8:21 - Building a business that doesn't rely on the founder

12:03 - The reason why business owners struggle to sell

15:18 - What buyers really look for during acquisition

21:18 - Strategic advantage for specialisation

22:47 - Shifting from founder perspective to acquirer perspective

24:55 - Why profit matters more than revenue

28:20 - Activities that should be done consistently to keep the business saleable

30:33 - Hidden financial blind spots

32:53 - Why do businesses plateau

35:23 - Making the shift from founder to CEO

37:44 - The "Dance of Trust" concept

42:25 - Recruiting and building an A-team

46:33 - What separates businesses that grow beyond $2 million

48:16 - Three questions every business owner should ask

50:51 - Final advice and closing thoughts

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

How early is too early to start and build an independent practice? Alisha Shastri’s journey proves that with the right mindset, people, and purpose, it might be much sooner than you think. 

In part 2 of our conversation with Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director and co-founder of iOptical, we dive deeper into the realities of building an independent practice from the ground up as a young optometrist. From overcoming financial barriers and recruiting the right team to developing a thriving niche in paediatric eye care. 

Throughout the conversation, Alisha highlights the power of partnership, the importance of community, and why young optometrists shouldn’t wait 10 or 15 years before pursuing ownership. She also shares the positive mindset behind her career success while balancing her personal life and how she gives back through The Glasses for Kids program. 

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at  

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au 

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps: 

2:44 - The challenges of opening a practice as young optometrists 

5:34 - Researching the market and understanding the local community 

7:21 - Building a successful partnership 

11:46 - How partnership roles changed as the business grew 

13:28 - Recruiting the right team and building culture 

17:26 - Empowering dispensers as the eyes and ears of the practice 

19:41 - Why dispensers are often undervalued 

22:25 - Alisha discovering her passion for paediatric eye care 

24:12 - Creating a child-friendly patient experience in the practice 

27:50 - The power of community and word-of-mouth 

30:36 - Balancing patient care with the commercial part of the business 

33:23 - Giving back through the Glasses for Kids program 

38:00 - Collaboration, networking, and industry support 

41:43 - Alisha’s mindset in her career and business 

45:45 - Advice for students and early-career optometrists 

50:38 - What Alisha wishes she knew earlier 

Learn More About Us: 

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ 

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview 

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

Thinking of starting an independent practice from scratch?

In this episode, we are joined by Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director  and co-founder of iOptical, to share her journey from new graduate to practice owner and the lessons she learned building a greenfield optometry practice from the ground up.

Alisha shares how working in rural South Australia accelerated her clinical career growth, how she realised within six months of practice that traditional employment wasn't her long-term path, and how a simple conversation with her future business partner, Ebru, evolved into a thriving independent optometry business.

From the realities of practice ownership, choosing the right location, building business skills as a healthcare professional, overcoming self-doubt, to creating a patient experience aligned with their vision. This episode offers real-world insight into launching a greenfield practice and building a successful career in independent eye care.

Whether you're an optometry student, recent graduate, independent optometrist, or aspiring practice owner, this episode is a must-listen episode for you!

All the links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at 

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

3:00 - How Alisha Shastri discovered optometry as a career

6:26 - First optometry role after graduation during Covid

8:50 - Lessons from practising in a rural community

10:00 - First thoughts about practice ownership

15:09 - Meeting business partner Ebru and discussing ownership

17:19 - The importance of family support

18:52 - Addressing hesitations and fears around business ownership

22:47 - Exploring whether to buy in practice or greenfield ownership

27:56 - Building a vision from the ground up

30:27 - The community response after opening

32:43 - Choosing Greenvale and conducting location research

35:30 - Specific factors to consider in practice location scouting

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

What happens when an industrial engineer steps into the world of independent optometry? 

In this episode, we are joined by Ankit Patel, founder of My Business Care Team, and the host of the Optometrists Building Empire podcast. Ankit shares how independent practices can create operational leverage, improve patient experiences, and scale sustainably without losing the personal touch that makes independent optometry so valuable.

Drawing on his experience owning and managing multiple private practices in the United States, Ankit shares practical insights on centralising operations, identifying bottlenecks, measuring performance, building accountability, and creating systems that enable teams to deliver world-class patient experiences consistently.

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, optometrist, or emerging leader, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you work smarter, strengthen your team, and build a more resilient practice.

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at 

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au

Want more support beyond this episode? 

Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources

Key Topics with Timestamps:

3:04 - From Industrial Engineering to Optometry

4:40 - Providing patient with high-touch experience & centralisation

8:28 - Challenging parts of scaling a practice

13:57 - Using "First Pass Yield" to identify operational friction

17:53 - Why multitasking is hurting practice performance

19:10 - Accountability systems that drive results

21:11 - The CARE values framework

23:40 - Understanding operational inefficiencies and improving it

27:27 - Build a practice that is not competing with the corporate

29:22 - Simplifying product offerings for easy communication and to build trust

30:49 - Metrics beyond revenue and conversion rates

36:02 - What separates high-performing practices

42:26 - Common mistakes practice owners make

43:35 - How to start incorporating the business mentality in your practice

46:49 - Advice for young optometrists and future practice owners

48:40 - The biggest lesson from Ankit's journey

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

Send us your thoughts about the episode

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!