The Icehouse Podcast

By The IcehouseBusiness

The Icehouse Podcast episodes

November 08, 2023Tracey Karam, Production Manager at Safety Genius
Episode 158 of The Icehouse Podcast hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Tracey Karam, Production Manager at family business, Safety Genius.

This conversation with Tracey unpacks;
Her personal passion of supporting others in their health journey

Discovering her strengths and skills as a leader

What Safety Genius offers

Starting the business with her brother, in their parent's garage to now having their own warehouse and staff

Her learning to be more open with staff about turnover, budgets and targets to help them learn more about the behind-the-scenes of a business

The support The Icehouse programme gave her in communicating with her staff and simplifying business terms

Goals to have more personal freedom and flexibility

How they navigated the last couple of years as an SME and her pride in the team

What excites her about the future of Safety Genius
And much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
37 min
November 01, 2023Kim Herewini, Marketing Manager at Likeable Lab
Episode 157 of The Icehouse Podcast hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Kim Herewini, Emerging Leaders Programme Alumni, and Marketing Manager at Likeable Lab - a digital marketing agency in Tauranga and Hamilton.
This conversation with Kim unpacks;
Her decision to follow her dream of playing elite hockey for New Zealand

The transition from professional sport to marketing/agency leadership

The learnings from elite sport that have supported her leadership journey, including character and hard work

Advice for those juggling a career and motherhood and how she practically juggles it now

Her love for the Likeable Lab team and the great work they do for local businesses

Her Emerging Leaders Programme experience, and other opportunities that have supported her leadership

The direction of her role of Marketing Manager, supporting the in-house promotion of Likeable Lab

What excites her about the future of Likeable Lab and her career
And much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
46 min
October 25, 2023Trent Slater, Innovations Manager at The Icehouse
Episode 156 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Trent Slater, Innovations Manager at The Icehouse. A thought leader in digital transformation for small & medium size businesses, Trent highlights the importance of digital transformation and practical advice for those wanting to improve their digital use and presence.

This conversation with Trent unpacks;
His career journey, discovering his passions and interests

A day in the life of Trent, as Innovation Manager at The Icehouse

Ways SME owners and leaders can start in implementing digital transformation

Digital transformation’s importance for Kiwi businesses

Emerging trends within the industry

Ethical digital transformation and topics close to his heart

The power of data and data driven decision making

Practical advice for leaders of SMEs – including how to take your team on the journey

The similarities of change management and digital transformation

Leaders who have been influential in his career and business journey

His podcast recommendation - ‘Your undivided attention’, which covers the state of technology
And much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
42 min
October 18, 2023Trina Jones, Co-founder of Cultivate
Episode 155 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Trina Jones, Co-founder of Cultivate, and Owner Manager Programme 60 Alumni.

This conversation with Trina unpacks;
The art of recruitment, helping people grow and thrive by connecting potential and opportunity

Her career journey, going from corporate leader to SME owner

Learnings from starting the business with 14 staff

The changes within the industry from manual processes to investment in technology

The worldly changes in the last few years and how this has impacted recruitment e.g. flexi work, salaries, labour shortages

How diversity of thought is good for businesses

Her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within business and recruitment

The hesitations she had to go on the Owner Manager Programme, including feeling torn between her time needed to work on and in the business

An encouraging message to other female owner managers

The power of community and how her cohort are staying in touch
And much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
41 min
October 11, 2023Amy Penwarden, Supply Chain Manager at Shot Darts
Episode 154 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Amy Penwarden, Supply Chain Manager at Shot Darts, and Leadership Development Programme 51 Alumni.

This conversation with Amy unpacks;
Her career journey and passions

The juggle and benefits of working for an SME, family run business

The confidence the Leadership Development Programme gave her

Her focus to grow and take on challenges outside of her comfort zone

The world of Darts, and the growth of Shot Darts and industry in the last 10 years

Shot Darts strategy to build community around their brand locally and internationally

How the Programme taught her a lot about behind the scenes of running a business

The relationships she has built with other business leaders on the programme

Learning the art of delegation and backing herself as a leader
And much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
27 min
October 04, 2023Andrew Martin, Business Coach at The Icehouse and Regional Director of Strategic Specialists Group
Episode 153 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Andrew Martin (Marty), Business Coach at The Icehouse and Regional Director of Strategic Specialists Group. Marty has also been a guest speaker at The Icehouse and BNZ events across New Zealand this year, speaking on Exit Planning/Succession and Growth Funding.
Come along to an upcoming Exit Planning/Succession & Growth Funding Event, thanks to The Icehouse and BNZ. Links to register below!
18th of October, Manawatu - Register Here
1st of November, Tauranga - Register Here

This conversation unpacks;
Marty’s career journey and experience with SMEs

The joy he gets when seeing a strategy come to life and executed

The effort in making a business ‘exit ready’ and the need for a long-term view

A reminder exiting is not just a business decision - 75% of owners regret the sale of the business a year later, because they haven’t thought about life after

Key indicators for owners to start thinking about exit planning

Family business and empowering the different generations in succession

How to make your business transferrable

Takeaways from attendees of recent events, real life stories of exit planning and succession
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
28 min
September 27, 2023Olivia Blaylock, Chief Growth Officer at The Icehouse
Episode 152 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Olivia Blaylock, Chief Growth Officer at The Icehouse and Owner Manager Programme 24 Alumni. There are not many things in the business world that she hasn’t experienced. Now she is investing that experience and passion into The Icehouse to support the growth of New Zealand.

This conversation with Olivia highlights;
Her passion for New Zealand, family, sports, and empowering business growth

Her career path which highlights her experience within Sales, Marketing and as an SME owner

The journey of being authentic to herself as a Women in business, alongside other valuable advice to her past self

The importance of her work aligning with her purpose and why working at The Icehouse “felt like a coming home”

The decision-making framework she follows, inspired by Jeff Bezos

Advice around solution and customer centric Sales & Marketing

The power of trust and vulnerability in business communities

Her recent Owner Manager Exchange experience - “a reset that works”

The future opportunities she sees for The Icehouse to have more impact
Plus much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
37 min
September 20, 2023Bruce McEwen, Founder & Managing Director of Zend
Episode 151 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Bruce McEwen, Founder & Managing Director of Zend, and Owner Manager Programme 23 Alumni. Zend optimise distribution for New Zealand businesses and are passionate about 'making distribution awesome’.

We discuss;
What a day in the life of Bruce looks like

How he took the plunge to start a business

The power of implementation

Challenges of being an industry leader and how the industry has evolved

The power of a business community - resource, inspiration and learning

Why he has put a Zend staff member on the Emerging Leaders Programme

Other industries that inspire Bruce, including real estate

His authentic passion and commitment for Zend over 27 years
Plus much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
35 min
September 13, 2023Pic Picot, Founder of Pic's Peanut Butter
Episode 150 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Pic Picot, Founder of Pic’s Peanut Butter, an iconic New Zealand business. Pic’s love for community, taking risks, building a strong brand, supporting others and keeping things real shines in this episode.

This conversation with Pic covers;
What inspires him as an entrepreneur and what led to Pic’s Peanut Butter

Leaning into the art of delegation as a Founder

How good can come from challenges and his experience with macular degeneration

His thoughts on the fear of failure

Pic’s natural love for branding and keeping things human

The impact of The Icehouse’s Owner Manager Programme on his leadership style

Pic’s thoughts on climate change and what businesses can do

His journey to succession with stepdaughter, Aimee, recently taking on the role of CEO

Insight into the importance of action as an owner and letting the market guide business decisions
Plus much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
53 min
September 07, 2023Kelvin Watt, GM of Graeme Dingle Foundation, Marlborough
Episode 149 of The Icehouse Podcast, hosted by Bryar Stewart, is with Kelvin Watt, Taking Your Business Forward Alumni and General Manager of Graeme Dingle Foundation, Marlborough. Locally the foundation currently reaches over 50% of Marlborough’s young people – helping them discover that what they have inside is greater than any obstacle. Kelvin is a passionate leader helping drive the organisation forward.
The conversation with Kelvin unpacks;
His bold career shift that led to working at Graeme Dingle Foundation

How his background in accounting and finance supported his role as General Manager

The impact the foundation has locally, reaching over 50% of Marlborough’s young people

Learning to not be afraid to ask for help and that there is power in real people next to real people.

Advice for young people - “go in one direction and you will find your path”

How the foundation operates region to region and measure their impact locally

The similarities of leading a not-for-profit organisation vs a business

His personal leadership journey and the importance of looking after your people

The value of Taking Your Business Forward and learning from others in his cohort

How the programme gave him a sense of confidence to operate with a business mindset
Plus much more!
Have a listen and let us know what you think! Any questions? Contact us at [email protected]
39 min