The Juno Advisory Podcast

What makes a great business advisor, and why does real-world experience matter more than ever?

In Episode 30 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron welcome the newest member of the Juno team, Justin Reeves, to discuss his career, what attracted him to Juno and his approach to helping business owners.

Having spent years working alongside business leaders and developing teams, Justin brings a wealth of practical experience and a genuine passion for the people behind the businesses.

Justin reflects on why some of the most valuable lessons in business can't be learned from textbooks, and how the leaders who invested in his development have shaped the way he approaches his work today.

The conversation also explores what makes Juno's approach to business advisory different. From hiring experienced CEOs, COOs and GMs rather than traditional advisors, to building genuine relationships with clients, the team discusses why practical experience and personal connection are so important.

Justin shares what surprised him most after joining Juno, including the unusually strong relationships between advisors and their clients, and why enjoying the people you work with has become such an important part of his career.

What we unpack:

Why Justin Reeves decided to join Juno Advisory

The importance of enjoying your work and the people around you

Why real-world experience teaches lessons textbooks can't

The influence of great leaders and mentors

What separates traditional consulting from modern business advisory

Why Juno hires experienced business leaders rather than career advisors

Building genuine, long-term relationships with clients

Why advisors should help implement advice, not just deliver it

Giving experienced people the freedom to do what they do best

Why great business advisors should feel like part of your team

From leadership and workplace culture to the future of business advisory, this episode explores why the best advice comes from people who have experienced the challenges of running a business firsthand.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

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In Episode 29 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron continue their conversation with Jason Robinson, Director and Co-Founder of Future Advisory, exploring the changing relationship between accounting and business advisory.

For decades, accountants have been told that technology, automation and now AI will eventually replace traditional accounting work. Alongside those predictions has been a persistent message: accountants need to become advisors to remain relevant.

But does every accountant actually need to be a business advisor?

Jason explains why being an exceptional accountant doesn't automatically make someone an exceptional advisor, and why there's nothing wrong with accountants focusing on the technical and compliance work they're great at.

The conversation explores what separates accounting from advisory, why knowing the numbers is only part of understanding a business, and how great advisors connect today's decisions with where a business owner wants to be in 90 days, 12 months or five years.

Jason also shares the importance of empathy in advisory, understanding the person behind the business and recognising when advice moves beyond your own expertise. He reflects on some of the hardest conversations he's had with business owners facing insolvency and why business failure should never be confused with personal failure.

Plus, Jason is forced to answer the most difficult question of the episode: Adam or Sharron?

From AI and the future of accounting to empathy, education and knowing when to stay in your lane, Part 2 explores what genuinely great business advice looks like.Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

What makes a business partnership actually work? In Episode 28 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron sit down with Jason Robinson, Director and Co-Founder of Future Advisory, to unpack the relationships, decisions and lessons behind building a business with someone else.

Jason shares the unlikely beginnings of his partnership with Greg, who he first met at McDonald's when he was just 14. More than two decades later, the pair have built businesses together, separated, and ultimately chosen to go into business together again.

Jason explains why he once turned down an offer of $100,000 to go into business alone, and why having a partner whose strengths complemented his own mattered more than the money.

The conversation explores what people should consider before choosing a business partner, from alignment on vision and values to clearly defining roles, responsibilities and individual strengths. They also discuss why even the strongest partnerships need difficult conversations, and how external advisors like Juno can provide the sounding board needed to navigate them.

Jason also reflects on the importance of continually learning, how he and Greg challenge each other personally and professionally, and why founders should work towards spending more time in the areas where they create the most value. From friendship and complementary skill sets to communication, accountability and outside advice, this episode takes a practical look at what it really takes to build a lasting business partnership.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

What does a successful business actually look like?

In Episode 27 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron turn the questions they regularly ask their clients back on themselves, exploring how business owners should define and measure success. Is it revenue? Profit? Business value? Freedom? Or is success being able to step away from the business without everything grinding to a halt?

Adam and Sharron discuss why the definition of success changes over time, and why bigger doesn't automatically mean better. A $10 million business making almost no profit might look impressive from the outside, while a much smaller business providing its owner with financial security, flexibility and the life they want could be far more successful by their own definition.

They explore the balance between risk, effort and reward, building a team that can make decisions without the founder, understanding what actually creates value in a business, and ultimately turning years of time, money and energy into an asset that can operate independently of its owner.

Adam and Sharron also put themselves through a quick-fire business owner test.

How would you answer these questions?

• Could you leave your business for a month?

• Are you paying yourself appropriately?

• Could someone else sell your product or service?

• Do you know roughly what your business is worth?

• Is the business more valuable today than it was 12 months ago?

• Do you know exactly how much profit you made last quarter?

• Could your leadership team run the business without you?

• Would your customers stay if you left?

• Do you have genuine choice over how you spend your week?

They're simple questions, but together they reveal a lot about the business you've actually built. Because ultimately, success isn't just about what your business makes. It's about what that business creates for you.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.auWhat does a successful business actually look like?

In Episode 26 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron unpack one of the biggest challenges facing growing businesses: how does a founder stop being the centre of everything?

In the early days, founders need enormous self-belief. They make the decisions, solve the problems, drive the vision and create momentum. But as the business grows, the mindset that helped build it can quickly become the thing holding it back.

Adam and Sharron explore why founders need to evolve alongside their businesses, from learning to trust exceptional people to accepting that others will make mistakes along the way. They discuss why constantly jumping in to fix problems prevents genuine accountability and why giving people ownership is very different from simply delegating tasks.

They also look at one of the clearest warning signs that a founder has become a bottleneck: everyone is waiting on them. When decisions, approvals and processes continually come back to one person, growth becomes harder and the founder remains trapped in day-to-day operations.

The conversation also tackles the difficult question of whether the people who helped build the business, including the founder themselves, are still the right people to take it where it needs to go next.

Ultimately, stepping back requires something to step towards. Adam and Sharron explain why giving founders a clear vision of the future can help shift their attention from today's problems towards building a business that operates without constantly needing them.

Listen or Watch Episode 26 of The Juno Advisory Podcast on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In Episode 25 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron continue their conversation with Mathew Cassidy, Founder of Partners Wealth Group, for Part 2 of a discussion about leadership, investing, resilience, mentoring, and the reality behind building a successful business.

Mathew reflects on the journey behind Partners Wealth Group and why it took almost 20 years before he truly felt they'd built something special. From expanding nationally before the business was ready, to carrying significant debt and seeing founding business partners leave, he shares the moments that forced the team to decide whether to retreat or double down on their vision.

The conversation explores the side of entrepreneurship people rarely see. Mathew discusses leaving the security of a lucrative corporate career, periods of earning no income, the pressure of managing significant client wealth, and the vulnerability that comes when investment decisions don't unfold as expected. Leadership is also a major focus.

Mathew explains why his strength lies in vision, opportunity and driving growth, and why becoming a better leader meant surrounding himself with people who complement his weaknesses. He also shares his approach to mentoring the next generation, including why people need responsibility, room to make mistakes and the right guardrails to develop.

From hard work and collaboration to perseverance, opportunity and the extraordinary possibilities available to businesses today, Part 2 is a candid look at the mindset behind more than two decades of building Partners Wealth Group.

Listen or Watch Episode 25 of The Juno Advisory Podcast on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

In Episode 24 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron are joined by Mathew Cassidy, Founder of Partners Wealth Group, Part 1 of this fascinating conversation is about wealth, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a business with purpose.

Mathew shares the journey that led him to establish Partners Wealth Group, from studying accounting and working in investment banking overseas to making the bold decision to build a business on his own. He reflects on the redundancy that became the catalyst for entrepreneurship, the humility of starting again, and why taking control of his own future was one of the most important decisions of his career.

The conversation explores what true success means, how Mathew defines wealth beyond financial returns, and why helping Australian families achieve long-term financial prosperity has become the driving force behind the business. Adam and Sharron also dive into leadership, founder mentality, and why great businesses are built by surrounding yourself with people whose strengths complement your own.

The episode also explores the value of playing to your strengths rather than constantly trying to fix your weaknesses, the realities of work-life integration as a business owner, and the sacrifices that come with building a successful company.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, leader, or someone looking to build long-term wealth, this episode offers practical insights into taking ownership of your future, leading with purpose, and creating lasting impact.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

In Episode 23 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron are joined by Emily Makiv, Senior Business Advisor at Juno Advisory, for an honest conversation about leadership, career transitions, business advisory, and finding purpose in helping business owners grow.

Emily reflects on her journey from leading organisations as a CEO to stepping into business advisory, explaining why she knew it was time to move on. While many leaders stay because it's comfortable, Emily shares how recognising she'd stopped learning became the catalyst for a new challenge and a completely different chapter in her career.

The conversation explores what a business advisor actually does and why the role goes far beyond strategy. Emily explains how her passion lies in helping founders step back from the day-to-day, see the bigger picture, and make decisions with greater clarity and confidence. She also shares why consulting has become one of the steepest learning curves of her career, exposing her to businesses across a wide range of industries while revealing that many founders face remarkably similar challenges.

Adam and Sharron also discuss the power of outside perspective, with Emily sharing a client story where a single question completely changed the direction of a business. Sometimes the biggest opportunity isn't finding something new. It's recognising the value of what you've already built.

The episode also explores company culture, leadership, and what attracted Emily to Juno Advisory in the first place. From the brand's authentic tone of voice to finding a team that shared the same values, she explains why culture and alignment mattered far more than simply taking another job.

Whether you're leading a business, building a team, or considering your next career move, this episode is packed with practical insights on leadership, culture, hiring, and helping business owners achieve better outcomes.

Listen or Watch Episode 23 of The Juno Advisory Podcast on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Sarah Donegan, Co-founder of Samuels Donegan, Adam and Sharron dive deeper into the realities of building and leading a successful business.

Sarah reflects on the moment she realised Samuels Donegan had become more than just a startup. After navigating the uncertainty of COVID, demand for the business accelerated, forcing difficult decisions around hiring, scaling, and building a team capable of supporting long-term growth.

They also discuss why some of the hardest leadership conversations aren't about performance, but about communicating change. Whether it's a shift in process, remuneration, or business direction, great leaders recognise that the impact of change is often felt differently by every individual. Sarah also shares her leadership philosophy, explaining why empathy, fairness, and understanding the person behind the numbers have become central to the way she leads her team.

Adam and Sharron also discuss the importance of continuing to learn as a founder. Once you no longer have a boss, who challenges your thinking? Sarah explains why trusted advisors, mentors, and external perspectives become essential as a business matures. If you're a founder, leader, or aspiring business owner, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, growth, decision-making, and building a business that lasts.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

In Part 1 of this special episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron sit down with Sarah Donegan, one of Australia's most recognised voices in HR, recruitment, and leadership.

Sarah shares the remarkable story behind the creation of Samuels Donegan, from a conversation over a few drinks with her business partner Evelina to building one of Australia's most respected executive recruitment firms. What started as a bold idea quickly became a business built on complementary strengths, shared values, and a willingness to take a leap into the unknown.

The conversation explores the realities of business partnerships, why founders don't always have to do it alone, and how finding the right person can completely change the trajectory of a business.

Sarah also reflects on her reputation as a thought leader, discussing the difference between genuine expertise and simply creating content to appear influential. The discussion also touches on the long game of business relationships, building a reputation over decades, helping people without expecting anything in return, and how a commitment to "paying it forward" became an important part of her personal and professional philosophy during COVID.

Adam and Sharron also dive into topics including work-life balance, founder pressure, evolving ambitions, legacy, leadership, and what Sarah hopes the next decade of her career will look like. This is an honest and insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, partnerships, leadership, thought leadership, and building a business with purpose.

Want to reach out? Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au