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

In Episode 20 of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron unpack why the period immediately after EOFY is one of the most important opportunities a business owner has all year.

While many businesses simply roll from one year into the next, the most successful businesses use EOFY as a reset point. A chance to reflect on what worked, what didn't, what should be left behind, and what needs to happen next.

This episode explores why a reset isn't about creating more work. It's about creating more focus. Adam and Sharron discuss how business owners can use this time to gain clarity around where the business is heading, what the priorities should be, and whether the current structure is capable of supporting future growth.

They explore the importance of having visibility across the business, understanding the numbers that matter, and using that information to make better decisions. They also dive into the dangers of growth without planning. Using the "tidal wave" analogy, Adam explains how businesses can build incredible momentum, only to have poor decisions, weak systems, and lack of planning exposed when growth starts to put pressure on the organisation.

A key theme throughout the episode is the value of creating a roadmap. Not just a financial plan, but a plan that considers recruitment, resources, operational capability, office space, efficiencies, and the key milestones required to achieve sustainable growth.

Adam and Sharron also debate whether business owners spend too long planning to avoid making the hard decisions, tune in to see who falls on either side of that debate.

If you're approaching a new financial year and wondering how to create focus, momentum, and confidence in your business, this episode provides a practical framework for resetting, planning, and setting your business up for success over the next 12 months.

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

Welcome back to the Juno Advisory Podcast! In episode 19 Adam and Sharron tackle some of the most important and often uncomfortable conversations business owners and leaders face as the end of financial year approaches.

This episode dives into the role accountability plays in business performance and why avoiding difficult conversations around standards, expectations, and follow-through can quietly damage both culture and results over time.

They also unpack the reality of performance reviews and salary reviews how to approach them properly, why clarity matters, and the mistakes businesses make when these conversations become reactive instead of intentional.

A major focus throughout the episode is the perception gap between staff and leadership. Adam and Sharron discuss how business owners often view pressure, workload, and performance differently from their teams, and why understanding both perspectives is critical for building trust and long-term engagement.

With EOFY approaching, they explore the importance of stopping to reflect before simply rolling into another year. What’s working? What isn’t? What needs to change? And are the decisions being made actually aligned with the future direction of the business?

The episode also introduces a brand-new segment: Juno Split where Adam and Sharron intentionally challenge each other’s perspectives and unpack both sides of key business debates.

If you’re a business owner, leader, or manager navigating accountability, staff performance, leadership pressure, and EOFY planning, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest conversations.

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

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron unpack one of the most overlooked and misunderstood drivers of business performance: accountability.

On the surface, most businesses feel like they’re doing the right things. Meetings are happening. Ideas are being shared. Everyone leaves aligned and motivated. But then… nothing happens. Two weeks later, the same conversations come back around. No progress. No movement. No outcome.

Adam and Sharron break down why this happens and it’s rarely a strategy problem. More often, it comes down to a lack of clear ownership, vague expectations, and no real follow-through. When everyone “owns” something, no one actually does. And when there’s no accountability, even the best ideas stall.

They explore the difference between good teams and great teams. Good teams collaborate, communicate, and align. Great teams do all of that but they also execute. They take ownership, follow through on commitments, and hold each other to account when things don’t get done.

The conversation also dives into why meetings often fail. Not because they lack discussion, but because they lack structure. A great meeting isn’t one that feels productive it’s one that produces outcomes. Clear agenda. Defined ownership. Deadlines. Follow-up. Without those, it’s just time spent talking.

If you’ve ever sat in a meeting and thought, “What was the point of that?” this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, meetings, and what it really takes to get results.

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

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron dive into one of the most debated questions in business:

Should revenue be the number one priority when growing a business?

Adam and Sharron unpack the tension between chasing top-line growth and protecting profitability and why the answer isn’t as simple as “more revenue equals better business.”

Adam shares his belief that in the early stages of building a company, revenue and client acquisition often need to be the primary focus. Without momentum, without sales, and without a strong pipeline of clients, businesses struggle to create the scale required to truly build something substantial. In his view, founders need someone at the helm willing to push, drive, and aggressively pursue opportunity.

But Sharron brings the counterbalance. Because revenue without discipline can quickly become dangerous. The conversation explores the trap many businesses fall into: building bigger and bigger top-line numbers while never stepping back to ask the critical question is this growth actually profitable?

Too often, founders chase volume, clients, and expansion only to realise they’ve built a business generating huge revenue… with very little actual return. If you’re a founder, business owner, or leader trying to navigate the balance between scaling aggressively and building sustainably, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on what real strategic growth should look like.

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

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron unpack a silent but costly issue inside growing businesses decision fatigue. At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem. Founders pride themselves on making fast calls, trusting instinct, and keeping things moving.

But as the business grows, that same behavior becomes unsustainable. Every decision still funnels through one person. Meetings drag on without outcomes. Conversations repeat week after week.

And eventually, it leads to exhaustion. “I just can’t make another decision.”

This episode explores what’s really happening when decision-making breaks down and why the cost is far greater than most business owners realise. Adam and Sharron challenge the idea that making the perfect decision is the goal.

In reality, not making a decision is often worse. When businesses sit on the fence, they don’t stay still they move backwards. A major theme throughout the conversation is ownership. When no one clearly owns a decision, nothing moves.

Meetings become discussions instead of outcomes. Accountability disappears. And momentum slows to a crawl. Because the reality is, many business owners are carrying far more decisions than they need to. And that’s where structure becomes critical.

From decision matrices to clear roles and responsibilities, Adam and Sharron explain why structure isn’t restrictive it’s what actually creates freedom. When decisions are clearly defined and owned, leaders stop becoming bottlenecks, and businesses regain speed.

They also highlight the importance of developing teams to make decisions. Not everyone will operate at the same speed or confidence as a founder and expecting that without training only creates frustration. Decision-making is a skill that needs to be built over time.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or tired of making every call in your business, this episode will challenge how you think about decisions and show you where to start making change.

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

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron unpack one of the most challenging transitions every founder faces the shift from doing everything… to actually leading a business.

At the start, speed comes naturally. The founder makes every decision, solves every problem, and drives everything forward. But as the business grows, that same model becomes the bottleneck.

Decisions slow down.

Teams wait for approval.

Pressure builds at the top.

And suddenly, the business that once moved quickly… feels stuck.

This episode dives into what’s really happening beneath the surface. They explore why many founders hit a ceiling not because of strategy or market conditions but because they haven’t changed how they operate.

Adam and Sharron break down the hidden costs of this stage from slow decision-making and communication breakdowns, to the emotional weight of feeling like you can’t step away without everything falling apart.

They also tackle one of the hardest mindset shifts: letting go.

Founders often believe no one can do it as well as they can and while that may be true in some cases, holding onto everything creates dependency, not growth.

Finally, Adam and Sharron define what a truly mature business looks like:

A business that doesn’t just survive when the founder steps away it thrives.

It continues to grow.

It continues to generate revenue.

The team stays engaged.

Clients remain supported.

And getting there isn’t accidental it comes from intentionally closing the gaps that create dependency on the founder.

If you’re a business owner feeling stretched, stuck, or questioning why things have slowed down, this episode will challenge how you think about your role and what needs to change to move forward.

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

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron tackle one of the most practical and confronting topics in business: leadership standards and consistency.

This episode explores the difference between natural leadership ability and learned leadership discipline.

While some may have innate instincts, great leadership is built through repetition, feedback, clarity, and consistency.

Adam shares a powerful story about locking the door on late senior leadership team members.

The lesson? Culture doesn’t change until behaviour does. And behaviour doesn’t change without clear expectations and consistent follow-through.

They unpack why many performance problems aren’t actually sales issues or strategy gaps they’re standards issues.

Great businesses don’t drift into strong culture they deliberately set norms, check them, and reinforce them.

Leadership isn’t about being everyone’s best friend; it’s about being firm, fair, and clear so your team always knows where they stand.

At its core, this episode is about responsibility at the top.

Business owners carry weight. They must be reliable, supportive, and willing to have the hard conversations.

Leadership doesn’t have to be harsh but it must be consistent.

If you’re a business owner or leader looking to strengthen culture, raise standards, and create sustainable performance, this episode is a practical blueprint.

Want to reach out?

Contact us at www.junoadvisory.com.au

Welcome Back!

In this episode of The Juno Advisory Podcast, Adam and Sharron dive deep into one of the most important and most misunderstood parts of business growth: the reset.

This isn’t about ripping everything up and starting again. It’s about pausing long enough to take an honest look at where the business really is emotionally, operationally, and strategically before pushing forward.

They explore why most businesses struggle to implement change, not because the strategy is wrong, but because the foundations aren’t there. Avoided conversations snowball.

Ownership becomes blurred. Decisions are made but not followed through. And over time, trust erodes quietly, but dangerously.

Adam and Sharron unpack the realities of leadership pressure, particularly at the ownership level. The weight leaders carry, the loneliness that comes with responsibility, and the importance of taking the right things off the owner’s plate so there’s space to think clearly and long-term.

A major focus of the conversation is consistency. A reset only works if leaders are willing to back decisions and follow through even when it’s uncomfortable.

Without that discipline, teams stop believing that change will stick, and future resets lose credibility. Finally, the episode brings everything back to accountability.

Clear communication, defined expectations, and single-point ownership of outcomes are non-negotiable if a reset is going to lead to real progress.

This episode is for business owners and leaders who know something needs to change and are ready to do the work to make it happen.

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