Kate Inglish, founder of Kate Inglish Designs, has been crafting personalised baby hampers and keepsakes since 2010, driven by a passion for sparking joy and preserving precious memories for new mums. But with Australia’s economy tightening, she’s feeling the strain-like so many small business owners fighting to stay afloat.

It’s not always a success story. Running a small business can be lonely, and despite being the backbone of this country, too often, business owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. I know many of you tuning into The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear—you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching The Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel—giving business owners across the country a voice. In between The Mentor episodes, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries—those struggling, those overlooked, and those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll continue hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. And for our second episode, we have—Kate Inglish.

Check out Kate Inglish Design's website here: https://kateinglishdesigns.com.au/

Check out their socials here: https://www.instagram.com/kateinglishdesigns/

If you want to be on Small Business callout email: [email protected]

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Small businesses are the backbone of this country, yet too often, owners feel like their voices aren’t being heard. And I know many of you tuning in on The Mentor can relate.

My team and I have been paying attention, and one thing is clear - you want to hear from businesses beyond Sydney, not just the success stories, but especially those facing real challenges.

That’s why we’re launching the Small Business Callout under The Mentor channel - giving business owners across the country a voice. Every week, we’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what real support from the government should look like. We want to hear from all industries, from those struggling, from those who feel overlooked, or those who have something to say but haven’t had the platform to say it.

I’ll keep hosting The Mentor, but these callouts will drop between episodes. And kicking it off is someone who lives and breathes small business - Simon Potts, founder of Boxes for Business. Simon sent a powerful brief to Mentored Studios, outlining the reality for small businesses and what the government needs to do better. Working with business owners daily, he has an unwavering passion for this community. He shared sharp insights on their challenges and the support they actually need. Enjoy!

Check out Boxers for Business website here: https://boxesforbusiness.com.au/

If you want to be on Small Business callout email: [email protected]

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

Join the Facebook Group.

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Michael Ramsey is the co-founder of STRONG Pilates alongside Mark Armstrong in 2019, has built a global fitness brand that blends traditional Pilates principles with high-intensity, low-impact cardio training. With a Master of Commerce in Marketing from RMIT University and experience owning F45 franchises, Michael has extensive expertise in brand strategy, business development, and digital marketing.

STRONG Pilates is rapidly expanding, with recent launches in the USA, Japan, Singapore, and Dubai - and there’s no sign of slowing down. In our conversation, we discussed what makes STRONG Pilates unique, the key lessons Michael gained from his experience with F45 franchises, and the right approach to scaling a business. We also explored the power of building a brand and community, his biggest entrepreneurial insights, and what’s next for STRONG Pilates.

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Sam Kelly is the Managing Partner and owner of Hello Social - one of Sydney’s top integrated marketing agencies.

Recognised as Campaign Magazine’s Social Media and Influencer Marketing Agency of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, Hello Social has set the standard in the industry.

In this episode, we explore Sam’s journey and what makes his agency stand out. I’ll share key lessons from my own experience with rebranding and refining messaging. We’ll also tap into insights from business icons like Richard Branson and Elon Musk, examine how memes are shaping today’s digital landscape, and discuss the strategies that drive a strong social media presence. Sam and I dive into the crucial elements of launching a brand, when is the right time to enter the market, the founder’s role, and the powerful influence of psychology in marketing success.

If you’re serious about taking your brand and social media game to the next level, this episode is packed with real insights and practical advice you can’t afford to miss. 

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Stella Petrou Concha is the Founder and CEO of Reo Group, a leading national talent and executive recruitment agency.

Stella is a powerhouse in the recruitment agency world and she's also the author of Stone Heart Light Heart: The Intelligence of Self Mastery. Her self-mastery frameworks are embraced by global giants like Google, TikTok, and Meta. She also shares her expertise as a guest lecturer at leading universities, including UNSW, Macquarie, and UTS.

We spoke about Stella's journey, the demands of a CEO, how to stand out in a competitive job market, the importance of embracing failure, the role of employers in supporting mental health and productivity, her approach to self-mastery, and her plans for the future.

Purchase Stella's book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Stone-Heart-Light-Intelligence-Mastery/dp/1922357189

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Diogo Ferreira is at the helm of Tuga Pastries, a family-run business that has brought the rich culinary traditions of Portugal to life right here in Australia. With an impressive 14,000 pastries rolling out each week, Tuga Pastries has become an icon in Sydney mainly due to their legendary Portuguese tart—widely regarded as the best in the city.

In this episode, we explore Portugal’s rich cultural roots and how they’ve shaped Diogo’s journey and approach to business. He takes us through his family’s migration to Australia, the humble beginnings of their bakery, and the challenges of scaling up while staying true to their standards of quality. Diogo opens up about the relentless work hours it took to gain momentum, the cultural significance behind Tuga’s unique creations, and how the balance of tradition and innovation has been the key to their success.

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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Dan Bova, co-founder of The Yard Gym, leads a franchise network of over 50 locations in Australia, with ambitious plans to expand to 200 sites worldwide by 2025.

In our conversation, we explored Dan’s journey and early life, his move into gym franchising, the founding of The Yard, and what sets it apart. We also delved into its innovative business model and curriculum, the intricacies of franchising, his strategies for growth, and his bold vision for the future of The Yard.

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It was a massive year on The Mentor. We had some brilliant guests sharing incredible business insight. Who stood out to you, and who should we bring on next?

Here are some highlights of the standout episodes of 2024.

00:00-12:59 (Radek Sali)

13:01- 25:15 (Eight Sleep)

25:16 - 30:44 (Lia Georgantis)

30:46- 40:37 (Nick Palumbo)

40:40- 50:01 (Jenny Child)

Listen to the full podcast via the links below.

1. #431 Radek Sali
2. #466 Eight Sleep
3. #441 Tim Duggan
4. #451 Lia Georgantis
5. #433 Jenny Child

Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.

Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a massive year on The Mentor. We’ve had some brilliant guests sharing incredible business insight. Who stood out to you, and who should we bring on next?

Here are some highlights of the standout episodes of the year.

00:00-10:57 (Lewi Brown)

10:59-16:24 (Jess Sepel)

16:27 - 24:26(Tim Duggan)

24:29- 33:50 (Deanne Stewart)

33:53- 44:57 (Amanda Price)

Listen to the full podcast via the links below.

1. #447 Lewi Brown
2. #429 Jess Sepel
3. #441 Tim Duggan
4. #458 Deanne Stewart
5. #438 Amanda Price

Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.  

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.

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Helen Baker is the visionary founder of Xolvit, a groundbreaking crowdsourcing app designed to foster student innovation by helping companies tackle pressing social issues. Xolvit's mission is to bridge the gap between socially responsible organisations and the next generation of the workforce.

In our conversation, we delved into Helen's inspiring journey, from her upbringing with her adoptive parents in rural Australia to her personal experiences with racism. We explored her impressive corporate career, the challenges she aims to address with Xolvit, and the meaningful work her company is doing. Helen also shared her insights on how businesses should approach employment and diversity, her exciting plans for the future, and much more.

To learn more about their Xolvit, check out their website here: https://www.xolvit.io/

You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up

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