Podcast
Business Essentials
Hosted by SoundCartel · EN
Business Essentials features interviews with business experts and industry leaders, providing up-to-date, insightful advice on wide-ranging topics, including winning sales strategies, HR issues, mental health and leadership.
Hosted by Grace Jennings-Edquist, the goal is to encourage and inspire a new generation of Australian business owners and entrepreneurs to grow healthier, happier and more profitable businesses.
Business Essentials is a podcast four decades in the making, from SoundCartel, the producers of the world's longest-running business audio magazine by the same name.
Business Essentials is produced by the team at SoundCartel - Nick Schildberger, Grace Jennings-Edquist, Nicole Goodman and Mariah Stonehewer. Technical production by Pete Letts.
Listen and follow in your favourite podcast app and make Business Essentials part of your routine for business success.
Business Essentials
www.bedaily.com.au
Business Essentials is produced by SoundCartel
+61 3 9882 8333
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Handling conflict, building ownership and leading without micromanaging
6d ago00:21:49Tap to summarizeHow do you handle tough conversations without creating conflict - and build a team that takes ownership instead of waiting for instructions? In this week’s episode, communication and human skills expert Leah Mether shares practical strategies for navigating disagreement with empathy, curiosity and clarity - helping leaders resolve conflict before it escalates. Then leadership expert Kylie Paatsch – Founder of Kylie Paatsch Leadership and author of The Connect Effect - explains how to create a culture of accountability by giving people the confidence, clarity and trust to step up - without falling into the trap of micromanagement. She shares simple leadership habits that strengthen communication and empower your team to do their best work. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
How online entrepreneurs scale. Plus: the risks of ignoring psychological safety
2w ago00:25:20Tap to summarizeWhat separates businesses that thrive from those that stall - and how can leaders build workplaces where people perform at their best? On this week’s episode, entrepreneur, speaker and author Bernadette Schwerdt shares lessons from Australia’s fastest-growing online brands and reveals what drives successful founders, drawing on her new book Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs. Then, senior psychologist and managing director at Barrington Centre, Rhonda Andrews, explains why psychological safety matters more than ever in workplaces - and offers practical ways leaders can build stronger, more productive teams. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Crisis planning and the right to disconnect
3w ago00:21:19Tap to summarizeHow resilient is your business when crisis strikes - and are rigid workplace rules hurting flexibility? In this week’s episode, speaker and founder Bronwyn Reid explains why crises expose weak leadership and poor systems. She also shares several practical ways SMEs can prepare for disruption before it hits. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of HR Consulting Services, Shilo, discusses Australia’s “right to disconnect” laws – digging into why blanket after-hours bans can backfire, and how businesses can create clearer, more flexible expectations that work for both leaders and employees. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Business grants, growth and the HR mistakes startups make
4w ago00:20:25Tap to summarizeAs business confidence weakens and growth slows; many SMEs are looking for new ways to fund expansion and stay competitive. In this episode, Kate Whitehead, MD of strategic grants and government funding advisory, Avant Group, explains what the 2026 Federal Budget means for business grants, innovation funding and where future government investment is likely to flow. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of HR consultancy Shilo explains why startups and scaleups so often run into people and culture problems as they grow. From hiring too quickly to promoting unprepared leaders, she shares the common mistakes businesses make early, and why they become much harder to fix later on. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Why small businesses struggle with growth, productivity and engagement
Jun 2100:18:43Tap to summarizeWhen it comes to innovation and productivity, the challenge for the Australian government remains the inability to turn good ideas into long-term economic growth. In this episode, Kate Whitehead, MD of strategic grants and government funding advisory, Avant Group, explains what the proposed changes to the R&D Tax Incentive could mean for SMEs, innovation investment and Australia’s broader productivity problem. Then, leadership expert Kylie Paatsch explains why so many engagement strategies fail to deliver real performance. Her argument? The problem isn’t engagement; it’s lack of connection between leaders and teams. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Navigating business inflection points, and smarter tax planning
Jun 1400:18:33Tap to summarizeWhat if the biggest threat to your business is already unfolding - and you can't see it yet? And what do you need to be thinking about ahead of tax time? In this episode, we hear two expert perspectives on getting ahead of small problems before they become serious ones. First, executive coach Chris Power explains why “leadership inflection points” can become dangerous moments for organisations, and how strong leaders recognise early warning signs before performance stalls. Then, dual-qualified solicitor and chartered accountant Adam Ahmed of Entity Accountants shares practical advice on staying tax-compliant in a fast-changing landscape, including the risks around crypto, digital payments, and poor planning. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Future-proofing in the age of AI. Plus: Compliance without the chaos
Jun 800:22:07Tap to summarizeHow can businesses stay future-ready in the age of AI - while keeping compliance under control? In this episode, CEO of Practice Connections Advisory Alan FitzGerald outlines the tech trends every business owner should watch to future-proof their company. He explains how to review outdated systems, choose the right technology, and balance AI-driven efficiency with human expertise. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of HR Consulting Services, Shilo, explains how businesses can simplify compliance, support managers, and build healthier workplace cultures. This is a practical conversation about balancing technology, people, and risk in today’s evolving business landscape. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Why discipline beats vision – and why grad jobs are disappearing
May 3100:20:34Tap to summarizeWhat’s more important when it comes to building a successful business: Discipline or vision? And what happens when the next generation can’t even get a foot in the door? In this episode, founder, CEO and author Dane Hudson joins host Grace Jennings-Edquist to explain why vision alone won’t scale a business. Dane shares why disciplined execution, systems, and leadership maturity are what truly drive growth. Then, recruitment leader Catherine Kennedy from people2people unpacks a major workforce shift: why employers are hiring fewer junior staff, and what that means for graduates, organisations, and the future of leadership. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
Promoting yourself without the cringe. Plus: Breaking the overachiever cycle
May 2400:27:15Tap to summarizeHate the idea of self-promotion - and feeling constantly overwhelmed and burned out at work? In this week’s episode, personal branding strategist Rosie Chong explains how to share your wins authentically by focusing on value, storytelling and connection - not ego. Then, leadership coach and author of The Overachiever’s Reset, Fleur Marks, unpacks the "overachiever cycle" that drives burnout, and shares practical ways to reset by building awareness, setting boundaries and redefining success. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →
What the Federal Budget means for your business
May 1800:38:44Tap to summarizeThe Federal Budget has just been handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers - so what does it mean for small businesses and the wider economy? In this episode, economist Professor Robert Brooks from Monash University unpacks the balancing act between inflation, growth, interest rates, housing affordability and recession risk - and what it means for SMEs. Then, tax advisor Michael Jones, a Partner at Forvis Mazars, explains the proposed changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing and family trusts, outlining the potential impact on investors, startups and business owners. Together, they explore whether the budget builds long-term resilience - or simply shifts today’s pressures into the future. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →