Happy Birthday, Startmate! 10 years ago, Niki Scevak and 25 first believers launched Startmate in a coffee shop in Surry Hills with not much more than a ‘strayan name, skin in the game and conviction that Aussies have a shot on the global stage they can claim. In the first…

You can find all my book summaries — here. — 1 paragraph summary: Looooved this book, it started off super fun with lots of action. Took a completely unexpected turn and held the tension really well by going back and forth between the past and the present. On top of a bit of science, a fair bit of action, I…

You can find all my book summaries — here. 1 paragraph summary: Personally not the biggest fan of the book. Very dry read, but one key concept that I enjoyed — the idea of the CEO as an investor. You really only need to know three things to evaluate a…

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — What a journey this has been! Nine months of 15 quality conversations coming to an end. I hope you enjoyed and learned as much as I have along the way. A big kudos to all the CEOs + links to their interviews 👏🙇‍♀️ Benjamin @ Dovetail Thomas @ Forage Kate…

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — #16 Kim Teo / CEO @ Mr Yum How do you CEO? I just wing it. I’m trying to figure out what my own role is. Mr Yum is 4 years old. It changes every 6 months, and each is so different to the previous 6 months. As the company changes, the role of the CEO evolves. I try to figure out…

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — #15 Nicole Kuepper-Russell / Deputy-CEO @ 5B How do you Deputy-CEO? Chris (CEO) and I have known each other for 17 years and worked together for 2.5 years. We have enormously complementary skills. Chris generates and advocates a really long-term vision of product and expertise in delivering technology on commercial solar projects. He’s an inventor, a tinkerer…

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — #14 Zoë Milgrom / CCO @ Eugene How do you CCO? I co-founded Eugene in 2017 with Kunal, but didn’t have a title at the time. I have no legal, accounting, or “traditional” business background whilst Kunal is a serial entrepreneur. …

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — #13 Lauren Humphrey / CEO @ The Mintable How do you CEO? For me, CEO has been a shape-shifting title. Every month my cofounder and I write out and prioritize the jobs to be done in order for the business to succeed. We ask: What can I best do with my skills? And Mel with hers? What can the team handle best? …

A learning journey of how startup CEOs work. — #12 Michael Batko / CEO @ Startmate How do you CEO? I keep reminding myself about my own job description as a CEO and pull out of the day-to-day as much as I can. Set a vision and strategy. Get the money to execute. Hire the team to execute. Hold the team accountable. Evangelise the vision. The job keeps changing as…