When the co-founder and former chief executive of The Big Group was 21, he had just $500 in his pocket.

Not afraid of risk, Bruce Keebaugh and his wife, Chyka Keebaugh, used it to champion the competitive world of catering and events.

This week on How I Made it, The Australian Financial Review’s Lauren Sams finds out how this hospitality guru came to dominate an industry.

This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

When the co-founder and former chief executive of The Big Group was 21, he had just $500 in his pocket.
Not afraid of risk, Bruce Keebaugh and his wife, Chyka Keebaugh, used it to champion the competitive world of catering and events.
This week on How I Made it, The Australian Financial Review&rsquo;s Lauren Sams finds out how this hospitality guru came to dominate an industry.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="https://www.telstra.com.au/">Telstra</a>.

How I Made It is back with new hosts Lauren Sams & Yolanda Redrup. Join us to learn how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

How I Made It is back with new hosts Lauren Sams &amp; Yolanda Redrup. Join us to learn how Australia&rsquo;s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

How I Made It

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts. 

All the latest episodes from all of the AFR's podcasts.&nbsp;

Latest episodes 

How Bruce Keebaugh turned $500 into a global events company

When Anthony Woods was growing up in Perth, he and his dad had a deal: “He [dad] would break the home computer, and I would fix it.” 

The seeds of his career would grow from this family pastime. 

The software engineer is now the co-founder of Grafana Labs, a tech company valued at $13 billion with 25 million users around the world who rely on its simple-to-use data visualisation services.

In the final episode of season six of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this founder turned a little-known start-up into a software giant.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

This ex-dealmaker defied the sceptics to build cult brand Frank Green

Ben Young spent the first part of his career in waste management. It gave him the greatest idea for his second half.

Nicole Eckels’ multimillion-dollar idea was right under her nose

The Glasshouse Fragrances CEO has grown her company into a $100 million global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries.

When Anthony Woods was growing up in Perth, he and his dad had a deal: &ldquo;He [dad] would break the home computer, and I would fix it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The seeds of his career would grow from this family pastime.&nbsp;
The software engineer is now the co-founder of Grafana Labs, a tech company valued at $13 billion with 25 million users around the world who rely on its simple-to-use data visualisation services.
In the final episode of season six of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this founder turned a little-known start-up into a software giant.
This podcast was sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/how-frank-green-became-the-world-s-most-famous-water-bottle-20260904-p60ulq?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">This ex-dealmaker defied the sceptics to build cult brand Frank Green</a>
Ben Young spent the first part of his career in waste management. It gave him the greatest idea for his second half.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/how-a-former-make-up-artist-built-a-100m-home-scent-brand-20260831-p60t0m?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Nicole Eckels&rsquo; multimillion-dollar idea was right under her nose</a>
The Glasshouse Fragrances CEO has grown her company into a $100 million global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries.

Anthony Woods was a uni dropout. Now his tech company is worth $13b

When Ben Young first pitched his idea for reusable coffee cups, his business strategy colleagues dismissed it.

“The smartest guys in the room said it was silly; I was being an idiot because why would you have a reusable cup when [you] can just put the old one in the bin, not think about it anymore, and get on with [your] day,” recalls Young.

But after seeing first hand the effects single-use plastics have on the environment while working at Cleanaway Waste Management, he knew he was on to something – and he kick-started Frank Green.

On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams sits down with the founder to find out how he harnessed an environmental movement to build one of the country’s most well-known brands.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

Nicole Eckels’ multimillion-dollar idea was right under her nose

The Glasshouse Fragrances CEO has grown her company into a $100 million global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries.

Bill Beament led a 1¢ company. Now it’s Australia’s biggest gold miner

The West Australian who transformed Northern Star took home $60 million last year. Now, the Develop Global CEO is zeroing in on critical minerals.

When Ben Young first pitched his idea for reusable coffee cups, his business strategy colleagues dismissed it. &ldquo;The smartest guys in the room said it was silly; I was being an idiot because why would you have a reusable cup when [you] can just put the old one in the bin, not think about it anymore, and get on with [your] day,&rdquo; recalls Young. But after seeing first hand the effects single-use plastics have on the environment while working at Cleanaway Waste Management, he knew he was on to something &ndash; and he kick-started Frank Green.
On this week&rsquo;s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams sits down with the founder to find out how he harnessed an environmental movement to build one of the country&rsquo;s most well-known brands.
This podcast was sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/how-a-former-make-up-artist-built-a-100m-home-scent-brand-20260831-p60t0m?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Nicole Eckels&rsquo; multimillion-dollar idea was right under her nose</a>
The Glasshouse Fragrances CEO has grown her company into a $100 million global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/this-miner-took-home-60m-last-year-here-s-where-he-s-targeting-next-20260824-p60qwe?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" data-testid="headlineLink">Bill Beament led a 1&cent; company. Now it&rsquo;s Australia&rsquo;s biggest gold miner</a>
The West Australian who transformed Northern Star took home $60 million last year. Now, the Develop Global CEO is zeroing in on critical minerals.

This ex-dealmaker defied the sceptics to build cult brand Frank Green

When Nicole Eckels moved to Sydney in 2005, one of the first things she did was go to David Jones to shop for her new apartment.

On the lookout for a fragrant candle to scent her home, what she found was a gap in the market.

Now the founder and CEO of Glasshouse Fragrances, Nicole has grown her company into a global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries including the US.

On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this New York-born entrepreneur turned a little-known start-up into a multimillion-dollar business.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

Bill Beament led a 1¢ company. Now it’s Australia’s biggest gold miner

The West Australian who transformed Northern Star took home $60 million last year. Now, the Develop Global CEO is zeroing in on critical minerals.

I had $200’: Inside Aussie Bruna Papandrea’s meteoric Hollywood rise

When the aspiring film producer moved to New York she was in her early 20s and had hardly anything to her name.

When Nicole Eckels moved to Sydney in 2005, one of the first things she did was go to David Jones to shop for her new apartment. On the lookout for a fragrant candle to scent her home, what she found was a gap in the market. Now the founder and CEO of Glasshouse Fragrances, Nicole has grown her company into a global powerhouse, with products stocked in more than 10 countries including the US. On this week&rsquo;s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this New York-born entrepreneur turned a little-known start-up into a multimillion-dollar business.
This podcast was sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/this-miner-took-home-60m-last-year-here-s-where-he-s-targeting-next-20260824-p60qwe?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" data-testid="headlineLink">Bill Beament led a 1&cent; company. Now it&rsquo;s Australia&rsquo;s biggest gold miner</a>
The West Australian who transformed Northern Star took home $60 million last year. Now, the Develop Global CEO is zeroing in on critical minerals.
<a href="https://web-editing-afr.platform.ink/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/bruna-papandrea-is-the-aussie-behind-some-of-hollywood-s-biggest-hits-20260813-p60o5i?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">I had $200&rsquo;: Inside Aussie Bruna Papandrea&rsquo;s meteoric Hollywood rise</a>
When the aspiring film producer moved to New York she was in her early 20s and had hardly anything to her name.

How Bruce Keebaugh turned $500 into a global events company

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