Mark Woodland was expanding his education start-up before realising he’d overlooked a critical component for its success. He had to fix it, even if it meant a bunch of staff walked out the door.

To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com

This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private

To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

Mark Woodland was expanding his education start-up before realising he’d overlooked a critical component for its success. He had to fix it, even if it meant a bunch of staff walked out the door.
To ask a question, email <a href="mailto:howimadeit.@afr.com">howimadeit@afr.com</a> 
This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private
To find out more about Commonwealth Private click <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/commbank.com.au/private__;!!MOA0!f02R8oYvz-n2NuOQQK81mP614TnGDv0cRS8O0K6Hwn1WMzjBzEVYXBwtwdDBrQGxsLO6ON3oHkdP4csHtSIjGMxp1gQaAg$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714910348275000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17e6JjamrhdfHJJo2OQ5vy">here</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 

Mark Woodland: From Maccas to building a $100m company with zero qualifications

Grace Brown had always enjoyed maths, science and music. Teamed with a “wild imagination”, her interest in patterns meant she was obsessed with all things magic.

When she took on an engineering design subject in high school, everything became clear.

“I wanted to spend the rest of my life working as an engineer because you could just imagine something and create it that didn't previously exist,” says the now- 26-year-old.

Brown has since turned her fascination into a thriving robot helper start-up, Andromeda.

On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this engineer-turned-entrepreneur built a $100 million company.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

AI leads Australian start-up $5b funding boom

Funding for tech start-ups surged by $1 billion last year, with more than 60 per cent going to AI companies, but VCs say the market is not in bubble territory.

A 25-year-old Melburnian now has a $100m robot helper start-up

Female founders are still struggling to receive funding, but Grace Brown’s robotics start-up just banked a $23 million series A funding round.

Alex Vynokur bet the house on ETFs. He won

The aspiring entrepreneur knew the odds were stacked against his start-up. But Betashares is now Australia’s second-largest exchange-traded fund provider at $75 billion.

Grace Brown had always enjoyed maths, science and music. Teamed with a &ldquo;wild imagination&rdquo;, her interest in patterns meant she was obsessed with all things magic. When she took on an engineering design subject in high school, everything became clear. &ldquo;I wanted to spend the rest of my life working as an engineer because you could just imagine something and create it that didn't previously exist,&rdquo; says the now- 26-year-old. Brown has since turned her fascination into a thriving robot helper start-up, Andromeda. On this week&rsquo;s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this engineer-turned-entrepreneur built a $100 million company. This podcast was sponsored by <a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-leads-australian-start-up-5b-funding-boom-20260130-p5nybt?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">AI leads Australian start-up $5b funding boom</a>
Funding for tech start-ups surged by $1 billion last year, with more than 60 per cent going to AI companies, but VCs say the market is not in bubble territory.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/a-25-year-old-melburnian-now-has-a-100m-robot-helper-start-up-20250905-p5msra?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">A 25-year-old Melburnian now has a $100m robot helper start-up</a>
Female founders are still struggling to receive funding, but Grace Brown&rsquo;s robotics start-up just banked a $23 million series A funding round.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/alex-vynokur-bet-the-house-to-start-betashares-it-now-manages-75b-20260728-p60j5x?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Alex Vynokur bet the house on ETFs. He won</a>
The aspiring entrepreneur knew the odds were stacked against his start-up. But Betashares is now Australia&rsquo;s second-largest exchange-traded fund provider at $75 billion.

How this 26-year-old built a $100m robotics company

The former lawyer walked away from a top-tier legal career to risk his house on an ETF venture. It’s now the country’s second-largest exchange-traded funds provider.

"I was just totally convinced that you know I should just do it," says the Betashares founder.

On the first episode of the new season of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams sits down with the chief executive to found out how he turned his start-up into an industry giant.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

Luck, timing or hard work: What it takes to become a top entrepreneur

What makes a business venture successful? Australia’s top business leaders reveal how they built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

Four leaders who came to Australia with nothing, and made it to the top

Australia may be imperfect, but for these bosses it was the land of opportunity.

Record wave of ETFs flood the ASX, with more to come

Firms are rushing to launch new funds on the ASX as retail investors demand access to the country’s top fund managers.

The former lawyer walked away from a top-tier legal career to risk his house on an ETF venture. It&rsquo;s now the country&rsquo;s second-largest exchange-traded funds provider.
"I was just totally convinced that you know I should just do it," says the Betashares founder.
On the first episode of the new season of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams sits down with the chief executive to found out how he turned his start-up into an industry giant.
This podcast was sponsored by <a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/luck-timing-or-hard-work-what-it-takes-to-become-a-top-entrepreneur-20251226-p5nq5x?utm_source=omny&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;amp;utm_content=&amp;amp;utm_term=newsroom">Luck, timing or hard work: What it takes to become a top entrepreneur</a>
What makes a business venture successful? Australia&rsquo;s top business leaders reveal how they built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/4-leaders-who-came-to-australia-with-nothing-and-made-it-to-the-top-20250822-p5mp37?utm_source=omny&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;amp;utm_content=&amp;amp;utm_term=newsroom">Four leaders who came to Australia with nothing, and made it to the top</a>
Australia may be imperfect, but for these bosses it was the land of opportunity.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/record-wave-of-etfs-flood-the-asx-with-more-to-come-20260702-p60bwe?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Record wave of ETFs flood the ASX, with more to come</a>
Firms are rushing to launch new funds on the ASX as retail investors demand access to the country&rsquo;s top fund managers.

Alex Vynokur bet the house to start Betashares. It now manages $75b

How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. 

Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t miss season six as we uncover how Australia&rsquo;s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

Mark Woodland: From Maccas to building a $100m company with zero qualifications

In 2 playlist(s)

How I Made It

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips