Chris Lucas grew up in the world of hospitality, often spending time in his dad’s pub in Geelong.

But it wasn’t until his mid-30s that one of the country’s top restaurateurs entered the industry himself.

On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how working at IBM as a sales and marketing executive inspired Lucas to become one of the biggest figures in the hospitality industry.

This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Chris Lucas grew up in the world of hospitality, often spending time in his dad&rsquo;s pub in Geelong.
But it wasn&rsquo;t until his mid-30s that one of the country&rsquo;s top restaurateurs entered the industry himself.
On this week&rsquo;s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how working at IBM as a sales and marketing executive inspired Lucas to become one of the biggest figures in the hospitality 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 a former IBM executive redefined Australia’s restaurant scene

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.

Trailer: How I Made It returns July 29

Growing up, Janine Allis never thought about starting her own business. “I didn’t even know what an entrepreneur was,” she says.

But after spotting a gap in the market, there was no stopping the founder of a now-global smoothie company that’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

On the final episode of season five of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how the Boost Juice owner became one of Australia’s top business leaders.

This episode was sponsored by Telstra.

Growing up, Janine Allis never thought about starting her own business. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t even know what an entrepreneur was,&rdquo; she says.
But after spotting a gap in the market, there was no stopping the founder of a now-global smoothie company that&rsquo;s worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
On the final episode of season five of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how the Boost Juice owner became one of Australia&rsquo;s top business leaders.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://www.telstra.com.au/">Telstra</a>.

How a former IBM executive redefined Australia’s restaurant scene

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