In this week's episode How I Made It podcast, Icon Group founder Cathie Reid chats to Julie-anne Sprague about wanting to be a typist. Instead she became a pharmacist before spotting a gap in the market and becoming an entrepreneur alongside husband Stuart Giles.

This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.

In this week's episode How I Made It podcast, Icon Group founder Cathie Reid chats to Julie-anne Sprague about wanting to be a typist. Instead she became a pharmacist before spotting a gap in the market and becoming an entrepreneur alongside husband Stuart Giles.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.superloop.com/business/internet">Superloop.</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 

The sliding doors moment that led typist Cathie Reid to build a $550m fortune

When Ben Young started working in waste management he saw first hand the impact single-use plastics have on the environment, and he decided to do something about it.

But instead of giving consumers a sermon, he gave them a status symbol.

After launching Frank Green in 2013, Ben quickly turned his brand into a cult purveyor of water bottles, coffee cups and more — making sustainability cool.

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 started working in waste management he saw first hand the impact single-use plastics have on the environment, and he decided to do something about it.
But instead of giving consumers a sermon, he gave them a status symbol.
After launching Frank Green in 2013, Ben quickly turned his brand into a cult purveyor of water bottles, coffee cups and more &mdash; making sustainability cool.
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.

App exclusive | How Frank Green became the world’s most famous water bottle

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.

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

Bill Beament put himself on the map by transforming a fledgling explorer, Northern Star, into one of the world's biggest gold miners.

After turning the 1¢ company into a multibillion-dollar giant, the West Australian decided to take a punt on a new solo venture.

Now the founder and chief executive of mining exploration company Develop Global, the king of Kalgoorlie is turning his attention to critical minerals.

On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams delves into the mining titan's playbook as he takes on copper, zinc and lithium.

This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage.

Further reading:

‘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.

‘I owe you nothing’: Two unlikely partners and a $20b housing empire

Craig Carracher knew student accommodation could be vastly improved – and a serious moneymaker. 

Bill Beament put himself on the map by transforming a fledgling explorer, Northern Star, into one of the world's biggest gold miners. After turning the 1&cent; company into a multibillion-dollar giant, the West Australian decided to take a punt on a new solo venture. Now the founder and chief executive of mining exploration company Develop Global, the king of Kalgoorlie is turning his attention to critical minerals. On this week&rsquo;s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams delves into the mining titan's playbook as he takes on copper, zinc and lithium.
This podcast was sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="http://sinchengage.com/">Sinch Engage</a>.
Further reading:
<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">&lsquo;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.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/how-this-ex-packer-lawyer-secured-australia-s-biggest-real-estate-deal-20260806-p60m1m?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=how_i_made_it&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;I owe you nothing&rsquo;: Two unlikely partners and a $20b housing empire</a>
Craig Carracher knew student accommodation could be vastly improved &ndash; and a serious moneymaker.&nbsp;

The sliding doors moment that led typist Cathie Reid to build a $550m fortune

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