Paul Blackburne built a property company that in 2016 land him on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated $536 million fortune. He’s also seen other people make lots of money and says there’s a success trap entrepreneurs need to be mindful of.

Paul Blackburne built a property company that in 2016 land him on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated $536 million fortune. He’s also seen other people make lots of money and says there’s a success trap entrepreneurs need to be mindful of.

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 

Paul Blackburne: Why cars, boats and houses won’t make you happy

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.

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;

Paul Blackburne: Why cars, boats and houses won’t make you happy

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