How I Made It

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 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 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.

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. 

When Bruna Papandrea arrived in New York, she had $200. An avid storyteller, the South Australian began reading scripts for her friend, actor Anthony LaPaglia. But it was when she was offered a job working for legendary filmmakers Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella that her career transformed. “I was 29, and I get chills telling the story because that is just a moment that you can't fathom how much it's going to change your life,” the film producer says. In this week’s episode, host Lauren Sams finds out how Papandrea became one of Hollywood’s most powerful storytellers, producing huge hits from Big Little Lies and Gone Girl to The Undoing. This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage. Further reading: ‘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.  How this 26-year-old built a $100m robotics company Andromeda founder Grace Brown reveals how her hi-tech companion, Abi, has disrupted an industry.

When Craig Carracher first met his business partner, Stephen Gaitanos, he was somewhat reluctant to team up. “He was only a young fellow. He's 15 years younger than me, and he put his hand up and said, ‘I'd like to come across as your junior,'" Carracher recalls. “And I said, ‘Look, I'm not going to pay you for five years. I'm not sure I like you... I owe you nothing.'"  But Gaitanos was all in.  Twelve years since starting their joint venture, Scape – now part of the broader housing enterprise, The Living Company – the duo has dominated the student accommodation sector. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, host Lauren Sams finds out how this co-founder spotted a gap in the housing market to build a $20 billion empire. This podcast was sponsored by Sinch Engage. Further reading: Alex Vynokur bet the house on ETFs. He won The aspiring entrepreneur knew the odds were stacked against his start-up, Betashares.  How this 26-year-old built a $100m robotics company Andromeda founder Grace Brown reveals how her hi-tech companion, Abi, has disrupted an industry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Since she was a little girl, Flavia Tata Nardini was obsessed with space. The Italian-born rocket scientist began her career at the European Space Agency but moved to Adelaide in her 20s, where she found herself confronted with a lack of industry. Left with no other choice, she started her own business. On this week's episode of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how the CEO of Fleet Space Technologies reignited Australia’s space industry – and built an $800 million company. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Vikas Rambal came to Australia from India on a prospective business trip in 2000. But the project he was looking into was not what it seemed. It was a moment on his five-day trip that would prove to be pivotal. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how a scam and a chance encounter set about the Perdaman Group founder’s dream to build the country’s largest fertiliser plant. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

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.

Leading Australia’s largest airline is by all accounts a dream job.  But in 2012, Bruce Buchanan – who was on track to become chief executive of Qantas – walked away from the national carrier. He now runs one of the world’s hottest tech companies: $7.2 billion e-commerce marketing tech firm Rokt. This week on How I Made It, Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup pulls back the curtain to find out how this former aviation executive built a company that became a giant of the tech world. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Trinny Woodall first became a household name as one half of the dynamic duo, Trinny and Susannah. Together the pair built a career issuing fashion advice to women on their long-running BBC series, What Not to Wear. But at the age of 53 Woodall decided it was time to step out on her own, launching eponymous beauty brand Trinny London. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, fashion editor Lauren Sams finds out how the former television host became a beauty disruptor standing at the helm of a multimillion-dollar company. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Growing up on a sheep farm, Matt Jensen has long had an appreciation for natural fibres. But it was during a stint in London working as a banker that the budding entrepreneur spotted a gap in the menswear market. On this week’s episode of How I Made It, fashion editor Lauren Sams finds out how the failure of one business led to the success of another – menswear giant MJ Bale. 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’s Lauren Sams finds out how this hospitality guru came to dominate an industry. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

From the start of high school, Rod Drury was captivated by computing.  It was a fascination that would go on to create one of the largest ASX-listed tech companies, accounting software giant Xero. In this week’s episode of How I Made It, The Australian Financial Review Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup finds out how a passion in high school became a $28 billion company. This podcast was sponsored by Telstra.

Jose Bryce Smith came to Australia on holiday. Seven years later, she founded what would become one of the country’s biggest haircare brands. With products stocked in more than 30,000 salons across 21 countries, Original & Mineral (O&M) is a dominant force in the hair industry. In this week’s episode of the new season of How I Made It, The Australian Financial Review fashion editor Lauren Sams pulls back the curtain to find out how Bryce Smith built O&M from the ground up. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

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.

Sam Kroonenburg built a company from his bedroom, with him and his brother Ryan both making about $500 million. But Sam, 40, is doing what he can to avoid the trappings of wealth. Further reading: Aussie who sold cloud start-up for $2b jumps on AI for ads Young Rich Lister says more founders should take cash off the table

After deciding working at Legal Aid wasn’t the career for him, Kerry Harmanis applied to an art school. He was rejected and turned to prospecting in WA. It was a journey that led to the $3.1 billion sale of Jubilee Mines right as nickel prices peaked.

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.

Richard White wanted to be a rock and roll star. He ended up developing software for companies in the logistics industry. In 1994 he founded Wise Tech Global and is now the 11th wealthiest person in Australia. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

How a back of the napkin plan put fitness star Steph Claire Smith on the Young Rich List. 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 howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

Serial entrepreneur Nick Bell sits down with Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his latest business venture, which aims to help people live longer. He also details his recent trip to Mexico, where he spent $700,000 on injections to alter his genes. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

In this week's episode, Precision Group founder Shaun Bonétt chats to Julie-anne Sprague about becoming one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. A journey that went from home schooling to buying his first shopping centre at just 24 years of age. To ask a question, email howimadeit@afr.com This podcast is sponsored by Commonwealth Private To find out more about Commonwealth Private click here

How I Made It is back for a 4th season and this time we're giving you can chance to ask a Rich Lister a question yourself.  Are you building a company and want to scale up, do you want advice on funding your growth or have you just got an idea and you want to know what to do next, well here is your opportunity. Send a question to howimadeit@afr.com and we’ll get a Rich Lister to help you.  Episodes drop fortnightly starting with our first episode on April 22. This podcast is sponsored by Commbank.

His parents moved to Australia with just $90 to their name, raising their young family in a housing commission flat in Melbourne. It was there Ruslan Kogan honed his selling skills, making a buck selling golf balls and washing cars. He’s now worth about $300 million after creating online retailer Kogan.com.

The How I Made it team is on a summer break but have curated a special summer series featuring some of our favourite episodes.  In this third episode, Simon Beard joined Julie-anne Sprague in 2022 to chat how he and his wife Tah-nee started Culture Kings as a market stall on the Gold Coast. They’d go on to cut a deal that valued their retailer at $600 million. In this episode, Simon shares his routine - from getting up at 4am to taking ice baths. 

The How I Made it team is on a summer break but we’ve curated a special summer series featuring some of our favourite episodes.  Our second episode in this summer series features Tammy Hembrow who joined the Julie-anne Sprague in August 2022 where she shares her story of being told her life was ruined when she unexpectedly fell pregnant at 19. She’d go on to develop a fitness app and clothing brand that put her on the Young Rich List with an estimated $38 million fortune. 

Happy New Year! The How I Made it team is on summer break but for your listening enjoyment they have compiled a collection of some of their favourite episodes from our rich catalogue of interviews with the nation’s Rich Listers. The first episode in this summer series features Jack Cowin, the Canadian door-to-door salesman who left of Australia and opened fast food chains KFC and Hungry Jack’s. He’d go on to invest and grow pizza group Domino’s. In this episode, he shares the extraordinary story of taking on a global giant in a legal bun fight and all the lessons he’s learnt in becoming the nation’s 22nd richest person.

Sam Kennard always had ambition to work and grow the family company. But he never expected his dad to give him total control when he was just 24 years of age.  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 Superloop.

This week on How I Made It, Julie-anne Sprague chats to Young Rich Lister Kevin Gosschalk, the co-founder Arkose Labs on the challenges of going head to head with Google in offering companies solutions to thwart cyber criminals. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.

In this week's episode, Julie-anne Sprague chats to investor and corporate adviser Mark Carnegie on how being born with a silver spoon and having a chip on his shoulder has  motivated him to succeed in business.  This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.

This week, Nigel Satterley joins Julie-anne Sprague to chat about his journey from Levi's salesman to becoming Australia’s biggest private land developer whose company, Satterley, is worth more than $500 million. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.

Follow The Australian Financial Review’s newest podcast offering called15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s a weekly podcast, in which AFR’s Boss Editor Sally Patten sits down with one of the country's top CEOs and asks them to share all the valuable advice and wisdom they’ve gained during the course of their careers. They’ll chat about their successes and failures and everything in between. Here’s a little preview of our latest episode featuring Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley. He chats about everything from sharing the lessons he’s learned through failure, how he tackles conflict and plans to remove his phone from the bedroom. At the end of the preview, just search 15 Minutes with the Boss to hear the rest of the show.

In 1983, Sam Hupert and IT specialist Anthony Hall joined forces after meeting at a wine tasting. Their brainchild, Pro Medicus is now worth $9 billion with shares recently hitting an all-time high of $83, marking a spectacular return for early investors who bought in at $1.15 per share in 2000. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop.

Alex Tomic quit university after just six months, to create a company to sell teeth whitening kits with his childhood friend Alex Mirkovic. Almost a decade later, the pair are closing in on $1b in sales, cementing their place on the Young Rich List as chase a global expansion, which has had a handy boost after Kim Kardashian posted to her gazillion followers about how much she just loves their products.  This podcast is sponsored by Superloop

Carolyn Creswell’s company Carmen's dominates the supermarket shelves. But it didn’t start that way. In the early days, she had to come up clever ways to get ahead. This podcast is sponsored by Superloop

How I Made It is back for a third season. From the Australian Financial Review, How I Made It takes you inside the world of the country’s top entrepreneurs. They'll share insights on what makes them tick, their business advice and how they overcame the odds to grace one of the AFR's Rich Lists.  If you want to know how business empires are made, join host Julie-anne Sprague on Monday September 11 and follow How I Made It. Episodes are released fortnightly.  Subscribe to the Australian Financial Review here. This podcast is sponsored by https://www.superloop.com/business/internet

Super Fierce founder Trenna Probert chats to Julie-anne Sprague about her bold mission to close the wealth gap between men and women. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards

From an initial $50,000 investment and regularly sleeping on a blowup mattress on the factory floor, Hannah Drury is now looking to expand her fragrance empire with her own perfumery. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards

Gabrielle Manning chats with Julie-anne Sprague about quitting her job in her 30s to set up her own business alongside her two sisters. But a decade later it nearly collapsed as they got distracted by the critics. This podcast is sponsored by Cartier Women's Initiative. To learn more, go to: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/awards

In 2014 Bec Jefferd and Ava Matthews met in a carpark. Fast forward to today, their skinscreen line Ultra Violette has completely changed the way we view sunscreens.  This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment

Priscilla Hajiantoni suffered from skin breakouts. She’d tried everything and nothing seemed to work. So she set out to make her own. Priscilla now runs a multi-million dollar skincare business that's on the cusp of going global. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment

This week, entrepreneur Jo Horgan invites Julie-anne Sprague into the nerve centre of Mecca to reveal how her love for English literature led to her founding the international cosmetics giant. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment Background reading:  How two Melbourne entrepreneurs stole the beauty market

In 2008, Tania Austin took a risk buying five retail stores under the Decjuba banner. 15 years on Decjuba is now a women's fashion powerhouse with more than 140 stores across Australia and New Zealand. This podcast is sponsored by Charter Hall, to learn more visit www.charterhall.com.au/investments/new-to-investing/getting-started-in-commercial-property-investment Background reading: Meet the three new women set to join the Rich List