Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar started Atlassian as two university friends with $10,000 in credit card debt. They went on to build a global software giant worth more than $100 billion — and become two of Australia’s richest people.

But behind the extraordinary success, their friendship was beginning to fracture.

Tech Bros authors and senior business journalists John Stensholt and Perry Williams join Sylvia Jeffreys to reveal what they uncovered about the relationship behind one of Australia’s greatest business success stories — from tensions inside Atlassian and a reported year in which the founders barely spoke, to a multimillion-dollar renovation dispute between their neighbouring Point Piper mansions.

In this episode:
How Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar built Atlassian from almost nothing
The Point Piper property dispute that exposed cracks in their friendship
What happened when tensions spilled into the workplace and why Farquhar ultimately stepped down as co-CEO
How Atlassian’s culture changed as the company grew
The impact of AI and 1,600 job cuts on Atlassian’s future
What their story teaches us about friendship, ambition and knowing when to walk away

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar started Atlassian as two university friends with $10,000 in credit card debt. They went on to build a global software giant worth more than $100 billion &mdash; and become two of Australia&rsquo;s richest people.
But behind the extraordinary success, their friendship was beginning to fracture.
Tech Bros authors and senior business journalists John Stensholt and Perry Williams join Sylvia Jeffreys to reveal what they uncovered about the relationship behind one of Australia&rsquo;s greatest business success stories &mdash; from tensions inside Atlassian and a reported year in which the founders barely spoke, to a multimillion-dollar renovation dispute between their neighbouring Point Piper mansions.
In this episode:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>How Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar built Atlassian from almost nothing</li>
<li>The Point Piper property dispute that exposed cracks in their friendship</li>
<li>What happened when tensions spilled into the workplace and why&nbsp;Farquhar ultimately stepped down as co-CEO</li>
<li>How Atlassian&rsquo;s culture changed as the company grew</li>
<li>The impact of AI and 1,600 job cuts on Atlassian&rsquo;s future</li>
<li>What their story teaches us about friendship, ambition and knowing when to walk away</li>
</ul>

Money is a constant contradiction. You’ve got to spend money to enjoy life but save every cent for the future. 

It’s why Australians are caught between impossible expectations and an economic system that feels stacked against them. So, how do you keep up the juggling act when the stakes just keep getting higher?

In The Pay Off Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.

You can listen to The Pay Off wherever you get your podcasts, or you can watch every episode on 9Now, search 'The Pay Off 9Now Podcast'

Money is a constant contradiction. You&rsquo;ve got to spend money to enjoy life but save every cent for the future.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s why Australians are caught between impossible expectations and an economic system that feels stacked against them.&nbsp;So, how do you keep up the juggling act when the stakes just keep getting higher?
In The Pay Off Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.
You can listen to The Pay Off wherever you get your podcasts, or you can watch every episode on 9Now, search 'The Pay Off 9Now Podcast'

Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.

The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys

What Does $100B Do to a Friendship? Inside the Atlassian Story

Sundae Body sells a product every six seconds and is stocked in more than 10,000 stores across 14 countries. But behind the rapid growth of the colourful Australian beauty brand are some costly mistakes and hard-earned business lessons.

Lizzie Binks went from working in a call centre and receiving a school score of 59 to building one of Australia’s fastest-growing beauty brands. 

The Sundae Body co-founder joins The Pay Off to explain how Sundae went from an idea to shake up the body care aisle to an international success story — and the decisions that almost derailed it along the way.

Binks reveals how she launched into Woolworths and Priceline without a finished product, why the business took eight months to gain momentum and how a six-month cash-flow gap nearly broke the company.

She also shares what happened when Walmart approached her at a New York trade show, why Sundae eventually lost its US shelf space and how the mistake helped the brand succeed at Target.

Sundae Body is preparing for its next major step: A 36-product launch into Sephora in the Middle East.

Sundae Body sells a product every six seconds and is stocked in more than 10,000 stores across 14 countries. But behind the rapid growth of the colourful Australian beauty brand are some costly mistakes and hard-earned business lessons.
Lizzie Binks went from working in a call centre and receiving a school score of 59 to building one of Australia&rsquo;s fastest-growing beauty brands.&nbsp;
The Sundae Body co-founder joins The Pay Off to explain how Sundae went from an idea to shake up the body care aisle to an international success story &mdash; and the decisions that almost derailed it along the way.
Binks reveals how she launched into Woolworths and Priceline without a finished product, why the business took eight months to gain momentum and how a six-month cash-flow gap nearly broke the company.
She also shares what happened when Walmart approached her at a New York trade show, why Sundae eventually lost its US shelf space and how the mistake helped the brand succeed at Target.
Sundae Body is preparing for its next major step: A 36-product launch into Sephora in the Middle East.

How Sundae Body Reached 10,000 Stores — And Nearly Broke Along the Way

Interest rates remain at 4.35%, house prices are falling across much of Australia, and households are still feeling the cost-of-living squeeze. So, what happens next?

Westpac Chief Economist and former Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Luci Ellis joins Sylvia Jeffreys to unpack the RBA’s latest decision, what it means for mortgage holders and why Australia’s housing downturn isn’t necessarily a crash.

They examine what’s keeping inflation elevated, whether government spending is part of the problem, the complicated relationship between migration and housing affordability, and why Australia needs more skilled workers to build the homes and infrastructure we need.

In this episode:
What the RBA's latest decision means for interest rates
Why falling house prices don't necessarily mean a housing crash
Whether migration is really to blame for housing unaffordability
When interest rates could begin falling
Whether government spending and data centres are adding to inflationary pressure
Why Australia needs more skilled tradies
How women and older Australians are reshaping the workforce
Whether AI will destroy jobs — or create new ones

Subscribe for more conversations about money, property and the decisions shaping your financial future.

Interest rates remain at 4.35%, house prices are falling across much of Australia, and households are still feeling the cost-of-living squeeze. So, what happens next?
Westpac Chief Economist and former Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Luci Ellis joins Sylvia Jeffreys to unpack the RBA&rsquo;s latest decision, what it means for mortgage holders and why Australia&rsquo;s housing downturn isn&rsquo;t necessarily a crash.
They examine what&rsquo;s keeping inflation elevated, whether government spending is part of the problem, the complicated relationship between migration and housing affordability, and why Australia needs more skilled workers to build the homes and infrastructure we need.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>What the RBA's latest decision means for interest rates</li>
<li>Why falling house prices don't necessarily mean a housing crash</li>
<li>Whether migration is really to blame for housing unaffordability</li>
<li>When interest rates could begin falling</li>
<li>Whether government spending and data centres are adding to inflationary pressure</li>
<li>Why Australia needs more skilled tradies</li>
<li>How women and older Australians are reshaping the workforce</li>
<li>Whether AI will destroy jobs &mdash; or create new ones</li>
</ul>
Subscribe for more conversations about money, property and the decisions shaping your financial future.

Rates, Housing and AI: What's Really Happening to Australia's Economy?

What if technology could help us become better voters?

Climate advocate, former elite long jumper and Build a Ballot co-founder Lizzie Hedding is trying to do exactly that. Her non-partisan voting platform attracted more than 600,000 users during the last federal election, helping Australians cut through political noise and make more informed decisions at the ballot box.

In this episode of The Pay Off, Lizzie joins Sylvia Jeffreys to unpack the unlikely journey that took her from elite athletics to climate advocacy and, eventually, tech entrepreneurship.

She reflects on how the Black Summer bushfires changed the course of her life, why she believes Australian democracy can work better, and what she learned building a political platform designed to remain fiercely neutral.

They also discuss:
Why younger Australians are engaging with politics differently
Housing, cost of living and the rise of minor parties
The challenge of remaining politically neutral in an increasingly polarised environment
How social media has transformed political messaging
Why Lizzie chose the not-for-profit path rather than trying to build the next tech unicorn

What if technology could help us become better voters?
Climate advocate, former elite long jumper and Build a Ballot co-founder Lizzie Hedding is trying to do exactly that. Her non-partisan voting platform attracted more than 600,000 users during the last federal election, helping Australians cut through political noise and make more informed decisions at the ballot box.
In this episode of The Pay Off, Lizzie joins Sylvia Jeffreys to unpack the unlikely journey that took her from elite athletics to climate advocacy and, eventually, tech entrepreneurship.
She reflects on how the Black Summer bushfires changed the course of her life, why she believes Australian democracy can work better, and what she learned building a political platform designed to remain fiercely neutral.
They also discuss:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why younger Australians are engaging with politics differently</li>
<li aria-level="1">Housing, cost of living and the rise of minor parties</li>
<li aria-level="1">The challenge of remaining politically neutral in an increasingly polarised environment</li>
<li aria-level="1">How social media has transformed political messaging</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Lizzie chose the not-for-profit path rather than trying to build the next tech unicorn</li>
</ul>

What Does $100B Do to a Friendship? Inside the Atlassian Story

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