Catching Up With CUB

Daniel catches up with CUB member Dr Louise Mahler, a leadership communication expert, to discuss how business owners can communicate with more confidence, build trust and develop the presence to lead. With a PhD in Business focused on leadership communication and decades of experience coaching politicians and senior executives, Louise explains how voice, body language and delivery shape the way others respond to us. She also puts Daniel's own communication habits to the test, showing him what to change and why. Daniel and Louise discuss developing gravitas, managing public speaking nerves, structuring answers, handling difficult conversations and the habits that can undermine your authority. From building rapport with an audience to using movement and gestures with purpose, Louise shares practical techniques leaders can use to be heard and remembered.

In Episode #308 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with Chris Gray, Founder of Your Empire Buyers Agents, to ask whether the latest Federal Budget changes to property tax change the case for building wealth outside your business. A former Deloitte accountant, Chris has more than 30 years of personal investing experience and a $20M+ property portfolio. He is the author of The Effortless Empire and one of the pioneers of buyers agents in Australia. Daniel and Chris unpack negative gearing, capital gains and why Chris says he has changed nothing in his strategy. They also cover rentvesting, why he favours $1–2 million properties in Sydney's Eastern Beaches, Lower North Shore and Inner West, and why he believes the perfect time to buy is rarely the comfortable one. They also discuss why Chris believes every business owner needs a Plan B, why few businesses can be sold, and why he has kept Your Empire boutique with low overheads. Along the way they talk about Die With Zero, Rich Dad Poor Dad and how Chris is teaching his kids about money. A practical conversation on property, tax and building a second engine of wealth alongside your business.

In Episode #307 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with CUB member Rob Pisano, co-founder of Appliers.AI and founder of Next Fulfillment, to explore what it takes to build a business that runs without you. After a career in enterprise software with Oracle and Vlocity, where he opened the Australian office of the Silicon Valley startup later acquired by Salesforce, Rob traded corporate life for entrepreneurship. He scaled a global fashion e-commerce business to a quarter of a million orders, then founded Next Fulfillment in 2020, growing it from a 1,000 square metre site in Tullamarine to multiple warehouses, the largest spanning 30,000 square metres. Daniel and Rob unpack why so many founders hit a ceiling when every decision runs through them, how EOS took Rob from being the bottleneck to spending 90 minutes a week with his leadership team, and why getting the right people in the right seats remains the hardest part of any system. They also discuss what Silicon Valley gets right about scaling, why leaders sometimes need to let their team make the wrong call, and why Rob believes AI only amplifies what's already there, good or bad. A practical conversation on building a business that doesn't depend on you, and getting the foundations right before AI.

In Episode #306 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with longtime CUB member Daniel Pym, Director of Loan Market Double Bay, to explore how the wealthy borrow, how to get the best rate on your mortgage and how property investment has changed since the latest Federal Budget. A broker for 25 years and a winner or finalist in more than 30 industry awards, Dan and his team write around half a billion dollars in loans a year, working at the top end of the market in Double Bay, where he says hundreds of brokers compete for business. Daniel and Dan unpack why many wealthy buyers still choose to carry debt on their homes, why investment lending all but stopped after the budget, and why more buyers are now putting their money into the biggest home they can afford rather than another investment property. They also discuss the First Home Guarantee, why Dan's team reviews clients' interest rates twice a year, how Australia's building approval process is slowing new housing, and why the next generation needs more than one viable path to building wealth. A timely conversation on property, borrowing and getting ahead in Australia.

In the second half of our special 300th episode, Daniel continues his conversation with Australian business icon Mark Bouris to explore Australia's economic outlook and how business owners can turn challenging conditions into long-term opportunity. Drawing on decades of experience navigating economic cycles, Mark shares his perspective on the pressures facing Australian businesses, from inflation, interest rates and rising operating costs to government spending, taxation and housing affordability. Daniel and Mark unpack why economic downturns are an inevitable part of business, how to protect cash flow and manage costs, and why difficult periods can be the best time to strengthen operations, invest in efficiency and prepare for future growth. They also discuss leadership, recruitment, customer relationships, and the importance of anticipating market changes rather than reacting when it's too late. A candid and practical conversation about navigating uncertainty, building a more resilient business, and positioning yourself to come out stronger when the economy recovers.

In Episode #304 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with Ann-Mary Rajanayagam, Founder & CEO of Alderon, to cut through the AI hype and explore how businesses can turn rapidly evolving technology into real business value. With almost 30 years of experience across technology, data and transformation, Ann-Mary has held senior leadership roles at organisations including the New York Stock Exchange, JP Morgan and JANA Investment Advisers. Today, she advises business leaders and boards on AI strategy, governance, data and the future of work.  Daniel and Ann-Mary unpack where business owners should actually start with AI, why identifying the right business problem matters more than simply adopting the latest technology, and how SMEs can use AI to improve processes, efficiency, customer outcomes and revenue. They also discuss vibe coding versus working with experienced developers, why human expertise becomes even more valuable as technology gets easier to access, and how AI is lowering the barriers to starting and building a business. Beyond implementation, Daniel and Ann-Mary explore the bigger questions surrounding AI, from data security, privacy and Big Tech to education, the future of work and how leaders can adapt as the pace of technological change accelerates. A practical conversation for business owners looking to move beyond the AI hype and understand where the technology can actually create value.

In this episode of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with David Werdiger, family enterprise advisor, entrepreneur and Managing Director of the Power of Pause Institute, to explore one of the biggest challenges successful business owners eventually face: what happens to the business, wealth and family after them. Drawing on his own experience growing up around a family business and advising family enterprises, David unpacks succession, choosing the right person to lead the next generation, navigating siblings and spouses, and why ownership and leadership don't always need to sit with the same person. Daniel and David also discuss how families can preserve wealth without destroying ambition, why purpose becomes increasingly important for younger generations, and the difference between simply inheriting a business and becoming a steward responsible for its future. The conversation also explores David's Power of Pause philosophy, why he believes time is our most valuable asset, and what ancient traditions can teach us about disconnecting from technology and being more present. A fascinating conversation about family, business, succession and building a legacy that can survive generations.

In Episode #302 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with Simon Cohen, Founder & CEO of Cohen Handler, to unpack what's really happening in the Australian property market, and where he sees opportunity right now. Since launching Cohen Handler in 2009, Simon has built it into a 100+ person national powerhouse, helping clients secure more than $13 billion in property and becoming one of Australia's most recognisable names in luxury real estate. After 20 years navigating the GFC, COVID and countless market cycles, Simon explains why he believes today's slowdown is creating some of the most compelling buying conditions he's seen in years. Daniel and Simon unpack the impact of the Federal Budget, negative gearing and potential capital gains changes, what's happening at the top end of Sydney's market, and why waiting to perfectly time the bottom can cost you. They also explore where Simon is seeing value across residential and commercial property, how younger Australians can get into the market, and why he still sees property as one of the strongest long-term wealth-building assets. Beyond property, Simon shares how he has used the strength of the Cohen Handler brand to launch multiple ventures with specialist partners, what he looks for in the people he goes into business with, and why reputation, experience and trust still matter. A timely conversation on property, business, opportunity and where the smart money may be moving next.

In Episode #301 of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel sits down with Farid Zaki, Founder and Managing Director of ATP Accounting & Taxation Professionals, to unpack how proposed Federal Budget changes could impact Australian business owners. With 32 years of experience in accounting, Farid breaks down the proposed changes to trusts and business structures, what they could mean for the way business owners manage and distribute profits, and why getting the right advice will become increasingly important. Daniel and Farid also discuss negative gearing, the growing interest in commercial property, cash flow versus profit, managing costs and how businesses can respond when economic conditions become more challenging. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, Farid explains why periods of uncertainty can create opportunity for businesses prepared to adapt, invest strategically and strengthen their operations. A practical conversation on navigating change, protecting your business and making smarter financial decisions in a shifting economic environment.

For the special 300th episode of Catching Up with CUB, Daniel catches up with Mark Bouris to discuss the state of Australia, where the country is heading and the economic pressures facing business owners. Mark shares why he believes Australia is heading towards a recession, including his concerns around inflation, interest rates, unemployment and the growing divide between the public and private sectors.  The conversation also tackles housing affordability, taxation, government spending, migration and Australia's increasingly divided political landscape, before exploring practical ideas to help younger Australians enter the property market and encourage developers to build more housing. Mark also opens up about why Australia is becoming an increasingly expensive place to do business and why more entrepreneurs are considering investing and operating overseas. From the risk of recession to the future of Australian business, Episode #300 asks what needs to change to put prosperity and the private sector back at the centre of Australia's economic future.