App Store

Google Play

Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

The Australian Financial Review

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

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the (banker) founder of MJ Bale took over menswear

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 21 Bruce Keebaugh had $500. He made it into a global events company

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘The napkin came across the table’: How software giant Xero was born

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of O&M had one big idea. It became a global haircare empire

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trailer: 'How I Made It' Returns September 22

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Kroonenburg’s success is only possible because of his wife

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How exquisite timing helped Kerry Harmanis forge a fortune

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.
 
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Richard White avoids risk at all costs

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steph Claire Smith’s top tips to building a social media empire

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer Series: From golf balls to 1c TVs - how Ruslan Kogan built a $300m empire from $0

Listen and read

Other podcasts you might like ...