In this episode, Andrea chats to Val Coin from Via Technology about all about the joys, challenges and benefits of transformation, systems and processes and being a husband-and-wife business team.

They talk about how all businesses can learn from hospitality when it comes to the importance of system and process, and how technology should be the last thing on the list when you want to successfully transform your internal processes - it's all about the people!

Connect with Via Technology:

https://www.viatechnology.com.au/

@viatechnologyau

In this episode of Plant Grow Reap, Andrea and Shane catch up with event photographer Melissa Hobbs to explore her creative journey - how discovering a love of photography in adulthood led to building an in-demand business trusted to capture life’s most meaningful moments.

Mel shares what it’s like to photograph the energy, emotion, and connection that define an event. She also chats about travel, networking, business ownership, and motherhood, and how each of these experiences has shaped her perspective behind the lens.

Find out more about Melissa’s work: melissahobbs.com

In this episode, Shaun de Vries, founder of Open Pantry Consulting, shares the remarkable story of his diverse career in hospitality — from early success buying his first bakery at just 21, to hard lessons learned through rebuilding his life and business after a life-changing car accident and navigating insolvency.

He reflects on the power of strong business relationships, the importance of being proactive with debt, and how honesty, transparency, and learning from mistakes can turn even the toughest experiences into opportunities for growth.

Today, Shaun has found his calling helping hospitality venues across Australia scale with confidence — specialising in recruitment, operational strategy, and technology integration.

About Open Pantry Co: https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/