Guest: Natasha Hawker, EO Sydney Member since 2025 and Founder & Managing Director of Employee Matters
Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this episode, Natasha Hawker shares over 30 years of HR expertise and the powerful lessons she learned building Employee Matters from scratch.

From taking on the wrong clients out of desperation to becoming one of Australia’s leading HR voices, Natasha dives deep into the rookie mistakes entrepreneurs make, especially when it comes to hiring, firing, and valuing their own work.

She shares
• Why “if they have a pulse and a cheque book” is the most dangerous mindset in business
• The true cost of avoiding difficult conversations
• How to hire slow and fire fast (without getting sued)
• Why education is the ultimate unfair advantage in business
• How she’s preparing her company for a strategic exit

If you’re a founder struggling with team issues, difficult employees, or client red flags, this episode will save you years of pain.

ABOUT NATASHA HAWKER
Natasha Hawker is the Founder & Managing Director of Employee Matters and a respected leader in the Australian HR space.

With over 30 years of experience, Natasha has helped hire, manage, and exit thousands of employees across businesses globally. She is a sought-after speaker, media commentator, and author of the Amazon best-selling book From Hire to Fire & Everything In Between.

Natasha is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a passionate educator for business owners, and is currently preparing her business for a strategic exit. Outside of work, she is a competitive Squash Masters player and mum to three.

CONNECT WITH NATASHA HAWKER
Website: https://www.employeematters.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashahawker/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Wesley Naidoo, EO Durban Member, Entrepreneur, Investor & EO Global Manufacturing Chair

Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member & Founder of Outsourcing Angel

In this deeply insightful conversation, Wesley Naidoo shares why choosing the right business partner is the most important decision an entrepreneur will ever make. And why chasing money without purpose can cost you everything that truly matters.

From civil engineering and construction in South Africa to building and scaling manufacturing, media, and investment businesses across multiple continents, Wesley’s journey is grounded in trust, people, faith, and long-term thinking.

As a former EO Chapter President, EO Regional Council member, Chair of EO Global Manufacturing, and Strategic Alliance Partner Chair for EO Industry Groups and Deal Exchange, Wesley offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into how global entrepreneurs actually do deals — ethically, intentionally, and sustainably.

ABOUT WESLEY

Wesley Naidoo is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, investor, and global EO leader with a background in civil engineering, manufacturing, and media. He has built and scaled multiple ventures under the Oasis Group, including TubeTeq and Outdoor Holdings, spanning South Africa, the USA, and the Middle East. Wesley previously served as President of the EO Durban Chapter and currently sits on the EO Regional Council for the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. He chairs the EO Global Manufacturing Industry Group and serves as Strategic Alliance Partner Chair for EO Industry Groups and the EO Deal Exchange community, connecting entrepreneurs across 75+ countries. In 2025, Wesley hosted IGNITE: The Power Within, a landmark global EO event in Durban that showcased Africa’s entrepreneurial potential on the world stage. Grounded in humility, faith, and service, Wesley is deeply committed to ethical entrepreneurship, family, and creating businesses that endure and uplift communities.

CONNECT WITH WESLEY

Website: www.oasisgroup.co.za

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-naidoo-oasis-group

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naidoowesley?igsh=NHhvcjQxMTQzdWV4

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Igor Vainshtein, EO Dallas since 2022, Inventor of Entrepreneurpoly

Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode, Igor Vainshtein shares his extraordinary entrepreneurial journey, one shaped not by overnight success but by repeated failure, resilience, and reinvention.

Having started over 20 businesses and failed 18 of them, Igor opens up about losing everything multiple times, hitting rock bottom, and the mindset shifts that ultimately changed how he defines success, in business and in life.

From growing up as an immigrant with nothing, to building and exiting companies, to inventing Entrepreneurpoly, a board game that simulates the real emotional and financial rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and leaders who want a more grounded, sustainable, and meaningful definition of success.

ABOUT IGOR VAINSHTEIN

Igor Vainshtein is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and the inventor of Entrepreneurpoly, a groundbreaking board game that captures the realities of entrepreneurship.

Starting his first business at 17, Igor has launched ventures across e-commerce, technology, manufacturing, and golf, including 24/7 Golf, which expanded into the US and was successfully acquired by GOLFTEC. He currently leads Golftrak.app, helping golfers improve their game using only an iPhone.

Igor is the author of Practical Manifestation and Agile Manifestation, where he blends project management principles with personal growth and goal achievement. Having lived in the USSR, Australia, and the USA, he brings a rare global perspective on resilience, failure, and building businesses that support a fulfilling life.

CONNECT WITH IGOR:

Website: www.igorvainshtein.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorvainshtein/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/igorv

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Sophia Symeou, EO Member since 2014, Co-Founder & COO of Bill Fairies Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, Sophia Symeou, the co-founders of Bill Fairies, share the remarkable journey behind one of Australia’s most impactful purpose-led startups.

From humble beginnings to national recognition, Bill Fairies was born from a simple but powerful idea: what if gifting could help people pay their essential bills, with dignity and choice?

Sophia reflects on her unconventional path from social work and public service to serial entrepreneurship, including launching NSW Government’s first employee relations consulting service and later founding INS, an award-winning consultancy. She opens up about building businesses with heart, navigating failure, financial pressure, and the emotional toll of letting go of a company she deeply believed in.
In this podcast they discuss:
- The moment Bill Fairies was born from real-life need
- Balancing profit with purpose in a scalable business
- Letting go of a legacy business and starting again
- The realities of financial pressure, burnout, and resilience
- How Bill Fairies pivoted through COVID and scaled via B2B partnerships
- The importance of governance, dignity, and trust in social impact
- Their journey within EO and the power of community and connection
- Building a business designed for long-term scale and potential exit

This episode is a powerful reminder that business can be commercially strong and deeply human.

ABOUT SOPHIA
Sophia Symeou is a serial entrepreneur and purpose-driven leader with a career spanning social work, government, and business. She launched NSW Government’s first employee relations consulting service and later founded INS, earning nine national awards. As Co-Founder and COO of Bill Fairies, Sophia leads innovation, marketing, and organisational design. Under her leadership, Bill Fairies has received multiple accolades including SmartCompany Smart50, Atlassian Women Leading Tech. Social Impact, and several Pause Awards, cementing its place in Australia’s startup ecosystem.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA SYMEOU
Website: https://billfairies.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-symeou-5935964/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

In this episode, we sit down with Colin Evans, Founder of The Asset Finance Shop, to unpack a raw, no-fluff journey of building a finance business from the ground up, without capital, safety nets, or shortcuts.

From growing up with humble beginnings to working night shifts in harsh environments, Colin shares how those early lessons shaped his discipline, resilience, and operator mindset. He walks us through his transition into finance, why most SMEs struggle to secure funding, and how asset finance, when structured properly, can fuel growth instead of killing cashflow.

Colin opens up about:
- Starting a business from a bedroom with zero capital
- Why banks say no (and how brokers solve that gap)
- Structuring finance to support cashflow, not just low rates
- Scaling a service-based business through systems and relationships
- Leadership lessons learned the hard way
- Bringing marketing and content in-house
- Building a personal brand in a “non-sexy” industry
- Why community and long-term thinking matter as a founder

This episode is a grounded, honest look at entrepreneurship, the wins, the mistakes, and the thinking required to build something that lasts.

If you’re an SME owner, tradie, operator, or founder navigating growth, finance, and leadership, this conversation will hit home.

ABOUT COLIN:
Colin Evans is the Founder and Director of The Asset Finance Shop, one of Australia’s leading specialist brokers for truck, machinery and equipment finance.

After beginning his career in the agricultural sector and later moving into finance with ANZ/Esanda, Colin launched The Asset Finance Shop in 2016 with a simple mission: to make asset finance easier, faster, and more accessible for small and medium business owners.

Today, his team supports businesses across transport, construction, trades, and professional services, helping them secure funding for vehicles, equipment, and heavy machinery while structuring deals that actually support cashflow and long-term growth.

An accredited MFAA broker and EO member, Colin is also an active voice in conversations around strategic lending, leadership, and the future of SME finance in Australia.

CONNECT WITH COLIN:
Website: https://www.assetfinanceshop.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sassan-dieter-khatib-shahidi-b3a5aa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cologne____/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Dr Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi, EO Dubai Member since 2015, CEO and Founder of German Imaging Technologies Dubai LLC

Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Sasan, Founder & CEO of German Imaging Technologies (GIT), to uncover a raw and inspiring 25-year entrepreneurial journey across the Middle East, Africa, and now Europe.

From losing millions in his first year, to facing jail-level business laws, to surviving multiple 7-year global and regional crises.

Dr. Sasan shares how he rebuilt, reinvented, and expanded into a multinational operation managing 4,000+ printers across the UAE, Kenya, and Germany. He opens up about:

- Leaving a successful career in law for entrepreneurship

- Nearly losing the company in its first year

- The power of mindset, resilience, and intuition

- Scaling across continents and launching in 50+ markets

- Burnout, personal lessons, and rebuilding life as a father

- Why Dubai is a magnet for high-impact entrepreneurs

- The role of EO in transformation and leadership

If you're an entrepreneur, this episode will shift your perspective on growth, crisis, and purpose.

ABOUT DR. SASSAN

Dr. Sasan is the Founder & CEO of German Imaging Technologies (GIT), one of the leading managed print solutions companies in the Middle East and Africa. Over 25+ years, he has built a multinational operation trusted by corporates and mission-critical sectors such as government, healthcare, logistics, hospitality, and education. GIT manages over 4,000 printers across the UAE, Kenya, and Germany and is rapidly expanding into Europe through its Frankfurt office. With a strong focus on sustainability, GIT plants twice the amount of trees for every page printed. Beyond business, Dr. Sasan is passionate about governance, high-impact entrepreneurship, ESG, and economic development in emerging markets. He serves on the Regional Council of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), has held multiple leadership roles, and is a Patron of Youths For Green Action Kenya. He is an Endeavor Entrepreneur and holds a PhD in International Commercial Law. His recognitions include the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award and MEED Business Leader of the Year.

CONNECT WITH DR. SASSAN:

Website: www.gitmea.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sassan-dieter-khatib-shahidi-b3a5aa/

nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gitdubai/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Donna Gesundheit, EO Melbourne Member since 2010, CEO/Creative Director of Blue Illusion
Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Donna Gusundheit, CEO and Creative Director of Blue Illusion, shares her extraordinary 25-year journey building one of Australia’s most loved French-inspired fashion brands.

With 90 boutiques, a global following, and a mission rooted in community and compassion, Blue Illusion stands as a testament to Donna’s creative vision and leadership. But behind the success lies a deeply personal story of resilience and reinvention.

Donna opens up about:
- How she and her late husband Danny built Blue Illusion from a small family operation
- The transition from Australian manufacturing to overseas production
- Staying relevant in a changing retail landscape
- Navigating unimaginable loss when her husband passed away
- Leading a company of 500 employees through grief, business challenges, and transformation
- The next chapter as her children join the business
- Her 18+ year journey in EO and the global community that supported her
- This episode is full of wisdom for entrepreneurs about leadership, legacy, resilience, and building businesses with heart.

ABOUT DONNA

Donna Gesundheit is a passionate Francophile and the visionary CEO and Creative Director of Blue Illusion, a French-inspired boutique fashion brand. Over the past 25 years, she has grown the business into 90 stores, known for its elegant designs, curated lifestyle offerings, and signature French charm.

Donna’s leadership goes beyond fashion, Blue Illusion sponsors 120 World Vision children and supports numerous charities focused on women’s health, sustainability, and child well-being. Deeply inspired by the confidence and style of women, Donna continues to innovate while honouring the community at the heart of her brand.

CONNECT WITH DONNA:

Website: www.blueillusion.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blue-illusion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blue.illusion

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Guest: Dave Hajdu, Founder of Edge8 AI, Founder of the AI Officer Institute, Serial Entrepreneur, Founding Member of EO Vietnam since 2012, and Area Director for EO Southeast Asia

Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this episode, Dave Hajdu shares his remarkable 25+ year journey in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. From his early career at Microsoft during the rise of machine learning to building and exiting a Silicon Valley–backed startup, Dave’s experience spans the full evolution of modern tech. He has worked with fast-scaling startups like Stitch Fix and global enterprises such as Sands Casino in Macau. Today, Dave leads Edge8 AI and the AI Officer Institute, where he is training the next generation of AI leaders.

Dave reveals why 95% of AI programs fail, a statistic backed by MIT, and explains the two biggest reasons behind this failure:

1️⃣ Poor data organisation and lack of systems

2️⃣ Lack of proper leadership guiding AI integration

He also shares how he pivoted his business three months ago to launch the AI Officer Institute, a solution built to equip companies with the internal AI leadership they desperately need. As the founder of the EO Vietnam chapter and now an Area Director for EO Southeast Asia, Dave also opens up about his leadership journey, the power of EO, and how building community has shaped his life and career. Whether you're implementing AI, leading a growing team, or navigating entrepreneurship, this episode offers clarity, depth, and actionable wisdom.

ABOUT DAVE HAJDU

Dave Hajdu brings 25+ years of experience in business transformation, starting from the early days of machine learning and database design. His career began at Microsoft in the 90s and spans hyper-growth startups like Stitch Fix and global brands like Sands Casino Macau. He’s founded and exited companies, including Vinasource and TINYpulse, and now leads Edge8 AI and the AI Officer Institute to develop future AI leaders. Dave also founded EO Vietnam in 2016 and now serves as Area Director for Southeast Asia, supporting EO Presidents in growing stronger chapters and communities.

CONNECT WITH DAVE:

Website: www.ai-officer.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehajdu/

Company: https://www.instagram.com/dhajdu/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/