In this episode of The Founder Tapes, I sit down with Fiona Sanford, CEO of The Flourish Journey, an Australian charity dedicated to enhancing the well-being of teenage girls. With a background as an award-winning gymnast and a passion for mental health, Fiona shares her journey from sports to social impact, and how she's helping young women build resilience, self-awareness, and confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Fiona's transition from competitive gymnastics to mental health advocacy
• The mission and impact of The Flourish Journey's programs across Australia
• Challenges faced in scaling a purpose-driven organisation
• The importance of rites of passage in teenage development
• Insights on fostering self-esteem and combating societal pressures among young girls

Fiona's dedication has led to the transformation of over 25,000 lives, earning her recognition as a finalist in the 2024 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards.

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube!

–

The Flourish Journey website: https://www.theflourishjourney.org/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Founder Tapes, I sit down with Lyn Nguyen, the powerhouse behind Auvie Consultants, a boutique agency revolutionising e-commerce operations for seven and eight-figure brands. Lyn shares her journey from leading operations at MiHIGH to founding Auvie Consultants in early 2023, driven by her passion for streamlining e-commerce logistics and systems.

Recognised as one of Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E-Commerce for 2025, Lyn delves into the often-overlooked realm of backend operations, emphasising the importance of efficient systems over flashy marketing tactics. She discusses how her hands-on, tailored approach helps brands scale sustainably, saving clients hundreds of thousands through optimised supply chains.

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube!

–

Find Auvie Consultants: https://www.auvieconsultants.com/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit with Jonathan Wenig, lead partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL), to discuss his career, insights into the legal and business world, and the principles that drive his work.

We also dive into All Things Equal – a social enterprise café Jonathan founded that provides meaningful employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities. The initiative aims to create an inclusive workforce by offering paid jobs in hospitality, helping individuals with autism develop skills, confidence, and independence.

We cover:

• Jonathan's journey to becoming a lead partner at ABL
• The role of law in shaping businesses and society
• Insights on leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving
• The mission and impact of All Things Equal
• How businesses can integrate purpose with profitability

Jonathan’s book recommendations are:

Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World – by David Epstein

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know – by Adam Grant

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism – by Barry M Prizant, Tom Fields-Meyer

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube!

–

Find ABL here: https://www.abl.com.au/

Find All Things Equal https://www.allthingsequal.com.au/

Follow All Things Equal on Instagram and Facebook

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Kitay, founder of FUNDAY Natural Sweets, to talk about his journey in creating a better-for-you candy brand that’s taking the Australian supermarket shelf by storm. From his own unhealthy relationship with sugar to taking on sugar-free lollie giants with FUNDAY, Daniel shares how he turned a passion for health and fun into a thriving business.

We dive head-first into ingredients, serving sizes, and all the stuff we're all dying to know about how a lollie can suddenly become a gut-friendly sweet. He opens up about the challenges of product development, from perfecting the taste and texture to ensuring the ingredients align with FUNDAY’s mission of being both delicious and better for you.

Beyond the product itself, Daniel talks about how he ensures he's always a step ahead with new product ideas for FUNDAY; scaling a brand in a competitive industry; the realities of manufacturing and distribution, and how he’s managed to get FUNDAY stocked in major retailers. He also shares insights on what to do when you make a business mistake, building a brand that stands out, and of course - what's next for the brand.

This is Daniel Kitay for The Founder Tapes podcast with Gal Krohn.

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube!

–

Find FUNDAY Natural Sweets on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

Shop FUNDAY Natural Sweets at your favourite supermarkets or online: https://www.fundaysweets.com/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by Australian media personality and entrepreneur, Davey Rooney. With over 400,000 followers across his personal and brand social media channels, Davey has made a name for himself as a trusted voice in skincare and content creation.

As the founder of Boring Without You, Davey is redefining what it means to engage with skincare, blending authenticity, education, and creativity to connect with a growing audience. Beyond the viral content and product success, he brings a thoughtful approach to branding, community building, and staying genuine in a fast-paced digital world.

But here’s what I love about Davey: beyond the snappy content, he's got serious hustle, big ideas, and a refreshingly down-to-earth take on what it means to stand out in a crowded industry.

This is Davey Rooney for The Founder Tapes podcast with Gal Krohn.

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube! Full video episodes are coming soon.

–

Find Davey Rooney and his skincare brand on Instagram as @skincaredavey and @boringwithoutyou_

Find Davey and his brand on TikTok as @skincaredavey and @boringwithoutyouskincare

Find Boring Without You products on: https://www.boringwithoutyou.com/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m joined by Danielle Snell, an entrepreneurial lawyer and law firm founder who is doing things differently in the legal world.

Danielle isn’t your typical lawyer. With 15 years of experience in top and mid-tier private practice, she took a bold leap to create her own dynamic law firm, Elit Lawyers by McGirr & Snell, while pregnant. Her firm specialises in e-litigation and is redefining the traditional law firm model with transparency and technology at its core.

Danielle’s expertise spans high-stakes commercial litigation, defamation, and insurance disputes. She’s a fierce advocate for women’s rights, often representing women in sexual harassment cases brought to the Australian Human Rights Commission and Federal Court.

But her story goes beyond legal victories. Danielle is a multi-faceted powerhouse - a mother, wife, friend, and entrepreneur - proving you can have it all while challenging norms. She’s worked on high-profile cases, advising directors, public figures, and professionals, and has a passion for empowering clients through meaningful, forward-thinking legal services.

Some themes in this conversation include:

• Danielle’s journey from private practice to launching her own entrepreneurial law firm
• How she’s disrupting traditional legal services through innovation and e-litigation
• The challenges and triumphs of building a business while balancing motherhood
• Her dedication to women’s rights and creating change in the legal profession

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to break barriers, lead authentically or understand the power of resilience in entrepreneurship.

This is Danielle Snell with Gal Krohn, for The Founder Tapes podcast.

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube! Full video episodes are coming soon.

–

Find Danielle Snell and Elit Lawyers on LinkedIn

Elite Lawyers by Mcgill & Snell: https://elitlaw.com.au/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m chatting with Tobi Skovron, best known for founding the co-working space empire that is Creative Cubes – offering flexible, serviced working spaces.

The idea for Creative Cubes came to him when he was working in LA and running another venture in the pet space called The Pet Loo. There, he moved into a co-working space in Santa Monica in 2008 and just loved being surrounded by like-minded, go-getter, successful people.

With Creative Cubes, Tobi really prioritises member experience and the brand’s identity whilst also keeping a firm focus on its national expansion. He works hand in hand with landlords, asset owners & large institutions, future proofing their assets by tapping into a new wave of user demand with his company’s products and services.

In his time Tobi has earned dozens of awards for businesses he’s built from ideas into thriving brands & category leaders with the best or nothing mindset. In fact, the company recently made its way onto The Australian’s Top 100 Innovators list.

Tobi is also a proud Jew, and says the essence of Creative Cubes is its Jewish “mishpochah” – “its family values in a commercial environment.” In essence, he says: “we exist to enable success.”

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube! Full video episodes are coming soon.

–

Find Tobi Skovron on LinkedIn

Follow Creative Cubes on Instagram

Find Creative Cubes on LinkedIn

Book your perfect office space at https://creativecubes.co/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Dean Cherny, Founder & CEO at Storeplay.

Dean is a Retail Behavioural Expert, helping retailers boost sales and productivity by enhancing sensory retail experiences with Music, Signage, Scenting, Queue Management and Retail Media Network. You know the virtual queue you stood in for the AO? Or the playlist you heard at an RM Williams store? That’s Storeplay.

Dean launched the company in 2012 in what he then named Marketing Melodies. It was the world’s first app-based music subscription service for businesses. The company transformed retail spaces with the power of perfectly curated playlists.

But why stop at music? Marketing Melodies evolved into Storeplay, which evolved into a comprehensive sensory experience. They added scent and visuals to their repertoire, creating immersive environments that do more than just please the ear. They wanted every customer to leave with a memorable experience, turning casual shoppers into brand advocates.

From crafting cassettes to pioneering digital solutions, Storeplay’s story is one of relentless creativity and belief in the transformative power of the right sensory atmosphere. It’s about changing how businesses think about their spaces and making every shopper feel like a VIP.

–

Follow The Founder Tapes on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Founder Tapes on YouTube! Full video episodes are coming soon.

–

Find Dean Cherny on LinkedIn

Find Storeplay on LinkedIn and Instagram

Visit Storeplay at https://storeplay.com.au/

–

Music License Number - QK7rZS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.