DevReady Podcast
We started the DevReady podcast to help non-techs build better technology. We have been exposed to so many non-techs that describe the struggle, uncertainty and challenges that can come with building technology. The objective for the DevReady podcast to share these stories and give you the tools and insights so that you to can deliver on your vision and outcomes. You will learn from non-tech founders that have invested their time and money into developing technology. We will discuss what worked, what didn’t and how they still managed to deliver real value to their users. These stories are inspirational – demonstrating the determination, commitment and resolve it really takes to deliver technology. Throughout the DevReady Podcast we also invite subject matter experts to the conversation to give you proven strategies and techniques to successfully take your idea through to delivery and beyond. Enjoy the Podcast, it will challenge you, inspire you and provide the tools you will need ...
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Episodes
3 hours ago
3 hours ago
40 min
How can leaders build trust, strengthen workplace culture and preserve human connection in a technology-driven world? In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Joel Hines, Human Experience Designer at Being Human, speaker, storyteller, facilitator, trainer and author. Joel shares practical insights into human-centred leadership, psychological safety, storytelling and constructive workplace feedback. Drawing on a career spanning mental health, education, technology and organisational development, he explains how leaders can create environments where people feel safe to contribute, collaborate and perform at their best.
Joel’s unconventional career began in acute mental health and occupational therapy before moving through fitness training, IT, software development and primary school leadership. Each experience strengthened his understanding of how people connect, communicate and respond to different environments. His five years as a primary school principal also taught him how to manage the needs of students, parents, teachers, communities, boards and funders. These lessons eventually shaped Being Human and Joel’s work helping organisations address cultural challenges, disengagement, conflict and stalled growth.
Storytelling and play sit at the heart of Joel’s facilitation approach. He explains that workshop participants quickly want to understand who the facilitator is, whether they can trust them and what they will gain from the session. Purposeful games, shared experiences and personal stories can lower barriers, spark curiosity and prepare groups for more honest conversations. Joel also recommends introducing light, engaging questions into staff meetings and stand-ups to help colleagues understand each other beyond their job titles, while leaders can strengthen trust by sharing their own experiences and modelling the openness they expect from others.
The conversation also explores self-awareness, vulnerable leadership and the role of AI in modern workplaces. Joel encourages leaders to recognise their strengths and blind spots, admit when they do not have an answer and invite their teams to contribute by asking, “What do you think?” Andrew and Joel discuss how AI can reinforce existing assumptions or return generic, agreeable responses without thoughtful prompting. Human creativity, healthy debate and collaborative problem-solving remain essential, with AI serving as a tool for testing ideas, challenging assumptions and exploring alternative perspectives.
Joel concludes with a practical framework for giving constructive workplace feedback. The process begins by reviewing what happened, identifying what went well and considering what could be done differently next time. Leaders should ask whether the recipient is open to feedback, respect their boundaries and finish the conversation with a clear action. Comparing feedback to a gift, Joel explains that the recipient ultimately chooses how and when to use it. Through consistent trust-building, honest communication and action-focused feedback, leaders can help people grow while creating healthier and more connected workplace cultures.
#DevReadyPodcast #PsychologicalSafety #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Storytelling #ArtificialIntelligence #AerionTechnologies
20 hours ago
20 hours ago
34 min
Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai welcomes Bob Sharon, Founder and CEO of Blue IoT, back to the DevReady Podcast to explore how AI, IoT and smart-building technology can create healthier, safer and more energy-efficient buildings. Bob explains how Blue IoT combines connected sensors, open-platform building management systems and specialist engineering expertise to centralise fragmented data, detect operational problems and deliver practical solutions. Their conversation covers indoor air quality, intelligent building monitoring, platform development and Blue IoT’s plans for global expansion.
Bob reflects on the decision to rebuild Blue IoT’s original platform after years of learning from customers and real-world building environments. Developed on AWS, the updated platform provides greater scalability, self-service alerts, configurable priorities, user-defined permissions and customisable dashboards. It also gives teams clearer visibility into sensor connectivity, signal strength and battery performance. A configurable cooldown period prevents faulty sensors or equipment from flooding facilities teams with repeated emails and SMS alerts, helping them focus on useful information and respond to critical issues faster.
The discussion also explores the importance of selecting the right connectivity for each smart-building application. LoRaWAN is well suited to low-bandwidth monitoring and controlling smaller systems, while critical infrastructure such as chillers typically requires secure, wired building management systems with reliable, low-latency connections. Bob explains that IoT is an enabler that should be selected according to the problem being solved. The true value lies in outcomes such as reduced operating costs, healthier indoor environments and more efficient facility management.
Indoor air quality is a central focus of Blue IoT’s work. Bob questions whether a small number of sensors can accurately represent conditions across a large office floor, particularly when air quality can vary significantly between rooms and work areas. He shares how Blue IoT identified elevated CO₂ levels at a Gold Coast school and developed an iterative solution involving sensors, remotely controlled exhaust fans, door vents and improved airflow. The project has since contributed to research with Queensland University of Technology and Thrive IAQ, examining the relationship between classroom air quality, absenteeism and student performance.
Bob also explains how Blue IoT is combining AI, machine learning, human engineering, airflow modelling and digital twins to optimise ventilation, energy, water and indoor air quality. The company’s long-term roadmap aims to establish a single source of truth across multiple building systems, enabling property owners and facilities teams to improve comfort, safety and operational performance. With the built environment contributing around 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, Bob sees a major opportunity to reduce costs and environmental impact while making public buildings, offices and shopping centres safer for everyone, including people who are immunosuppressed or living with autoimmune conditions.
Looking ahead, Blue IoT is raising capital to accelerate product development and expand into the UK and European markets. Bob is particularly interested in smart investment that brings valuable connections, strategic guidance and management expertise alongside funding. His vision is grounded in commercially sustainable innovation that helps organisations improve building performance while protecting the health and wellbeing of the people who use those spaces.
#DevReadyPodcast #SmartBuildings #ArtificialIntelligence #IoT #IndoorAirQuality #BuildingTechnology
Sep 17, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
32 min
Returning to the DevReady Podcast for her second conversation with host Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, Katerina Ali, Founder of Immersifi.xyz, shares how AI-powered customer recognition and loyalty technology can transform the retail experience. She explores changing customer expectations, the continuing importance of physical stores and the need for brands to deliver personalised experiences that encourage loyalty, repeat visits and revenue growth. Katerina also discusses bootstrapping the platform, validating it through an in-store proof of concept and using real customer data to guide product development.
Customer expectations across luxury retail have changed considerably since Katerina’s previous appearance. Shoppers now expect brands to recognise their loyalty, provide genuine value and deliver welcoming in-store experiences. Physical stores remain important for high-value purchases, yet queues, waiting lists and complicated buying requirements can push aspirational customers towards increasingly competitive mid-tier alternatives. As AI makes brands and products easier to discover, the quality of the customer experience becomes even more important for retention.
Katerina explains how Immersifi.xyz evolved by removing blockchain features and technical jargon so the platform’s value was clearer to customers, sales associates and retail brands. The team launched a bootstrapped proof of concept with essential features, allowing them to test assumptions and respond to genuine customer behaviour. This approach produced an almost immediate 20% increase in sales, a 75% sign-up rate and a 10% rise in customer spending. It also reinforced the importance of planning software carefully and understanding the operational environment before pursuing complex integrations.
Through its white-labelled loyalty community and personalised in-app communication, Immersifi.xyz helps retailers encourage repeat visits and turn average shoppers into higher-value customers. Sales associates can capture details such as upcoming anniversaries, remember important conversations and deliver more relevant service. When early technical problems began affecting the experience, Katerina paused the platform and rebuilt it. Although the pause slowed momentum, open communication helped the business regain users, attract new members and strengthen customer trust.
Katerina also discusses the importance of objective decision-making, continuous market research and realistic growth expectations. Smaller retailers have provided valuable testing environments where the team can resolve issues, collect data and develop case studies before expanding to larger luxury brands. Taking the time to understand the needs of brands, sales associates and customers has helped Immersifi.xyz refine its product positioning and move closer to product-market fit.
The conversation closes with practical insights into startup funding and sustainable business growth. Bootstrapping has enabled Katerina to validate the platform and approach potential investors with credible evidence, while also retaining greater control over the company’s direction. She is seeking investors who can contribute retail knowledge, strategic guidance and meaningful industry connections as Immersifi.xyz prepares to onboard more brands, generate revenue and advance the next stage of the platform. Anthony and Katerina reflect on how strong planning, informed decisions and shared founder experiences can save startups valuable time and help them build technology that customers genuinely want.
#DevReadyPodcast #CustomerExperience #RetailTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupJourney #ProductDevelopment #AerionTechnologies
Sep 16, 2026
Sep 16, 2026
47 min
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Jeff Bogensberger, CEO and Founder of The Laughing Otter, about building a profitable, purpose-driven business that creates positive social impact. Jeff shares his journey through SaaS startups, technology sales and senior leadership, along with his vision for a modern entertainment brand centred on laughter, creativity and meaningful change. Their conversation explores wholesome content, sustainable business models, social investment and the evolving role of AI in content creation.
Originally from Canada, Jeff moved to Melbourne after selling a startup and travelling along Australia’s east coast. A professional opportunity encouraged him to stay, and Melbourne’s lifestyle, culture and work-life balance have kept him there for nearly two decades. His earlier career spanned technology startups, Microsoft reseller partners, communications and cybersecurity, with roles ranging from business development to general management. The Laughing Otter gradually grew from Jeff’s desire to build something independently while making people’s lives better.
Jeff explains how the success of Bluey demonstrates the enduring appeal of wholesome entertainment built around relatable experiences, positive relationships and humour for different generations. He believes people increasingly want uplifting content that offers relief from the outrage, fear and division found across social media and mainstream news. The Laughing Otter responds to that demand by creating inclusive content and experiences designed to help diverse audiences find happiness in their own way.
The conversation also examines the difference between company valuation and genuine customer value. Jeff questions startup models built around rapid user acquisition, continual losses and dependence on external capital, while Andrew highlights how investment often follows established trends perceived as less risky. They discuss how profitable businesses can remain commercially sustainable while supporting worthwhile causes. The Laughing Otter commits at least 10 per cent of its profits to social initiatives, including a suicide prevention campaign with Promise to Live that reached 50 million views and support for children at an orphanage in Uganda.
Jeff and Andrew close by exploring how AI is changing content creation and distribution. AI gives The Laughing Otter faster ways to develop ideas and reach global audiences, although Jeff remains concerned about originality, artistic experimentation and consistency. Andrew sees human creativity, judgement and refinement as essential to producing meaningful work with these tools. For Jeff, the long-term goal is to combine technology, entertainment and a profitable business model to create joy and fund positive change around the world.
#DevReadyPodcast #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth
Sep 10, 2026
Sep 10, 2026
36 min
Returning guest Ken Thomas, Co-Founder and Principal Revenue Architect at Founder Revenue Code, joins DevReady Podcast and CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, Anthony Sapountzis, to discuss how founder-led businesses can build a scalable sales system. Ken shares practical insights into revenue architecture, documenting founder knowledge, hiring the right salespeople and creating a sustainable revenue strategy. Drawing on his experience helping a business grow from approximately $1 million in revenue to a projected $5.6 million, he explains how structured sales, marketing and client success functions can support business growth while allowing founders to step away from day-to-day selling.
Ken’s move from outsourced sales to revenue architecture began when he recognised that many businesses lacked the sales processes needed to make outsourced closing successful. A strong pipeline requires more than generating leads. Marketing agencies, internal teams and salespeople need a clear value proposition, defined target audience, qualified lead criteria and relevant business context. Founder Revenue Code helps businesses extract this knowledge and turn it into practical sales playbooks, revenue operations and repeatable processes.
Anthony reflects on his own experience selling technology services through technical expertise, simple language and clear explanations. Ken observes that many founders become effective salespeople without recognising the skills they have developed. Their natural ability to understand customers, solve problems and communicate value often forms an unwritten sales methodology. Capturing that approach in a tailored playbook allows other team members to replicate it while preserving the founder’s values, voice and preferred customer experience.
The conversation also examines how to hire the right salesperson for a founder-led business. Ken explains that enterprise sales experience or an impressive résumé does not automatically translate into success within a smaller company, where salespeople may need to manage the entire customer journey. Resilience, curiosity, soft skills, adaptability and the ability to follow an established process can provide stronger indicators of success. With the right person, clear accountability and a documented sales system, new representatives can build momentum within three months and begin exceeding targets within five to six months.
Ken and Anthony then explore the role of referrals, partnerships and content-led networking in sustainable business growth. Anthony shares how the DevReady Podcast creates valuable relationships that can lead to new clients, trusted partnerships and future referrals. As modern buyers often research businesses before speaking with a salesperson, useful content and meaningful conversations can build credibility and keep a company front of mind throughout the buying journey.
Finally, Ken explains why broad cold outreach can damage a company’s reputation, particularly within industries where buyers form a small and closely connected community. Only a limited percentage of the market is ready to buy at any given time, so effective lead generation depends on understanding buyer timing, providing genuine value and developing relationships before an active need emerges. Sustainable revenue growth comes from connecting targeted outreach, marketing, referrals, customer retention and account expansion within a revenue system designed around the business, its customers and its market.
#DevReadyPodcast #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #RevenueGrowth #FounderLedBusiness
Sep 9, 2026
Sep 9, 2026
31 min
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Dr Tanvir Uddin, Founder and CEO of Wholesum, about building an AI-powered investment platform that connects investors with underserved businesses seeking capital. Dr Tanvir shares how his experience at McKinsey, research in microfinance and work across agricultural supply chains and technology start-ups shaped Wholesum’s purpose. The conversation explores alternative investments, retail investor access, fintech product development and the role of AI in creating a scalable financial services business.
Dr Tanvir founded Wholesum after recognising that high property prices and volatile share markets had left many Australians searching for more diverse investment opportunities. With support from family, early customers and angel investors, he launched a small wholesale fund and expanded it gradually over three years. That measured growth allowed the team to strengthen its operations, understand investor needs and prepare the business to serve retail investors, including young graduates and everyday Australians.
As Wholesum moves into the retail investment market, customer experience, education and accessibility have become central to its product strategy. The company has built a digital application engine that simplifies onboarding, document submission and compliance processes. It is also exploring AI-powered educational content, customer self-service and accessible human support to help investors make informed decisions. These capabilities are designed to serve customers with different levels of financial knowledge while maintaining strong governance and risk controls.
Dr Tanvir and Anthony also discuss the opportunities and risks facing non-technical founders who use AI tools to build software. Wholesum uses Claude to refine product briefs, develop workflows, consider database architecture and plan security requirements before development. Dr Tanvir continues to seek guidance from cybersecurity, compliance and product specialists, especially when dealing with customer data and regulated financial services. Their discussion highlights why successful software depends on clear planning, expert review, customer research and a sound understanding of the problem being solved.
Looking ahead, Wholesum plans to scale its retail investment offering across Australia and New Zealand before exploring further international markets. The company also aims to unite investor onboarding, account management, dashboards and reporting within a proprietary application. With revenue increasing month on month, Wholesum is working towards a late-seed or potential Series A funding round to support its technology roadmap and global expansion.
Dr Tanvir closes with practical advice for early-stage founders navigating pre-seed and seed growth. He recommends maintaining open communication with customers, testing ideas continuously, improving the customer experience and protecting cash flow to extend the company’s runway. For Wholesum, one of the clearest signs of product-market fit came when most of its first 100 customers had no previous connection with Dr Tanvir or his team. Their willingness to invest showed that the product, value proposition and market messaging were reaching customers beyond the founders’ personal networks.
#DevReadyPodcast #Fintech #AI #FinancialTechnology #StartupFounder #ProductDevelopment #AlternativeInvestments #AerionTechnologies
Sep 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
38 min
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with James Harris, CEO of SwitchCo, SwitchCo works on the asset owner’s side of the table across ports and maritime, retail fuel, gas and petroleum, dangerous goods, data centres, resources, mining, government and renewable energy. James shares how independent project management, experienced judgement and early planning can help asset owners protect their money, reputation and intended project outcome.
James explains that SwitchCo is independent by structure, with the client’s outcome as its central priority. The firm has no additional scope to sell, allowing its project managers to focus on defending the asset owner’s position. Its core value, “We challenge”, gives the team a clear responsibility to question clients, consultants, contractors and their own assumptions when something is wrong or a stronger course of action is available. James believes this willingness to speak up is central to adding value, particularly when remaining quiet would be easier. He also discusses SwitchCo’s experience supporting distressed projects, where asset owners need practical guidance to regain clarity and control.
The conversation examines how project leaders can focus on the risks that genuinely matter. Risk registers can become crowded with every possible scenario while the most credible and damaging risks receive too little attention. James encourages decision-makers to concentrate on the issues that keep them awake at night, particularly risks with a realistic chance of occurring and serious financial, operational or reputational consequences. Experience and instinct can alert leaders to concerns that deserve closer investigation, while structured analysis helps teams understand the exposure, assign responsibility and decide what action is required.
James also discusses the people and operating structures behind effective project delivery. SwitchCo’s leadership structure divides responsibility across vision and culture, implementation and efficiency, and technical innovation, allowing ideas to be challenged, prioritised and carried through. James compares a strong business to a high-performing sporting team whose members bring complementary strengths, remain accountable and work towards a shared outcome. He also reflects on the value of trusted advisers, honest conversations and leaders who understand their strengths while relying on others to bring different perspectives.
The episode also explores SwitchCo’s “sharpen the axe” approach, which emphasises planning and process before construction or implementation begins. James explains how the company is bringing its internal processes and established project management tools into a bespoke platform that will create a clearer single source of truth. AI can support meeting summaries, risk clarification and the capture of decisions and actions, while discernment and accountability remain with experienced professionals. Looking ahead, SwitchCo aims to become Australia’s most desired project management company by balancing trusted client outcomes with meaningful development for its people and continuous improvement. For asset owners, portfolio managers, project directors, operations leaders and CFOs, the episode leaves one important question: when a complex project goes wrong, who will help you regain control?
This episode is presented in partnership with SwitchCo.
#ProjectPlanning #ProjectControls #ComplexProjectManagement #ProjectDelivery
Sep 2, 2026
Sep 2, 2026
33 min
Public relations can help small businesses build trust, attract ideal customers and strengthen their authority without requiring a large agency budget. In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Marie Dowling, Founder of Gust PR, formerly Newsary, and Co-Founder of The Club. Marie explores how founders can earn meaningful media coverage through niche publications, podcasts, newsletters and industry platforms, while using AI and predictive media intelligence to identify timely opportunities.
Marie challenges the belief that valuable PR depends on mainstream media exposure. Specialist publications often provide a more direct route to relevant audiences and can improve visibility in AI-powered search, which increasingly draws information from trusted niche sources. Consistently pursuing smaller media opportunities can also help founders clarify their message, improve their presentation skills and establish the credibility needed to secure larger opportunities.
The conversation turns to authentic thought leadership and the founder’s role in shaping it. PR professionals and AI tools can uncover trends, market questions and potential story angles, but the most valuable insights come from genuine industry experience. Marie explains that journalists need fresh, well-informed perspectives, while Anthony highlights how a clear public voice naturally attracts clients who align with a company’s values and approach. Manufactured controversy may generate brief attention, but long-term authority depends on substance, relevance and consistency.
Marie also discusses the impact of social media algorithms and generic AI-generated content on professional platforms such as LinkedIn. She recommends using Google Alerts and targeted industry research to escape algorithmic echo chambers and discover meaningful conversations. Drawing on her experience of prototyping Gust PR without a technical team, she shares how mapping each human step helped her determine which tasks required automation, AI agents or human judgement. Anthony reinforces the importance of planning software before development, particularly as unstructured prompting can produce fragile products that are difficult to maintain.
After an early product centred on AI-generated media pitches failed to address the deeper PR challenge, Marie spent three years rebuilding and repositioning Gust PR as a predictive media intelligence platform. The platform is designed to identify emerging topics and help businesses understand what to pitch, where to pitch it and when their expertise will be most relevant. Marie also discusses the rebrand from Newsary to Gust PR, plans to make the pitch-writing tool and supporting framework available for free, and the importance of choosing affordable PR support. Her central message is clear: a well-written pitch needs a timely, original and genuinely newsworthy story behind it.
#DevReadyPodcast #SmallBusinessPR #ThoughtLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth #AerionTechnologies
Aug 27, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
34 min
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Sarah Payne, COO of icetana AI, about AI-powered video surveillance, product leadership and the realities of deploying artificial intelligence in complex security environments. Sarah explains how icetana AI analyses thousands of live CCTV feeds to identify unusual events such as falls, distress, loitering and safety hazards in real time. She also shares how a career spanning UK local government, database administration and product management shaped her commitment to building practical technology that protects people and delivers measurable value.
Sarah’s journey to AI leadership began when she and her husband left the UK during the global financial crisis and moved to Australia without an established network. After travelling across the country in a campervan, they settled in Perth, where Sarah moved from an Oracle database administrator role into business analysis, project management and product leadership. Her career progression highlights the importance of curiosity, adaptability, practical experience and a willingness to take responsibility for difficult decisions.
Discussing effective product management, Sarah describes the role as a bridge between customer needs, engineering capabilities and business strategy. Strong product leaders must ask thoughtful questions, translate complex technical concepts and balance customer value with budgets, roadmaps and technical feasibility. Sarah also explains why diverse teams, clear communication and active listening are essential when working with engineers, customers and senior decision-makers.
The conversation explores the challenges of deploying real-world AI surveillance across thousands of live camera feeds affected by poor lighting, ageing equipment and unpredictable conditions. icetana AI uses repeat footage, confusion matrices and customer feedback to reduce false positives and improve the usefulness of its alerts. Its intuitive security software helps operators identify urgent incidents within seconds, while on-premises processing supports the privacy and security requirements of sensitive environments. Sarah also addresses concerns about AI surveillance, facial recognition and personal data, explaining how icetana AI focuses on elevating relevant events to the right people at the right time.
Looking ahead, Sarah explains why icetana AI develops short, flexible product roadmaps as artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly. Emerging applications include detecting hazards, dispatching cleaning robots, notifying staff and guiding emergency responses through automated workflows. She reinforces the value of understanding the problem behind every feature request and creating AI products that make people safer, support frontline teams and solve genuine customer needs.
#DevReadyPodcast #AISurveillance #ArtificialIntelligence #ResponsibleAI #VideoAnalytics #ProductLeadership #TechPodcast #AustralianTechnology
Aug 26, 2026
Aug 26, 2026
34 min
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Mike Logan, Advisory Board Chairman at C7EVEN Communications and author of The Asking Leader, about advisory boards, AI adoption and sustainable business growth. Drawing on his experience as a founder, business leader and chairman, Mike explains how structured advice can help founder-led, family-owned and privately held businesses clarify their goals, strengthen leadership and turn ambitious plans into practical action.
Mike outlines four foundations that shape business performance: customers, people, systems and cash flow. While many small and mid-sized businesses consider advisory boards relevant only to larger organisations, they often face the same challenges around strategy, execution, risk and compliance. A well-structured advisory board brings specialist expertise to the table, establishes measurable outcomes and helps leaders navigate expansion, acquisitions, new markets, succession and rapid growth.
The conversation also explores how COVID-19 accelerated digital adoption and changed the way teams communicate and collaborate. Anthony shares how Aerion Technologies transitioned to fully remote work without reducing performance, while recognising the fatigue created by back-to-back video meetings. Digital communication platforms and AI-powered meeting transcription now help businesses preserve decisions, capture context and give teams more time for focused discussion, creative thinking and strategic work.
Anthony and Mike discuss the uncertainty surrounding AI adoption, particularly among non-technical business leaders who struggle to identify useful applications. Mike shares examples of professionals building their own AI tools for recruitment automation and long-term cash flow forecasting. Rather than chasing exaggerated claims about universal prompts and workflows, they recommend experimenting with accessible tools and developing small automations that solve specific business problems.
Mike explains that sustainable growth also requires founders to evolve alongside their companies. Leaders who remain deeply involved in every operational detail can become a barrier to delegation, team development and business scalability. He shares how one founder introduced an experienced CEO and specialist advisers, helping the company grow from $10 million to $50 million while the founder remained closely connected to clients and continued serving as the face of the brand.
A successful advisory relationship depends on a founder’s willingness to act, adapt and accept constructive challenges. Mike uses the lessons and “scar tissue” from his own leadership journey to help clients recognise capability gaps, strengthen their decision-making and build the right leadership structure. Through disciplined strategic reviews and practical accountability, advisory boards can help founders close the gap between their current position and the business, lifestyle and legacy they want to create.
#DevReadyPodcast #BusinessGrowth #AdvisoryBoards #Leadership #FounderLedBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessAutomation #AerionTechnologies



