Adrian Di Marco: The Founder's Path from Demountable Office to $10 Billion Enterprise

In this episode of 'The Wisdom Of' Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Adrian Di Marco, founder of TechnologyOne, Australia's largest enterprise software company. From starting in a demountable office next to a hides processing plant in 1987 to building a $10 billion global enterprise, Adrian shares profound insights on patient leadership, maintaining original genius through growth, and creating lasting impact. Discover his counter-intuitive approach to capital raising, his revolutionary distinction between leadership and management, and the wisdom behind creating a business with heart and soul.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction and Adrian's journey from demountable office to billion-dollar enterprise

05:00 The early days of technology in 1987 and selling interstate without modern connectivity

09:00 The founder mindset: solving a customer problem that nobody else was addressing

13:00 The revolutionary concept of configurable software that didn't need customization

17:00 Capital raising wisdom: why young startups shouldn't rush to dilute equity

25:00 The profound difference between leadership and management

32:00 How TechnologyOne split the company in two to foster continuous innovation

43:00 The Australian technology industry: innovation excellence vs. leadership challenges

49:00 Thoughtful succession planning over a 22-year journey

53:00 Creating the heart and soul of a company through meaningful philanthropy

57:00 The endowment approach to investing and the patience of generational wealth

About Adrian Di Marco

Adrian Di Marco is the founder of TechnologyOne, Australia's largest enterprise software company with a market capitalization that grew to $10 billion under his stewardship. Starting the company in 1987, Adrian pioneered the concept of configurable enterprise software that didn't require constant customization—a revolutionary approach that challenged industry giants like Oracle and SAP.

Adrian served as CEO until 2017 and Executive Chairman until 2022, guiding the company through multiple transformations including the pivot to cloud computing. His patient, principled approach to business building has made him one of Australia's most respected technology leaders.

In 2025, Adrian was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to information technology and the community. Beyond TechnologyOne, he leads the Di Marco Group, a family office that continues his philosophy of patient investment and meaningful philanthropy.

Connect with Adrian Di Marco

Family Office: https://dimarcogroup.co

TechnologyOne: https://www.technologyonecorp.com

About Simon Bowen

Simon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.

Connect with Simon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/

Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/

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