

The Bottom Line
Alexander Spencer
The Bottom Line is a show designed to help Australian businesses succeed. On the show, you'll hear from leading Aussie business owners as they share the lessons they've learned building their companies. You'll learn from their successes, as well as some of the challenges they've faced along the way. We also talk to experts from a range of fields who share specialised techniques you can use to improve your business. Produced by accounting and business advisory firm Alexander Spencer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 27, 2025 • 51min
How to make better investments, with Marc Blecher
Marc Blecher is a Co-founder of Orsaro Capital. Orsaro Capital is an investment fund manager specialising in global equities, focusing on identifying and investing in exceptional businesses that compound wealth over the long term. In this episode, Marc emphasises the importance of long-term investing, thorough research, and how to mitigate the psychological impact of market fluctuation to avoid emotional decision-making. Resources and links: Orsaro Capital website Orsaro Capital on Linkedin Orsaro Capital on X Marc Blecher on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Oct 13, 2025 • 39min
Modernising your business minus the chaos, with Elise Balsillie
Elise Balsillie is the Head of Thryv Australia & New Zealand. Thryv is a platform that provides small and medium-sized businesses with the tools and software they need to scale up, streamline, and succeed in the modern business world. In this episode, Elise discusses her career journey and how Thryv has helped businesses across Australia and New Zealand modernise and digitise when faced with an overwhelming number of options. She explains that customers are seeking authenticity and highlights the importance of consistent, meaningful, and authentic engagement online and in person. Elise also suggests ways to incorporate AI to enhance workflows, improve customer engagement, and streamline data processing, ultimately delivering a better customer experience. Resources and links: Thryv website Thryv on Facebook Thryv on Instagram Thryv on YouTube Thryv on LinkedIn Thryv on TikTok Elise Balsillie on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Sep 29, 2025 • 51min
Bitcoin essentials with Carri Crawford
Carolyn “Carri” Crawford is the Co-founder of Bitcoin Treasury Solutions. Bitcoin Treasury Solutions specialises in guiding Australian businesses through Bitcoin adoption to ensure secure custody and compliance. In this episode, Carri breaks down everything you need to know about Bitcoin, from its origin to its potential uses in business. She also explains the differences between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on the market and why some people are feeling drawn towards cryptocurrencies over traditional banking and finance. Resources and links: Book tickets for “Bitcoin Basics” session here Bitcoin Treasury Solutions website Bitcoin Treasury Solutions on LinkedIn Carri Crawford on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Sep 15, 2025 • 44min
Successful businesses start with a clear vision, with Neeraj Sharma
Neeraj Sharma is the Head of Consulting at AS Consulting Partners. AS Consulting Partners works with business leaders to create and implement strategies for businesses in the retail and wholesale sectors by establishing effective B2B and B2C channels to market, as well as more efficient operations and organisational structures to support growth. In this episode, Neeraj discusses the role of management consultants, how they can help business leaders to improve enterprise value, and explains why all businesses, regardless of size, need to define their own 'vision of success' and emphasises that the challenges faced by SMEs and larger organisations are often the same, with scale being the primary difference. He also shares some of the common pitfalls SME leaders can fall into and how simple tools, such as SWOT analysis, can be used effectively to transform any business. Resources and links: AS Consulting Partners website AS Consulting Partners on LinkedIn AS Consulting Partners on Facebook AS Consulting Partners on Instagram Neeraj Sharma on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Sep 1, 2025 • 48min
Discomfort is essential for building better organisations, with Gus Balbontin
Gus Balbontin is a Director at Neu21. Neu21 is a transformation consultancy, venture studio, and product lab that provides creative ideas and insights to business leaders through times of innovation and growth. In this episode, Gus reflects on how growing up in Argentina and travelling the world taught him the skills he needed to lead an innovative business in Australia. He explains why all businesses need to consider their exit strategy for new systems before implementation even happens and emphasises the need for adaptability, continuous learning and tolerating discomfort as a leader. Gus shares how he applied these principles during Lonely Planet's digital transition in the early aughts and how he embodies these traits personally and professionally. Resources and links: Neu21 website Gus Balbontin website Gus Balbontin newsletter Gus Balbontin on LinkedIn Gus Balbontin on Instagram Gus Balbontin on X Gus Balbontin on YouTube Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Aug 18, 2025 • 39min
Minimising disruption to business through change management with Friska Wirya
Friska Wirya is a Fractional Change Leader and the Director of the Future Fit Group. The Future Fit Group provides bespoke change management advisory services to help business leaders navigate change successfully and sustainably. In this episode, Friska shares her experiences as a people and change management consultant and how she successfully helped WA Police with restructuring their systems. She also explains the importance of relational intelligence (RQ), the common misconceptions and mistakes leaders make during change, and why you shouldn’t take the biscuits out of the office kitchen. Resources and links: Future Fit Group website Buy “Future Talk: A conversation card game for teams” here Buy “Future Fit” here Future Fit Group on Instagram Future Fit Group on YouTube Future Fit Group on TikTok Friska Wirya on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Aug 4, 2025 • 46min
The future of preventative healthcare, with Dr Steven Lu
Dr Steven Lu is the Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Everlab. Everlab offers preventative health screenings to detect diseases and risk factors early, providing personalised reports and tailored health plans to improve overall wellbeing. In this episode, Steven explains the Everlab process of genetic testing and health monitoring to help you maximise your health capital. He highlights the importance of proactive, preventative healthcare over reactive healthcare, emphasises the role of exercise, nutrition, and sleep in establishing and maintaining good health for better ROI, and shares real-life patient success stories. Resources and links: Everlab website Book a discovery call with Everlab here Everlab on LinkedIn Everlab on Instagram Everlab on Facebook Everlab on TikTok Dr Steven Lu on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Jul 21, 2025 • 37min
How OTAA brought humour to luxury menswear with Fameez Haroon
Fameez Haroon is the Co-founder of OTAA. OTAA is an Australian luxury menswear brand which creates stylish, handmade, eco-friendly ties and shirts using recycled materials from the ocean. In this episode, Fameez shares how a negative experience with a salesperson while buying a tie inspired him and his brother to start OTAA and change the experience for men. He discusses the early challenges OTAA faced in getting off the ground, how humour became an integral part of the brand's marketing, and his plans for the future. Resources and links: OTAA website OTAA on Instagram OTAA on Facebook OTAA on TikTok OTAA on X Fameez Haroon on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Jul 7, 2025 • 38min
How to stand out in a crowded market with Iris Saar Isaacs
Iris Saar Isaacs is the Designer and Creative Director at inSync Design. inSync Design is an award-winning jewellery brand creating high-quality Australian-made, contemporary jewellery that is unique, timeless and affordable from their studio in Melbourne. In this episode, Iris gets candid about her journey of founding and growing her business and how she makes inSync Design stand out in the market. She discusses how she pivoted from wholesale to online retail during the pandemic, how she scaled her business internationally, and the importance of pricing, marketing, and exclusivity for fellow creatives and aspiring business owners. Resources and links: inSync Design website Iris Saar Isaacs on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Jun 23, 2025 • 47min
What you should know about employee share plans with Darren Sommers
Darren Sommers is the Founder of Adventum Legal. Adventum Legal is a boutique law firm specialising in the intersection of law, investment, and innovation to provide solutions to complex problems across technology, commercial, and corporate law. In this episode, Darren explains how he works with tech companies that utilise employee share plans to attract and retain talent and why you might want to consider them as part of your strategic growth plan. He also dives into common legal pitfalls to avoid, how to prepare for employee departures with clearly defined parameters for "good leavers" and "bad leavers" when considering share plans, and how to ensure these plans are effectively implemented from the outset to prevent potential confusion or conflict in the future. Resources and links: Adventum Legal website Darren Sommers on LinkedIn Connect: Alexander Spencer website Alexander Spencer on X Alexander Spencer on Facebook Alexander Spencer on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.


