Notes From The Executive with Mina Amso

Marisa Fong is a pioneering entrepreneur who transformed the recruitment industry in New Zealand. She co-founded Madison Recruitment and scaled it from a two-person startup into a 100-strong enterprise, all without a college degree. In this episode, she explains:◽️How being underestimated became her biggest edge◽️Sales-first strategies that built a national business◽️Why recurring revenue is non-negotiable◽️What psychological safety really looks like at work◽️The mindset shift every first-time founder needsEpisode Sponsor:Academy Ex - https://shorturl.at/JLutF Timestamp00:00 – Intro02:39 – How Marisa Fong’s Mother Shaped Her Work Ethic and Leadership04:21 – Why Marisa Fong Chose Entrepreneurship Over University08:28 – How Marisa Fong’s Husband Became a Stay-at-Home Dad and Broke Stereotypes09:44 – Starting a Business With the Right Partner: Tips for Founders14:32 – Why Purpose and Values Matter in Long-Term Business Growth17:42 – How Marisa Fong Supports Women Entrepreneurs in Aotearoa19:22 – Why Specialization Beats One-Stop Shops in Modern Recruitment24:45 – How to Pitch Your Startup to Investors in a Competitive Market25:58 – AD28:07 – Mentorship vs Coaching: What Early-Stage Founders Really Need31:06 – Marketing to Female Founders: Solving Overwhelm with Done-For-You Solutions32:53 – Timeless Marketing Principles: How to Look Big and Build Trust34:35 – Investing in Brand and Perception: Why Professionalism Matters36:46 – Physical Offices vs. Remote Work: What Works for Recruitment Today37:39 – Would You Start a Recruitment Company Again? Adapting to AI and Tech39:47 – End-to-End AI Recruitment: The Future of Hiring and Workflow Automation42:36 – Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Should Avoid in NZ45:15 – How to Stay Resilient Through Business Highs and Lows48:00 – The Power of Listening and Leading With Empathy50:26 – Marisa’s Personal Growth Journey as a Business Leader53:14 – Creating Opportunities for Underrepresented Founders in NZ56:02 – Business Beyond Profit: Giving Back and Creating Impact59:11 – How Founders Can Align Vision With Daily Execution1:01:04 – Business Basics: How to Understand Your Costs, Profit, and Cash Flow1:04:47 – Why Marisa Fong Chose to Exit a Thriving Business1:07:22 – Final Advice From Marisa Fong to the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs1:10:03 – Where to Follow Marisa Fong and Learn More About Her WorkFollow Marisa:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marisafong Follow Me https://www.instagram.com/notesfromtheexecutivepodcast/Listen on: Apple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX Episode Sponsor:Academy Ex - https://shorturl.at/JLutF#femaleentrepreneur #scaleyourbusiness #salesmindset #nzculture #founderstory #noclientsproblem #psychologicalsafety #cashflowtips #recurringrevenuebusiness #buildwithoutinvestors #nichemarketingstrategies #cofounderadvice #aiinrecruitment #newzealandentrepreneurs #marisafong #businesswithoutadegree #kiwis #businessleadership #businessowner #businesstips

Scott Wilson is a New Zealand-based digital marketing strategist and expert and the founder of Digital Influence, a Christchurch-based marketing agency in New Zealand.Episode Sponsor:⁠ @academyex ⁠ https://shorturl.at/JLutFHe explains:◽️ How sending this item helped grab attention of high-ticket clients every time ◽️ Why most digital agencies are selling you the wrong thing, and how to spot it ◽️ What’s possibly going to be hot in marketing in 2-3 years time◽️ What it takes to build a digital marketing company from scratchTimestamps:  00:00 – Intro00:30 – Why In-Person Marketing Still Works in 2025  01:25 – How to Know If Your Business Idea Will Work  03:34 – How to Find a Gap in the Digital Marketing Industry  06:50 – How Scott Got Clients by Hosting Free Seminars  07:54 – Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Be Perfect Before Starting  09:23 – Best Video Script for Personal Branding and Trust  10:26 – The Simplest Video Script That Works Every Time  12:31 – Why Spending on Ads Early Helps Your Business  13:52 – The Core Formula for Consistent Marketing Results  15:15 – Creating Your Ideal Customer Avatar (Colin & Claire)  17:43 – Turning Customer Pain Points Into Content  20:30 – Don’t Build a Fancy Website First – Do This Instead  21:42 – Shy Entrepreneurs? Join Toastmasters to Build Confidence  24:47 – Teach Only What You’ve Done to Build Authority  27:25 – How Conversations at Events Can Turn Into Clients  28:59 - AD30:09 – Red Flags: How to Spot Bad Clients Early  32:17 – Signs a Client Isn’t Ready or a Good Fit  33:25 – How to Qualify Clients Who Want to Win  35:42 – How to Price a Strategy Session at $499  36:44 – What Happens in a High-Value Strategy Session  41:51 – Genius Direct Mail: Sending Hammers to Get Clients  44:16 – Why the Hammer Campaign Worked So Well  45:21 – Using Reciprocity to Increase Your Marketing ROI  47:39 – Why Face-to-Face Events Will Dominate in 2025  49:19 – Building a Product Ladder: Free to High-Ticket Offers  51:47 – Why the Word ‘Audit’ Doesn’t Work in Sales Offers  53:33 – What’s Inside a 45-Page Marketing Strategy Report  55:57 – Hiring Mistakes: Lessons from My First Employee  58:08 – Biggest Mistakes I Made as a Marketing Founder  1:02:03 – If I Lost Everything, Here’s How I’d Rebuild  1:04:00 – Start With This: Talk to the Market First  Follow Scott:https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwilson10x/Follow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoListen on: Apple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXWatch episodes:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV02UOsnqLn4F2Ekrg_xUFvnl-tStCh14&si=C0j5h87OrmIcStUKEpisode Sponsor: @academyex  https://shorturl.at/JLutF#entrepreneurmindset #scaleyourbusiness #marketingstrategy2025#digitalmarketingtips #founderstory #businessgrowthhacks #clientacquisition#startupadvice #highperformancebusiness #growyourbrand #marketingforservicebusiness #marketingfunnel #leadconversiontips #trustedmarketingadvice #buildabusiness #zeroresultsbigmistake #marketingcaseexample #noclientsproblem #digitalmarketingagencylife #salesandmarketingstrategy#valuefirstmarketing

Frances Valintine is a leader and disrupter in tech and education. She's changed learning for over 100,000 people through AcademyEX and The Mind Lab in New Zealand.She's an award winning futurist and innovator with a focus on digital technology, she helps mid-career professionals adjust to technological changes in their careers and businesses.She's helped deliver postgraduate qualifications to over 8,000 Kiwis and trained more than 100,000 people through short courses and online programs.She explains ◽️ Why AI is bigger than the internet ◽️ Why if you're 40+ you need to gear up◽️ How to shift from analogue business model to a digital business model◽️ The #1 Mindset Shift for Learning New Skills in Your 40sEpisode Sponsor: @academyex  MasterClass - https://shorturl.at/JLutFTimestamps: 00:00 – Intro01:31 – Quick Message From the Host02:05 – Representing New Zealand on Global Tech Delegations03:14 – What Legacy Really Means to a Visionary Educator04:44 – How a Shy Farm Girl Became a Global Education Disruptor06:32 – What It’s Like to See the Future Before Others Do07:03 – How to Spot Trends Before They Happen: Francis’ Research Method08:26 – Lifetime Achievement Awards Too Soon? Reflections on Success09:30 – How to Handle Rejection and Pushback as a Pioneer10:36 – Does Imposter Syndrome Hit Women in Tech Harder?12:34 – The #1 Mindset Shift for Learning New Skills in Your 40s15:00 – How Francis Avoids Distraction and Stays Focused16:42 – The Power of Grounding Relationships and Personal Cheerleaders18:34 – The Origin Story of AcademyEX & The Mind Lab20:46 – Why Education Must Adapt to the Digital World23:40 – AI Is Bigger Than the Internet: What That Means for You26:18 – Why You Need to Learn AI or Risk Becoming Obsolete29:21 – What to Do If You’re 40+ and Feeling Stuck in Your Career32:14 – How to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife: The “You’re Not Done Yet” Mindset32:55 – How to Choose the Right Type of Learning for You36:31 - AD37:24 – From Media Design School to Building Lifelong Learning Institutions41:24 – Post-Covid Learning: Rebuilding Human Connection Through Education42:11 – How Learning Communities Solve the Loneliness Crisis46:50 – Finding New Purpose and People After 40 Through Collaborative Learning46:56 – Why Midlife Is the Most Powerful Time to Learn and Grow48:29 – How Collaborative Classrooms Drive Real-World Innovation50:00 – Why Shared Learning Experiences Stick Better Than Solo Study52:30 – Frances Will Personally Teach the AI Masterclass at AcademyEX53:02 – How to Future-Proof Your Business With AI & Disruptive Tech55:00 – Digital vs Analog Business: What’s Holding You Back?57:51 – Why Most Small Businesses Are Falling Behind Digitally59:32 – Hard-Earned Entrepreneurial Lessons for Business Resilience1:00:55 – Final Thoughts and Farewell From FrancesFollow Frances:MasterClass Aug 16 - https://shorturl.at/JLutFPersonal Website: www.francesvalintine.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/francesvalintineEpisode Sponsor:​ ⁨ @academyex  MasterClass - https://shorturl.at/JLutF

Justin Flitter is an AI expert. As the founder of AI New Zealand, he’s helped thousands of entrepreneurs, marketers, and corporate teams adopt AI tools that automate workflows, increase productivity, and scale operations.Episode Sponsor:www.podcastguest.co.nz00:00 – Intro01:41 – How Justin Flitter became a leading AI advocate in NZ02:32 – Do I need to learn AI if I’m not in tech?03:40 – What is an AI agent and how does it work in business?05:38 – Real-life examples of AI automating tasks for NZ companies07:36 – What data does AI need to be effective in small business?09:53 – AI adoption in New Zealand compared to global trends10:20 – Best AI tools for small business productivity in NZ12:29 – Is AI worth it for startups and young entrepreneurs?14:00 – Why using AI is essential to remain competitive in 202515:07 – How complete beginners can start using ChatGPT today17:12 – Top AI tools: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, NotebookLM21:25 – Ethical AI: Why Anthropic Claude is considered safest23:45 – How Google Gemini outperforms others with larger context windows26:01 – AI voice search vs Google SEO: How discovery is changing28:09 – How to get your NZ business found in AI search results30:11 – Does podcasting help you rank in ChatGPT or Perplexity?31:51 – Key SEO tips for ranking your website in AI-powered search33:14 – Why Reddit threads boost AI discoverability33:56 – Podcast guesting strategy for building AI search visibility36:41 – Can AI access YouTube videos and podcast audio?38:03 – Live demo: ChatGPT voice mode in real-world use40:44 – How to make money online using ChatGPT in 202542:48 – Best AI tools for content creation in a digital agency45:10 – Automating workflows with AI agents and custom GPTs47:15 – How AI saves 90% of time with smart business automation47:55 – The future of AI in New Zealand jobs and the workplace52:26 – What jobs will AI replace or reduce in next 2–5 years?54:42 – Why AI will improve teachers’ and nurses’ daily workflows55:44 – Final thoughts and where to connect with Justin FlitterFollow Justin:https://nz.linkedin.com/in/justinflitterFollow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoListen on: Spotify:  https://shorturl.at/hlbGMApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8v#aitools #entrepreneurmindset #scaleyourbusiness #chatgptforbusiness #aiworkflow #businessautomation #solopreneurtools #digitalmarketingai #makepassiveincome #lowcodeai #futureofwork #voiceai #chatgptmarketing #aiagents #buildwithai #startupgrowth #aiadoption #aiinnewzealand #ai2025 #aiforentrepreneursWithout HashAI tools for business, how to use AI at work, ChatGPT for beginners, AI for entrepreneurs, AI business productivity, AI voice search strategy, New Zealand AI trends, AI integration in small business, AI agents explained, AI workflow automation, using AI for meetings, AI for content creation, AI digital workforce, AI training tools, future of AI jobs, make money with ChatGPT, AI for startups, AI marketing automation, generative AI for business, how to be found on ChatGPT, SEO for AI search, how to use AI assistants, AI podcast guest tips, Spotify:  https://shorturl.at/YW7bXTAGS (SEO METADATA)

Lisa O’Neill is a best-selling author and award-winning keynote speaker and author whose high-energy presentations have lit up conferences from New Zealand to Los Angeles. Known for turning ‘energy’ into a practical business resource, she’s a fixture on the Australian–NZ circuit and increasingly booked for international events.00:31  Inro02:11  Raised on Self-Belief: Childhood Lessons That Last03:20 High Standards and Self-Mastery: Lisa’s Life Blueprint04:59  Neurodivergence, School Hacks, and Playing the System06:03 Why Wanting Is Power: Rediscover What You Really Want08:23 How to Protect and Replenish Your Energy Every Day09:30 Lisa’s Energy Code: Get It, Guard It, Give It13:00 Burnout Recovery: Where to Start If You Feel Drained15:30 What Season Are You In? How Life Phases Impact Focus17:07  Time Management with ADHD: Hour-by-Hour Focus18:31 The True Cost of Attention: Why Audience Presence Matters19:25  How to tailor presentations to your audience’s real problems22:35  Lisa as a Mother: Learning Through Parenting Adults26:38  Finding Joy in Pets, Vintage Markets, and Creativity28:51  Why Dressing Up Increases Confidence and Joy30:54 Styling with Stripes: Body Acceptance and Bold Choices33:30  From Fashion to Speaking: How Styling Fuels Confidence35:50  Why Emotional Energy Drains Us (and How to Clear It)39:46  Humor and Irreverence: Lisa’s Secret On and Off Stage41:35 When Ego Gets in the Way: Lessons from the Stage43:43  Blunt Mentoring: The Power of Honest Disruption45:48 Disruption Is the Shortcut to Growth48:15  Energy: The Book That Will Rewire Your Daily Life50:22 Final Advice: Do One Thing Today That Boosts Your EnergyFollow Lisa:https://www.lisaoneill.co.nz/Follow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoListen on: Apple podcast:https://shorturl.at/OxCT1Spotify:  https://shorturl.at/YW7bXEpisode Sponsor:www.podcastguest.co.nz#betheceoofyourlife #energymanagementforentrepreneurs  #resetafterburnout #burnoutrecoveryforbusinessowners #businesswithenergy  #mindsetshiftsforhighperformer #stoppeoplepleasing  #maincharacterenergy  #scaleyourbusinesswithoutburnout #structureyourweekforenergy #balancebusinessandlife  #entrepreneurburnouttips #emotionalenergymastery  #intentionallivingforwomen #energyhacksforentrepreneurs #leadershipstrategies2025

Samantha Nichols is the Sales Director of a specialist medical equipment company called Sheffmed NZ, an exclusive first-time interview with this family-run business, going behind the scenes to find out their quiet success.Sheffmed NZ is a medical and surgical equipment company that just celebrated 25 years, a quarter of a century! Their business story has never been told on screen and it's pretty inspiring!00:00 - Intro02:04 - How Samantha Started in Accounting and Sales05:15 - Challenges of Running a Close Family Business08:30 - Why Versatility Matters in Small Business Success11:12 - How to Deliver Outstanding Customer Service in a Niche Market14:50 - Importance of Quality Products in Building Brand Trust18:27 - The Role of Marketing Strategy in Business Growth21:33 - How Education Shapes Entrepreneurial Thinking24:46 - Managing Sales and Operations as a Female Business Leader28:05 - How to Negotiate Better in Family-Owned Businesses31:20 - Dealing with Tariffs and Trade Barriers in Local Markets35:02 - Samantha’s Advice for Women Entering Family Business38:40 - Lessons Learned from Generational Business Ownership42:18 - Future Business Goals and Expanding Market Reach45:55 - How to Build Strong Business Relationships in New Zealand49:34 - Final Thoughts on Business Resilience and Vision52:20 - Thank You and Outro from Samantha NichollsEpisode Sponsor:www.podcastguest.co.nzFollow Samanthahttps://sheffmed.co.nz/Follow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoWatch:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ieDujoPF0

Debra Chantry-Taylor is one of only three certified EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementers in New Zealand and part of a global network serving over 220,000 businesses in 80 countries. With more than 20 years of experience, Debra has guided leadership teams to:• Increase annual revenue by an average of 25% within 12 months• Reduce unproductive meeting time by 20% in the first 90 days• Resolve complex stakeholder conflicts—such as an 11-shareholder meeting—in under two hours.In this podcast episode, Debra breaks down the six core EOS components that create clarity, accountability, and sustainable growth.Episode Sponsorwww.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamps00:00 – Intro02:03 – Why the perfect meeting TikTok video went viral03:01 – Achieving a perfect 10-out-of-10 meeting score every time04:50 – Addressing the elephant in the room in multi-shareholder meetings06:26 – Why entrepreneurs feel stuck even with a clear vision07:11 – How to articulate and share your business vision with the team07:55 – Turning business overwhelm into genuine time freedom10:24 – How clarity becomes the turning point for near-collapse companies11:39 – Global EOS adoption statistics and New Zealand implementer overview14:30 – Essential EOS framework: six components to scale sustainably15:56 – Defining your vision using the Vision Traction Organiser tool17:21 – Getting the right people in the right seats with GWC criteria19:18 – Building a weekly scorecard for data-driven performance tracking28:14 – Using the Issues Solving Track to uncover and solve root causes34:01 – Simplifying core processes for scalable and trainable operations37:49 – Balancing visionary leadership with effective process management40:23 – Avoiding family-time regrets: Deborah Chantry Taylor’s personal why43:02 – Lessons from entrepreneurial failures: mergers and event space pivots47:23 – How EOS implementation boosted client revenue by 23 % and profit by 53 %49:49 – Why bringing in the right person early accelerates business growth52:15 – Where to find Deborah Chantry Taylor’s coaching and EOS resourcesFollow Debrahttps://debrachanrytaylor.comhttps://bbbl.pub/OrgCheckUpFollow Mina https://linkin.bio/minaamsoWatch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcast

Episode Sponsor:www.podcastguest.co.nzSam Stubbs is a former investment banker, now rebel architect of one of New Zealand's boldest financial revolutions. Co-founded Simplicity, a nonprofit KiwiSaver fund managing $8.25 billion NZD, aiming to fund $12 billion to build thousands of homes in the next decade.Follow Sam Stubbs:https://simplicity.kiwiFollow Me:linkin.bio/minaamso Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastListen on: Apple podcast – https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify – https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Mistakes are lessons in business, so what did some of the brightest minds in business learn from their mistakes?I've sat down with so many business leaders, entrepreneurs and founders, and never have I heard the impact these mistakes have made on me before.This episode is a collection of our most impactful moments on Notes From The Executives' recent episodes which I thought deserved a second look.I picked moments from my interview with the examples of Josh Comrie and Dominic Sutton that I personally felt you should watch, revealing the most brutal mistakes they made in their businesses and careers. So you don't make them yourself.You might have watched the full episodes before, but it's different and insightful when you only pick one part of the story and bring those founders and CEOs together.This is a different episode but I know you will love it.Episode Sponsor - Podcast Guest: www.podcast.co.nzIf you're thinking of becoming a guest on the show or fine tune your guesting skills, download this Ebook Guide on how to Become a Memorable Podcast Guest. www.podcast.co.nzFollow me:https://www.instagram.com/notesfromtheexecutivepodcast/Timestamp00:00 Intro00:28 Dominic Sutton SaaS Founder – Bouncing back lessons from mistakes 07:38 Wyndi Tagi We Mana CEO (Business advice and Accounting) – Lessons learned in past years  15:56 Bayleys Auckland CEO Lloyd Budd – On leadership lessons  and managing teams 19:25 Josh Comrie – Lessons from driving his team too hardWatch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/Td4gcK1h7LcEpisode Sponsor - Podcast Guest: www.podcast.co.nzIf you're thinking of becoming a guest on the show or fine tune your guesting skills, download this Ebook Guide on how to Become a Memorable Podcast Guest. www.podcast.co.nz

Steve Merchant is a veterinarian-turned entrepreneur, co-founder of Pet Doctors (a roll-up of 30+ clinics generating NZD $30–40 million in revenue), founder of a nationwide vet nurse academy and the IndieVets, and now CEO of ClinicWise, an AI-powered “digital vet nurse” platform live in nine countries.Episode Sponsor ▶️ www.podcastguest.co.nzWatch On YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastTime Stamps00:00 Intro02:15 Why you need to listen to the episode till the end 3:30 The start of Steve Merchants Journey 05:00 Decision making in business - buying my first practice09:15 How Steve Merchant launched Pet Doctors11:35 The best decision Steve Merchant has made in Pet Doctors12:55 The worst decision Steve Merchant has made in Pet Doctors17:15 The trend Steve Merchant spotted that made him millions26:40 How Steve Merchant marketed Pet Doctors to scale37:55 A real bad mistake and what it taught Steve Merchant43:35 How many pet doctor clinics were there in total?45:30 How do you spend time on your business to grow it?47:55 The value of NZ Pet Doctors before it was sold?48:30 How to spot an opportunity that makes an extra $5000 a year in 5min54:00 How to stay competitive as a brand to buy into through brand awareness56:12 AI agent startup - AI vet nurse agent nz01:09:57 What does the future hold with AI agents Follow Steve: @stevemerchantFollow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoEpisode Sponsor ▶️ www.podcastguest.co.nzvet practice management software, best veterinary chatbot, ai appointment scheduling software, automate vet clinic bookings, digital vet customer service, veterinary software solutions, how to automate pet clinic, online vet triage tool, ai pet care platform, vet clinic automation tools