Changing The Game

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Carlos Zapata Lui (卡洛斯)! If you're part of the innovation ecosystem, chances are you've already heard of Carlos. But do you really know him?

Let's uncover the authentic Carlos - from his beginnings in Peru to the driving forces behind his curiosity and ambition.

Join us as we explore his fascinating journey, hosted by Wilson Casado, FAIM – it's a conversation you won't want to miss!

In this episode of Changing The Game, we had the pleasure of speaking to Luke Callier.

With a unique background that spans both the corporate, not-for-profit and education sectors, Luke brings a different lens to school leadership, education and K-12 schools and hopes to impact education more broadly at a national level.

Luke is an innovative and thoughtful leader who is most at home influencing from the side with an uncanny ability to ask the right question at the right time.

​Traveler - 40 Countries and counting... Family + Caravaning + Runner + Basketball + Coffee + Entrepreneur + Shoes + Adelaide Crows

In this episode of Changing the Game, we're excited to have Steve Baxter on board. Join us as we explore his fascinating journey – it's a conversation you won't want to miss!

Chandra Sundareswaran is the Director of the Centre for Learning Enterprise and Partnerships at Curtin University. Chandra is an entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in diverse sectors across the social enterprise, not-for-profit, retail, renewable energy, carbon markets and manufacturing sectors in India and Australia. Chandra has a personal commitment to social equity and is constantly looking for innovative solutions to foster sustainability and social inclusion through entrepreneurial activity. 

Having founded and operated startups, Chandra has a deep understanding of the needs of early and growth stage startup business and projects. His work on innovation projects with government, industry and tertiary education over the past decade makes him acutely aware of the challenges and the opportunities in driving innovation in large organisations and jurisdictions.

Chandra has previously led the Australian Energy Foundation’s social enterprise startup, Positive Charge, which delivered cost-effective community sustainability services to over 20 local governments in the East Coast of Australia – reducing emissions and empowering households and businesses to manage rising energy costs. 

Prior to joining Curtin, Chandra was the General Manager of Spacecubed, where he led business development and relationship management with key stakeholders including industry, government and academia. Over the six years in the role, he led the development and delivery of key startup and technology learning programs like Plus Eight and She Codes, delivered in partnership with industry.

Chandra also supports The Underground Collaborative, IDEA Academy, Hola Health and All Saints College in Board and Advisory capacities.

In this episode, Wilson Casado interviews Raby Gueye.

Raby Gueye is the founder and CEO of Teach For Senegal. Originally from Podor, Senegal. At the age of 8, Raby moved to the United States, and since then, she has maintained a strong commitment to social justice issues. At Arizona State University, Raby assisted with research on gender violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her role as an English teacher in underserved communities in India allowed her to collaborate with a diverse group of NGOs to help increase the literacy rate. In 2015, she was recruited by Teach For America to join a national corps of recent college graduates and professionals who commit to teaching in urban and rural public schools. As a teacher, Raby prioritized building strong relationships with her students and families to create an environment where all families feel welcomed and included. 

A 2019 Echoing Green Fellow, Raby has a bachelor’s in Global Studies and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University. Raby was also honored to be featured in Forbes 30 Under 30. She was also honored at the 2022 World Youth Forum by the president of Eygpt for her work at Teach For Senegal. 

Mihailo Bozic's Entrepreneurial Journey

Mihailo Bozic's path to becoming an entrepreneur was shaped by his unique interests and innate curiosity. While his peers indulged in gaming-related YouTube videos, Mihailo found himself drawn to TED Talks and other intellectually stimulating content. This divergence set him apart, but rather than feeling excluded, it acted as a natural filter that helped him form strong connections with like-minded friends from a young age. As he grew older, his entrepreneurial spirit started to take shape.

One of Mihailo's early ventures into entrepreneurship came when he was in year 10, making memes about Star Wars. Initially met with skepticism from his parents, they soon realized it was a legitimate source of income when the first payment arrived. Despite having success with his meme page, Mihailo's strict Serbian family expected him to pursue higher education. He chose Finance and Economics as his field of study at the University of Western Australia (UWA). During his time at UWA, he actively participated in various clubs and societies. However, he encountered a significant challenge - reaching out to first-year students who lacked access to Facebook, hindering their participation in events. Recognizing this problem, Mihailo saw an opportunity to create a solution.

Envited: The Birth and Launch of the Startup

In his final semester at university, Mihailo teamed up with Jordan, the co-founder of Envited, to address the problem he had identified. They began working together to create a platform that would enable better communication and engagement for all students, including those without access to mainstream social media platforms. Despite the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mihailo saw potential in launching Envited, particularly in Perth, where the pandemic's impact was relatively mild. He believed that positioning Envited as the go-to choice for events once life returned to normal after lockdowns would give them an advantage.

In March 2021, Envited was launched, and the team's efforts started to gain recognition. Within a few months, they won a startup competition in May of the same year, marking a turning point for Mihailo and his team. This victory encouraged them to take their venture more seriously and provided validation for their idea. Leveraging their network and connections, they secured spaces at Spacecubed and WeWork to establish their operations. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Mihailo and his team. They faced the challenge of securing funding to further grow their startup.

Challenges and Success in Building Envited

Mihailo had initially believed that securing funding would be relatively easy, assuming that investors would eagerly support their innovative idea. However, he quickly learned that dealing with rejection was an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey. Out of the 60 investors he contacted, only one showed genuine interest in investing. This experience taught him the importance of building sustainable relationships over time. To manage the process effectively, Mihailo maintained a detailed spreadsheet to track interactions and reasons for disinterest, allowing them to refine their pitch and approach.

Persistence paid off for Mihailo and his team as they finally secured their first investment from Galileo Ventures after six months of building a strong relationship and showcasing their progress. Mihailo's youth proved to be an advantage in the eyes of investors, as they recognized the potential of early-stage startups led by young founders. According to him, three crucial characteristics for a CEO are the ability to recruit top talent, retain morale within the team, and manage finances effectively. These qualities were essential as Envited continued to grow and evolve.

Lessons and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Mihailo's entrepreneurial journey taught him invaluable lessons...

Josh Van Ross, the founder and managing director of Drone Sky Shows, has an entrepreneurial journey filled with ups and downs. From exploring various career paths to learning valuable lessons through failures, Van Ross has emerged as a successful entrepreneur in the drone industry. This article will delve into different themes of his life, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his trajectory.

Journey of Many Passions

Josh's early years were marked by a diverse range of interests. Initially studying musical theater and earning a Wappa certification in high school, he realized that this path wasn't for him. He then pursued business law and management studies at UWA while concurrently serving in the army reserve.

While on a ship, Josh had an epiphany that he needed to start his own business. He borrowed $50,000 and ventured into the food van industry. Unfortunately, the business faltered after just one hour of operation. Undeterred, he secured a job and later went on to successfully fund another company, which was eventually sold in 2020.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Reflecting on his early life, Josh contemplates the origins of his entrepreneurial spirit. He acknowledges that starting a business is akin to building a house – filled with challenges, but ultimately rewarding. Although some aspects can be tedious, he thrives on the constant learning and adaptability required in entrepreneurship.

During his time with EO, Josh realised the value of connecting with fellow founders who face similar struggles. He learned the importance of not getting too emotionally attached to his business. These lessons proved vital when he sold his previous company, ultimately confirming it as a wise decision.

He also had an exciting participation in the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA). Despite being the only competitor in the initial phases, he made it to the international finals without even pitching his idea. This experience provided him with valuable insights and highlighted the need to foster entrepreneurial opportunities for Australian students.

Seizing an Opportunity

While still in the army reserve, Van Ross watched a drone show on Reddit during an exercise and realized its potential in Australia. He conducted extensive research, identified the logistics and costs involved, and after six months he had everything he needed to fund Drone Sky Shows. He believes that taking action is what differentiates those with great ideas from successful entrepreneurs.

Josh understands that innovation is not solely about creating new products but also about recognizing opportunities and bringing existing products to new markets. His venture into the drone industry exemplifies this approach, showcasing how he saw untapped potential and capitalized on it.

He firmly believes that the drone industry is on a rapid growth trajectory. Drones are already making an impact across various sectors, such as defense, medical supply delivery, mapping, and surveys. As the industry expands, competition increases, costs decrease, and ancillary support services like structural and legislation companies become vital.

Conclusion 

Josh Van Ross's journey to success in the drone industry showcases the power of resilience, adaptability, and seizing opportunities. From his failed food van venture to his flourishing drone show company, he exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and the willingness to learn from both successes and failures. With his unwavering determination and passion for innovation, Josh continues to make strides in the rapidly evolving drone industry.

And if you enjoyed Josh’s talk and are excited to see more game changers, feel free to check out the Changing the Game podcast, either on YouTube or on your preferred platform.

Cath Rogers is a global leader in the venture capital industry, currently serving as a GP at Antler, a global early-stage venture capital firm that builds and invests in the defining technology companies of tomorrow. With a diverse background in law, commerce, finance, and private equity, Cath's journey to her current role has been one of passion and curiosity. Her interest in technology and innovation began early on in her career when she worked as one of the first hires for a b2b platform for construction in Europe during the dot-com boom. 

She then went on to work in consulting and banking in Australia, which led her to develop a real interest in the idea of investing, particularly in private equity. Cath spent a significant part of her career studying and working outside of Australia, in locations such as London, New York, Latin America, France, and Singapore.

Cath's Approach to Investing

Cath is driven by her desire to invest in companies making a positive impact on society. As a GP at Antler, Cath is able to bring all of her experiences and passions to bear. She is part of a global, early-stage firm with 25 locations, focused on backing great founders building the deployment companies of tomorrow. Cath and Antler are seeking to make exceptional returns for their investors by investing across a diverse portfolio of opportunities that they can diligently evaluate over a period of months.

A diverse background in law, commerce, and finance, coupled with her interests in technology, innovation, and investing, presented her with many choices in her career. However, she believes that her curiosity and desire to learn and experience new things have led her to where she is today. Cath has always personally placed a lot of value on life experiences from different cultures, places, and people, which has impacted her career choices.

Curious and passionate 

Motivated by a desire for exploration and personal growth, Cath's journey has been influenced by various factors including her travels, exposure to the dot-com boom, and a drive to make a positive impact through investing. As a successful GP at Antler, she is able to combine these elements to help shape the future of the venture capital industry.

Her experiences have taught her the value of being adaptable and seizing opportunities, such as taking a position in a sovereign wealth fund focused on clean tech investing in Abu Dhabi. A consistent theme in her career has been a passion for investing in companies that have a positive impact on society.

Cath's success in the venture capital industry highlights the importance of pursuing one's passions and seeking out opportunities that align with personal values. She believes that the key to success in venture capital lies in identifying great founders who are building the deployment companies of the future. To this end, Cath focuses on early-stage investments in a diverse portfolio of opportunities that can be carefully evaluated over a period of months.

Throughout her career, Cath's interests have been wide-ranging, and she has faced the challenge of choosing between various opportunities. She studied commerce and law at university but was also considering a cadetship with the Reserve Bank or switching to Medicine. She decided to spend a year living in London after university and eventually found a job with a startup in the finance industry. She was one of the first ten hires and worked on various tasks, including marketing and strategy.

Cath's interest in different cultures and places has been a driving force throughout her career. She has lived and worked in various locations, such as New York, Spain, Latin America, and Abu Dhabi. Her fluency in Spanish also allowed her to explore the Latin American market during a time of economic growth...

Rebecca Loftus and Nicole Gazey have collaborated to establish Idea Academy, an unconventional educational choice for young students in Australia. With their diverse backgrounds in science, teaching, and counseling, they offer a unique outlook on education. They are devoted to assisting creative and entrepreneurial students, and their commitment to this is evident in the way they have designed the academy.

Idea Academy is intended for students aged 15 to 24 who want an alternative to traditional education. It offers both full-time and part-time options, and students can build professional networks, connect with workplaces, and develop skills to prepare for their next phase. Situated in the city, it is accessible to students from all walks of life.

A Challenging Process

The process of creating Idea Academy was challenging for Rebecca and Nicole. They had to pitch their idea persistently and even attended a pitching event just four days before Rebecca's childbirth. Nevertheless, their perseverance and passion for providing an unconventional educational option for young people have paid off. Idea Academy is a testament to their vision and hard work, and it is sure to make a positive impact on the lives of many young students in Australia.

Team Effort

Working with children and teenagers can be difficult, particularly when dealing with a volatile age group. Parents often feel apprehensive about entrusting their children to others, particularly when their children are struggling with school and life. However, working as a team can significantly improve the lives of these young people.

They have found that parents appreciated their ideas because they were part of a team effort. Instead of taking control and dictating what to do, the team collaborated with parents and engaged them in the process. This approach is similar to the primary school model, where parents are encouraged to participate in their child's education.

The team's approach involves enlisting parents as part of the plan and maintaining a broad network of connections to provide comprehensive strategies for the young person. The team meets the child where they're at and works with them, even if they can only make it to school sporadically. They find something for the student to engage with, and even small efforts can make a significant difference.

Parents have praised Idea Academy's approach, noting a positive change in their child's behavior. Students who once refused to attend school now show up every day. They meet them where they're at and work with them to keep them motivated and engaged. The Academy’s comprehensive strategy also includes having a reference point and a vast network of connections. This ensures that they can provide support and resources whenever the young person needs it.

Beyond the academic challenges

Assisting young people not only with their academic struggles but also with life challenges, they provide support and resources to help students cope with mental health, social issues, and family problems. With their comprehensive strategy, they can help young people overcome these challenges and realize their full potential.

In summary, Their approach is an excellent example of how involving parents in the process can make a significant difference in the lives of children and teenagers who are struggling with school and life in general. 

Parents are no longer hesitant to entrust their children to others, but instead, they are involved in the process, making it a team effort. A comprehensive strategy, a broad network of connections, and a focus on helping young people cope with life's challenges are all critical factors that contribute to their success. This approach is a positive step towards helping young people reach their full potential and lead...

Charlie Caruso’s background is less of a story about finding a passion and working on it and more of a constellation, where each passion shines on its own and leans into the others into a complex yet fascinating network.

These passions include writing, podcasting, consulting for start-ups, blockchain, NGOs, all of which are tied to her love of problem solving and disruptive technological solutions that puts her in ever new and exciting projects.

Charlie’s trajectory was marked by her constant reliving of a moment that is somewhat rare for most entrepreneurs: The moment when you fall in love with a new idea. Which is what makes her such an amazing guest for today’s Changing the Game episode.

The Greatest Pleasure in Life

From a very early age, Charlie was the type of kid who would read lots of books and probe adults for logic gaps with question after question, that’s right, a nerd, but not like most of the nerds you saw at high school or maybe in the mirror.

She was the type of nerd that had a very clear talent, one that teachers didn’t seem to recognise at first.

“ A Writer?” they would say, “With those grades why settle for being a writer?”, and yet, it felt right for Charlie, so much so that she saw writing as the way to convince her sister to let her borrow her clothes through a five page contract.

This was when her mother told her she should be a lawyer, and now, a self-published author and a master of international law, Charlie is living proof that the greatest pleasure in life is to do what others say you cannot do.

A Founder In The Frontiers of Podcasting

Like most things in her life, Charlie’s entrepreneurial and podcasting journey began as the solution to a problem, namely being stuck in traffic with nothing good to listen on the radio.

The usual music radio was playing Rihanna’s “S&M”, not exactly what the children in the backseat ought to be listening, switching radios only proved equally disheartening as the alternative, TalkBack Radio was about a Cricketers wife losing pregnancy weight.

Something had to be done. And Charlie was going to take matters into her own hands.

So, after a quick search, she embarked on a journey that would eventually lead her to having her own online radio and podcast long before those were a thing.

This was not an easy journey by any means. From a technological standpoint, Charlie was too early, and circumstances soon began to poke holes at her business model, meaning she had to make too many compromises, ultimately leading to its end.

And yet, there is something of value to be taken from this “failure”, as she did at the time, which is having the fortitude to roll with the punches of having a business sink and going for something new.

The Wealth of Error

In many ways, having a business that didn’t work out was paradoxically essential for Charlie’s success, as her problem-solving mind was able to soon detect the patterns of those mistakes in other businesses, making her an excellent consultant.

Granted, the corporate world was not her natural habitat, but it did have something she needed at the time: money. And it was not long before she found something to be passionate about as a consultant.

She soon found out that helping founders tell their stories and raise funding was something she could really get behind, so much so that she began to undercharge for the sake of sticking with the founders she believed in.

Quokka Capital

Charlie’s newest project, Quokka Capital is an early-stage venture capital limited partnership created to provide start-ups in Perth with tax incentives in order to help them start off on the right foot and develop.

Quokka operates off a government incentive that gives investors an exemption of tax for investments up to 250 million dollars per investment, a golden opportunity for a state like WA that they want to take...