Ground Breaking Podcast

This we dive into the world of Mike Van De Elzen an internationally renowned chef and restaurateur. Mike started his career in the food industry at the age of 14 cleaning dishes, and over the last 30 plus years of his career has run and owned some of Auckland’s landmark restaurants.

You are in for an interesting story this week and whether you are in the food business or not there are some great lessons for any budding entrepreneur.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Macfie is a creative leader who has just finished up as the Global Director of Media at Xero, ranked by Forbes as the Worlds Most Innovative Growth Companies.

Pat has built up a reputation of building high performing global creative teams and has partnered with several premium global brands across his career. Pat is passionate about his culture, storytelling and inspiring the next generation.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 30 and the launch of Season 3 of Ground Breaking Podcast.

This week I am speaking to Pablo Kraus the Managing Director of Ecostore.

Ecostore was initially founded on being an environmentally friendly brand but have evolved into a full health and wellbeing brand. This year they were voted New Zealand's most authentic brand beating brands like Apple, IKEA, Airbnb, Telsa and Air New Zealand.

Paul and his team have a dream to hold their own on the world stage and beat the likes of the $230 billion-plus valued Unilever.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another episode of Ground Breaking podcast.

Did you know Only 4% of NZX 50 CEOs are women, that’s crazy and Alexia Hilbertidou is on mission to get more women to the boardroom table.

Alexia founded GirlBoss New Zealand, an organisation that empowers the next generation of female changemakers. In just a few years, Girl Boss has over 10,500 members and programmes have been implemented in 55 schools across New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands.

I walked away from this interview inspired and excited for the future of young New Zealanders and I hope you do to.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are more cranes in Auckland at the moment than any city in the United States and with Auckland’s population set to increase to over 4 million people, the property industry is set to become even more competitive.

This week I am speaking to Kiri Barfoot who serves as Director of Barfoot & Thompson.

.

Kiri joined Barfoot & Thompson in 1991 and represents the third generation of Barfoots in this family business.

Barfoot and Thompson has been part of the Auckland market for nearly 100 years. They have over 75 branches and over 1,700 salespeople across Auckland and Northland. 

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dating app world is growing remarkably, at least a third of marriages last year started with online dating. 

Leigh Isaacson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dig Dates, which is a pet technology company that runs Dig - The Dog Person's Dating App. Leigh and her sister Casey found a market in the booming pet industry, infusing the passion and commitment of dog lovers with the energy of dating and finding true love

Leigh shares their successes, challenges, and insights into developing a brand, marketing with little to no resources and what they’re working on for the future. 

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I speak to Aidan Kenealy the Director of Hole in One Ventures.

Aidan co-founded EMGN.com in January 2014, EMGN quickly became one of the fastest growing websites in history, attracting over 30 million unique users per day by the end of its first year. By December 2015 the site was ranked in the top 10 US mobile websites and in the top 500 global websites. EMGN.com was sold in Mid-2016.

Aidan has since moved into the mentoring and advisory space, with a particular focus on start-ups, and has been working with many companies to help them navigate the challenges of successfully growing young companies. On top of this work, he has been actively investing and facilitating capital activities for a number of start-up companies. His mission is to help those with high growth businesses realise their vision for success.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pic Picot is the CEO and Founder of Pic's Peanut Butter has gone from operating out of his garage to running a multi-million-dollar factory which sees more than 20 thousand jars a day exported.

But before peanut butter, Pic had started probably more businesses than years I have been alive. Pic had a chat to me about his journey, what he has learnt over the years and how delegation enabled him to build his peanut butter empire.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Thankyou story belongs to three kids from Melbourne who started out with nothing more than a belief in their ability to change the world.

Driven, resourceful, humble and determined, those are just some of the words that came to mind after my interview with Daniel Flynn the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Thankyou.

Thankyou, is a social enterprise that commits 100% of our profit to end global poverty.They have now given over $5.5 million to impactful projects around the world that have enabled clean water for more than 540,000 people and provided food aid for more than 132,000 people.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake Millar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Unfiltered and is just as passionate as me about learning everything he can from some of the most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders out there.

Unfiltered, offers video interviews with many of the world's leading entrepreneurs and business leaders, and has attracted 27 million video views and he has established strategic partnerships with over 30 companies including BMW and PwC.

Last year Jake and his co-founder Yuuki on Forbes Magazine's "30 under 30" list of individuals in education to watch in North America.

If you enjoy this interview be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your network. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.