Ground Breaking Podcast

Michael Libes or “Luni” as he is more well known, is the Founder and Managing Director of Fledge. 

Luni is a US based serial entrepreneur, impact investor and an ecosystem builder. After watching graduates struggle to launch their mission-driven businesses, Luni founded Fledge, the Conscious Company accelerator. Each year Fledge runs a program with seven mission-driven, for-profit companies. Each company is focused on making an impact on some of the most pressing challenges around the world.

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.

A New Year and a new season. I am super excited by what we have in store on Ground Breaking Podcast for Season Two.  

To kick off 2019 I wanted to share my interview with Ryan Sanders.

Ryan was climbing the career ladder in a well-paid corporate job for the Royal Bank of Scotland when he realised something was missing and in 2007 after a year of planning, he established Haka Tours. Haka Tours runs small group tours and has a growing portfolio of hotels and a fast-growing special interest overseas tour operation, these have gone on to grow at an average of 80 per cent year-on-year.

I hope you enjoy this first episode of Season Two. 

Stay awesome 

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

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

I love doing an interview that changes the way I look at business and life. Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett Co-Founded Orange Sky Laundry in 2014. One day they had a crazy idea to throw a washing machine and a dryer in the back of a van and go and help out the homeless by doing their washing. In just four years they have:

• 27 vans across Australia, one in every state and territory.
• Launched their first ever international van, across the Tasman into Auckland, New Zealand.
• Over 1,500 volunteers

Now I am seriously motivated to help these guys and you can help too. Here are 3 ways:

• You can volunteer
• You can donate
• You can pick up a Orange Sky Gift Pack for Christmas
• You can introduce them to someone you know, someone who can do the above 2 things or (and maybe even better) you can introduce them to a HUGE sponsor.

I hope you enjoy this final episode of Season One. Thanks for joining me and I am looking forward to launching Season Two in 2019.

Stay awesome and have a happy Christmas and New Year

Eli Smit

Founder & Host

Ground Breaking Podcast

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

Welcome to episode 19 of Ground Breaking Podcast.

My guest this week, is Guy Ryan, the CEO and Founder of Inspiring Stories.

Guy is an entrepreneur and a leader. He has built numerous ventures, both for-profit and charitable, and has built an impressive track record of programmes and partnerships that have helped support more than 6,000 young New Zealanders to unleash their potential.

Guy was awarded Young New Zealander of the Year in 2015 and has spoken internationally and at home to more than 20,000 people.

I hope you enjoy the interview, be sure to subscribe and share it with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

Motion Sickness is an independent creative agency based in Auckland, New Zealand, shaking up the industry.

This week Sam Stuchbury the Founder and Creative Director at Motion Sickness and 2018 Forbes Asia 30 under 30 list-maker, shares his thoughts on his journey from a tiny Dunedin flat to producing quality content for the who’s who of high-profile clients including Blunt Umbrellas, Burger Burger, Les Mills and Jim Beam to name a few.

I hope you enjoy the interview, be sure to subscribe and share it with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

Robett Hollis is a passionately driven Entrepreneur. He founded a media business called FRONTSIDE, one of NZ's leading Content Consultancy & Video Production Agencies which in February 2018 officially joined forces with Saatchi&Saatchi. This company now sits (100%) under Publicis Groupe - The 3rd Largest Communications Company in the World with 80,000 employees in over 120 countries.

In 2006 Robett launched AIRTIME - which grew into NZ's Largest Action Sports Media Network. In July 2018 AIRTIME officially partnered with ICG - New Zealand's Biggest Independent Media Publisher.

In 2013, to support the startup and tech ecosystem Robett created a shared workspace business called ColabNZ - which expanded to New Zealand's Largest Co-Working Workspaces. In July 2018 ColabNZ was fully acquired (100%) by Generator.

Robett went on to acquire the New Zealand Innovation Council & the New Zealand Innovation Awards and launched a 50 million dollar initiative to help more kiwis win in business.

Robett has now partnered with Spark Lab and launched the #YesToSuccess Initiative which aims to help educate and inspire 800,000 New Zealand students.

There is nothing Robett does by halves and I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

Be sure to subscribe and share it with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

Lisa Ison and Johanna Cotter are two amazing entrepreneurs who have a depth of digital expertise and have rapidly grown their business, Digital Commons.

Digital Commons operates in both New Zealand and Australia with a team specialising in online and mobile media.

I hope you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe and share it with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

New Zealand’s farming sector adopts new technology more quickly than many other countries around the world.

Our emerging start-up ecosystem has been able to iterate quickly on-farm and is often driven by deep domain knowledge. Craig Piggott, the Founder and CEO of Halter, is one entrepreneur helping farmers embrace the digital revolution.

Halter’s product is a cow collar that lets farmers track and move their herds. So think of a Fitbit for cows, a cow wearable that not only tracks their activity data but controls their movement using audio cues. Halter is committed to reducing the intensive hours farmers work, supporting farmers to meet growing global food demand, enhancing animal welfare and protecting the environment.

So strap on your wellingtons and enjoy this chat with Craig.

Be sure to subscribe and share this episode with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

This episode I spoke with Chloe van Dyke the Founder and CEO of CHIA.

CHIA aims to produce innovative nutrient rich options and encourages adventure. 

Chloe is involved in all aspects of the business from production through to sales. The brand is now widely distributed throughout New Zealand and is recognised as a leader in the beverage industry in innovation and nutrition. CHIA exports to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia.

Be sure to subscribe and share this episode with your network.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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

This was my first time meeting someone who has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

This episode I speak to Sharndre Kushor, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Crimson Education. Sharndre along with her Co-Founder Jamie Beaton have turned a small Auckland based start-up in a global education company operating in 25 countries and valued at over $200 Million. To date, Crimson Education students have received more than $33 million in scholarships to study at the world’s best universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Oxford and Cambridge.

Be sure to subscribe and share this episode if you enjoy it.

Stay awesome and share the love

Eli Smit

Founder + Host

Groundbreakingpodcast.com

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