Special Episode! Paul Roos, Building High-Performance Cultures in Fintech

In this special episode of Fintech Chatter, host Dexter Cousins speaks with Paul Roos, AFL legend and founder of Performance by Design. They explore the parallels between elite sports and startup culture, discussing how founders and leaders can build high-performance teams on a budget!

About Paul

Paul shares insights from his trophy-winning coaching career, steering the Sydney Swans to their first title in 72 years! The culture Roosy built at the club is still legendary 20 years later. He's spent the past decade advising startups and executives at some of Australia's largest companies on building high-performing cultures and unique challenges Fintech founders face.

In the interview Dexter and Paul discuss the importance of self-awareness, the role of leadership in shaping culture, and the challenges startups face as they grow. The conversation also touches on the significance of health and wellbeing in leadership, and how small companies can create a positive culture that drives success.

Key Takeaways

The culture built at the Sydney Swans is a model for startup success.
Leadership behaviours directly influence organisational culture.
Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
Startups must define their culture early to avoid fragmentation.
Investing in culture can prevent costly turnover.
High-performance teams require clear role definitions.
Remote work challenges can be overcome with a team-first mindset.
Health and well-being are essential for leadership effectiveness.
Leaders should model the behaviours they want to see in their teams.
Incremental changes can lead to significant improvements in culture.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
04:38 Transition from Sports to Corporate Culture
09:30 Building a High-Performance Culture
14:11 Leadership and Self-Awareness in Startups
18:44 The Importance of Foundational Culture
23:25 Role of Leaders in Shaping Culture
27:16 Navigating Growth and Leadership Challenges
30:13 The Shift to Remote Work and Team Dynamics
33:11 Hiring for Culture and Team Cohesion
36:32 The Importance of Defining Company Culture
39:07 Mental Health and Personal Wellbeing in Leadership
42:02 Looking Ahead: Commitment to Growth in 2025

Links

Visit Performance by Design website

Connect with Paul Roos

Connect with Dexter Cousins

Learn more about Tier One People


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Liam Millward - Instant Ep 197

About this Episode

In episode 197 of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, host Dexter Cousins reconnects with Liam Millward, CEO and Co-Founder of Instant. They discuss the remarkable growth and evolution of Instant since their last conversation. Liam shares insights on shifting from a product-focused mindset to a revenue-driven approach, navigating challenges in a competitive landscape.

He shares the importance of building a high-performance team. Liam emphasises the significance of leadership, decision-making, and the role of personal experiences in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. The conversation also touches on the future of Instant and the strategies for market expansion.

The Instant Journey

As CEO and Co-founder of Instant; Liam is on a mission to power the world's most innovative brands, helping to drive their revenue and retention on autopilot. He launched his first funding round led by Blackbird, at age 17, generating $7.5m, the biggest pre-seed to date in Australia.

As the business grew to $1.5m in annualised revenue, they have raised an additional $30m across Seed and Series A rounds. Hitting a healthy 1 million shoppers within 12 months of their launch.

Since Instant launched its Checkout product, they have gone on to develop Audiences and Targeting offering their 3 product across the US and Australia.

This is a triple-pronged approach to customer retention and greater outcomes for business revenue.

About Liam Millward

Liam started his first venture aged 13 in a caravan, travelling around Australia and the world with his family. His love of travel resulted in him curating and developing a well-known travel magazine, Navigate Australia with a monthly readership of 50,000+.

Key Takeaways

  • Liam reflects on the rapid growth of Instant since its inception.
  • The importance of focusing on revenue rather than just product development.
  • Building a strong sales strategy is crucial for startup success.
  • Creating a high-performance culture is essential for team motivation.
  • Leadership requires transparency and accountability within the team.
  • Identifying and nurturing talent is key to sustaining growth.
  • Travel and personal experiences can significantly influence an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Having a clear vision can inspire teams to achieve ambitious goals.
  • Market expansion requires understanding and adapting to new environments.
  • Failing as a company is not an option; resilience is vital.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Instant and Liam's Journey

05:28 Shifting Focus: From Product Obsession to Revenue

11:04 Sales Strategies for Rapid Revenue Growth

16:40 Leadership and Transparency in Startups

22:27 Creating an Inspiring Vision for the Team

27:00 High Performance Work Environments

34:26 The Impact of Life Challenges on Entrepreneurship

42:13 Setting Ambitious Goals

49:14 The Realities of Starting a Business

Links & Resources:

Paul Weingarth - Slyp Ep 195

We have a great Fintech Chatter Podcast for you this week, a transformative piece in more ways than one. Dexter Cousins caught up with Paul Weingarth, Co-founder & CEO of Slyp, Australia’s only independent startup backed by all four major banks.



About This Episode

12 months ago Paul and Slyp were in a challenging place. Paul's health and fitness had suffered with the stress of running a startup and Slyp were facing capital runway challenges. Things weren't looking great.

After a week of playing the victim (and a good talking to himself), he decided enough was enough and he needed to change right now! By focussing on his health first, the past year has been phenomenal. Paul is back in his best shape since his Uni days, shedding 25kg and doing his first triathlon. And Slyp has bounced back from its challenges with the launch of Go Rewards!

This is one of our favourite-ever episodes. Paul first appeared as an early guest - to see first-hand his journey and to be able to share it with you through the podcast is something we're really proud of!

About Slyp

Since Slyp launched in 2017 they have made it their mission to bring brands closer to their customers. The digitising of receipts and connecting the "SKU to Who" has allowed them to grow their market presence. Their DNA has always been about enriching the customer experience and helping retailers unleash the power of their POS data, to drive targeted engagement opportunities with their customers.

Go Rewards Powered By Slyp

They recently launched Go Rewards the first turnkey, full-stack loyalty platform that drives smarter commerce allowing retailers including, Kmart, Country Road Group, Chemist warehouse and countless others, the opportunity to harness the power of consumer buying, getting to "Know & Grow" their customer relationships.

About Paul

With a career rooted in digital commerce and payments, Paul previously led PayPal Australia’s growth team. His expertise and passion lie in customer experience, with a vision to revolutionise payment experiences, delivering step-change value to both retailers and their suppliers.

Outside of work, Paul has reignited his dedication to health and fitness, recently competing in his first triathlon.

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Ryan Edwards-Pritchard - Anna.Money Ep 194

In the latest episode of the Fintech Chatter podcast, Dexter reconnects with Ryan Edwards-Pritchard, CEO of Anna.Money.

Ryan chats to Dexter about the recent merger of Cape and how he's joined forces with the UK's Anna.Money to bring a new approach to supporting the 2 million plus small businesses in Australia.

About this episode

Ryan shares the back story of launching Cape in Australia and the challenges he faced getting through the pandemic, securing funding, growing the business and then navigating the funding crunch.

They discuss the synergies that led to Cape being acquired by ANNA and Ryan shares his learnings and advice for other founders seeking an acquisition partner.

Ryan also shares the plans for growth in the region as well as some unique product offerings and services for the Aussie market.

About Anna.Money

As "The business account that does your accounting and taxes" Anna.Money provides a smart all-in-one business account for money, invoicing, expenses, bookkeeping and taxes.

About Ryan

Ryan would describe himself as a British expat Fintech Nerd. His background in the UK saw him heading up Europe's largest digital marketplace for SME Finance in Funding Options.

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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on [Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Your Preferred Platform]. Your feedback helps us bring more engaging content and insight.

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Robert Kassis - Digizoo Ep. 192

In this episode of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter sits down with Robert Kassis, a visionary leader and co-founder of DigiZoo, a digital consultancy supporting some of Australia’s most innovative Fintech including 86 400, Volt Bank, Afterpay Money, Constantinople and Great Northern Bank.

DigiZoo is at the forefront of transforming businesses through innovative digital solutions, helping organizations navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with confidence and agility.

Robert shares his insights on the complexities of digital transformation in today's banks, how DigiZoo helps incumbents stay ahead of the curve, and the critical role that technology plays in driving business success. We also delve into the unique approach DigiZoo is developing by productising their service offering.

Whether you're a founder/executive looking to enhance your product capability or someone interested in the latest trends in digital innovation, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how to thrive in the Fintech 2.0 era.

Key Takeaways:

About Our Guest:
Robert Kassis is the co-founder of DigiZoo, bringing years of experience in digital strategy and innovation. With a passion for helping businesses leverage technology to achieve their goals, Robert has been instrumental in positioning DigiZoo as a leading consultancy in the digital space.

Show Notes:

Links & Resources:

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Got questions or thoughts on this episode? Share them with us on social media using the hashtag [#FintechChatter], or send us an email at info@tieronepeople.com.

Decoding Remote Work - Tips on Productivity and Performance Management

Mark Lewis of Crewmojo shares his hacks on making remote work effective for startups and scaleups

Making remote work, work!

In the age of remote work, organisations are challenged to maintain productivity and engagement while navigating the complexities of virtual work environments. This insightful interview Mark Lewis from CrewMojo chats to Dexter Cousins about the evolution of performance management as we spend more time leading our employees from afar.

The traditional model of performance management has been disrupted by the shift to remote work. Employees no longer operate in close proximity, and feedback is often delayed or nonexistent.

As we navigate the choppy waters of remote work and productivity, Mark offers valuable insights. We debate the challenge of managing remote workers, the shift from daily face-to-face interactions to asynchronous communication, and the importance of carving out a clear divide between work and home life.

They also ponder the role of leadership in setting clear expectations and helping to grow their teams, the disconnect between high and low performers, and even the potential of a four-day work week.

Mark and Dexter explore the evolution of performance management within hybrid work models, and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship in your organisation. The chat dissects the power dynamics between employers and employees, and discuss how to get work done effectively as if there was no hierarchy. Looking at the design of a flexible work policy, Mark highlights the importance of aligning individuals, teams, customers, and company, and how to negotiate in a way that benefits all parties. Join us on this insightful journey, where we rethink traditional work norms and discover new paths to productivity and staff engagement.

Chapters

About Mark Lewis

Mark is a people focused entrepreneur with a passion and curiosity for discovering new approaches to traditional ways. He likes a good challenge and has a need to continually improve himself but he really gets his kicks when he sees the team around him truly succeeding.

That's why Mark started Crewmojo, Performance development for the modern workforce. The Crewmojo platform helps leaders engage and motivate  employees with a real-time continuous approach to employee performance.

Previously a co-founder of IP Payments which rapidly became the go-to organisation for complex corporate payment solutions. In 2015 IP Payments was successfully acquired by Bambora Group, an entity of Nordic Capital.

To find out more about Crewmojo go to: https://www.crewmojo.com/


Christian Westerlind Wigstrom - Monoova Ep 146

Dexter Cousins is joined by Christian Westland Wigstrom Co-Founder and CEO of Monoova for episode 146 of the Fintech Chatter podcast.

Dexter and Christian first connected in 2018 when Christian did a presentation on the future of Payments title The Death of Payments 2030. Christian presented a day in the life of a woman named May to predict how payments will have changed by 2030. Christian argued that while payments would not die, paying would.

5 years on Dexter invites Christian to share an update and discuss if any of his predictions are coming true. Or has he changed his mind?

About Christian
Christian is the Co-Founder and CEO of Monoova, a Sydney-based, B2B payments automation platform and a member of the Fintech Australia Board since November 2022.

Over the past five years, Christian has led the building of a company servicing domestic and international tech-first platforms such as Wise, Nium and a significant portion of the Australian digital-currency industry. To date, Monoova has processed $75bn through its API-driven solution, more than half of which since the start of FY22. Christian has been a finalist for the ‘Outstanding Fintech Leader of the Year’ by Fintech Australia in 2020, 2021 & 2022.

Born in Sweden, Christian obtained a Master’s Degree in Economics, and a PhD in International Relations from Oxford University in the UK. Following a position as speech writer and economic advisor in the House of Lords in London, Christian moved to Zimbabwe to work as Chief of Staff at a Harare-based agricultural group with operations across Southern and Eastern Africa. He arrived in Sydney in late 2016
 

About Monoova

Monoova is a leading, Australian, payment service provider.  Via API integration, Monoova provides businesses comprehensive automated and real-time payment solutions that address and resolve traditional pain points of payment processing and management. 

Through, Monoova’s customisable solution, businesses can send, receive, and manage funds transfers more efficiently, reduce costs and improve their customers' payment experience. 

Servicing domestic and international tech-first platforms, Monoova has processed over $75bn.

As the first mover in the market on the new domestic PayTo transaction type earlier this year, Monoova already provides ‘real-time direct debits’ at scale in the market.

https://www.monoova.com/

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143: Primer | Gabriel Le Roux

In episode 143 of Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter Cousins is joined by Gabriel Le Roux, co-founder of Primer.

About Primer

As the world's first automation platform for payments and commerce, Primer offers merchants the underlying infrastructure they need to build better buying experiences for their customers.

For the first time, merchants can connect and control their entire payment and commerce stack, and build their ideal payment flows autonomously from scratch.

Plug in any desired payment and commerce solution with 1-click Connections, define logic across the entire commerce lifecycle with a drag-and-drop workflow editor, and create seamless checkout experiences that meet today’s consumer expectations.

Find out more https://primer.io/

About Gabriel Le Roux

Gabriel Le Roux is the co-founder of Primer, the world’s first automation platform for payments and commerce. He leads a team of over 120 employees based across 35 countries. With nearly a decade of experience working in the FinTech space, Gabriel has built a strong understanding of the FinTech industry landscape.  

Prior to founding Primer, Gabriel worked at PayPal's Braintree division for five years, where he grew Braintree's footprint in the European startup ecosystem and managed the company’s new and highly strategic commerce infrastructure tools. During his time at Braintree, he was exposed to the ever-growing challenges of the online payment industry, which inspired him to begin Primer.  

Before his work at Braintree, Gabriel has also worked at several Rocket Internet ventures in Germany and Asia.

Connect with Gabriel on LinkedIn

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141: Plenti | Daniel Foggo

In Ep.141 of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter Cousins is joined by Daniel Foggo, Founder and CEO of Plenti.

About Daniel

Daniel founded Plenti and has acted as CEO since its inception. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking for over a decade, including Rothschild in London and Barclays in Sydney. Daniel was a co-founding director of PartPay, a buy-now-pay-later business, which was acquired by Zip Co Limited in 2019.

He has been recognised for his achievements in the fintech industry, being named the Fintech Leader of the Year at the inaugural Australian Fintech Awards in 2016 and Fintech Entrepreneur of the Year at the Australian Fintech Business Awards in 2017.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Economics (Honours) and a Master of Business, Finance (Distinction) from the University of Otago.

About Plenti

Plenti is a fintech lender, providing Australians with faster, fairer loans through smart technology. Our proprietary technology platform allows us to provide creditworthy customers with automotive, renewable energy and personal loans to help bring big ideas to life.

Since establishment in 2014, our loan originations have grown consistently, supported by diversified loan products, distribution channels and funding, and underpinned by exceptional credit performance and continual innovations. Plenti listed on the ASX in September 2020.

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139: Leda Glyptis | Bankers Like Us

In Ep 139 of the Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter Cousins welcomes back Leda Glyptis, author of Bankers Like Us.

In this chat Dexter talks to Leda about Bankers Like Us: Dispatches from an Industry in Transition - it's a recounting of the challenges Leda has faced in her career, driving digital transformation in some of the worlds largest banks.

About Bankers Like Us

"Bankers Like Us - Dispatches from an Industry in Transition" looks at the human and structural obstacles to innovation-driven transformation and at the change in habits, mindsets and leadership needed for the next stage of the digital journey.

Leda argues that this change will be brought about, not by external heroes and saviours, not by a generation yet to be born, but people just like us. People who understand the industry and its' quirks. Bankers who have the grit, determination and energy to drive change. Bankers like us.

This book celebrates and chronicles the shared experience of bankers like us. It starts with a ‘this is who we are’ piece, including Leda's own personal experiences. It then presents an overview of corporate culture (this is what we deal with and a few ideas on how to handle it), as well as a piece on why transformation is so difficult and so many get it wrong; a piece on the challenges our lack of diversity brings or compounds, and a hopeful look-ahead on what a team of principled, dedicated folks can do despite everything.

About Leda Glyptis

Leda, is the author of the LedaWrites Fintech Futures column and regular contributor at industry events and publications. She is a lapsed academic and a recovering banker, having worked in ‘incumbent banks’ across various geographies and functions including innovation, IT and Operations.

Most recently, Leda works as Chief Client Officer at 10x and has served at 11FS Foundry, QNB, Sapient and BNY Mellon. She holds an MA from King’s College Cambridge and an MSc and PhD from the London School of Economics.

Order - Bankers Like Us: Dispatches from an Industry in Transition

138: Zeller | Ben Pfisterer

In ep 138 of Fintech Chatter Podcast Dexter Cousins is joined by Ben Pfisterer CEO & Co-Founder of Zeller.

In our opinion, Ben is one of the most talented founders in Fintech. He shares his experience of growing a business to 225 people, raising capital, running a lean operation, and hiring a high-performance, hands-on executive team.

About Ben

Ben is the CEO and co-founder at Zeller, the Melbourne-based fintech reimagining business banking for Australian businesses.

Ben has extensive financial services experience across local and global organisations. Prior to launching Zeller, he held the Aus Country Head role at Square. Ben shares his learnings from working with one of the world's largest Fintech and how he then shaped Zeller.

About Zeller

Zeller is one solution for all of your business finances. From EFTPOS and invoicing, to accounts and cards, it's everything you expect from a business bank, but better. 

Every Zeller product is designed to give you complete visibility over payments, spending, expenses and cash flow.

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121: Stake - Dan Silver

In episode 121 of Fintech Chatter Podcast, Dexter Cousins chats to Dan Silver, COO and co-founder of Stake. 

What is Stake App?

Stake is a share trading app launched in July 2017 by Matt Leibowitz and Dan Silver with the ambition to open up Wall St to the world.

Since launching, Stake has amassed over 450,000 customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Brazil by spearheading commission-free brokerage.

The Stake App offers investors access to over 8,000 stocks across the US and ASX markets through a sophisticated and seamless platform.

Stake has grown to 135 staff and is booking $20 million in revenue a year. Stake recently completed its $90 million Series A funding from Tiger Global and DST Global Partners.

Dexter chats to Dan about his experience of giving up a corporate career and launching his own business. Dan shares his lessons on scaling, leadership, resilience, global expansion, bootstrapping and capital raising.

Check out the Stake Platform

Check out jobs at Stake


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