Adam Schwab grew Luxury Escapes from a bootstrapped Groupon clone into a billion-dollar travel empire without raising capital until COVID. Here's exactly how he did it. In this deep dive, Adam breaks down the contrarian moves that built one of Australia's most successful travel businesses. From accidentally discovering the travel arbitrage that competitors missed, to building competitive moats through switching costs and AI-powered personalisation. He reveals why focus beats diversification, how they turned hotel partnerships into a cornered resource, and the metrics that actually matter when building enterprise value. Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/   Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Say and Isaac Gibbons turned COVID boredom into TikTok gold, then built SmartAss toilet paper from their viral comedy empire. Jack and Isaac reveal how they went from filming empty supermarket shelves during Melbourne's lockdown to creating a data-driven content machine with 15 success pillars. They break down their "orb" philosophy for protecting business partnerships, landing their product in every Coles store, and building authentic brands that audiences actually want to buy from.  The 15-pillar algorithm they use to predict viral content How they turned their first TikTok video into a sustainable business Why 85% of Australian toilet paper cuts down virgin trees (and how they're disrupting this) • The "orb" concept that protects their 20-year friendship in business Their data-driven approach to brand building and audience analysis • How they got into Coles just 6 weeks after launching Why they choose recycled, Australian-made over quick cash partnerships Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Cabral built Finder to $100 million in revenue and 600 employees across 23 countries. Now he's using AI to revolutionise business growth at lightning speed. Jeremy walks through exactly how AI is transforming everything from customer acquisition to operational efficiency. He reveals how companies can implement AI agents to automate complex workflows, shares his framework for extracting institutional knowledge from top performers, and explains why the next 12-18 months will separate winners from losers.  Join my exclusive Mentored+ community: https://mentored.com.au/become-a-member/ Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter  Follow Me on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Pease is Australia's go-to pitch expert, working with executives from the biggest companies in the country. Here's how AI is completely reshaping the way we present and pitch. In this episode, Jonathan breaks down how AI has commoditised content creation but amplified the need for authentic human connection. We explore the critical difference between documents and presentations, why vulnerability is your secret weapon, and how to read the room in real time. Plus, Jonathan reveals his MeWe storytelling framework and explains why the future belongs to those who master taste and communication. Check out more details on the Pitch retreat here: https://www.winningtheroom.co/the-pitch-retreat-2026 Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Sjoquist is building a business at the intersection of two massive shifts: energy and AI infrastructure. Australia wastes an estimated 7.2 terawatt hours of renewable energy every year due to grid constraints. At the same time, demand for data centres is exploding, driven by AI, cloud computing, and digital  . WinDC is turning that inefficiency into opportunity. Instead of building traditional, multi-year data centre projects in capital cities, they deploy modular, shipping container-sized data centres directly next to wind and solar farms. These units can be live in as little as 90 days, using stranded energy that would otherwise go to waste. This isn’t just an energy play. It’s a structural shift in where and how digital infrastructure gets built. Topics we cover: • Why wasted renewable energy is becoming a commercial opportunity, not just a policy problem• How modular data centres dramatically reduce build time, cost, and risk• The growing demand for high-density compute (AI) and why traditional infrastructure can’t keep up• Why waterless cooling unlocks deployment in remote and harsh environments• Australia’s strategic position in the global race for AI infrastructure• The fundamental shift: data centres moving to energy sources, not population centres Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI agents are changing how businesses operate. Daniel Vassilev has raised $42 million to scale his company, Relevance AI, which is already helping some of the world’s largest private companies automate entire teams. I sat down with Daniel to unpack what this shift actually means for businesses and for the workforce, and the practical advice on how people can use AI agents to grow their business. In this conversation we discuss: • How AI agents could eliminate up to 50% of go-to-market tasks by 2026 • Why businesses will soon recruit AI agents the same way they recruit employees • The four levels of AI autonomy every business will experience • Real examples of companies automating BDR and customer success teams • Why software engineering is the first proof that AI will transform knowledge work • How to identify which business processes to automate first • The change management strategy that actually works You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and getverified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibilityrequirements and T&Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I speak with Kate Cooper, OKX Australia CEO and systems change leader with more than 25 years’ experience driving technology-led transformation across government, global enterprise, banking and digital assets. We unpack what it takes to lead in a fast-moving digital world, from balancing inner clarity with external impact, to communicating effectively through change, understanding the productivity potential of digital finance, navigating regulatory uncertainty, and managing large-scale transformation when systems and culture are shifting at the same time. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and getverified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibilityrequirements and T&Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noah Hunter Dorsey is the founder of Future Fulfilment and a 29 year old entrepreneur selected in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2025, working with major brands including Vegemite, the AFL, and many more. This is a playbook for building multi-million dollar companies before 30. We cover the move from university to entrepreneurship, backing yourself through fear, and why communication and sales are non negotiable skills. Noah breaks down how he learned by doing, identified high income skills, and prioritised execution over theory. We also talk leadership, culture, and scale. How to build strong teams, stay connected as the business grows, and deal with setbacks without losing momentum. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and getverified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibilityrequirements and T&Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re currently revamping The Mentor podcast with a new studio and a new structure to bring you even better conversations. In the meantime, check out my podcast with one of the top podcast voices of 2025, Dan Bova. Dan Bova, co-founder of The Yard Gym, leads a franchise network of over 50 locations in Australia, with ambitious plans to expand to 200 sites worldwide by 2025. In our conversation, we explored Dan’s journey and early life, his move into gym franchising, the founding of The Yard, and what sets it apart. We also delved into its innovative business model and curriculum, the intricacies of franchising, his strategies for growth, and his bold vision for the future of The Yard. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and getverified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibilityrequirements and T&Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An alarming 6,200 NSW businesses went insolvent in 2025.My latest guest on The Mentor was one of the business owners who had to shut down his business in 2025. In this episode, Dean reflects on the journey of building Living Timber Co from $26 and a garage into a business delivering national projects, before the difficult decision to place the company into liquidation. We explore what happens when passion meets rapid growth, rising interest rates and the quiet pressure many founders carry to do everything themselves. Dean speaks candidly about burnout, the warning signs he overlooked, and why he now views the experience as a failure without regrets, not something to be ashamed of, but something to learn from and move on from. You can subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://mentored.com.au/newsletter-sign-up Join the Facebook Group. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube Claim $500 Bitcoin with OKX SMSF. SMSF trustees: Successfully sign-up your SMSF and getverified for an OKX SMSF trading account. Deposit $5 and receive $500 worth of Bitcoin. Eligibilityrequirements and T&Cs apply. Book a 1-1 call with the OKX SMSF team today for guidance. Offer ends 31 March 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.