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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Disclaimer: This episode was first released on 25th August 2025. 

This week I sit down with Paul Grosmann, CEO of R.M.Williams, to talk about one of Australia’s most iconic and enduring brands. We go back to 1932 and the story of founder Reginald Murray Williams, and how a bloke with no formal training built a business that became a global name. Paul shares what makes the boots and jackets so special, why Aussies are so loyal to the brand, and how it has stayed true to its roots despite decades of changing ownership. He also opens up about his own journey from Nike and McKinsey to Harris Farm Markets, and the leadership lessons he is bringing to R.M.Williams as he drives the brand into its next chapter while keeping its heritage front and centre. 

Check out R.M.Williams website here: https://www.rmwilliams.com.au/

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It’s been another big year on The Mentor. We’ve had some brilliant guests sharing incredible business insight. Who stood out to you, and who should we bring on next?

Here are some highlights of the standout episodes of the year.

00:00-8:52 (Hyro co-founders Steve & Taylor Chapman)

8:52-23:13 (R.M. Williams CEO Paul Grosmann)

23:14 - 33:36 (Dominique Gill)

33:37- 39:46 (Britt & Taz)

39:47- 48:08 (Mike Christidis)

Listen to the full podcast via the links below.

1. #493 Hyro co-founders Steve & Taylor Chapman
2. #495 R.M. Williams CEO Paul Grosmann
3. #499 Dominique Gill 
4. #501 Britt & Taz
5. #489 Mike Christidis

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been another big year on The Mentor. We’ve had some brilliant guests sharing incredible business insight. Who stood out to you, and who should we bring on next?

Here are some highlights of the standout episodes of the year.

00:00-9:49 (Sam Kelly)

9:50-20:02 (Tracy Sheen)

20:03 - 27:33 (Jason Titman)

27:34- 32:03 (Little Rickshaw)

32:04- 39:13 (Zafferano)

Listen to the full podcast via the links below.

1. #478 Sam Kelly
2. #482 Tracy Sheen
3. #484 Jason Titman
4. #488 Little Rickshaw
5. #489 Zafferano

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​​Nick Cogger is the CEO and co-founder of Better Beer, one of Australia’s fastest-growing beer brands. With a background spanning venues, alcohol, and drinks innovation, Nick’s journey has been anything but overnight.

In this episode, Nick breaks down how a chance Instagram scroll led him to The Inspired Unemployed, why influencer marketing only works when ambition matches audience, and how a “reverse pitch” sparked the idea of Better Beer.

He shares why he focused on creating a product everyone in Australia can enjoy, and how timing, discipline, and strategy are what it takes to take on the big brewers.

Follow Better Beer here: https://www.instagram.com/betterbeer

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At 28, Ari Kaklamanis has already reshaped how Australians consume real estate. He founded Million Dollar Listing Sydney (MDLS) at 17, building the country’s first social-media-driven real estate platform. What began as a small Instagram page is now Sydney’s most-viewed property portal, pulling in more than 21 million views a month.

In this episode, Ari breaks down how he spotted the gap, built a global audience, and turned MDLS into a powerhouse that changed the way people buy, sell, and talk about property online. A sharp look at the mindset and strategy behind a founder who rewrote the rules of real estate marketing.

Follow Million Dollar Listings Sydney here: https://www.instagram.com/milliondollarlistingsydney/

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In this episode, Candy Berger, CEO of Lox in a Box, talks through the journey from the early vision to the challenges that shaped the business. She explains how she navigated setbacks, built resilience and scaled what started as a small takeaway bagel shop in Bondi into three thriving locations in Coogee, Bondi and Marrickville, along with a retail line, baked goods and a fast-growing brand.

A sharp and honest look at building a modern hospitality business and what it takes to keep growing.

Check out the Lox in a Box website here: https://www.loxinabox.com.au/

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