Four of New Zealand’s most experienced business leaders: Tony Falkenstein (CEO Just Water Group), Ashish Saxena (Wholistic Leadership Coach), Richard Conway (Founder Pure SEO), and Lloyd Budd (CEO Bayleys Auckland).They break down the fundamentals of scaling a business—from the controversial strategy of "looking bigger than you are" to the psychology of presence, the power of storytelling, and why moving too fast can actually kill your growth.What the experts explain◽️ Tony Falkenstein: Why he doesn't set goals, how to "look big" before you are big, and why execution beats ideas every time.◽️ Ashish Saxena: Why business is solely about "Asset Creation" (not income) and why listening is your most profitable skill.◽️ Richard Conway: The $10,000 advice on storytelling, transparency, and why vulnerability builds better teams.◽️ Lloyd Budd: The mistake of "Ready, Fire, Aim," and the 3 pillars of building client trust (Time, Network, Value).Episode Partners:👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nzFOLLOW MElinkin.bio/minaamsoWATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for spotify and apple only)https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Lisa O'Neill is a kiwi Keynote Speaker, Author of Energy: Get, Guard it, Give it & Everything You Want along side other books.

She's one of New Zealand’s leading Energy Experts. Known for her unapologetically blunt style, she teaches audiences how to stop living a "default life," manage their energy like a CEO, and become the main character of their own story.What Lisa explains◽️ Why "Energy" is a decision you make, not a personality trait you have◽️ The "Browser Tab" Analogy: How unprocessed grief and trauma drains your battery◽️ Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth and how to live in "Seasons" insteadEpisode Partners:👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamps00:00 The Lie: Why doing "all the right things" leaves you miserable00:34 "What Oven Were You Cooked In?" (Nature vs. Nurture)03:10 ADHD Hacks: The "Movement Break" strategy for neurodiverse brains03:57 "Wanty vs. Needy": Why suppressing your wants destroys your soul06:10 Energy is a Decision: How to stop being "awful" to be around08:45 Your Body is a Rental Car (And you're wrecking it)12:45 Burnout, "Seasons," and the lie of balance16:50 The Cost of Attention: The responsibility of holding 500 people's time19:06 Blunt Truths: "The stripes don't make you fat"20:32 The "Open Browser" Analogy: Grief, suicide, and emotional energy24:03 Why "Offend" is a choice (and why you need disruption)26:35 Finale: How to be the CEO and Main Character of your lifeFOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

Justin Flitter is the Founder of AI New Zealand and the New Zealand Tech Marketers Group. He serves on the Board of Business Mentors New Zealand, helps organize TEDxAuckland, and is the country’s leading authority on integrating practical AI workflows into enterprise and SMBs.What Justin explains◽️ The difference between AI Assistants and "AI Agents" (your new digital colleagues)◽️ How to save hundreds of admin hours using tools like n8n and Zapier◽️ The exact prompt strategy to teach yourself how to use any AI tool◽️ ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which model to use for what task◽️ How to rank your business in "AI Search" (GEO) when Google traffic declines👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamps00:00 Intro05:23 What are AI Agents? (The shift to a "Digital Workforce")08:00 The current state of AI adoption in New Zealand businesses10:38 Case Study: How a property firm saved hundreds of admin hours/month13:15 Why you cannot compete in 2026 without AI integration14:52 The "Expert Prompt" technique for beginners to learn AI fast17:50 Tool Breakdown: ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Claude vs. Gemini26:10 The death of traditional SEO: AI Search vs. Google Search28:02 Tactical Guide: How to force your business to rank in ChatGPT results30:35 The "Clean Instance" test to verify your AI search ranking38:27 Live Demo: Using Advanced Voice Mode to work while driving40:00 How to use AI as a language teacher and research assistantExamples and guide on styleFOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX

The future of business in NZ is changing fast.AI, customer behaviour, marketing, education, and trust are all shifting at once, and most New Zealand businesses are not prepared.In this Notes From The Executive montage episode, three respected New Zealand thinkers break down the future of business NZ leaders need to understand heading into 2026. These are not theories. These are signals already playing out in the New Zealand market.Watch other episodes:Scott Wilson https://youtu.be/f1wHt5QBTyMRichard Conway https://youtu.be/7-7qiWeSBJoFrances Valentine https://youtu.be/xGdPHmqwofoWHAT THEY EXPLAIN◽️ The future of business NZ after peak AI automation◽️ Why face-to-face relationships are returning in New Zealand◽️ How AI is changing customer behaviour in NZ businesses◽️ Why websites may disappear as AI agents handle buying◽️ How AI voice search will affect NZ customer discovery◽️ Why personal brand matters more in the AI era◽️ How education and skills must change for New Zealand’s workforceEPISODE PARTNERS👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire🔥 Enter to WIN Free Jet Ski Rides 🔥Enter here: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7aTIMESTAMPS00:00 Future Of Business NZ – What’s Changing00:38 Why Face-To-Face Is Coming Back In NZ Business02:00 Short-Form Content Replacing Seminars In NZ03:45 Subscribe – Why This Matters For NZ Leaders04:10 Will Websites Disappear? AI And The NZ Market07:15 Buying Inside AI Platforms – What This Means For NZ09:30 AI Voice Search And NZ Customer Behaviour11:45 Why Testing AI Tools Builds Trust With NZ Clients14:20 Personal Brand In The AI Era – NZ Perspective16:00 Sponsor Message16:45 AI Is Bigger Than The Internet – NZ Business Impact19:55 Why Education Must Change In New Zealand22:30 Digital vs Analog Businesses In NZ26:40 Removing Friction To Win NZ Customers29:20 Final Thought – Who Wins In NZ Business By 2026FOLLOW MEhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCmb8GUvqh3KYZHgLB1qjBBA LISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXABOUT THE EPISODEIn this 2026 prediction special, we explore the collision of AI and human connection. Richard Conway argues that websites as we know them are disappearing, replaced by AI agents. Frances Valintine explains why the "Analog" way of doing business is a death sentence, while Scott Wilson predicts a massive market correction back to face-to-face human relationships.

This special montage episode features three of New Zealand’s top business minds: Marisa Fong (co-founder of Madison Recruitment, sold for $30M+), Lisa O'Neill (Energy Expert & Author), and Rich Ellis (Executive Health & Mindset Coach).Together, they reveal the brutal truth about entrepreneurial burnout. They discuss the cognitive collapse of "decision fatigue," why the concept of balance prevents scaling, and the specific energy management protocols needed to survive the early stages of building a business.What they explain◽️ The "Bandwidth Collapse": Why female founders suffer from decision fatigue first◽️ The "Demon Hours": The exact window where you must sacrifice balance to win◽️ Energy Stacking: How to transition from "CEO Mode" to bedtime without crashing◽️ The "8-Week Postpartum" Reality: The irreversible trade-offs of an exit-level founder◽️ Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth that keeps you small (and what to aim for instead)Timestamps00:00 Intro01:30 Lisa O'Neill: Why energy is everything (and where to start)03:15 How to find a way to keep your energy up05:40 "What season are you in right now?"08:10 Rich Ellis: The reality of burnout and why it’s not "nice"12:45 The "Bedtime Transition": Stacking small opportunities for rest15:30 Marisa Fong: Mental Overload and Bandwidth Collapse18:15 The Myth of Balance: Why you can't have it all while scaling20:40 "Working like demons": The necessary window of obsession22:50 The Cost of Success: Energy, Time, and Sacrifice24:10 The 8-week tradeoff: Marisa’s irreversible decisionExamples and guide on styleFOLLOW MElinkin.bio/minaamsoWATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for spotify and apple only)https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXABOUT THE EPISODEIn this compilation, Marisa Fong, Rich Ellis, and Lisa O'Neill dismantle the myth of work-life balance for entrepreneurs. They explore the cognitive cost of decision-making, the necessity of "demon work" periods, and how to manage your energy so you don't burn out before you cash out.Episode Partners:👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire: 🔥 WIN Free Jet Ski Rides 🔥Enter: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7a👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nz

If you’re a NZ Business founder heading into 2026, staying small, comfortable and indecisive will kill your dream – you have to think bigger, commit to one path.Three top entrepreneurs tell us why Big Thinking in New Zealand is Hard. They say founders move too slow.

Kiwis think too small. Optionality kills. Comfort kills.

Tall poppy cuts ambition.

Learn More From

Mahesh Muralidhar https://youtu.be/jXmNi-XqLMg

Steven Zinsli https://youtu.be/r9fes_4ZU_I

Sir Ray Avery https://youtu.be/GenrFva6QBA

This Episode Is For:

• NZ entrepreneurs building or scaling a business

• Founders frustrated with staying small in New Zealand

• Business owners thinking about global expansion

• Anyone interested in entrepreneurship in NZ

Thanks ⁨@HibiscusJetSkiHire⁩ for powering this episodeL Be in to win: https://www.facebook.com/hibiscusjetskihire/posts/pfbid02oyANuNkVR8RaFtcfmBJD6PbyJjTNJfhReJtTau8ivH94fbnU1QaKmQVDWMN6ekUrl

If you are starting a business in New Zealand in 2026, this episode is compulsory viewing.

The rules have changed. What worked ten years ago will not work today.

This montage brings together three of Aotearoa’s top founders to break down the critical mistakes that kill most early-stage Kiwi businesses before they ever get off the ground.

Thanks Episode Partner

Hibiscus Jetski Hire https://hibiscusjetskihire.co.nz/

You will learn:

• How to validate your idea before you spend money.

• How to avoid building a product nobody wants.

• How to choose the right niche and avoid spreading yourself too thin.

• Why resilience, simplicity and speed matter more than ever in the NZ market.

• How AI is reshaping the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.

Watch More:

• Scott Wilson – https://youtu.be/f1wHt5QBTyM

• Tim Warren – https://youtu.be/iN4VD9wT2N4

• Steve Ballantyne – https://youtu.be/aho75bHK2-g

Chapters:

00:00 Trailer

01:00 Mistake 1 – Building Without Validation (Scott Wilson)

08:00 Mistake 2 – Going Too Broad (Tim Warren)

12:00 Mistake 3 – Building Too Heavy (Steve Ballantyne)

15:30 Final Advice for 2026

If you are serious about building a business that lasts, start here. This episode will save you time, money and years of unnecessary pain.

This episode is ideal for:

• Early-stage founders

• Aspiring entrepreneurs

• Small business owners looking to grow

• Anyone planning to launch in 2026

• Investors who want to understand NZ founder behaviour

Founder resilience isn’t luck. This episode shows how founders stay resilient with practical resilient leadership habits, mindset shifts, and tools you can use this week. Apply it now: daily practices, decision frameworks, and stories from David Downs.

David Downs is the CEO of New Zealand Story, former Microsoft executive, best-selling author, and cancer-survivor-turned health advocate. He helps Kiwi companies scale their global impact through brand storytelling and practical leadership, and serves across innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives in Aotearoa.

What David explains

Founder resilience isn’t luck. This episode shows how founders stay resilient with practical resilient leadership habits, mindset shifts, and tools you can use this week.David Downs is the CEO of New Zealand Story, former Microsoft executive, best-selling author, and cancer-survivor-turned health advocate.

What David explains:

◽️True Resilience vs. "Macho" Resistance

◽️ The Science of Storytelling in Business

◽️ The "Kiwi Paradox" in Business

Episode Partners: 👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire

🔥 Enter to WIN Free Jet Ski Rides

🔥 Enter: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7a

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro: The power of storytelling

04:46 - Impact: How New Zealand is seen by the world

06:22 - David Down’s Story and Cancer Diagnosis

09:23 - What is resilience? (It’s not about being tough)

11:00 - Why positive thinking is science, not "Woo Woo"

12:28 - The "Green Traffic Light" mindset (A lesson on luck)

16:36 - How to handle bad days: "Recreational Moaning"

18:03 - Hedonic Adaptation: The science of bouncing back

19:35 - The GROW Framework for solving any problem

21:51 - Kiwi Business: Great at starting, struggling to scale

24:31 - Tall Poppy Syndrome: Why we struggle to celebrate success

31:27 - Why people buy stories, not spreadsheets

34:39 - Inside "New Zealand Story": Branding a nation

35:57 - The Fern Mark: Leveraging NZ’s reputation

40:43 - How a terminal illness creates a "more intense" version of you

FOLLOW David New Zealand Story: https://www.nzstory.govt.nz/

FOLLOW ME linkin.bio/minaamso

WATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/fV3LMp11_NQ

LISTEN ON

Apple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8v

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bX