The Gold Coast isn't just beaches and high-rises anymore. Over the last few years it's quietly become one of Australia's most exciting places to build a business — a magnet for founders, operators and entrepreneurs chasing a different kind of life without giving up on ambition.
That's the world SHFT Pod lives in. Recorded at Burleigh Heads, the show sits down with the leaders and founders behind some of the region's most interesting businesses to unpack how they actually think, build and lead. Here are seven of the biggest lessons we've taken from them.
1. Clarity beats charisma
You don't have to be the loudest person in the room to lead well. Lisa Jones, founder of SHE-com, told us she used to think leadership meant hyping her team in every meeting — until she realised her real job was to give them clarity: the why, the what and the non-negotiables, then let them own the how. Set the direction clearly and get out of the way.
2. Playing it safe is its own risk
Bold brands get noticed; timid ones get ignored. Wade Tiller, co-founder of Gold Coast seltzer brand Hard Fizz, built a business by being loud and unmistakable in a crowded market. In a sea of sameness, calculated risk isn't reckless — it's how you get seen at all.
3. Back yourself before the market catches up
The best opportunities rarely look obvious at the start. Mark Curry left a career in commercial law to build Savvy Beverages, betting early on functional, better-for-you drinks before the category went mainstream. Conviction — backing an idea while it still feels risky — is often the whole game.
4. Great leadership is honest, especially when it's hard
Scott Imlach, who runs the Imlach Hospitality Group, gave us an unvarnished look at the brutal reality of hospitality — the margins, the people, the relentless pressure. The takeaway for any leader: don't sugarcoat the hard stuff. Teams follow the leaders who tell them the truth and carry the weight with them.
5. No founder should go it alone
Most business owners never get the guidance a boardroom provides. Jade Howcroft built Synergy Boards to change that, making advisory boards accessible to everyday founders. Structured accountability and an outside perspective beat white-knuckling it on your own.
6. Reinvention is a skill, not a one-off
Matt Bellgrove went from a country pharmacy family to building National Custom Compounding, a Gold Coast business at the forefront of personalised medicine. His story is a reminder that the willingness to keep evolving — and to bet on where things are heading — is what keeps a business relevant.
7. Culture is built on what you tolerate
Cass Champion, founder of My First Job, challenged the lazy stereotypes about young workers and dug into what the next generation actually needs from leaders. Culture, it turns out, is less about what you say and more about what you consistently model and allow.
Hear the full conversations
Every one of these lessons came from a longer, honest conversation worth hearing in full. SHFT Pod drops new episodes with founders, leaders and entrepreneurs regularly — browse the guests or follow the show on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts so you never miss one.
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