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Conversations with leaders on building careers, companies & character the hard way. No shortcuts, just sweat.
Founded by Charlie Selth, Will Chapman and Dimitri Gremos, the show began as 'The Business Of' – a passion project between Will and Charlie who were curious about what it really takes to succeed.
Today, Sweat Capital is an evolving platform that combines that same curiosity with a bigger mission: to democratise access to knowledge and humanise business leadership in Australia.
Founded by Charlie Selth, Will Chapman and Dimitri Gremos, the show began as 'The Business Of' – a passion project between Will and Charlie who were curious about what it really takes to succeed.
Today, Sweat Capital is an evolving platform that combines that same curiosity with a bigger mission: to democratise access to knowledge and humanise business leadership in Australia.
112 Episodes
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Paul Tranter, CFO of Boston Consulting Group, joins Will and Charlie from his home in Boston, USA to share his remarkable story from a boy on the farm to a global leader in management consulting.We explore:Paul’s unique path to university, including going back to complete Year 12 at the age of 22 and how he considers this decision to be the “turning point” of his lifeHis pathway into management consulting at BCGThe impact that Harvard had on Paul’s personal developmentHis role as Global CFO at Boston Consulting GroupA great lesson in how to use adversity as a catalyst for growth and why grit can take you to places you have never dreamed (in Paul’s case the 61st floor of an office building!).We hope you enjoy!
Steven Marshall (President, American Australian Association; Former Premier of South Australia) joins Will and Charlie to unpack a career spent at the crossroads of public service, business and international engagement. We dig into Steven’s time leading South Australia (2018–2022) and the tough, high-stakes decisions he made during the COVID outbreaks.We trace his beginnings, his move from state politics into international advocacy, and what his new role at the American Australian Association actually involves — building networks, trade links and people-to-people ties between Australia and the United States.A major thread of the conversation is why Australians keep punching above their weight in the U.S. - the cultural traits and networks that help people land at the very top of global firms.A great listen if you have global aspirations for your career.***Follow us for BTS content and to stay up to date with the show!SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTubeLinkedInInstagram
It's been a huge October at Sweat Capital, and there's a lot to catch up on.In this monthly recap, Charlie, Will, and Dimitri discuss:The whirlwind launch and rebrand of the showCharlie and Will's trip to New York to interview world-class investors like Matthew McLennanLessons we've taken from conversations about value investing, career ambition, and not sweating the small stuff.BTS from the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025What makes Aussies stand out globallyWhat's in store for NovemberWe hope you enjoy and thank you so much to everyone for all of your support!Means the world.***THiNK Substack: https://thinkbypan.substack.com/Follow us for BTS content and to stay up to date with the show!SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTubeLinkedInInstagramTikTokXThis episode was recorded on 24 November 2025 at the University of Sydney's CreateSpace.
This episode was recorded OnAir @ IMARC. For more information on the world's biggest mining conference and how to get involved, visit imarcglobal.com.From Wollongong to leading a team of over 160,000 staff as CEO of Anglo American, Mark Cutifani CBE is an example of how Australia’s best are amongst the most elite mining executives across the globe.In this episode, we unpack…How Mark self-funded his way through universityHow he thinks through complex business problems by combining his on-the-ground technical experience with a commercial lensThe importance of meaningfully engaging with middle management, particularly the General ManagersA rare conversation with one of mining's most renowned corporate leaders.***Follow Sweat Capital on all platforms to stay up to date:InstagramLinkedInTikTokX
In this episode, we sit down with Matthew McLennan, Head of the Global Value team at First Eagle Investments, in his New York City office for a rare, wide-ranging conversation on investing, temperament, and compounding wisdom over time.Matthew shares stories from his childhood in rural Queensland, lessons from mentors at Goldman Sachs in both Sydney and London, and what he learned stepping into senior leadership at First Eagle during the GFC in 2008.We explore:How his early mistakes shaped his disciplineThe lessons he learned in the Asset Management Team at Goldman SachsWhy patience, humility, and temperament are undervalued in modern marketsThe rise of passive and AI investing — and what it means for value investorsHis best advice to his younger selfA rare conversation with one of the most thoughtful investors of our time.This episode was recorded on 19 September 2025.
In this episode, we sit down with Larry Anthony AO – third-generation Federal MP and former Minister for Social Security in the Howard government – for a deep dive into life in and out of Parliament.We cover the early days of his political career, including his unconventional campaign methods (including riding a push bike around Byron Bay), his infamous hungover Question Time appearance in Parliament, and what it's really like managing the largest spending portfolio in the Commonwealth in his role as Minister for Social Security.We also dig into the mechanics of being a Cabinet Minister, the behind-the-scenes workings of government, and how a young person can look to get a start in a political career.Plus, Larry shares his reflections on the Anthony family's political legacy, the transition from Parliament to business, and his work today as Chairman of the SAS Group. It's an honest look at politics, legacy, and leadership – from someone who's lived it all.We hope you enjoy!Follow our socials:LinkedInInstagramX TikTok
Welcome to the first episode of Sweat Capital – the next chapter in our journey of exploring ambition, effort, and the long game in business and life.In this launch episode, we introduce the new brand, share what Sweat Capital stands for, and set the stage for the conversations ahead. At its core, Sweat Capital is about doing the daily work, making the most of opportunities, and building something real over time – careers, companies, and character – with no shortcuts.Joining us is Dimitri Gremos, Head of Creative & Strategy at Sweat Capital, who has played a key role in shaping the brand’s identity and vision. Dimitri takes us behind the scenes of the rebrand, how we landed on Sweat Capital, and what listeners can expect from this new era of the podcast.If you’ve been with us since the early days, thank you for being part of the journey. If you’re new here, welcome – we’re just getting started.This episode was filmed at the University of Sydney's ThinkSpace.
Martijn Wilder AM has spent decades at the intersection of climate, capital, and policy—shaping the way governments and private markets respond to the challenge of decarbonisation.In this episode, we unpack Martijn’s career journey—from starting out in law and founding Pollination Group, to playing a key role in the National Reconstruction Fund and sitting on boards like WWF and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. He shares what drew him to emerging markets and frontier projects, how he thinks about sustainable investing, and why public-private partnerships are crucial for climate outcomes.We also dig into Australia’s policy landscape, the future of energy and innovation, and what advice he has for young people who want to build a meaningful career in climate or capital.
Andrew Purcell – Energy, Emerging Markets, and the Value of Going Off-PisteFrom investment banking in Hong Kong to drilling exploration wells in Cuba, Andrew Purcell has built a career that defies convention. In this episode, we sit down with the Executive Chairman of Melbana Energy to explore how and why he’s always chosen to operate in the world’s harder-to-navigate markets.We talk about his early leap from banking into energy and infrastructure, what keeps him committed to jurisdictions like Cuba, and the strategic thinking behind deals like the recent Santos farm-in. Andrew also shares reflections from decades of investing across Asia—Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia—and the lessons he's learned about political risk, capital allocation, and long-term conviction.
Justine Morton started her career on the trading floor at Lehman Brothers in London—where she was the only woman in a sea of 100—and was offered the role of Global Head of Hedge Fund Sales in her twenties. But despite the prestige and momentum, she made the rare and courageous decision to walk away.In this episode, we dive into that early chapter of Justine’s career—life in the high-stakes world of London finance, the lessons from working with world-class hedge funds, and the turning point that led her back to Australia.Now an Executive Advisor at Providence, Justine helps families and not-for-profits make long-term, values-aligned investment decisions. We explore how she brings clarity to complex information, her approach to sustainable investing, and what it really means to be a trusted adviser across generations.
Following last week’s episode on intrapreneurship inside a Big Four firm, this week we sit down with someone doing something just as bold—on the legal side.Xavier Keary is the co-founder of G&T Ventures, a specialised group inside Gilbert + Tobin dedicated to supporting startups, scaleups, and investors. After starting his career as a capital markets lawyer, Xavier made the leap into the early-stage ecosystem—at a time when many questioned whether law firms had a role to play in backing founders from day one.In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to build a startup-facing offering inside a top-tier law firm, why legal advice needs to be fast, human, and commercially savvy, and the common traps founders fall into when raising capital. Xavier also shares his views on Australia’s innovation landscape, how he’s scaling a relationship-led business, and what the legal profession can learn from venture-backed models.
Amanda Price didn’t follow the traditional Big Four path. After building and scaling startups early in her career, she brought that same founder mindset into KPMG—where she now leads High Growth Ventures, a division built to serve Australia’s most ambitious startups.In this episode, Amanda shares how she carved out a space for startup-focused work inside one of the world’s largest professional services firms, and how she overcame early scepticism to build a nationally recognised offering. We dive into the unique challenges of integrating top-end advisory services with early-stage companies, how her team works like “portfolio managers,” and why trust, speed, and empathy are central to their model.We also talk about intrapreneurship, what makes a great founder to back, and the personal tools Amanda relies on to handle pressure and maintain clarity.
For our 100th episode, we’re joined by Cathie Reid—an entrepreneur, board director, investor, and trailblazer whose career is anything but conventional. Cathie opens up about how a breakup in her early twenties sparked the journey that would see her build and scale a pharmacy empire, move into aged care and then founded a global cancer care business. We talk about losing 60% of revenue overnight in the early Epic Pharmacy days, navigating exits, chairing an ASX-listed company during a hostile takeover, and what she's learned along the way about leadership, pressure, and reinvention.She also shares insights into her work with Arc31, the family office she runs, her time on the Brisbane Lions board, and what it means to invest with purpose. A story of grit, growth, and not being afraid to start over—Cathie Reid is the perfect guest to mark our 100th episode.
Dr Nick Coatsworth became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, fronting national press conferences as Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer. But behind that calm presence is a remarkable career in medicine, public health, and humanitarian aid.In this episode, we explore Nick’s path from medical school to conflict zones with Doctors Without Borders, his time working in the Northern Territory, and how he found himself unexpectedly stepping into one of the country’s most visible health leadership roles.We dive into the personal toll of high-stress environments, how he thinks about mental health and burnout, and what keeps him driven today outside of the public spotlight.This is a conversation about resilience, purpose, and the unexpected turns careers can take—even at the highest levels.
Few lawyers can claim a career as dynamic and globally mobile as Lewis Grimm. With decades of experience across New York, Europe, and now Australia, Lewis has built a reputation as a trusted legal adviser on some of the most complex and high-stakes leveraged finance and restructuring deals in the world. From billion-dollar chapter 11s in the U.S. to groundbreaking Australian schemes of arrangement, Lewis has consistently found himself at the centre of transactions where the law meets commerce—and where the stakes couldn’t be higher.What makes Lewis particularly unique is his ability to marry legal precision with commercial acumen. Starting his career in New York’s high-pressure legal scene and now advising in Australia on cross-border sponsor-backed transactions, Lewis has worked alongside some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, sponsors, and funds. Whether it’s the record-fast Southcross Holdings restructure or advising Macquarie on the Beauparc Utilities acquisition, his approach blends strategy, creativity, and deep legal expertise.In today’s episode, we delve into Lewis’s global legal journey, what it takes to be a truly great deal lawyer, and how the role of legal advisers is evolving in an increasingly commercial world.We also explore trends in private credit, insights into sponsor-led deals, and the legal intricacies behind some of the most fascinating transactions in recent memory.
Stephen Cole oversees four mining hubs, thousands of employees, and the daily operations that keep one of Australia’s largest iron ore producers running. In this episode, we sit down with Fortescue’s Director of Mining Operations to explore what that leadership actually looks like—on the ground and from the air.We talk about his early days at BHP, the cultural shift he experienced moving to Fortescue, and how operational decisions get made at speed in a high-pressure environment. Stephen also opens up about the personal side of the job—the toll it can take, how he manages mental health, and why showing up on site still matters.We also discuss Fortescue’s push into green iron and hydrogen, building a culture of safety and inclusion, and what it means to lead in a cyclical, capital-intensive industry.Recorded after a tour of Fortescue’s Perth office, this episode is a candid look at leadership, resilience, and transformation in the mining sector.
Innovation is often talked about in terms of breakthroughs and big ideas—but the real challenge lies in turning those ideas into investable, scalable businesses. That’s where today’s guest comes in. Ken Jefferd is the Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation at the University of Melbourne and Managing Director of its commercialisation arm, helping guide one of Australia’s most significant research portfolios into the hands of industry, investors, and end users.Ken’s background bridges both corporate and academic worlds. Before joining the university sector, he held senior global roles at BP, including as Head of Research & Technology and later CEO of one of BP’s Australian subsidiaries. Now, he oversees a $1.5 billion research and innovation enterprise, helping shape the infrastructure, capital pathways, and partnerships that fuel Australia’s knowledge economy.In today’s episode, we dive into Ken’s global experience, how Australia can better capitalise on its research strength, and the impact of new initiatives like Tin Alley Ventures and the Jumar Bioincubator.We also unpack the policy settings, funding gaps, and collaboration models that are shaping the future of commercialisation in Australia. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Ken Jefferd.
Turning world-class research into real-world impact is no easy task. It takes deep scientific knowledge, a sharp commercial eye, and a whole lot of persistence. Few people understand this better than our guest today, Dr. Peter Devine, CEO of Uniseed—Australia’s longest-running venture fund focused on research commercialisation.Peter’s career has spanned the lab bench and the boardroom. With a background in biochemistry, microbiology, and a PhD in gynaecological oncology, he’s spent time in both academia and industry, giving him a unique perspective on how breakthrough science can become investable innovation. Before leading Uniseed, Peter worked in commercialisation offices like UniQuest, helping university researchers navigate the complex world of IP and tech transfer.In today’s episode, we dive into Peter’s journey from scientific research to venture capital, his leadership at Uniseed, and what it takes to back high-risk, high-reward science-driven startups.We also unpack the challenges of early-stage investing in Australia, the profile of successful deep-tech ventures, and Peter’s advice for young scientists looking to turn research into a career in innovation or investing. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr. Peter Devine.Check out Peter Devine's Music: HERE
In the world of financial services, where every process must be airtight and every action traceable, documentation isn’t just admin—it’s risk management, compliance, and operational continuity. Yet teams still spend 4 to 6 hours manually writing SOPs and process guides—until now.Our guests today are Finn and Oliver, co-founders of Fluency, a company that’s reimagining how operations teams work. Best mates who learned to code while juggling university and part-time jobs, Fluency was born from Finn’s time in investment banking and an internship at HESTA, where he saw firsthand the inefficiencies of legacy documentation. What started as a side project quickly grew into a category-defining product.Fluency is 50x faster documentation. Their AI captures every step of a process with a simple 5-minute screen recording, transforming it into clear, compliant documentation in seconds. Already trusted by major players like AON, KordaMentha, and Bennelong Funds Management, Fluency is becoming critical infrastructure for financial services teams with high regulatory overhead and limited time.But they haven’t stopped there. After speaking to customers, they realised the deeper issue: operations teams were flying blind. So they built real-time process observation—a module that gives operations teams live visibility into workflows, bottlenecks, and compliance risks, similar to what sales and engineering teams get through CRMs.With $1.5 million in pre-seed backing and a bold mission to bring AI to enterprise operations, Finn and Oliver are just getting started.
It’s always fascinating to examine the economy from two different angles—especially when one is through the eyes of a wealth adviser and the other from the perspective of a business and restructuring specialist. While both are navigating the same macro environment, their day-to-day realities couldn’t be more different. In this episode, recorded just before the announcement of the latest Trump tariffs, we explore how both individuals and businesses are responding to what has become an increasingly complex and volatile economic climate.To help us do that, we’re joined by two senior professionals from Vincents—our podcast sponsor and one of Australia’s leading multidisciplinary advisory firms. Kenneth Beanland, from Vincents Private Wealth, and Steven Staatz, from the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency division, bring years of experience in advising clients through both prosperous and uncertain times. From helping clients build resilient investment portfolios to working with struggling SMEs on turnarounds and restructuring, the breadth of their insight makes for a really unique and timely discussion.Hello and welcome back to The Business Of, I’m Will, and I’m Charlie. In today’s episode, we unpack the current economic climate from both the boardroom and the balance sheet—how small-to-medium businesses are coping with sustained rate pressure, and how investors are adapting their portfolios to meet both near-term needs and long-term goals.We also explore the federal government's Small Business Restructuring initiative, the rise of private markets in investment strategies, and wrap up with a few lighter questions—including a stock pick for 2025. We hope you enjoy this special episode featuring Kenneth Beanland and Steven Staatz from Vincents.
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