Nearly two years on, we’re thrilled to replay Episode  1 of Leadership Odysseys with Simon Molnar. Simon’s path from weekend shifts in his parents’ jewellery store to helping drive Afterpay’s surge and now reinventing in-store retail with Flagship encapsulates everything our mantra, 'Embrace the Journey,' stands for. Press play to hear the lessons, pivots, and breakthroughs that shaped his leadership—and reignite your own sense of possibility.

Key Highlights

~ Retail Roots & Side Hustle: How early weekends selling Pandora on eBay lit Simon’s entrepreneurial spark and paved the way for Australia’s largest pure‑play jewellery site.

~ From Code to Commerce: Why Simon traded high‑paying gigs for a steep software‑engineering learning curve and how that technical fluency unlocked new business possibilities.

~ Fueling Afterpay’s Ascent: The “help us help you” campaign that flipped Afterpay’s pipeline from outbound hustle to viral inbound momentum and what it teaches about customer‑led growth.

~ Pivot with Purpose: Facing a six‑figure hardware setback at Flagship, Simon leaned into tough feedback, rallied his team, and invented a platform now powering retailers worldwide.

~ Leadership & Well‑Being: Why treating mental recharge as seriously as physical recovery and building a culture of open vulnerability became Simon’s secret weapon for sustaining performance.

Simon Molnar’s journey demonstrates that true leadership is never linear; it’s forged through bold experiments, smart pivots, and unwavering self-care. Whether you’re scaling your first venture or steering a global team, let these insights inspire you to lean into uncertainty and lead with both courage and compassion.

Connect with Simon Molnar: LinkedIn 

Connect with Flagship: Website | LinkedIn

This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree 

Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website