The Business Owners Podcast

About The Business Owners Podcast

The Business Owners Podcast, brought to you by Business Business Business and Enever Group, is a podcast for business owners of all sizes. In each episode, hosts Linda Reed-Enever and Clive Enever interview business owners about their experiences, challenges, and successes. They also share tips and advice on growing your business and achieving your goals.

Publisher

Clive Enever & Linda Reed-Enever

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Oct 2023

Latest episode

9 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

94 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Jun 2026

   Balancing Business and Motherhood with Noelle Mapianda

   Motherhood changes your life, but it doesn't have to erase your identity. True empowerment comes when you stop chasing perfect formulas and learn to run a business on your own terms. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever connects across time zones with Noelle Mapianda, founder of the Business Women's Circle. Moving from the Democratic Republic of Congo to London as a teenager, Noelle transitioned from a background in chemistry to working as a commercial financial analyst, a career she has balanced for 12 years alongside growing her business and her family. Noelle opens up about the distinct psychological shifts of returning to work after having children, the realisation that led her to self-publish her book, Queen, and how she built a dynamic platform that helps women combine motherhood with entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways The Reality of "Identity Loss" For many first-time mothers, returning to the corporate workforce after maternity leave triggers a profound psychological shift. Noelle's own experience of feeling like she was "losing herself" prompted her to conduct widespread research, confirming that a majority of working mothers struggle deeply with their professional identity. Ditching the "Parenting Recipe" Coming from an analytical chemistry and finance background, Noelle initially expected a rigid set of rules or formulas for raising children. Realising that parenting defies structured logic helped her shed maternal guilt, close her ears to judgment, and trust her personal capabilities. Listening to the Market's Complaints When Noelle launched the Business Women's Circle, she was fixated on hosting structured networking events with guest speakers. However, her target demographic openly complained because they wanted to actively sell and trade. By staying flexible and pivoting based on feedback, she transformed the circle into a highly successful market-style trading platform. The Power of Absolute Presence As a solo entrepreneur working a nine-to-five job while raising a five-year-old and a toddler, true balance requires being aggressively present. Children immediately sense when a parent is physically there but mentally scrolling. Setting non-negotiable family blocks blocks out maternal guilt. Plunging and Learning to Swim If you wait for a logical, flawless business plan, you will never get started. Pregnancy teaches a person to follow internal physical cues; Noelle advises applying that same visceral gut instinct to execution, plunge into the idea first and refine your strategy as you move. Noelle's Core Blueprint for Multi-Passionate Mothers Ask the Questions Early: Keeping feelings of professional detachment or isolation bottled up is destructive. Speak up and ask other mothers how they coped; it is always better to risk looking silly than to struggle in silence. Audit Your Daily Boundaries: Noelle structures her days tightly: working her employment role from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pivoting entirely to her children until they go to bed, and only then opening her laptop or logging into Instagram to manage her business pop-ups. Honour the Law of Karma: Treat your current employer with 100% integrity. By showing respect and hard work as an employee today, you ensure that future staff will mirror that exact standard when it is your turn to hire. Think Regionally and Internationally: Step completely out of your local comfort zone. Educate yourself on regional trading, technology, and macro trends so you can inspire your community to think bigger and scale further. Key Takeaway There is no perfect corporate recipe for motherhood or entrepreneurship. Stop waiting for the formula, trust your gut, plunge right into the water, and figure out the strokes while you swim. Your Next Step Perform a "Presence Check" tonight. When you transition from your business or employment to your family, physically put your phone in another room or out of arm's reach for the first two hours. Watch how your connection deepens when you grant your family your absolute, undivided awareness. Connect with Noelle Mapianda Book: Find Queen: Conquering Identity Loss in Motherhood globally on Amazon LinkedIn: Noelle Mapianda https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelle-mapianda-a833644b/ Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/MarketingCircle Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Linda https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda/ Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Noelle Mapianda and the Business Women's Circle 02:15 Reading Smart Women Finish Rich and Preparing to Invest 03:40 From the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Fast-Paced London Life 05:20 Accidental Careers: Expecting CSI and Landing in Financial Crime Analyst Work 06:50 The Post-COVID Epiphany and Analysing Identity Loss with Questionnaires 08:30 Launching the Book Queen and Creating a Dedicated Trading Circle 10:50 Shedding Maternal Guilt and Stepping Out of the Comparison Box 13:15 Handling Male Counterparts in a Female-Dominated Vibe 15:00 Overcoming the Nudge: Researching Regional Trading and AI 18:45 Noelle's Strict Daily Timeline: Balancing 9-to-5, Family, and Business 21:10 Pivoting the Business Model Based on Customer Complaints

2. 

   26 May 2026

   Strategy, Culture, and Recruitment with Manoj Sharma

   Recruitment is no longer just about sorting through resumes, but about marrying the data-driven horsepower of modern technology with the indispensable touch of human empathy. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever sits down with Manoj Sharma, founder of Ancy Recruitment Services and GenieHiring.ai. Moving from Delhi to Melbourne 15 years ago, Manoj combined his technical background with recruitment to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks facing small-to-medium enterprises: finding and keeping the right talent. Manoj breaks down why traditional "knee-jerk" hiring fails, how artificial intelligence is radically altering the volume of job applications, and why assessing cultural alignment must always precede evaluating a candidate's technical skill set. Key Takeaways from This Episode The Trap of Reactive Hiring Many small businesses are bandwidth- and capability-poor, forcing them into a reactive cycle where they simply hire to fill an immediate vacancy. True scaling requires moving away from this "knee-jerk" mechanism and replacing it with a proactive, long-term strategic plan. The AI Application Surge Generative AI has shifted the baseline for job seekers. Applications that used to take several minutes to compile can now be submitted in seconds, complete with highly detailed, AI-generated cover letters. This has caused the absolute volume of incoming resumes to shoot through the roof, breaking standard filtering processes. Flipping the Hiring Funnel Historically, businesses used skills criteria to filter a candidate shortlist, then interviewed that tiny pool for cultural fit. Manoj argues that modern technology allows organisations to invert this process: use human insights to gauge cultural alignment first, then deploy AI to test technical skills across a massive data set simultaneously. The True Cost of a Mishaired Seat A single poor recruitment choice does more than lose a head; it derails project roadmaps by up to six months and bleeds roughly $50,000 to $60,000 in lost potential customer revenue and leadership friction. The Pacing Paradox Two entities can look perfect on paper and passionately agree on wanting growth, but if the pace of that growth differs, such as a founder wanting sustainable, relationship-driven small growth versus a candidate seeking hyper-accelerated, venture-funded expansionfthe long-term execution will inevitably fracture. Manoj's Strategic Framework for Business Owners Stop Fishing, Build a Process: Slapping a casual ad on a job board isn't a strategy; it's a recreational fishing trip. Your hiring pipeline must maintain structural integrity whether it receives thousands of resumes or zero. Spend the Two Hours: You don't need a six-month corporate planning phase. Dedicate just two hours to explicitly defining what a successful hire looks like three, six, and nine months down the line. Identify Your "Quarterly Rock": Avoid drowning new hires in sprawling position descriptions loaded with ten concurrent priorities. Isolate the top one or two "rocks" that mandate their absolute focus for their first quarter. Adopt a Service Mindset: Shift your corporate paradigm entirely away from your ego or history. Focus unyielding attention on identifying and systematically clearing the distinct roadblocks of your customers. Key Takeaway Brilliant technology layered on top of a broken process only amplifies your losses. Refine the process, inject AI for the raw data horsepower, and anchor it firmly with human empathy. Your Next Step Audit your current open job descriptions. Are you asking a candidate to point in ten different directions at once? Strip away the clutter and outline the single, non-negotiable metric of success for that role's first 90 days to provide immediate, transparent clarity. Connect with Manoj Sharma Website: https://geniehiring.ai/ LinkedIn: Manoj Sharma / GenieHiring.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/manoj-sharma-geniehiring/ Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/MarketingCircle Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Linda https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda/ Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Manoj Sharma and Ancy Recruitment 02:15 Living by the EOS Framework and Mindset Realities 04:30 Moving Past Knee-Jerk, Reactive Staffing Cycles 07:55 How Two Hours of Upfront Planning Saves 6 Months of Losses 10:45 Generative AI and the Exploding Volume of Resumes 13:00 The Core Philosophy of GenieHiring.ai: Blending Tech with Empathy 15:40 Flipping the Paradigm: Assessing Culture Before Skills 17:30 Case Study: The Danger of Misaligned Growth Paces 19:30 Trimming Down Position Descriptions to "Quarterly Rocks" 25:50 Personal Purpose and Managing Time Non-Negotiables

3. 

   12 May 2026

   Neurodiversity and Psychosocial Safety in the Workplace with Cassandra Nicholson

   Authentic inclusivity is no longer just a "nice to have," but a legal requirement and a fundamental building block for a high-performing, innovative team. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, Clive Enever speaks with Cassandra Nicholson, founder of the Neurodivergence Voice. Cassandra shares her powerful personal journey of receiving a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and how it sparked her mission to bring "invisible rules" into the light. Together with Clive Enever, they explore the critical concept of psychosocial safety, the impacts of "masking" in the workplace, and why the archaic nine-to-five model is failing both employers and neurodivergent employees. From identifying sensory hazards like loud open offices to understanding new Australian legislation, Cassandra provides a roadmap for creating environments where everyone can coexist authentically. Key Takeaways from This Episode The Late Diagnosis Journey Cassandra was diagnosed with ADHD as she approached 40. This "late diagnosis" often brings a mix of grief and anger, leading many to reflect on career moments where they were made to feel like "the other" for being too direct or different. Psychosocial Safety is the Law As of late 2023, every state and territory in Australia has legislated psychosocial hazards under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. Inclusivity is now a mandatory legal requirement, moving beyond "Are You OK Day" cupcakes to real, enforced mental safety. The Exhaustion of "Masking" Neurodivergent employees often spend massive amounts of energy "masking," simulating neurotypical social behaviours like small talk and forced smiling. This leads to extreme burnout and fatigue, making it difficult to be productive at work or manage life at home. Identifying Workplace Hazards Common psychosocial hazards include open-floor offices with sensory triggers (loud noises, specific lighting), unspoken social hierarchies, and shifting expectations. Ambiguity as a Red Flag Job advertisements that require candidates to be "comfortable with ambiguity" are often red flags for poor leadership and a lack of clear direction, which are now recognised as potential psychosocial hazards. Cassandra's Advice for Leaders and Employees Prioritise Productivity Over Hours: Shift the focus from "sitting at a desk from nine to five" to meeting specific productivity targets. Communicate Communication Preferences: If you are neurodivergent, advocate for your needs. For example, ask colleagues to text or message on Teams before calling so you can mentally prepare for the conversation. Embrace the "Disruptors": Innovation often comes from "disruptors" who challenge the status quo and see things differently, rather than just the "worker bees" who follow directions steadily. Practice Empathy and Self-Compassion: Leaders should find mutual connections and navigate tasks with respect, while neurodivergent employees should be kind to themselves as they navigate their unique challenges. Key Takeaway Inclusivity means being able to show up as your authentic self without being smushed into a tiny box. We shouldn't be focused on how many hours a person sits in a chair, but on the innovative and creative value they bring to the table. Your Next Step Conduct an "Environment Audit." Look at your workplace communication: Are you calling people out of the blue and demanding immediate answers? Try implementing a "message first" policy to see if it reduces anxiety and improves the quality of responses across your entire team. Connect with Cassandra Nicholson Website: Neurodivergence Voice https://www.neurodivergencevoice.com/ LinkedIn: Cassandra Nicholson https://www.linkedin.com/in/canicholson/ Community: Join the "Neuro Tribe" on Facebook for support and advice. Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/MarketingCircle Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Linda https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda/ Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 Introducing Cassandra Nicholson 01:40 The Reality of Late-Life ADHD Diagnosis 04:30 chaotic vs. Chaotic: Describing the Journey 06:45 Inclusivity: Beyond Branding and Cupcakes 08:00 What is a Psychosocial Hazard? 09:40 The Fatigue of Social Masking 12:50 Why "Ambiguity" in Job Ads is a Legal Concern 15:45 Sprinters vs. Marathon Runners: Different Working Styles 21:00 Joining the Neuro Tribe Community

Who has been a guest on The Business Owners Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Damon Rasheed
• Sandy Breece
• Kirstin Carey
• Martin Sharp
• Nicole Vlug

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

76

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.