NZ Business Podcast - Paul Spain

Join Paul Spain for a compelling conversation with Nick Astwick, outgoing Chief Executive of Southern Cross Health Society. Nick shares his journey from a Christchurch schoolboy who once dreamed of joining the police force to leading some of New Zealand’s most influential organisations.
Drawing on his experience helping to launch Kiwibank and guiding Southern Cross Health through major strategic transformation, Nick offers hard-won insights into leadership, building intentional cultures, and creating high‑performing teams. He reflects on the importance of aligning personal purpose with professional success, leading with intention, and his vision for New Zealand’s high‑growth business future.
The New Zealand Business Podcast is brought to you by One NZ and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain sits down with Shane Smith, co-founder of Education Perfect, as they dive into Shane's journey of co-founding a startup in his parents' garage with his brother Craig. The conversation traces how Education Perfect evolved from a simple vocabulary learning tool into an adaptive, curriculum-wide online platform now used by 1.8 million students across Australasia. Shane talks about the pivotal moments and challenges faced, from winning their first business competition and building trust with schools, to scaling a company with limited resources and ultimately achieving a major acquisition valued at over NZ$450 million. Shane shares insights on growing a high impact edtech business, working alongside his brother, navigating funding and commercialisation, and transforming educational outcomes with innovative technology.
The New Zealand Business Podcast is brought to you by One NZ and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain sits down with Claudia Batten, a respected voice in technology and entrepreneurship. From her childhood in Karori to her pivotal role in selling her tech firm Massive to Microsoft for over $200 million, Claudia Batten shares her unconventional journey through business, law, and leadership; moving from a law career to the heart of the New York tech scene, co-founding industry-shaking companies, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and being comfortable with discomfort. Claudia opens up about the essential role of resilience, lifelong learning, and team alignment, the power of curiosity, and what it means to be a disruptive thinker in today’s world.
Special thanks to our show partners One NZ and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain sits down with Sam Vye, founder and CEO of Syos Aerospace - a New Zealand and United Kingdom business that has moved with remarkable speed pioneering world-class autonomous uncrewed vehicles, ranging from helicopters to advanced maritime and land platforms, serving both civil and defence sectors around the globe. Sam Vye’s journey is packed with adventure, resilience, and remarkable lessons in leadership. Discover how his early passion for problem-solving led him through geophysics, exploration roles across continents, and eventually into the world of drone and unmanned vehicle technology. Hear insider stories about a last-minute Arctic rowing expedition, building drones for the Galápagos and unexpected contract wins. Get ready for insights on adaptability, leadership, fostering fast paced innovation and building a business on the global stage.
The New Zealand Business Podcast is brought to you by One NZ and Gorilla Technology.
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Lachlan Murray, Founder and CEO of Robomate shares his journey building Robomate from a small robotics idea into a nationwide home‑automation leader. Lachlan founded Robomate in 2018 and bootstrapped the company through early setbacks, refining the model through relentless problem‑solving and customer focus. His determination helped Robomate become one of New Zealand’s fastest‑growing companies, ranking 5th in the 2025 Deloitte Fast 50 with 408% revenue growth over 3 years. Lachlan shares insights on scaling up, building resilient teams, and how serving people and discipline are at the heart of Robomate’s success.
Book your Cyber Risk Reduction Review session now (limited availability)
https://gorillatechnology.com/cyber-rrr
Special thanks to our show partners One NZ and Gorilla Technology.