The $3.2 Billion Veterinary AI Secret No One Told You
Steve Merchant is a veterinarian-turned entrepreneur, co-founder of Pet Doctors (a roll-up of 30+ clinics generating NZD $30–40 million in revenue), founder of a nationwide vet nurse academy and the IndieVets, and now CEO of ClinicWise, an AI-powered “digital vet nurse” platform live in nine countries.Episode Sponsor ▶️ www.podcastguest.co.nzWatch On YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastTime Stamps00:00 Intro02:15 Why you need to listen to the episode till the end 3:30 The start of Steve Merchants Journey 05:00 Decision making in business - buying my first practice09:15 How Steve Merchant launched Pet Doctors11:35 The best decision Steve Merchant has made in Pet Doctors12:55 The worst decision Steve Merchant has made in Pet Doctors17:15 The trend Steve Merchant spotted that made him millions26:40 How Steve Merchant marketed Pet Doctors to scale37:55 A real bad mistake and what it taught Steve Merchant43:35 How many pet doctor clinics were there in total?45:30 How do you spend time on your business to grow it?47:55 The value of NZ Pet Doctors before it was sold?48:30 How to spot an opportunity that makes an extra $5000 a year in 5min54:00 How to stay competitive as a brand to buy into through brand awareness56:12 AI agent startup - AI vet nurse agent nz01:09:57 What does the future hold with AI agents Follow Steve: @stevemerchantFollow me: linkin.bio/minaamsoEpisode Sponsor ▶️ www.podcastguest.co.nzvet practice management software, best veterinary chatbot, ai appointment scheduling software, automate vet clinic bookings, digital vet customer service, veterinary software solutions, how to automate pet clinic, online vet triage tool, ai pet care platform, vet clinic automation tools
--------
1:14:50
5 Brutal Mistakes Successful People Had To Make (So You Don’t Have Yo)
This episode is a collection of our most impactful moments on Notes From The Executive. I picked moments that I personally felt you should watch, revealing the most brutal mistakes some of my guests have made in their businesses. So you don't make them yourself. Episode Sponsor - Podcast Guest:If you're thinking of becoming a guest on the show or fine tune your guesting skills, download this Ebook Guide on how to Become a Memorable Podcast Guest.Follow Me:https://www.instagram.com/notesfromtheexecutivepodcast/Time Stamps● Dominic Sutton – Mistakes 00:30 What are the biggest mistakes you made?02:00 What I learnt from a $1.2m dollars business mistake03:30 How different would Dominic do to avoid this mistake04:30 How he got out of this mess05:56 Biggest business owners make07:00 Could any 28 year old start a business and not fail?10:00 What do you need to grow your business and scale? (how to scale)● Wyndi Tagi – Mistakes13:00 How to scale a business15:00 The mistake she made hiring the wrong person ● Josh Comrie – Worst decisions25:00 The worst decisions Josh Comrie made29:00 Behind the mistake, the anatomy of what Josh did that made that mistake32:55 The lessons learned from this mistake● Lloyd Budd – Mistakes35:07 Early business mistakes and ambition overloadExplore the most brutal business mistakes on Notes From The Executive, featuring Dominic Sutton’s $1.2 million loss, Wyndi Tagi’s hiring misstep, and Josh Comrie and Lloyd Budd’s worst decisions—and discover how they recovered. Packed with actionable entrepreneurial lessons, scaling strategies and tips to avoid common business pitfalls, this episode is essential for startup founders, small business owners and anyone seeking real-world insights on how to scale your business, dodge costly errors and achieve sustainable growth.
--------
39:58
Turn 25 Connections Into 3000 Leads – The Networking Blueprint Kiwi Founders Swear By
Andy Prentice is Chief Operating Officer at The Crate, a North Shore coworking hub, and co-founder of The Gathering, the weekly networking community turning 25 connections into more than 3,000 warm leads. Drawing on two decades of operational leadership, he shows how 97 per cent of New Zealand’s micro-businesses can escape post-pandemic isolation and achieve small-business growth through disciplined business networking, referral marketing and 90-day action plans.Ps.Even though the production quality of this episode is not perfect, I still believe the conversation needs to be shared, which is why decided to publish it. Have it in the background while you work (just don't look at my blurry face).Time Stamps0:00 quick intro & the deal: hit subscribe for better episodes0:28 why network? people-first business growth explained (networking benefits)1:29 what is the crate? flexible office space + origin of “doing business with the neighbours”3:42 purpose of networking = growth, money freedom & time freedom for nz founders5:17 97 % of nz businesses are micro-sized — why that makes networking essential7:02 multiplying reach: how 25 members unlock 3 000+ potential customers9:21 weekly vs monthly meet-ups — staying top-of-mind in crowded markets11:09 networking for employees: turning a personal vision into a side-hustle13:56 andy’s passion: helping others, spotting blind spots & sharing expertise15:49 making money through referrals: word-of-mouth that converts18:43 give before you get — building trust & reciprocity in any group23:07 psychology of networking: belonging, social proof, storytelling, confidence loop32:05 scarcity & category limits: why the gathering caps two members per industry35:11 90-day action plan + accountability triangles (real success stories)39:42 brain science of writing goals & reading them aloud daily42:32 shutting a “successful” event to launch the gathering — the pivot story46:46 scaling purely by word-of-mouth (no ads) and why it works47:12 how to join: thursday 4 :30 pm sessions at the crate, constellation drive49:11 final advice: book a day away from the grind to re-imagine your businessEpisode SponsorDownload Your Free E-Book www.podcastguest.co.nzFollow Andy / andyprenticenz Follow MeInstagram – / notesfromtheexecutivepodcast Listen:Spotify: https://shorturl.at/I4N8gApple: https://shorturl.at/D0YwSEpisode SponsorDownload Your Free E-Book www.podcastguest.co.nz#networking #smallbusiness #aucklandbusiness #kiwientrepreneurs #businessgrowth #northshore #coworkingspace #entrepreneurship #thecrate #notesfromtheexecutive
--------
50:25
Sales & Growth TRICKS: How to SELL When No One Knows Your Name
Thank you to our episode sponsor podcastguest.co.nzDownload Your Free E-Book at www.podcastguest.co.nzWhat do you do when no one knows who you are… but you still need to make sales? In this episode, top NZ business minds drop hard-earned lessons and fresh strategies on marketing, growth, and selling — even if you hate selling.Featuring:Stu Lees - (Marketing Expert) on why in-person coffee meetings bring better leads than adsLloyd Budd - (CEO Bayleys Auckland, NZ) on trust, client expectations, and a painful mistakeDominic Sutton - (SaaS founder) on surviving the black hole days and knowing when to hireWyndi Tagi - on selling as a non-salesperson and the $250k hiring mistake she’ll never make againTimestamps00:00 Please subscribe00:28 why in-person coffee meetings bring better leads than ads - Stu Lees, marketing expert03:07 Stu Lees reveals his own winning marketing strategy06:33 The secrets of building trust to make business - Lloyd Budd, Bayleys NZ11:14 What clients really want from a service provider - Lloyd Budd, Bayleys NZ14:00 A real life story of losing a client - Lloyd Budd16:45 A mistake Lloyd Budd made in the early days19:15 – Begin a business with the end in mind - Dominic Sutton, SaaS Founder20:35 – How and when to hire people when you’re growing - Dominic Sutton, SaaS Founder23:55 – Black hole days: surviving the early stages of business - Dominic Sutton, SaaS Founder25:15 – how to keep going when you want to quit - Dominic Sutton, SaaS Founder29:03 - how to sell to someone- Wyndi Tagi – Business advisor and owner31:32 - how Wyndi Tagi scales her business and hiring people33:56 – hiring mistakes that cost $250k and what to do differently - Wyndi Tagi – Business advisor and ownerFollow me:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/notesfromtheexecutivepodcast/
--------
35:50
Why Most Businesses Fail Before They Start (and How to Make Sure Yours Doesn't)
In this special episode of Notes From The Executive, we picked the best moments from some of our top interviews, all focused on starting a business the smart way.You'll hear from:Josh Comrie (The Exit Pro) on how to spot seismic shifts in AI and why timing is everything in businessDominic Sutton (SaaS founder) on the $1.2 million mistake that taught him what really matters when building a startupStu Lees (Marketing expert) on why a $9 website and a few coffee meetings can outperform fancy ads WatchYouTube: https://youtu.be/_nW3E09pZ7E#startingabusiness #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #notesfromtheexecutive #podcastguestnz
Notes from The Executive tells the incredible stories behind the business success of the movers and shakers of local world - New Zealand. The business thinkers, CEOs, founders, creatives, disruptors and doers who are reshaping industries and rewriting the rules. Unscripted. Unedited.
You will learn the lessons, failures, mindset, philosophies and practical actionable know-how on how they did it to get ahead. So you can think bigger and differently and achieve more success in business and life.
Hosted by Founder & Journalist Mina Amso.
New Zealand