From Lorna Jane to Peter Freedman: 7 valuable lessons from our Forbes Business Summit speakers

Entrepreneurs

Ahead of today’s Forbes Australia Business Summit, we delve into the journeys and inspirations of the leaders set to take the stage. From Olympic gold medallists to the founders and CEOs of billion-dollar companies, discover the expertise and insights these trailblazers are set to deliver at the event.

To secure your tickets to the Forbes Australia Business Summit, click here.

No alternative text description for this image

Peter Freedman

Peter Freedman, the Founder and Chairman of RØDE and The Freedman Group, transformed his father’s small electronics business into a global audio empire. Reflecting on the darkest moments of his journey, Freedman told Forbes Australia that walking away was never an option: “How can you give up? I was married – two little kids. I wanted to throw myself off a cliff, but you can’t. You just keep going, and you put up with eight years of hell”. His grit and perseverance turned RØDE into one of the world’s leading audio brands, now valued at more than $1.5 billion.

Peter Freedman was the cover of Forbes Australia Issue 8.

Ariarne Titmus

Ariarne Titmus is the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 400-metre freestyle and the world record holder in the long course 200-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle events. Reflecting on what keeps her motivated after reaching the pinnacle of her sport, Titmus told Forbes Australia that her drive “is reliant on enjoying moments of victory”.  She uses the emotions from those moments to fuel her hunger and maintain the desire to keep pushing forward.

Ariarne Titmus was named in Forbes Australia’s inaugural 30 under 30 list in 2024.

Lorna Jane Clarkson

Lorna Jane Clarkson is an iconic Australian entrepreneur, fashion designer, author, and well-regarded advocate for women’s health and wellbeing. She founded Lorna Jane in 1989, transforming a side hustle into a global activewear brand with over 140 stores across Australia. Reflecting on her business philosophy, Clarkson told Forbes Australia: “Make sure you know your customer. Intimately. Your brand is only as good as your ability to solve a problem or add value to your customer”. Her customer-centric approach has fueled the brand’s success for over 35 years and continues to guide its growth today.

Lorna Jane Clarkson was featured in Forbes Australia Issue 4.

Dylan Coyne

Dylan Coyne, a computer science graduate, co-founded Updoc in 2021 to address the challenges of accessing healthcare around a 9-5 schedule. Reflecting on the journey of scaling his business, Coyne told Forbes Australia about the importance of looking at the bigger picture: “When you work week in, week out, looking at the numbers, it can seem like the numbers aren’t changing. But, if you zoom out monthly or quarterly, it gives you a lot more confidence”. In just over three years, Updoc has served more than 200,000 customers and secured $20 million in funding, with plans to accelerate the development of its product roadmap and continue its expansion.

Dylan Coyne was named in Forbes Australia’s inaugural 30 under 30 list in 2024.

Jenny Child

Jenny Child joined Oroton as its Chief Executive Officer in October 2021 having previously served a 15 year stint at McKinsey & Co. Reflecting on her transition from consultong, she told Forbes Australia: “I needed to build new muscles around people and leadership. Leading people and teams towards a shared objective meant taking a different approach to how I spend my time, which sounds so basic, but it’s a hard switch to make so suddenly”.

Oroton CEO Jenny Child was featured in Forbes Australia Issue 10.

Livia Wang

As the founder of Access Corporate Group and Wellness Adventures, Livia has successfully launched Australian and New Zealand brands into global markets, reaching over 10 million consumers worldwide. Leading a business with more than 600 employees worldwide, while also raising two children is no small feat. Speaking to Forbes Australia, Wang emphasized the importance of prioritising wellness in personal and business life: “An entrepreneur needs to be healthy and balanced”. Her commitment underpins her mission to improve the well-being for all, driving meaningful change across the 15 wellness businesses she leads.

Livia Wang was featured in Forbes Australia Issue 11.

Grace Brown

Grace Brown launched Andromeda Robotics in 2022 with a view to deploying the first empathetic robotic throughout nursing homes in Australia. But her story goes beyond entrepreneurial ambition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown found herself in deep isolation, cut off from friends, family, and peers. “I wanted to build something for myself that could at least alleviate some of the loneliness I was experiencing at the time”, she told Forbes Australia. What began as a personal passion project has since evolved into a business with over $3 million in funding and $100,000 in revenue. Brown’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, creativity and innovation can spark meaningful change.

Grace Brown was named in Forbes Australia’s inaugural 30 under 30 list in 2024.

To secure your tickets to the Forbes Australia Business Summit, click here.

Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here.

More from Forbes Australia