On this episode host Paul Spain is joined by Mitchell Pham, a Vietnamese-New Zealand Tech innovator and Strategic Advisor. Mitchell shares his remarkable journey from escaping Vietnam as a refugee to becoming a prominent entrepreneur and reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his approach to business, including navigating crises, building resi…

Misti Landtroop is the managing director for Palo Alto Networks in New Zealand, a key global cyber security leader. Misti has spent over 20 years in key leadership roles ranging from early stage start-ups through to Fortune 100 companies, including over a decade at Microsoft. Listen as Misti shares her insights on leadership, career challenges, and…

In this episode Stew Darling, founder of Unstoppable Force, shares invaluable insights drawn from his military intelligence background and leadership expertise. From strategic interviewing techniques to the significance of resilience in high-stakes environments, Stew provides thought-provoking perspectives on decision-making, leadership, and person…

Jamie Hunt, founder of Pressio, co founder of 2XU and professional triathlete, shares his journey from athlete to entrepreneur. Discover how Jamie's unwavering passion for retail, ethical business practices, and innovative product development have propelled his ventures to international success.By Paul Spain

Join host Paul Spain in conversation with digital marketing innovator, Ben Guerin, co-founder of the international agency Topham Guerin. Listen as they dive into the challenges and successes of agency growth, the power of social media marketing, and the emergence of platforms like TikTok. Ben shares insights on leveraging data, reaching new markets…

In this episode, Paul Spain is joined by Michael Rebelo, CEO of Publicis Group in Australia and New Zealand. Michael takes us on a journey through his fascinating career, from his time in London's advertising industry to his current role with Publicis Group. Join us as we delve into the challenges and opportunities of marketing and digital transfor…

In this episode, Paul Spain chats with Adrian Palmer, general manager of Common Good Coffee and Joyya Collective. Adrian shares his journey of using business as a force for good and building connections globally. Discover the secrets behind their community coffee business, the challenges they face, and their dedication to a better world, where busi…

Paul Spain is joined by Vaughan Fergusson - Founder of Vend, a thriving POS business, which was acquired for US$350 million. He is also co-founder and trustee of The Pam Fergusson Charitable Trust, which teaches kids to innovate with programs like OMGTech! and Institute of Awesome. Join us as we learn from Vaughan's experiences as an inventor, inno…

Richard Conway, founder and CEO of Pure SEO, shares insights into scaling a business and the significance of inflection points in business growth. Richard stresses the importance of comprehending the lifetime value of customers. He emphasizes the need for leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, offer better value to customers, and remain ahead…

Paul Spain is joined by Lindsay Zwart, Chief Enterprise Director at Vodafone New Zealand. Lindsay shares her career journey, leadership skills, and challenges in implementing change in a large organization. Lindsay also discusses the importance of company culture, feedback, career development plans, and networking to grow in a role and prepare for …

Ian McCrae, founder and former CEO of Orion Health, shares his journey to creating one of the leading providers of health care software. Ian reflects on the challenges they faced in their growth, including transitioning to a larger team, establishing credibility, and bidding for large international tenders.…

Dr. Paul Woodfield, a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, discusses his background and research in entrepreneurship and innovation in family businesses, traditional industries, and science for technological innovation. He talks about his own family's history in the wine industry and the importance of family businesses in New Zeala…

Paul Spain is joined by Cecilia and James Robinson, co-founders of My Food Bag which they grew to be worth over $100m in under 3-years, and more recently launching innovative healthcare start-up Tend Health. The Robinson Duo have a proven track record for start ups and high growth business.By Paul Spain

Paul Spain is joined by Julian Smith, head of Global Marketing at Rockit Global. Julian shares what it's like to work with some of New Zealand's leading brands and his recent success with Rockit Global.By Paul Spain

Queenstown business owner Matt Wong has a background in wildlife conservation before stepping into tourism as manager of i-SITE visiting centre in Queenstown. Matt also managed Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters a mix of aviation, tourism and the film industry and more recently owning and managing iFLY Indoor Skydiving NZ in Queenstown. Matt shares…

Ed was Chief Executive of WestJet in Canada. During Ed's leadership, WestJet was acquired in a deal worth over $6 Billion. Other highlights in his career include launching a disruptive travel business for Richard Branson, senior roles at Air New Zealand and running Airways New Zealand.By Paul Spain

Entrepreneur, Author, CEO and ONZM Tony Falkenstein, joins host Paul Spain, sharing lessons from his immense wealth of knowledge and experiences, both the ups and the downs of his business adventures.By Paul Spain

Kathryn Wilson joins Paul Spain, and shares insights from her journey of perseverance, passion, creativity and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry. Her story is provides current and fresh inspiration for those in business and leadership - highlighting the importance of being open-minded to learn from those around you and of pushing through the…

Dave Ferguson Co-founder of Nuro, joins Paul Spain to discuss his journey as a global leader and innovator achieving breakthroughs in Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles and Artificial Intelligence. In recent years the company he co-founded, Nuro has grown to attract US$2B in today's investment, and has reached a US$8.6B valuation. Dave Ferguson was anno…

There are millions of vacant homes in the U.S. right now.Today we want to talk about the number of vacant homes in the US and what impact this has on the market. Even though we’re in a desperate housing shortage right now, there are 16 million vacant homes in the U.S. That seems like an astronomical stat considering the state of the market. The sta…

How the SOLDwisch team gets involved and gives back to the community.The other day, we played dodgeball to help out Children’s Cancer Connection. We weren’t sure exactly how much our dodgeball skills would hold up, but when we heard there was a team costume contest, we knew we could at least compete there. We really enjoy being involved in the comm…

The Misty SOLDwisch team’s personalized marketing plan sells more homes.Barbara Corcoran, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, built the No. 1 brokerage firm in New York City by marketing luxury homes to the most qualified buyers.That same strategy is what will make the difference in our area. We’re creating customized marketing for the right buyers in Des Mo…

My interview with Matthew White, the director of marketing at Title Services.In today’s video, we’re casting our business spotlight on Title Services of Des Moines. Title is a critical aspect of the real estate process, so my interview with Matthew White, Director of Marketing, was really informative. He answered a few questions about his business,…

How does the Neighborhood Finance Corporation help revitalize neighborhoods?Today on the “Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard,” we’re joined by Stephanie Murphy and Terry Gearhart from the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, a nonprofit mortgage company. They’re here to share what the NFC offers and how they help buyers purchase homes.If you’re going…

Here’s how you can sell your home if you have pets to keep track of.Today I want to share another clip from my radio show, Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard, on 106.3 KXNO-FM. In case you don’t know, I do this show with Heather Burnside, and it airs every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. In this clip, we discuss how you can sell your home when you have pets.T…

This is why having a great agent is a lot like having a great mom.If you have a real estate agent you really love, they might do some things that remind you of your mom. From the latest episode of “The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard,” here are 10 different ways that your real estate agent is just like your mother:1. She makes you clean your ro…

Here’s why buying a home is far better than renting, especially right now.We know that buying is more affordable than renting, but it’s not just because it’s a lower payment. One of the most powerful long-term savings plans is building equity in your home. You will be paying for where you’re living regardless, but with a home, these payments are bu…

Here’s all the info you need about our third annual Teacher Giveaway.I’m so excited to announce our third annual Teacher Giveaway. When we started this three years ago, we gave away $500 to five deserving Central Iowa educators. Last year, with all the challenges of 2020, we upped the number to $2,020 in gifts. This year, we decided to make our con…

Here’s how a pre-inspection can help you be a better seller.On a recent episode of The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard, we discussed the importance of having a pre-inspection when selling your home. Adam McCarty, owner of RightWay Home Inspections and a licensed inspector himself, joined us to discuss.“We avoid inaccurate pricing with a pre-ins…

Our current low interest rates make properties more affordable.Today’s interest rates are so low that many people are surprised to find out how much home they can afford in the current market. Rates have been hovering in the 2s and the low 3s depending on your credit score and other factors (you’d have to be pre-approved by a lender to learn what k…

Listen in to Fred Soar, Chief Executive at Soar Print as he talks with NZ Business Podcast host Paul Spain. Soar Print is a family-owned business that has been in operation for over a hundred years and has therefore learnt how to survive - and even thrive - through decades of ongoing change, reinvention, and improvement. We learn from the Soar Prin…

The modern farmhouse home is the most popular style in Iowa.As far as architectural styles go, what does Iowa find appealing? Like the rest of the country, modern farmhouses are the popular architectural style for new homes right now in Iowa. Is this the Joanna Gaines effect? It’s amazing what power a show like Fixer Upper can have in defining our …

Paul Spain sits down with Stefan Powell of Dawn Aerospace to learn a little of what it takes to establish a new space startup in New Zealand. Stefan delves into a wide range of topics including the Aurora Spaceplane. NZ Business Podcast Podcasts NZ Gorilla Technology Gorilla Cyber SecurityBy Stefan Powell

Here’s a look at the role your credit score plays in mortgage qualification.On this episode of the ‘Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard’, we’re discussing the importance of your credit score when getting a mortgage. Chuck Simmons from Motto Mortgage joined us to offer his expertise.Right now, everything revolves around credit in the mortgage indust…

There are several advantages to buying a new construction home.What are the advantages of new construction?First of all, new construction homes feature the latest finishes, gorgeous decor, etc. You also don’t have to make changes to personalize the home to your tastes—the paint, cabinetry, appliances, and everything else have already been designed …

Here’s what happens when a natural disaster affects a for-sale home.Welcome back to the Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard. This time, we’re with Rob Keller of Country Financial and answering the question, “What happens when there is a natural disaster when a home is for sale?”If you do have damage that has occurred as the result of a natural disa…

Here’s the story of how Emily Burton become our Director of Sales.Emily Burton is originally from Indianola, Iowa, where she graduated from Simpson College. She worked as a bartender for many years before she stumbled into the real estate business. She had just received her degree in public relations and was looking for a job. She initially intervi…

Here are three mistakes not to make if you’re in the home-buying process.Today Chuck Simmons from Motto Mortgage Midwest joins us to discuss the three main things you shouldn’t do if you’re in the process of buying a home. Some of these things may seem obvious, but many people don’t know the ins and outs of how the process works. Don’t get caught m…

On this episode, we’re focusing on multiple-offer strategies for sellers.When you are a home seller who is receiving multiple offers, it’s very common for your agent to reach back out to buyers to ask for their highest and best offer by a certain time frame. I try a different approach because I’m not the biggest fan of the sense of finality conveye…

Here are six tips that will make your offer stand out in a bidding war.Nationally, multiple offers are becoming more and more frequent in the real estate market, and that’s certainly true in most segments of our Des Moines market. As a buyer, when you make an offer for the home you want, it has to be presented in a way that will actually win the ho…

I recently appeared on a talk radio show with Heather Burnside to discuss our certified pre-owned program for sellers.We’ve been doing the certified pre-owned program for several years now, and it is a great marketing feature for our sellers. However, there’s more intent behind it than just marketing to appeal to buyers.We find that when sellers ar…

Adam McCarty from Rightway Home Inspections is here to answer a few home inspection questions.In today’s message, I sat down with Adam McCarty from Rightway Home Inspections on my weekly radio show “The Central Iowa Real Estate Scoreboard” on 106.3 KXnO to discuss a few key questions people tend to have about his industry, including the importance …

Here’s what experts are predicting for our upcoming housing market.Today’s message is about what the experts see on the horizon for the housing market. If you’re considering buying or selling a home, I’m sharing what you need to know. According to the National Association of Realtors, 77% of potential sellers are preparing to sell their houses foll…

Rod Drury (Founder, Xero) talks with Paul Spain about shaping the future of New Zealand - including initiatives and practical ideas for both business leaders and government to get moving on now. NZ Business Podcast Podcasts NZ Gorilla TechnologyBy Paul Spain

A open and wide ranging discussion with Jason Paris about life inside Vodafone NZ during the COVID-19 era, along with insights on leadership, communications, culture and of course telecommunications. NZ Business Podcast Podcasts NZ Gorilla TechnologyBy Paul Spain

We have tools and services to help you buy a home virtually. Learn how here.Today I want to tell you about our virtual home buying services. The health crisis has people concerned about the safety of going into occupied houses for their home search. The great news is, our virtual home buying services help you decide on a property without having to …

Jolie Hodson (CEO, Spark NZ) leads one of the NZ's largest and strongest businesses. In this NZ Business Podcast chat we hear insights on operating and leading during challenging times. NZ Business Podcast Podcasts NZ Paul Spain Gorilla TechnologyBy Paul Spain

Chris Quin kindly shared his Saturday morning to reveal what's been happening behind the scenes at Foodstuffs NI (New World, Pak n Save, Four Square) during the #COVID19 crisis and offers advice for NZ organisations - including one (of many) reasons why laying off staff should be avoided. Websites: NZ Business Podcast Podcasts NZ Paul Spain Gorilla…

By Misty Darling

By Misty Darling