Project Leap

You know the saying; "come to me with a solution, not a problem".You've probably heard it a million times and even had it thrown back at you from time to time.Well, Darryl Branthwaite from Gladstone in Qlds Heartland has turned that notion into an artform. And, what's more, he is known for reeling in his whole community along the way. The fishing pun is intentional. But more on that a bit later. Darryl is the head of the GAPDL - Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited which is the lead promotional body for the region, located on the Queensland Coast at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. It's a region Darryl, and his wife Jenny, love. He takes its success, its struggles and, most of all, its community, to heart and then sets out to do something about it.

In this episode of Project Leap, NSW Woman of the Year, International Marketing and Brand Expert, one of the founders of Animals on Bikes, Opera in the Woolshed, the $1 farm house and Cumnock resident... Christine shares her story of her journey of building brand recognition and galvanising her community for future opportunity and growth.

As doers, taking the leap in the first place is scary. We all know that. But scaling up? Taking the risk to compete on a global scale? That is a different story.. Jason Toevs spoke with Meredith and Tara in Episode Four of Project Leap; imparting some of his vast knowledge around scaling up and backing yourself in a global setting. Jason has Australia in his blood, lives and works in the US, and has made scaling up in a global marketplace into an art form. Whatever your business, staying blinkered with a local mindset could be cruelling your business' potential. Listen to Jason for some great insight in thinking big. 

In Project Leap's third episode, Tara and Meredith talk to Queensland innovator and small business owner Richa Joshi.Richa has interwoven the stunning elements of a big personality, an inherent belief in community and the possibilities that come from bringing people together in a real and powerful way.Hers is a brand of innovation that connects. It is one that matters. Not just to her, but to a community still trying to come to terms with things like cultural integration, acceptance and understanding.Listen to Project Leap's Ep 3 to learn more about Richa's journey, her belief in community and her complete faith in the notion that working together makes great things happen.

“The only time we really, really innovate is when we have come up against some sort of block; it’s when we come up against adversity.”Terry Hawkins, who spoke with Project Leap presenters Meredith Papas and Tara Jacobsen-Neven during a Special Edition of their podcast this week, has had to reinvent herself time and again. As a poor little girl, growing up amid hardship and abuse, the now world-renowned and top ranking speaker has a simple outlook on life. Project Leap interviewed Terry as a special edition ahead of an event she is speaking at in the Whitundays.  Terry is speaking to business people and community leaders in The Whitsundays this Saturday in the wake of the devastation wreaked on the North Queensland region by Cyclone Debbie and the fall out this has caused to businesses. 

In Project Leap's second episode, Tara and Meredith talk to the charming Matt Golinski. Whilst many people think they know Matts story over the years,  we wanted to share why we believe Matt is a "Doer" for regional Australia.   Over the last 3 years Matt has been working in rural and regional towns supporting to create growth opportunities in these economies by delivering events to boost the food ecosystems in these regions. Goondiwindi, Blackall, Biloela, Mackay, The Sunshine Coast, Roma ... you name it! Matt has been there, worked with local producers and youth and cooked. He is the Gympie Food Ambassador and has a standing invitation to headline major food events throughout the country,It's not all rosy though - as anyone in the thick of regional, rural or remote primary industry would be quick to attest. "Even with the diversity, and the good business models, it is still a tough business to be in.Listen to Project Leaps Ep 2 to learn more about Matt's journey  and the incredible work he is doing in regional Australia. 

In Project Leap's break out episode, Queensland-based innovator Deb Rae shares her personal and entrepreneureal journey, and in chatting with Tara and Meredith, she explores how defining moments in those two worlds have shaped who she is today and how she came to commit to a positive and constructive mindset.  Based in Mackay, Deb's business and philanthropic achievements are underpinned by her incredible qualifications. But, here, it's her honesty and raw, no-nonsense truths which will resonate with listeners and have yousaving this episode to your 'favouites' list.