🥃 The Business of Love: Are We Looking for Love in the Wrong Places?

We talk a lot about building successful businesses, creating wealth and achieving our goals.

But what about building meaningful relationships?

On the latest episode of Whisky & Suits, we sat down with Lauren Hunter, Head of Australia at Cinqe Matchmaking, to explore the business of love — and why finding the right partner can be more complicated than we think.

Lauren’s own experience navigating dating after divorce led her to recognise an opportunity to help others find meaningful connections beyond dating apps and endless swiping.

Today, she helps successful, time-poor singles find compatible partners through a personalised, relationship-focused approach.

We discussed some fascinating topics:

❤️ Why successful people can still struggle with dating — career confidence doesn't automatically translate into relationship success.

📱 The problem with dating apps — why endless choice and online profiles don't always lead to genuine connection.

🧠 Knowing what you really need — how the qualities we think we want in a partner may differ from the ones that help a relationship thrive.

🤝 The power of human connection — why understanding someone's personality, values and lifestyle goes beyond algorithms and first impressions.

🔒 Trust and confidentiality — why discretion and honest conversations are essential when dealing with something as personal as relationships.

🎯 Being intentional about love — how greater clarity about ourselves and our goals can help us make better choices.

One thing that stood out to us was how much matchmaking has in common with other areas of life and business.

It's not simply about finding an option. It's about finding the right option.

Whether we're choosing a business partner, making an investment or building a relationship, understanding what truly matters is critical.

Because success isn't just about what we achieve professionally. The quality of our relationships and the people we share our lives with matter, too.

A refreshing conversation with Lauren about connection, compatibility and why sometimes we need to look beyond the obvious to find what we're really searching for.

Thanks for joining us, Lauren. 🥃

Watch the latest episode of Whisky & Suits on Ticker.

#WhiskyAndSuits #TickerNews #LaurenHunter #CinqeMatchmaking #Relationships #Business #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #HumanConnection

🥃 Staying Relevant Is the Key to Business Success

What does it take to build a business that stands the test of time?

On the latest episode of Whisky & Suits, we sat down with Nick Russian — entrepreneur, investor and hospitality heavyweight — to talk about building businesses, spotting opportunities and staying relevant in a constantly changing world.

Nick has spent more than two decades building businesses across hospitality, entertainment, education and recruitment.

From his early days working behind the bar to creating some of Melbourne’s most popular hospitality venues, including Bar Bambi, his journey is a masterclass in recognising opportunity and adapting to change.

We covered some important ground:

🥂 Spotting opportunities: How Nick identified changing nightlife habits and created a new hospitality experience.

📈 Staying relevant: Why businesses must keep evolving instead of relying on what worked yesterday.

🤝 The power of relationships: How the people we meet, the connections we build and the experiences we gain can open unexpected doors.

🏢 Scaling a business: The challenge of growing a hands-on operation without needing to be there every minute of the day.

💰 The pressure on small business: Rising costs, squeezed consumer spending and the impact of government policies on hospitality operators.

👊Resilience and adaptability: Why entrepreneurs need to keep their finger on the pulse and be willing to change with the market.

One lesson that really stood out to us was the importance of relevance.

Nick recognised that people’s habits were changing. Rather than stick with the traditional nightclub model, he looked at what was happening overseas and saw an opportunity to bring something different to Melbourne.

That willingness to evolve has been central to building a venue that continues to attract people years after opening.

In business, success isn't just about having a great idea. It's about understanding our customers, adapting to change and building something people want to keep coming back to.

A great conversation with Nick about entrepreneurship, hospitality and the realities of running a business in Australia today.

Thanks for joining us, Nick. 🥃

Watch the latest episode of Whisky & Suits on Ticker.

#WhiskyAndSuits #TickerNews #NickRussian #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Hospitality #Business #Leadership #Melbourne

🥃 What does success actually look like?

It’s a question we don’t ask ourselves often enough.

On the latest episode of Whisky & Suits, I sat down with Andy Reid — one of Australia’s top auctioneers, author, podcast host and success coach — for a conversation that went well beyond property.

Andy has spent years in real estate, built a reputation as an outstanding auctioneer, written his book Success Curious and now helps people and businesses understand how they can improve.

But one of the most interesting things about Andy is how he thinks about success.

For him, it’s not about constantly chasing the next milestone. It’s about alignment — who you are, what you do and where you are in life.

We covered some fascinating ground, including:

🎯 Why success means something different to everyone
🧠 The difference between chasing satisfaction and staying curious
💬 Why asking “why?” is essential for learning and progress
🚀 How fear and our interpretation of change can hold us back — or move us forward
📈 What Andy has learned from coaching people across different industries
🎙️ The stories and lessons he’s uncovered through his own podcast
💡 Why being present and recognising where you are matters just as much as having big goals

One point really stuck with me: we can spend so much time chasing where we want to be that we forget to ask ourselves whether we're on the right path right now.

Ambition matters. Goals matter. Getting better matters.

But so does knowing what success means to you — rather than simply chasing someone else's version of it.

I also loved Andy’s perspective on curiosity. The willingness to ask questions, challenge assumptions and keep learning is what allows us to grow.

A great conversation with a sharp mind, plenty of laughs and some powerful lessons that apply just as much to business as they do to life.

Thanks for joining us, Andy. 🥃

Watch the latest episode of Whisky & Suits on Ticker.

#WhiskyAndSuits #TickerNews #AndyReid #Success #Mindset #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Business #RealEstate #Curiosity