What do you do, when you have invested all your money into an idea you thought was going off, and then the whole world shuts down?

Do you try to fight on? Or do you completely change your business to survive?

That’s the decision Aidan Bartlett faced.

He’s the co-founder and chief Executive of online marketplace Designer Wardrobe. It was, once upon a time, a designer rental shop.

Covid-19 wrecked the business but also gave it a new life.

Aidan Bartlett joined Kerre Woodham in studio in the latest episode of Bosses Unfiltered.

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Five years ago, Port of Auckland was struggling with a shocking health and safety record.

Three people had died and many more had been injured at work.

Financially, the company was dealing with a costly but flawed automation project, and COVID added plenty of headaches for the global shipping industry too.

The company needed a complete turnaround, and Roger Gray was picked as the new chief executive to get on with the job.

With a background of 20 years in the Australian Army and roles at Goodman Fielder and Air New Zealand, Roger came with experience in leadership, but this was a big job with big problems.

Roger Gray joined Kerre Woodham in studio for the latest episode of Bosses Unfiltered.

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They say when one door closes, another one opens.

That’s certainly been the case for Lisa King. In the same breath she closed her first business Eat My Lunch and started a drinks brand AF Drinks.

AF stands for alcohol free - and it's a range of booze free cocktails.

The brand has picked up on a huge rise in people who want to drink less or not at all.

It’s a change not just seen in New Zealand, but across the world. Within two years in the US market, AF Drinks are now available in 4000 stores in America.

Lisa King joined Kerre Woodham in studio for the latest episode of Bosses Unfiltered.

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Rod Duke has been selling things since he was 16. First shoes, then appliances, and eventually homewares and sportswear.

Born in Adelaide, Duke came to New Zealand in 1988 to spruce up a flailing Briscoes for sale. Two years later he scored the best Briscoes deal ever, he bought the whole company himself for $2.

He ended up with 12 shabby stores, where dusty wine glasses were sitting on the shelf for $2.71 each.

But it didn’t take long for Duke to turn the business around.

Today, there are almost 100 Briscoes and Rebel Sports stores around the country, and Briscoes is a listed company that’s been defying the odds of the economic downturn.

The Briscoes boss unpacks it all with Kerre Woodham on the latest episode of Bosses Unfiltered.

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Dame Wendy Pye is one of the most successful businesspeople in New Zealand.

She’s a rich-lister, her publishing company Sunshine Books has sold over 300 million books worldwide, she's met countless more world leaders, and she was the first living woman to be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

But it hasn’t all been easy. Dame Wendy has gone through a life changing redundancy, legal battles, and had many deals that couldn't be closed.

She joined Newstalk ZB's Kerre Woodham in studio for the first episode of Bosses Unfiltered.

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