In a year when more than 6,200 NSW businesses went insolvent, furniture maker Dean Boyd became one of them.

In this episode, Dean reflects on the journey of building Living Timber Co from $26 and a garage into a business delivering national projects, before the difficult decision to place the company into liquidation.

We explore what happens when passion meets rapid growth, rising interest rates and the quiet pressure many founders carry to do everything themselves. Dean speaks candidly about burnout, the warning signs he overlooked, and why he now views the experience as a failure without regrets, not something to be ashamed of, but something to learn from and move on from.

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Disclaimer: This episode was first released on 25th August 2025.

This week I sit down with Paul Grosmann, CEO of R.M.Williams, to talk about one of Australia’s most iconic and enduring brands. We go back to 1932 and the story of founder Reginald Murray Williams, and how a bloke with no formal training built a business that became a global name. Paul shares what makes the boots and jackets so special, why Aussies are so loyal to the brand, and how it has stayed true to its roots despite decades of changing ownership. He also opens up about his own journey from Nike and McKinsey to Harris Farm Markets, and the leadership lessons he is bringing to R.M.Williams as he drives the brand into its next chapter while keeping its heritage front and centre.

Check out R.M.Williams website here: https://www.rmwilliams.com.au/

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It’s been another big year on The Mentor. We’ve had some brilliant guests sharing incredible business insight. Who stood out to you, and who should we bring on next?

Here are some highlights of the standout episodes of the year.

00:00-8:52 (Hyro co-founders Steve & Taylor Chapman)

8:52-23:13 (R.M. Williams CEO Paul Grosmann)

23:14 - 33:36 (Dominique Gill)

33:37- 39:46 (Britt & Taz)

39:47- 48:08 (Mike Christidis)

Listen to the full podcast via the links below.

1. #493 Hyro co-founders Steve & Taylor Chapman
2. #495 R.M. Williams CEO Paul Grosmann
3. #499 Dominique Gill
4. #501 Britt & Taz
5. #489 Mike Christidis

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