Movers & Shakers
With a hunger for breaking the mould and a thirst for change, we steal a few minutes from Barb Hayman and Ronen Heine’s busy schedule for a chat about life, lessons, and smart decisions.
With a hunger for breaking the mould and a thirst for change, we steal a few minutes from Barb Hayman and Ronen Heine’s busy schedule for a chat about life, lessons, and smart decisions.
- Give us a quick elevator pitch of who you are.
My name’s Ronen Heine, I’m 34, and the founder and CEO of #CorporateAdvice, a start-up studio helping founders access services they need to launch and grow. I’m also an adventure marathon addict, my craziest was Marathon Des Sables, where we ran 260km through the Sahara desert over five days.
- What did you study at university?
I studied biomedical science and did my honours in immunology, and it was actually because of advice from a careers counsellor. I ended up having a total change in career, following my passion to go back to uni and study law.
- What does an average day at work for you look like?
I always start the day with a meditation and an early morning run. I’ll get some emails done at home and then once I hit the office it’s pretty much a combination of internal team catch-ups, meetings with entrepreneurs, and running workshops for start-ups. I usually get to meet with at least two founders every day, pitching their new businesses to us. Their passion is palpable and super uplifting, so I get to come home most nights feeling inspired!
- What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt so far when it comes to money and investment?
Working with start-ups, picking the winner is almost impossible, so you quickly learn not to put all your eggs in one basket; we invest in 10 hoping a few of them will win. The other biggest learning is to invest in teams, not business ideas, as the idea is nothing without the right team. We look for people who are committed, have a diverse skill set, and can learn and grow quickly.
- What are some interesting and valuable sectors/areas worth investing in today?
Tech is disrupting some big industries in Australia at the moment, so I’d encourage people to look at tech companies in financial services, insurance, agriculture, and HR, and also those with a positive social impact. Impact investing is a hot topic at the moment and I think it’s important that we support companies that are going to create a positive future.
- What was the best piece of advice given to you?
A mentor once said to me you have to get in the game to learn how to play. I think you can plan, plan, plan, but there’s nothing more valuable than the lessons you learn once you actually start something.
- Is work-life balance possible?
I actually hate the phrase work-life balance, it implies that work is something that gets in the way of life, which is very much how many people feel in corporate jobs. We have a mantra in our business: just love what you do! And do what you need to be the best you at work and at home.
- What has been your most indulgent purchase to date?
A pair of Yeezy sneakers (I’m a self-confessed sneakerhead).
- What do you do for fun?
I am a sucker for all sports. Running, cycling, and most recently skiing. I try to get outdoors as much as possible!
- If you were given $1 million in cash tomorrow, what would you do with it?
I would invest in 10 start-ups, with $100k to each.
Ronen Heine is the founder and CEO of #CorporateAdvice, and a passionate advocate for developing and supporting an ecosystem in Australia that allows young people to thrive in non-traditional careers. He worked as a corporate lawyer for over four years before starting #CorporateAdvice in 2015.
- Give us the elevator pitch on who you are.
Barb Hyman, born the year man landed on the moon (yes that long ago) in Zimbabwe in a little town halfway between the two biggest towns, with one traffic light , one shule, one school and about three Jewish families.
My mother was worried about impending civil war, so she nagged my father to emigrate which he finally did, our family of four uprooting our blessed comfortable life to live in the African outpost of Perth. My father left with nothing but us and some kruger rands stuffed into a few tins. He worked for nothing for the next 20 years or more as he had no formal qualifications. It was only through the benevolence of the Jewish education system that we were all able to get a privileged education for nothing, so thank you to the parents of Carmel School who subsidised my education.
- What did you study at university?
Arts/law and then later an MBA. I chose it because the tagline on my year 12 school book predicted that in the future, I would be “wanted” for disturbing the peace. I was also known in the family for being argumentative and opinionated, so law kind of seemed to fit.
- What does an average day at work for you look like?
There is no such thing as an average day in a start-up other than it’s a long day – you are triaging a lot on how best to spend your time.
Every day is spent optimising for cash and time, both scarce and diminishing assets. That usually means time spent with customers and investors. In between, I work with our team to help make the least bad decisions on any one day
- What are some interesting and valuable sectors/areas worth investing in today?
Well, there is this small company that is at the frontier of new technology that will disrupt the $26 billion recruitment sector in Australia that I am happy to give you privileged access to in their next cap raise … (hint…www.predictivehire.com)
- Worst investment tip you’ve heard?
Back the horse based on the colours of the jockey’s top!
- Best piece of advice given to you?
Give and you will get. And nothing comes without hard work.
- Is work-life balance possible?
Work is and always will be a source of sustenance for me, beyond the salary. Returning to work after having children gave me confidence, increased my self-worth, afforded me the freedom to divorce, and be financially independent with three kids. There are relationships at work and at home, and I have learnt as much about being a parent and a partner from my work situations as I have the other way around. Both parts of my day feed off each other.
- What do you do for fun?
Every day is fun! What a privileged role I have to build something alongside smart, curious people who really give a s**t about what we are doing. For true downtime I listen to, watch, sing or dance along to musicals, ideally with my kids. I potter in my garden, listen to my favourite podcasts, read non-fiction, and travel to new destinations with loved ones. I don’t watch any TV.
- Your most indulgent purchase to date?
My home.
- If you were given $1 million in cash tomorrow, what would you do with it?
Well I’d invest it in PredictiveHire of course… after taking the team out for a long long lunch!
Barb Hayman is the current CEO of PredictiveHire, a new recruitment company that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to help companies make better hiring and promotional decisions. While she started her career as a solicitor, Barb realised her skills and personality were better suited to business. As well as 10 years at the Boston Consulting Group, she’s held leadership roles in a range of sectors, including the arts, professional services and tech. Most recently, she was on the executive team at the largest digital company in Australia – the REA Group.
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