Better Decisions, Stronger Growth (Sydney)
Description
Every growing business reaches moments where a leader has to make a significant call: hire another employee, adopt new technology, launch a service, enter a market or commit capital to growth.
The challenge is rarely a lack of ideas. It's knowing which ideas and investments deserve the business's limited time, money and people — and what needs to be true for them to deliver value.
Across our work, we've seen important decisions considered through one part of the business at a time. But an investment that stacks up financially can still fall short if customers don't value it or the organisation isn't ready to deliver it.
This practical session introduces a simple framework for pressure-testing a decision through three connected lenses: Customer, People and Finance.
With AI now high on the agenda for many businesses, we'll bring the framework to life through a worked example: should this business invest in AI, and what needs to be true for that investment to succeed?
You'll see how to identify the problem worth solving, test whether the organisation is ready, examine whether the numbers stack up, and decide whether to proceed, pilot, revise or pause.
You'll leave with a practical framework you can apply to AI and other significant business investments.
There will be networking during the event, creating an opportunity to share experiences and connect with other local owners and managers facing similar growth decisions.
FAQs
- Who is the event for?
This session is designed for owners and senior leaders of established small and medium businesses considering growth, investment or significant change. It will be particularly relevant to leaders in professional services, health and care, community services, construction/property/trades and FMCG, as well as CFOs, marketing/customer leaders and People & Culture leaders involved in investment decisions.
- What will I leave with?
You’ll leave with a practical framework to help structure and pressure-test significant business decisions through three connected lenses: Customer, People and Finance.
You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other local business owners and leaders facing similar growth and investment decisions.
- Will this help me build a business case for AI?
We’ll use the AI investment example to explore the questions leaders should consider when building or challenging a business case – including customer value, people and process readiness, financial viability, assumptions, risks and how success will be measured.
- Do I need to be currently considering an AI investment?
No. AI is the worked example we’ll use to bring the framework to life. The same approach can be applied to other significant decisions such as hiring, launching a new service, entering a new market, investing in systems or technology, or committing capital to growth.
The session will be educational and technology-neutral.
- What is the format of the event?
Better Decisions, Stronger Growth is a practical education and networking event for established small businesses.
- Meet the event presenters
The session brings together three local advisers with complementary expertise.
Anushka Mahindapala | Founder, Decision Consulting
Anushka is a CPA (Aus) and CIMA (UK) qualified finance professional with 18 years experience at Westpac across financial planning and analysis, business partnering, forecasting, performance reporting and investment governance. Her experience includes helping leaders understand financial performance, evaluate tradeoffs and make better informed decisions. Through Decision Consulting, she now works as a Finance Partner to growing service businesses, helping owners better understand financial performance and the financial implications of important business decisions.
For the event, Anushka will bring the Finance lens, helping participants consider what a decision will really cost, what needs to be true for it to be worthwhile, whether the business can fund it, and what happens if assumptions are wrong.
Natalie Forbes | Owner and HR Consultant, CulturePath HRNatalie is an accomplished People & Culture leader with over 18 years of HR experience, spanning global organisations, senior executive roles, and complex operational environments.
Before founding CulturePath HR, Natalie built her career leading People & Culture functions within large organisations, where she became known for her clear communication, practical decision‑making, and her ability to guide leaders through challenging people issues. Her professional background includes extensive experience in employee relations, organisational culture, leadership capability and coaching, as well as partnering with senior leaders to develop high‑performing teams–expertise she now brings directly to small and medium businesses.
Natalie’s values of honesty, respect and clarity are central to her work, and she founded CulturePath HR to give business owners accessible, commercially sound HR support without the cost of an internal HR team.
For the event, Natalie will bring the People lens, helping participants pressure test any decision including AI investment - by examining the people, culture, capability and organisational implications. Making sure that business owners don't make decisions that look efficient on paper but quietly fail because the business wasn't ready.
Brianna Ragel | Founder, CurateClarity
Brianna is an MBA-qualified customer strategy, communications and engagement leader with more than 20 years’ experience across brand, product, marketing, communications, customer experience and experience design. Her background spans consulting, in-house and advisory roles across technology, professional services, property, automotive, health and care, education and community services. Through CurateClarity, she works with organisations to turn customer and stakeholder insight into practical strategy and action.
For the event, Brianna will bring the Customer lens, helping participants consider who a decision is really for, which customer groups it will affect, what problem it needs to solve, how it could influence experience, trust and reputation, and whether it creates meaningful value for the people the business exists to serve.
- Important information
Media consent – photography and videography may be taken during the event. Please contact the team before the event if you don't wish to be photographed or filmed.
Communications consent – by registering, you consent to receive program-related communications and resources.
Parking – street parking is available on surrounding streets. However, free street parking is limited. We recommend using public transport or parking at the free 3 hour parking stations in Lane Cove or Artarmon HQ nearby. There is a bus stop close by with routes from Chatswood, St Leonards, Lane Cove and surrounding areas.
Capacity: Maximum of 40 participants.
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