Speaker 1: 0:05

Welcome to the Finance Friends podcast. Whether you have followed us from the beginning or you're a new listener, we are excited to have you here. Finance Friends gives our listeners a seat at the table with successful finance industry leaders. Follow us on our socials at Finance Friends Podcast, linked in the description box of this episode, and stay tuned for weekly episode releases. Welcome to the Finance Friends Podcast and we are rounding up season two and what a joy it's been. We've interviewed some incredible guests and I hope you've enjoyed listening to all the episodes. Today's episode we're going to. I've got the lady behind the scenes that does everything for the podcast Sienna. Welcome, sienna.

Speaker 2: 0:54

Hi, thank you. This feels weird actually being in the episode. I'm normally just listening.

Speaker 1: 0:59

No, that's fine. So Sienna is the producer, director, scriber, videographer, photographer everything that gets done on this podcast. Sienna pretty much does everything. So thank you for all your work, Sienna.

Speaker 2: 1:14

You're welcome. I mean this has been amazing for me on the sidelines really getting this season out, especially from season one to season two, the big jump, and I think that's why we're kind of doing this episode. We've gotten so many new listeners come in in season two and we kind of just want them to get to know you and us and the podcast as a whole. So, yes, it's really exciting.

Speaker 1: 1:39

Well, it is exciting, and what's more exciting is the launch of season three. We've had some massive guests on.

Speaker 2: 1:45

Season 3.

Speaker 1: 1:46

Major, major definitely so household names that, especially if you follow football.

Speaker 2: 1:52

If you follow the AFL.

Speaker 1: 1:54

I won't mention who's going to be on the podcast.

Speaker 2: 1:56

Not yet. We want to keep it a secret. Not yet we're keeping it a secret.

Speaker 1: 1:59

But you know, we do have someone that well. Sienna was Idle Idle. Yeah, do have someone that well.

Speaker 2: 2:04

Sienna was Idol yeah, Idol yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:06

Well, let's not go into too much detail.

Speaker 2: 2:08

We can't give too much away.

Speaker 1: 2:09

We can't give that away, but we do have lots of incredible people. But so what have I most enjoyed about? Well, what have you most enjoyed about Season 2, Sienna?

Speaker 2: 2:19

Season 2 was incredible. I think we had so many amazing guests and I feel like everybody says that but sitting in and listening in to all of their stories and their careers and how they shaped their lives still and a university student and learning from these such like, such successful professional people who, you know, are just kind of like everyone else and really are disciplined, motivated it's been so insightful, yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:57

Yeah, and I think the key themes that I heard from our guests included that your first opportunity in the finance industry isn't going to be the perfect opportunity, but it is about getting your foot in the door, and a lot of people just said just get your foot in this door. We had a few guests actually that started in a contact center on the phones and they didn't know what they wanted to be. You know longer term. And the other key theme was your career's not linear.

Speaker 2: 3:30

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 3:31

So, even though you might become a I don't know a, you know you might work in an operations team supporting a team in India, right to end up the head of marketing as an example. Like you know, it's not linear. So just be open to take on new challenges, be open to learning and work hard. I think is a common theme, would you agree?

Speaker 2: 3:55

Yeah, 100%. I think if you guys listening had listened to last week's episode, which was Natalie, she spoke a lot about that and I resonated with her a lot because she, you know, she started off studying journalism and then ended up working for AMP and in marketing and in finance, essentially, um. So like that idea that all of these people we've interviewed through season two have really chopped and changed their careers is inspiring and also a bit comforting, because you don't have to know it all Like.

Speaker 2: 4:28

A lot of our listeners are students and I think it's comforting for them to hear that you're not going to start with the pinnacle job.

Speaker 1: 4:38

It comes with work and changing and different experiences and even when we had David on the podcast David Werdiger, he talks about having three careers to date, changing and different experiences. And even when we had David on the podcast David Werdiger, he talks about having three careers to date. You know his dad, you know, was running a family business and his expectation was to be in the business.

Speaker 2: 4:54

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:54

And you know he wanted to do his own thing, so he was in software computing and now he you know he works with very successful families around succession planning and family dynamics, which is really insightful. So it is important just to be open. I know about my career to date as well. I've only sort of I would say, maybe a third of the way through my career that I started in financial planning and worked in private wealth and now I'm in recruitment. So just being open to learn and take on new challenges and you know your career will evolve Definitely.

Speaker 2: 5:31

Be open to that Definitely, and I think a lot of our listeners are new. So, fabian, do you want to kind of give them a rundown of your career and where you started and, I guess, all the experiences that brought you to this moment in your career and also just hosting a podcast Like what's happened? How did you know? How did it all come about?

Speaker 1: 5:54

Yeah, it's been a bit of a whirlwind. We've come a long way since launching the podcast in October 2024.

Speaker 2: 6:02

Yeah, from season one.

Speaker 1: 6:04

Yeah, from season one. So it's always something I've wanted to do. I love, you know, I love talking to people. I love meeting people. I've emceed a few events.

Speaker 2: 6:12

Fabian knows everyone Absolutely. He can't walk down the street. He knows everyone.

Speaker 1: 6:17

They don't know me, but I know them.

Speaker 2: 6:20

No, sometimes it's the opposite.

Speaker 1: 6:21

Fabian's the next celebrity here Definitely. Definitely on Collins Street.

Speaker 1: 6:25

I know most people on Collins Street, outside of Collins Street, I'm not sure about that. And then the famous bars that everyone goes to, the finance bars like Garden State. Anyway, we digress a little bit. So me, I always loved maths, always loved business. I remember telling this story that you know, my mum's really good with maths and numbers and money. And I remember my mum taught me a skill she would work out the bill of the grocery bill before we got to the counter to know if it fell within her budget or not, and she'd only buy things within her budget.

Speaker 2: 7:05

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 7:05

Yeah, and so I learned to actually calculate the cost of the grocery bill before we got to the counter and I would guess to see roughly, you know, within a dollar of you know $150 bill. So I'd always be obsessed with money and budgeting. And then I'd always go into businesses, and you know a cafe, and look at the way they operate and think to myself, well, they could be doing this better or they could be saying that better, or they could be, you know, upselling this item. So business has always been sort of part of my DNA.

Speaker 1: 7:40

Maths has been part of my DNA and I used to play when I was in high school. I'd play a game with my workmates and I'd say sorry, my schoolmates, and say that I'll be able to calculate the equation before you can calculate it on the calculator within reason. Nothing too crazy, and that was my goal to always work it out before they could do it on the calculator. So I've definitely gone downhill on the multiplication front point. But, yeah, I still love maths. So I ended up doing a finance degree at university and in my last year of university I worked at ANZ in a foreign exchange role at the airport. So I just did FX, foreign exchange for people that were going overseas.

Speaker 2: 8:22

Yep.

Speaker 1: 8:23

Actually served some pretty well-known professionals and well-known people sports people- Can you tell us who? Who came through? Brian Lara came through. Okay, brian Lara is a famous cricketer from the West Indies. Pretty cool, very much a cool cat Served Gary Ablett oh wow, junior and Gary Ablett Senior was there. This was right before he moved to the Gold Coast, so there was a lot of talk about him moving to the Gold Coast.

Speaker 2: 8:54

You caught him on his flight there? Yeah, actually.

Speaker 1: 8:56

I caught him on his flight to the US and who I served Eric Banner. So a couple of very famous people, so not as famous as who we've got on the podcast for season three.

Speaker 2: 9:07

Oh, you've got to wait for season three.

Speaker 1: 9:09

Yeah, quite famous. So I really enjoyed that and actually at the time I wanted to. So this was 2010, 9, 10, during the global financial crisis, and I was working at ANZ. I was trying to get a financial planning role within ANZ and then I couldn't because of you know, the current environment, economic environment. So my manager at the time said well, why don't you have a conversation with my financial advisor? He might have an opportunity. So I ended up working at the financial planning firm, was in an administration role. Again, you don't start doing the best role. I actually took a massive pay cut, like at the bank. At the time. I was earning like $85,000 because I was working shift work and I went to a role getting paid, I think, about $34,000.

Speaker 2: 9:56

Wow, I think some yeah, that's a great point Like a lot of people, you know that saying you have to take two steps back to then take two steps forward, and it's so true when you're starting out your career.

Speaker 1: 10:03

Yeah, exactly, take one step back and two or three steps forward, and that was a goal. Like you know, I could have stayed in that role and earned a decent salary, but ultimately I wanted to learn and grow and develop and that was more important than short-term income. And I think a lot of my advice would be and my advice is always to young professionals I meet prioritize learning, growth, the right organization, over income. Money will come, you don't have to worry. If you work hard, you study hard, you're driven, money will come, but you don't have to worry. If you work hard, you study hard, you're driven, money will come, but you've got to get the right environment, the right learning, to be able to prosper that.

Speaker 1: 10:45

So then, I joined their work to that firm for about four years before I joined another firm as an independent financial advice firm IFA another firm as a independent financial advice firm, ifa, as they're known as and I ran their investment portfolio. So I would recommend I'd recommend Direct Equities, australian Global ETFs, and I'd give advice to our clients around their portfolios. And we were dealing with clients. Average client had about two and a.5 million of investable assets that we would give advice on. Loved that and I thought, well, I'm doing it here, maybe I can do this in the UK.

Speaker 1: 11:18

So I ended up moving to London and I worked for a Swiss bank Julius Baer in private wealth in the private wealth division and it was great, great experience, learned so much. We dealt with clients all around the world, so a lot of Middle Eastern clients that were, you know, worth billions of dollars Wow, we had, you know. We did payments globally. We helped them buy properties in the Cayman Islands. We set up offshore trusts. We did a wide-ranging. There was a wide range of tasks we did for them and Pure Play Private Bank for them, and obviously investment management is part of that.

Speaker 2: 11:58

Then I came back and how long were you in the UK for?

Speaker 1: 12:02

Just over two years in the UK, loved it. London's a great city. I highly recommend it. I'm actually heading to London shortly to catch up with some old work colleagues and friends. That's amazing, great experience. Traveled lots through Europe, highly recommend. If you get the opportunity to live abroad, do it. Then I came back and I was like well, time to come back. And, you know, make my parents proud, find a wife, have a family that's the goal. Still not the case eight years later. But anyway, let's move on. And then I started. I wanted to be in a more client people as much.

Speaker 2: 12:41

You're a people person.

Speaker 1: 12:42

I want to be in front of people and I noticed that when I was at Julius Bear, like within the first month, I knew all 200 people in the office.

Speaker 2: 12:49

Wow.

Speaker 1: 12:50

And everyone's like how do you know that person? I've been here three years I've never spoke to that person. I'm like, well, why haven't you spoke to them? You know, I want to understand what they do and how they do it, and that sort of led me to recruitment. So I started working at another firm for about two and a half years, and that was great a half years ago. So now I provide recruitment services to investment management firms, private wealth firms, and that's anywhere from people with two, three years experience up to very senior people that lead teams.

Speaker 2: 13:25

Yeah, that's amazing. I think you were saying before, like you knew everyone in the office and it's same here, like we were in a shared office and you know everyone, and actually a lot of people we've bumped into have become guests on the podcast. So it's really, it's really interesting. I think that's a big theme of season two as well, like everybody stresses network. So yeah, so I mean your career journey has been amazing and then I guess it kind of led you to here to the podcast. So what I what was? I mean, what sparked the initial idea of these podcasts and what was kind of your intention with it from the beginning?

Speaker 1: 14:05

yeah, it's great question and and thanks for asking the question, sienna. So I have great conversations with incredible people.

Speaker 2: 14:14

Every day.

Speaker 1: 14:14

Every day and I need to, you know, bite myself to think, wow, like I'm having a conversation with this person who might lead a team of 30 people and, you know, has, you know, grown their career and very well respected, and might, you know, be part of an investment management firm that manages over, you know, grown their career and very well respected, and might, you know, be part of an investment management firm that manages over, you know, a billion dollars? Right, and there's a senior leader and I'm having a conversation with that person and I feel that, you know, these people offer a lot and it's unfortunate that a lot of younger professionals coming up, whether it be students or the young professionals, don't get to hear from these people, don't get a seat at the table. So what I want to do is share the conversations I have with the people that don't get to hear these conversations, because I know I didn't have a mentor growing up. You know my parents didn't work in finance. You know didn't finish high school, so for me it was.

Speaker 1: 15:11

You know, give our listeners opportunity to listen to someone they aspire to be and what learnings can they get from that person to help better their career and whether it might be. You talk about networking. How important networking is. It might be about. Let's not focus on how much money you're going to make tomorrow. Let's focus on learning, growth and development. That's really important. So for me, that's the premises of the podcast is, and also I love interviewing people so I can do what I love and let other people listen in and share the experiences that I get to experience every day.

Speaker 2: 15:51

Yeah, that's amazing. I remember, because we started the podcast in October of last year, in 2024, and I pitched the idea to you because you know everyone and you know you have so many conversations with so many people about starting a recruitment podcast, because I started off working as a market solely a marketing associate for Reva and then, you know, you expressed to me that you have had this idea for ages, that you know you want to share all these conversations that you're having every single day with these amazing people. And here we are. So it's really really exciting, yeah, and it's been amazing to be a part of behind the scenes and watch it kind of grow through the last, especially the last season.

Speaker 1: 16:40

Well, I can guarantee this podcast wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you, Sienna. So thank you. You've showed lots of initiative and you've done everything. So I do the easy part. I call the guests and say, hey, you want to be on the podcast, and I interview the guests. You do everything else. So without you it definitely wouldn't be possible.

Speaker 2: 16:58

Thank you. No, it's been an amazing journey, Even just learning I mean, I'm learning myself how it all operates and it's really been like a surreal experience with someone, with my experience which is next to none, when I started to be able to do this and, you know, bring something to life that you're so passionate about, I feel so passionate about, especially as a student. So, yeah, it's been a real privilege working on this podcast with you.

Speaker 1: 17:27

Yeah, yeah, awesome. Should we talk more about season three?

Speaker 2: 17:30

I think so I think we need to start dropping a little bit, a little bit of hints not too much, yeah, I think it's important to share the why of season three.

Speaker 1: 17:39

So I'm fortunate enough to get a lot of people refer me as a as a well-known recruitment specialist in the world of finance, and I regularly get introduced to current professional sports people and people that have just finished being a professional sports person that are seeking the transition into finance, and there's a lot of people that have successfully transitioned from the sports field to the finance field and they've got so much insight to share around that transition and how they did it and also how challenging it is.

Speaker 1: 18:18

It's not easy. You know you talk about identity. You know you're used to having a lot of structure and all of a sudden you don't have that structure. And there's a few key themes that emerged and I was like well, I'd love to share the experiences of you know, whether it be a football player, whether it be an Olympian, whether it be a rugby player who are all on the podcast in season three and about their journey and what they do now and how they got there. And that's really important to current athletes who are thinking about what's next. When is the time to start thinking about what's next?

Speaker 2: 18:53

Yeah, I think important to current athletes, but just as much really important to anyone who's looking to feel motivated, to see what discipline looks like Like listening in, even from my perspective. We have recorded a few of the episodes already and you know I learnt so much from these people who had such structured lives, also were in such high-pressure environments for so long, and how they persevered through all of that and then came out in a second career and are now, you know, at the top of that field. So it's interesting for people who can relate to them, but also people who just want to learn.

Speaker 1: 19:39

You know what success takes, I guess, yeah, and I think the synergies of professional sport and being a professional in the world of finance was quite common too.

Speaker 2: 19:48

A hundred percent, yeah, so that's really.

Speaker 1: 19:51

It was really insightful. You know, preparation, dedication, achieving the ultimate goal and again, I don't want to give too much away, but one of our guests says that you know who you know was a gold medalist won gold.

Speaker 2: 20:07

One hint, one hint.

Speaker 1: 20:09

Yeah, I won't say too much more. But you know, as an athlete, his ultimate goal was to win a gold medal at the Olympics and he achieved that. And now he's very successful in the world of finance and he shares a story around. You know, as a professional, a white-collar professional, there's no ultimate goal of winning a gold medal. Yeah, like you, just need to continually improve and get better and not think there has to be an ultimate goal.

Speaker 2: 20:38

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 20:39

Just get better and learn and go with it.

Speaker 2: 20:42

Yeah, there's no real destination. It's just about being dedicated through all of it, through all stages.

Speaker 1: 20:48

It's almost like the journey is the destination to a point, whereas you know, as an Olympian, the destination is the gold medal right. So when you achieve the pinnacle, it's like well, what's next?

Speaker 2: 21:00

Like.

Speaker 1: 21:00

I've achieved everything I've ever aspired to achieve. How can I still be content with what's next?

Speaker 2: 21:09

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:09

So it's okay not to be fully content like of reaching the pinnacle of a gold medal, but it's still okay to then achieve new things and challenges and learnings and sharing. You know this person I won't give insight, share the insights around that and that was, yeah, it was a little bit emotional as well.

Speaker 2: 21:31

I mean I will add, this season, I think a lot of the conversations that you had with our guests do, or they did, get very emotional, because it is such a massive life transition. So, you know, not only are we talking about being disciplined and structured and, you know, having ambition, but they're also talking about their experience as humans and we can all relate to having a period of change in our lives and trying to figure out what the next step is, or wanting a change in even just career. So, yeah, I think this season touches so many different topics and it's really, really insightful for so many different groups of listeners.

Speaker 2: 22:19

So, really exciting.

Speaker 1: 22:21

Yeah, it is exciting. I can't wait to drop the names because there's a couple of people where we record at Hub Australia. We've got a podcast studio here and when these guests walk in, everyone turns their head and says Fabian, how did you get that guest on your?

Speaker 2: 22:39

podcast. What is he doing here?

Speaker 1: 22:41

Yeah, exactly right. So we do have quite a few people in the shared office that are regular listeners, so I said you can't say anything yet. Yeah, exactly right, so we do have quite a few people in the shared office that are regular listeners. So I said you can't say anything yet. It's a secret.

Speaker 2: 22:50

Yeah, we've got to get them to sign NDA non-disclosure agreement.

Speaker 1: 22:54

Yeah, that's right. So super excited for Season 3. Yeah, let's do it.

Speaker 2: 23:01

Yeah, we'll see you guys. It won't be too long, a couple of weeks in between the seasons so we can get ready to post it and share with you all these amazing guests. But yeah, stay tuned.

Speaker 1: 23:15

Stay tuned. I'm so tempted to say something, but I won't, I'll hold off. I'll hold off, but thank you, sienna, I appreciate all your work. And the last thing we really appreciate if you could follow us on Instagram to see our videos that we post, as well as follow us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, because that just means that we get a greater audience. The more followers we have, the higher we get ranked and the more people that get to listen to our insightful stories and, most importantly, the incredible people we interview.

Speaker 2: 23:46

Yeah, and if a conversation particularly resonates with you, share it with someone that you know will appreciate it. You know, in the next season there's going to be so many people that you probably already know and someone you know that idolises that person. So it'd be such a help to us but, you know, just to you and your network to share these incredible conversations. So we're really, really excited to share it with you guys.

Speaker 1: 24:12

That's right. Well, we'd better wrap it up there.

Speaker 2: 24:14

So you know we could talk forever about the podcast.

Speaker 1: 24:16

It's been so much fun. Thank you all. I appreciate all your listening or everyone that's listening along, and yeah, and also provide feedback. We love feedback. Yeah, is there any guests you'd like on the podcast?

Speaker 2: 24:29

Definitely, let us know. Our DMs on Instagram are always open. Comment on any of our posts. If there's someone that you think would you know be such a good fit for the podcast, let us know. We're keen.

Speaker 1: 24:41

There's a good chance I might know them too, that's true, that's true, that's true. Awesome. Well, thank you.

Speaker 2: 24:48

Yeah, we'll see you next season.

Speaker 1: 24:50

That's right.

Speaker 2: 24:55

Disclaimer this podcast exists for informational and entertainment purposes only. The personal opinions of the speaker and guests do not represent the view of any other party. If this recording contains reference to financial products, that reference does not constitute advice nor recommendations and may not be relied upon.