The Growth and Distribution Panel highlights from the Forbes Australia Business Summit revealed a powerful shift in how modern founders define success.
Rather than chasing traditional growth models, panellists explored leveraging technology for innovation, building sustainable platforms, and prioritising community-led strategies.
From loyalty programs to authentic customer engagement, diversity, and representation, the discussion challenged what scale and impact truly mean.
Speaking candidly and often entertaining the audience, founders shared real-world insights into growth, distribution, and long-term thinking across technology, wellness, finance, and hospitality.
Vida Glow – Founder Anna Lahey
Vida Glow was the first brand to market in its category in Australia, selling direct-to-consumer for its first two years.
Substantial investment in consumer studies and clinical trials helped build trust and education in a market Vida Glow was actively creating. While other collagen brands benefitted from this groundwork, Anna Lahey reflected on the importance of legacy and clear differentiation.
Founded by Anna Lahey at just 24 years old, Vida Glow prioritised consumer education to redefine perceptions within the health and wellness sector. By selling directly and engaging deeply with customers, the brand trailblazed the consumables space before expanding into major Australian retailers.
“If you’re following a trend, it’s too late. You need to be ahead of the curve in innovation.”
— Anna Lahey, Vida Glow Founder
Expanding into China, Vida Glow entered a market already primed for consumable products. This contrast between pioneering a new category and entering an established one informed the brand’s next phase of growth.
Ten years into the journey, Vida Glow is preparing for expansion into South-East Asia – a market identified as “ready”. Anna’s insight highlighted the importance of understanding market maturity when planning long-term growth.
Finder – Founder Fred Schebesta
Finder founder Fred Schebesta shared candid insights into building scale through consumer adoption, learning from early missteps, and continuously raising performance standards.
Finder’s growth journey balanced established processes with innovation, fostering a culture built on adaptability, foresight, and accountability. Fred emphasised the value of difficult conversations, self-reflection, and assembling teams capable of evolving alongside the business.
Customer feedback played a critical role in shaping Finder’s product, with Fred highlighting how emotional insight helped identify genuine pain points.
“What isn’t working for you? What hard conversation needs to happen to give you freedom?”
— Fred Schebesta, Finder Founder
Fred also introduced the concept of “Swiss Army Knife” employees – versatile team members vital in early-stage growth. As Finder scaled, these roles transitioned into specialised teams, while remaining essential during periods of innovation.
This strategic balance between adaptability and specialisation enabled Finder to sustain momentum while embracing continuous improvement.
Liven – Founder Grace Wong
Grace Wong, founder of Liven, shared lessons from building a B2B hospitality platform rooted in technology, sustainability, and community.
Liven’s growth was driven without traditional advertising, instead relying on a strong brand identity and clear vision. Grace challenged both herself and the audience to reflect on what growth truly means, noting that success looks different for every founder.
“You aren’t building a unicorn, you’re building a dragon.”
— Grace Wong, Liven Founder
Grace emphasised building businesses to last rather than aiming for rapid exits. Under her leadership, Liven prioritised deep, multifaceted development over chasing unicorn status.
By focusing on authenticity, customer involvement, and long-term strategy, Liven evolved alongside its audience, embodying a sustainable and human-centred growth model.
TechDiversity Foundation – Executive Director Luli Adeyemo
Luli Adeyemo, Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation, highlighted the tangible impact of diversity and inclusion within the tech sector.
She reflected on the risks of organisations failing to represent their audiences in marketing and the missed opportunities that result from disengagement.
Through actionable initiatives, the TechDiversity Foundation works to bridge representation gaps, champion equity, and amplify underrepresented voices within technology.
Luli’s leadership reinforced the panel’s recurring themes – community-centric growth, accountability, and redefining success beyond traditional metrics.
To Conclude
From redefining business paradigms to championing technology, sustainability, and inclusion, the Growth and Distribution Panel showcased a collective commitment to progressive change.
The summit underscored the power of community-led strategies, thoughtful innovation, and long-term vision – offering a roadmap for founders looking to build businesses that endure rather than simply scale.
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