Nick La - CEO/Design Director & Founder of Themify

1. What is your background and why did you start Themify and what was your vision?

Hi there, my name is Nick and I’m the CEO of Themify, a premium WordPress company that began in 2010. I got my start in graphic design, working for a number of various companies while writing and updating my blog regularly. Surprisingly, the blog became incredibly successful, as I shared how to apply design and illustration well in web design and WordPress.

My genuine interest in design and web creation turned into something bigger when a friend of mine named, Darcy Clarke, and I had an idea to design and code our own premium WordPress themes with the ability to use a drag-and-drop builder. We created one of the first successful drag-and-drop WordPress builders during that time.

2. What are the biggest challenges and achievements in running Themify?

One of the greatest challenges running Themify on a day-to-day basis is ensuring that you have the right team members in the right positions – or putting your aces in their places. Regardless of skill, finding people who care and are passionate about what they do is important. I feel lucky to have such a team in place, and the sheer volume of positive feedback for our support service and customer care daily is a product of this. This is both an achievement, but a goal we are constantly working to improve and do better with.

3. What approach do you take when trying to find solutions for your software as far as usability, what your customers want etc?

We are always doing our research and testing what else is out there in the industry, but also looking forward to innovating and creating completely new features and products that haven’t been done before. We have several key team members who test, retest, and test all of our products over and over, to make sure that the final product in our users’ hands is something amazing and of great value.

4. Any tips for anyone who wants to get into the web/software industry?

For those who are looking to break into this industry – passion and a willingness to learn will take you far. There were times at the early stages of this company where I perform every single job, including user support, accounting, developing, designing, and blog writing. But I was passionate about our product, and was even willing to google how to write certain code in order to get the job done. There is nothing that will take you farther than that.

Paul O'Neill - Opera Singer

1. How did you get into Opera and what is your musical background?

I came to Opera through musical theatre. I had sung in musicals at school as well at choirs and studying guitar. I then enrolled in a part time Musical Theatre Certificate course at WAAAPAb and then moved over to operatic education.

2. What are proudest achievements and biggest challenges?

I became a Young Artist with the Berlin State Opera and worked there for about 7 years. During that time I was lucky enough to sing with some of Opera’s biggest names like Placido Domingo, Daniel Barenboim and Rene Pape to name a few. It was also my greatest challenge in that I moved to Germany and not only had to work and learn the language but 3 of my children were also born there. It was an exciting and intense experience.

3. When approaching a role what is your process?

When approaching a new role one has to take into account the size of the role and how much it will demand of the voice. The secret then is to find the ways in which to sing the role without stressing the vocal mechanism whilst recognising what the composer and conductor requires.

4. Any tips for getting in the music industry?

My best tip is to get the most knowledgeable and supportive people around you. You will need them for your entire career. The work, work, work!!!!

Cecilia - Global Digital Marketing expert Themify

1. What is your background and how did you get into digital marketing?

Hello! My name is Cecilia and I currently work as Digital Marketing & Communications Specialist for Themify, one of the leading premium WordPress companies in the industry! I first got my start in communications working as an editor and PR associate for a Canadian jewellery company throughout university and college.

An opportunity came to work at Themify part-time, while I juggled another job and full-time journalism school. I fell in love with documentary filmmaking and video production, but found it hard to turn these dreams into a professional reality, and when a full-time opportunity at Themify presented itself, I jumped at the chance. With my previous work in PR and communications, this next role was a perfect fit and I was eager to learn more about the tech world and flex my digital marketing chops.

2. What was your process in solving a marketing or communications problem and finding a solution?

There are many facets to digital marketing and just one of those roles includes taking care of clients and anyone who approaches the company with a question, issue, or request. Whether it is through social media, email, or a comment on the blog – I believe you can always take the high road in meeting clients halfway and in diffusing tough situations. Luckily, we haven’t had too many challenging situations and we have some amazing users in our community, but there is always an opportunity to grow trust and camaraderie with them.

3. Your market is international can you share your insights into the advantages and challenges you face marketing to the globe as opposed to a focused local area for example only marketing country or local wide marketing?

Our market is indeed the entire population on the internet. This has presented both advantages and challenges as there are some who you don’t share a language with. But Google Translate is one of our best friends, and gets the job done to be able to effectively help and speak to people from all over the world. When marketing to different countries – we don’t use approaches that are too different or unique from others in the industry. We find that people respond to great technology and great developments. When the product is good and your service is even better, that just may be one of the best marketing tools.

4. Any tips for those who want to get into digital marketing?

I would highly suggest picking up skills interning on your days off at smaller businesses to pick up skills and learn how to leverage some of the apps we use every day to create moments of connection and genuine interest in your target communities. Getting creative with your marketing campaigns isn’t the hard part. Staying creative and doing something new is. When I feel like I’m in a rut, I take a walk through Twitter and web in general to get inspired and see which social shares of blog posts or sales promotions catches my eye and why.

Aside from the marketing aspect, you will be conversing a lot with the community where the business lies, so having a real passion for people is a must. Don’t forget to collaborate, even when it won’t always benefit you directly, helping those around you helps you grow along with your industry. I was able to start an interview series on some leading WordPress creatives and innovators and though it may not always drive crazy traffic, it certainly will pull the eye of a group of thinkers who appreciate the industry and enjoy learning about the process and not just the product.

Russell Taylor - Illustrator & Animator

1. How did you get into illustration and animations?

I think everyone draws as a kid right? I've always loved it and just never stopped.

2. What was your journey you took to get where you are now?

A long and arduous one, I think in this field I started out as a digital designer working in a few design agencies, did a year in the Uk then mostly sydney and melbourne. From there I went freelance and did a lot of illustration/animation work for a few agencies.

3. What has been the hardest part about your journey and what are some of the work you are most proud of?

Hardest part is learning when to push on with a project and when to let go, sometimes you can spend weeks on something that seems no good, but just needs an extra push

Other times you can waste months on a project that just needs to go away

its hard to figure out sometimes, but very important. And my favorite project was one of them online casino style fruit machine once, the theme was "Motorcycle Money" however I heard "Motorcycle Monkeys". 

The best part was 2 days later when I presented my initial thoughts they loved the new direction and it’s now a game out there somewhere I think. Not my most ethically sound project, however I also work in advertising so it's a pretty low bar.

4. Any tips for anyone starting out who wanna follow in a similar direction?

Just keep on plugging away. It'll take years and a lot of self doubt along the way but if you keep getting back up and trying again you'll get there (or at least you'll have some cool art!). Also engage in online communities, share your work and try to learn how to take criticism without letting it get you down (I still struggle with that last part).

Liz Mudri - Social Worker

1 How did you get into the Human Services/ health sector and why?

I decided to become a social worker because I had a passion to empower people, those with no voice, those unable to source their basic needs, those who felt they had no direction, no place in their communities. I guess I had a pull towards ‘helping other’s’, but with the idea of empowering people, so that people can grow and support themselves, and find their way through life.

2 What are the challenges and achievements of working in this sector?

Plenty of challenges working as a social worker, so if you love problem solving, advocating and finding the best solutions, this job has the works! Social work practice uses critical thinking to address strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Particularly when it comes to working on complex cases, having the skills to review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions, can be very rewarding when this gives individuals a new perspective and way forward, when faced with obstacles in life. That’s what interests me in my work, how to unpack the problem, and see the solution!

3 You have a broad range of experience from working on in hospital settings right through to acquired brain injury in the NGO sectors what how has this variety of experience changed you as a person?

The variety has definitely shaped me in being a more flexible and adaptable person! This has helped me grow to become a confident and resilient person, to be able to face challenges with curiosity and and questions, rather than react and assume the worst, and value those challenges as positives for growth. It’s what I model in many of my therapeutic sessions with clients, using techniques to enable people to realise that challenges are about finding our strengths.

4. What would be your advice to someone wanting pursue this path?

Best advice is to explore as many areas of social work as possible, early in your career, unless you have a passion for a particular type of social work practice. If you’re unsure, take opportunities with contracts roles, to find the pathway that interests you!

Nic Dalton - The Lemonheads & HAC Records

1. How did you get into music and why did you choose to take it seriously or did one thing lead to another?

I’ve loved music since I was a kid and always thought I’d make music my living when I ‘grew up’. My school friends all assumed I’d go to art school but I just started playing music (in Canberra in the early 80s). So it just happened, year in year out. Being in bands, writing songs, recording them.

2. You’ve been in some of the most influential bands both here in Australia and internationally what would be the advice to people to follow in similar footsteps?

I don’t think anyone could follow in my footsteps. Everything is so random and full of sliding doors and what-ifs. If I hadn’t met Stevie Plunder and Elmo Reed, through them I met Robyn St Clare, through her I met Tom. If I hadn’t filled in for Robyn in the Hummingbirds I wouldn’t have met the Lemonheads and so on. The only advice would be: be yourself, finish that song and don’t dick around your bandmates and always remember the stage crew’s names.

3. Half A Cow has got to be one of the most influential label/stores that broke a lot of music locally in Australia and internationally why do you think it did and how has the landscape changed since it started in comparison to now?

Everything changes all the time and, since Half A Cow has been around for thirty years, there’s been a lot of changes. The main would be cds/digital/streaming/web coming along and changing the way music is consumed. For me, that has meant having to find other ways of making money, hence not having the same quality time to spend doing the music. Half A Cow (both shop and label) may have been ‘influential’ but they both never got out of the red and were/are very time-consuming. Despite this, I have enjoyed helping out bands over the years, but I would change a thing. If I could turn back time, there would be no Half A Cow Records.

4. What does a day in the life look like in the Nic Dalton world today?

I wake early and am doing work (Half A Cow, booking bands at the Petersham Bowling Club) until breakfast, then it’s usually TAFE (studying to be a librarian) or more HAC/PBC. Most days also involve some songwriting, four-tracking, digitising the archives (cassettes, four tracks), getting releases ready (both mine and other acts). Plus looking after a three year old, face-timing my 11 year old, feed the chickens. After dinner, If I’m not four-tracking, I’ll wind down with some TV. I read a lot too, have my whole life. Until a couple of years ago I would be addling doing art (mainly painting) but I’ve been too busy lately.

Ihsan Atkia - Award Winning UI/Web Designer For Tru Agency

1. How did you get into design?

Actually, the beginning of my passion for web development, but I have to experience from high school, I join in club graphic design and then I continued in university, I join with club Design Graphic again until now I focused in UI Design.

2. What is your proudest achievement?

For achievement maybe until now I am still learning and learn something new. because in a creative design you don’t feel enough for making a creative thing.

3. What is your process when approaching a UI brief?

Maybe I always research before I work looking inspiration and I always create wireframe before it.

4. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into UI?

Always explore and I have quotes during I join in club design “there is no day without being creative”

Vibhor - Founder & CEO WebLizar

1. What is your background and how did you start in the web industry?

I am an IT background engineer, started work in early 2013 in the web industry. My interest in the web development increased when I was working for a company, I came up with a thought I should start My Own. Then after having work experience of two years I left the job and started my own.

2. What was your vision when starting Weblizar?

Vision was clear and simple - to make beautiful and useful web Products for the web world.

3. What are your proudest achievements and challenges when running Weblizar?

Produest Achievement is we are now team of 15 super talented engineer working under one roof and also My two Themes were in features list in 2014 on WordPress.org

4. Any tips for those starting out in the industry?

Just follow your dreams.

Cleve Williams - Black Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Head Coach

1. How did you get into BJJ and why?

By accident. 2 months after stopping kung fu I caught up with an old school mate who started training with Christian Thiele as he worked with him. No Holds Barred (pre ufc) had just come out. So went along to this jiu jitsu class & it was weird & hard.

2. How do you prepare yourself for a comp?

At my age now 41 I do functional training & also interval training. I find this strengthens my mind now. Still gotta some hard comp rounds but I don't smash it too much. I don't need to cut to much weight so its eat clean & maintain weight.

3. As a coach and head of your own school what are the biggest challenges as far as running your own business and as a coach?

At first it was selling my product. Why I was the best. Now it's maintaining my students, trying to get new ones; what technique are we doing; paying the rent; merch... it's everything all rolled into one. My biggest thing is making time for my kids. They are now looking at other sports so I still want to be involved.

4. Explain your approach to coaching is?

BJJ is complex so I try & explain things in a simpler way. I was always confused in the early days. I like to keep it funny to. I also like to keep it high tempo. You need to learn to think on your feet & adjust the class as required. There's always things to learn about teaching.