The Lazy CEO Podcast with Jane Lu

This episode dives deep into a story that starts long before today’s guest was even born - one of resilience, reinvention, and the legacy of pubs, people, and a little chaos. Jane sits down with Elliot Solomon, CEO of Solotel Group, a fourth-generation hospitality leader whose family fled Russia during the pogroms and ended up building one of Australia’s most iconic venue groups - behind The Sheaf, The Clock, Opera Bar, Chiswick, Aria, and more. Elliot shares how the business has evolved across generations - how his dad ditched law to work in pubs, how changing the menu overnight didn’t go as planned, and how Elliot stepped up as CEO at 30. Now juggling 1700 employees and three kids under three, Elliot opens up about what it really takes to lead a legacy - through expansion, reinvention, and staying emotionally objective in a deeply personal business. This one’s got family drama, business grit, and a whole lot of pub wisdom. Connect with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo_podcast] Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo] Follow Elliot on Instagram: @elliotsolomon [https://www.instagram.com/elliotsolomon] Follow Solotel on Instagram: @solotel_group [https://www.instagram.com/solotel_group/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Not all advice is good advice. Especially when it’s trying to make you blend in. In this solo episode, Jane gets real about the well-meaning (but completely off-brand) advice she’s glad she ignored when building Showpo. From industry “rules” to branding tips that would’ve diluted everything she was trying to do, Jane shares the decisions that helped her stand out and why playing it safe was never the plan. Connect with us:  Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo_podcast]  Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week’s extended Help My Small Business episode is packed with real talk and practical advice for product-based founders. Jane is joined by interior designer and business mentor Emma Blomfield [https://emmablomfield.com/] to review Bek’s business, Luckies [https://www.luckies.shop/] - the knickers that ditch the shame around discharge. Together, they unpack some of the most common (and costly) mistakes early-stage brands make - from building a website that doesn’t convert to relying on a product range that’s too niche to grow. Emma and Jane get honest about what makes a business actually investable, sharing tips on how to pitch for funding, what investors want to see, and why investing in your own business can sometimes be a smarter move than giving away equity too early. They also reflect on their own experiences starting out, including the tough lessons, mindset shifts, and business pivots that made the biggest difference. If you're a founder who’s hit a plateau, this episode will give you the insight (and reality check) you didn’t know you needed. Want your business featured on the pod? Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. You might just be our next spotlight. Email your video to hello@thelazyceo.com [hello@thelazyceo.com]. Connect with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo_podcast] Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo/] Follow Emma Blomfield: @emmablomfield [https://www.instagram.com/emmablomfield/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

In this Help My Small Business episode, Jane is joined by Tori Clapham and Chris Hole - founders of Peaches Pilates - to help out Nikolina, the founder of I See by Nikolina [https://www.iseebynikolina.com.au/], an Australian-made fashion brand that blends style with spiritual connection. The big question on Nikolina’s mind? When is the right time to start running ads and investing in SEO? Tori and Chris break down how to know if your brand is ready to scale with paid ads, and what groundwork needs to be done first - think product, website, and conversion rates. From understanding your margins to refining your brand experience, this is a must-listen for anyone itching to hit "launch" on their digital marketing. Want your business featured on the pod? Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. You might just be our next spotlight. Email your video to hello@thelazyceo.com [hello@thelazyceo.com]. Connect with us:  Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo_podcast]  Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo/]  Follow Tori on Instagram: @toriclapham [https://www.instagram.com/toriclapham]  Follow Chris on Instagram: @chrishole [https://www.instagram.com/chrishole]  Follow Peaches Pilates: @peachespilates [https://www.instagram.com/peachespilates] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week on The Lazy CEO, we’re joined by Tori Clapham and Chris Hole, the husband-and-wife team behind Peaches Pilates, the mat-based Pilates brand shaking up the fitness world. In this episode, Tori and Chris dive deep into how building from their client community helps create loyal staff and reduce turnover. Tori opens up about the mindset shift she experienced as a mentor, learning to accept that staff will eventually outgrow the business, and why that’s a sign of good leadership. She also shares how becoming a mother shifted her priorities, giving her new perspective and setting clearer boundaries between herself and the business. As owners and franchisors, they talk honestly about being involved in everything and the challenge of learning to delegate more effectively. Together, they discuss the challenges and rewards of scaling a business as a married couple with two young kids, offering leadership lessons for thriving through fast growth rather than just surviving it. Connect with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo_podcast] Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo [https://www.instagram.com/thelazyceo/] Follow Tori on Instagram: @toriclapham [https://www.instagram.com/toriclapham/] Follow Chris on Instagram: @chrishole [https://www.instagram.com/chrishole/] Follow Peaches Pilates on Instagram: @peachespilates [peachespilates] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.