NEWS+VIEWS | business | technology | culture
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES It’s more important than ever to support local businesses doing things differently.
P.6 munch cupboard – a planet-saving enterprise p.10 space travel and the billionaires leading the way P.14 ‘young voices for ausbiz’: cancel culture P.18 aboriginal businesses doing things differently P.24 ransomware attacks: how to reduce the risk p.28 unicorns and giving back – is it the noble thing to do?
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AUSBIZ NEWS
NEW ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR ARTISAN PRODUCERS It’s been a bumper 18 months of record sales for artisan cheese retailer Cheese Therapy, and now co-founders Sam Penny and Helen Shadforth are using their experience, infrastructure and marketing expertise to launch a new online food destination, Artisans Bend. Dubbed ‘Etsy for food’, the platform aims to help Australian farmers and small businesses connect directly with their customers. “It’s a new shopping experience where Australians get to explore and support producers and where artisans get to share their passions and stories,” Sam says. The duo partnered with Melbourne-based global technology company Marketplacer to deliver the new platform. More than 70 producers have already thrown their hands up to join the online marketplace, which will sell everything from wine and beer to coffee, con diments and more. Artisans Bend officially launches in September 2021.
shout a mate with your phone After launching in 2020, nano-gifting app Shouta has experienced huge uptake across the country, with users shouting friends a coffee, a bottle of wine or even a movie ticket. Now founders Carly Shamgar and Nick Redwood are launching a new version, exclusively for businesses that want to treat their employees and incentivise great work. Shouta Biz is a workplace digital gifting platform that allows users to instantly ‘shout’ co-workers, employees or clients by sending them customisable nano-gifts. Instead of physical gifts or vouchers, the recipient receives a link to a digital, prepaid Shouta Mastercard, which can be reloaded and used again and again. Carly says, “businesses know there are many different ways to impact company culture and incentivise team members. Shouta Biz is allowing more businesses to tap into these types of rewards through digital nano-gifts. Through our beta testing, we’ve seen a huge demand for this service, and we are excited to officially launch across Australia.” While Shouta Biz is looking to introduce a tiered subscription structure in the future, based on additional features, for now all customisation features are free. The app can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play.
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AUSBIZ NEWS
Goodbye bubble wrap, hello Hero “A package a day keeps the lockdown blues at bay.” If that resonates with you, there’s a good chance you’re one of the 9 million Australians who shop online. That’s a lot of boxes and bubble wrap! With e-commerce booming during the pandemic, the founders of Hero Packaging developed a solution to the big plastic problem associated with shipping products. Anaita Sarkar and Vik Davé saw first-hand the amount of waste involved with selling physical goods online when they ran their own business, and set out to find a more sustainable alternative that still allows brands to provide a great unboxing experience. “The primary function of packaging is to contain and protect products from the point of manufacture, through the supply chain to the retail store or end user. But packaging also plays an important role when it comes to the psychology of sales and marketing, and it can be a brand’s unique point of difference,” says Anaita. Hero Packaging’s compostable mailers are made from plant-based materials, and will begin to break down into a tasty treat for your soil in around 90 days. If you don’t have a compost bin at home, you can find out from your local council where you can take your green waste. And if your Hero Packaging does end up in landfill, don’t worry: it will still decompose after a couple of years.
MISSION TO PLANT A MILLION TREES For more than 50 years, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) has been the dedicated charity body tasked with protecting Australia’s national parks and native species. The NGO funds a variety of conservation projects to safeguard wilderness and wildlife for future generations. One of its largest undertakings to date involves a plan to establish a million trees across the country as part of its Bushfire Recovery Nurseries scheme. FNPW has awarded grants to four new nurseries in NSW, SA and the ACT to help them continue their work in restoring Australia’s bushland. The latest nurseries to put the grants to use include Ngullingah Jugun (Our Country) Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, which aims to propagate 10,000 eucalypt and noneucalypt flowering and fruiting trees to support threatened species such as the koala, yellow-bellied glider and greyheaded flying fox. Mount Barker District Council will plant 16,000 additional seedlings, from South Australian blue gums to varnish wattle. Trees in Newcastle will expand its capacity by planting an additional 10,000 trees in the Hunter region, Wollemi National Park and Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Finally, the Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council will launch its highly anticipated nursery program, introducing 16,000 new seedlings across 20 species in bushfire affected areas of the NSW South Coast. OCT-DEC 2021
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PROTECTING THE PLANET STARTS IN THE PANTRY
Former lawyer Anna Bordignon has turned her passion for sustainability into a plastic-free, planet-saving enterprise called Munch Cupboard. And her impact goes way beyond the kitchen. Words: Bethany Plint
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CHANGE MAKERS
Anna Bordignon built her career practising law, but she had always been dedicated to sustainable living. Seven years ago, the pull she felt towards her passion for protecting the planet became so strong that she decided to make it her full-time gig. She left her legal role and launched Munch Cupboard, a business that hinged entirely on other people’s commitment to choosing sustainable products. It was a leap that has paid off in spades. “Munch Cupboard is all about empowering families and businesses to change the world,” says Anna. “Even before the current plastic-free movement, I saw the damage plastic was doing to our planet. As a mother of three young children, I really wasn’t happy just sitting by.” Today, Munch Cupboard is built around sustainability and eco-alternatives. The products – think drink bottles, beeswax wraps and reusable straws – are low waste with a low impact on the environment. Many are also biodegradable and home compostable. “I can proudly say our products have helped save more than a million pieces environment,” says Anna. “Every year we deliver our annual Sustainability & Social Impact Report that outlines what we are doing to contribute to the betterment of the planet. It also offers complete transparency into our business to keep us accountable.” This transparency gives other businesses a clear view of what an environmentally conscious enterprise looks like, allowing them to see potential for positive change within their own practices. As an entrepreneur and an environmental advocate, Anna believes it is every business owner’s responsibility to be accountable for the impact they’re having on the planet. “There are so many ways businesses can start to make a difference, from packaging to buy-
back schemes and other forms of grass-roots advocacy,” says Anna. Her company is currently working on introducing a silicone send-back scheme in Australia, whereby consumers can send back their silicone products for repurposing, rather than simply throwing them in the bin. The program has been successful in New Zealand and is one consumer silicone repurposing projects in the Southern Hemisphere. Every customer that participates in the scheme receives $10 off their next Munch purchase. “It’s a great incentive to help the planet,” says Anna. “It’s all part of our product stewardship premise: we try our best to design and make our products to last (or make them with biodegradable materials), and then put in place systems to enable products to be reused and recycled when they are worn out. “It’s not just a business for me,” she continues. “It’s a way of life, and something I see as being important for my kids – and all children – to see that adults are doing. As the saying goes, we have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children.” Anna is excited at the prospect of larger businesses joining the movement and hopes that, with new policies and government support, even big supermarkets will begin taking steps to be more sustainable and rid the planet of unnecessary plastic. “This type of activity is super important to all of us, and I think even small business owners like me need to be taking a stance,” she says. “This is just the beginning. I urge even more people to start making a difference with their own business and home life.” Browse Munch Cupboard’s full range of plastic-free, planet-savings goodies by visiting munchcupboard.com OCT-DEC 2021
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POSITION PARTNERS
Remote access to all machines and survey assets on site Designed for the Australian civil construction industry by Position Partners, Tokara is a remote access platform that enables project managers, contractors, surveyors, and engineers to manage all machine and survey assets working to a design. Whether you’re a civil contractor managing a fleet across several sites or on a major project with multiple contractors working to a shared design, Tokara provides a centralised, easy way to send and receive files, view connection status and more.
• One to many file transfers to all supported machines and survey rovers, including mixed brands. • Colour-coded file status icons to flag any operators not working to the latest design. • File transfer history by machine, device or group for accurate record keeping. • Site visualisation – overlay KML files and drone imagery on the interactive Tokara map, plus UHF and cellular signal strength maps
Tokara is the first solution that connects to most leading brands of machines, machine control and survey instruments at the same time. As most contractors and projects have a mixed fleet of plant and technology, this means cutting down the number of systems to access and getting a better overall picture of the assets on site. Tokara Office is a web-based platform that gives users a plethora of options in a single interface, including:
to identify any black spots. • The ability to view and backup machine calibration files. • Access to critical information such as machine or asset type, online status, connection strength and last known location at a glance To find out more about Tokara, call the WA team at Position Partners on 1300 867 266 or visit www.positionpartners.com.au/tokara
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OPINION
BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB REACHES FOR THE STARS While the world navigates an ongoing global health crisis, increasingly severe climate disasters and human rights catastrophes, a few of the world’s richest people took a joyride to space. Why? Because they could. Where does that leave the rest of us? Words: Will York
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OPINION
ROCKET LAUNCH FROM CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION IN FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
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OPINION
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: SPACEX FALCON HEAVY LAUNCH AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA, US; OCEAN CLOUDS CAPTURED BY A NASA SATELLITE; RICHARD BRANSON READY FOR TAKEOFF
strong contenders in Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, but only one could claim the glory of being
everyday folk, space travel will likely remain a billionaire’s pastime with no commercial viability in sight. On July 11 this year, Virgin boss Sir Richard pipped the race favourite, Amazon’s Bezos, by launching himself into space on his Virgin Galactic spacecraft VSS Unity. By reaching 86 kilometres above Earth, 14 away from the von Karman line indicating billionaire founder of a space company to make it to the stars. Sir Richard took in the truly inspiring moment while looking down at Earth having his own Neil Armstrong moment: “I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I’m an adult in a spaceship looking down
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generation of dreamers: if we can do this, just imagine what you can do.” Back in May, Bezos – the billionaire founder of Amazon and space company Blue Origin – announced he would be onboard his company’s set for July 20, intentionally the same day as the Apollo 11 moon landing’s 52nd anniversary. Both billionaires set out their 2000s – Bezos in 2000 and Branson in 2004 – yet only in the past few months
have their boyhood dreams been realised. Bezos’s announcement set the race into overdrive, and Branson rushed his company to make the giant leap for himself.
IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE – OR IS IT? to space are no longer reserved exclusively for astronauts, the next race will be how to make them commercially viable. One ticket for a one-hour trip on Virgin Galactic’s space plane costs
OPINION
$250,000 – and, according to one Australian academic, the eye-watering price tag will likely never budge. Associate Professor Michael Brown, from the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy, claims the cost of fuel is behind the unaffordable price tag, comparing the fuel and carbon emissions for a few minutes in space to the same ballpark as an
person means that orbital space will remain out of reach to the average household. Whether the technical hurdles can be overcome so shorter remains to be seen,” he says.
MUSK FOCUSES ON THE ‘LONG GAME’ SpaceX program has shown promising signs, according to Professor Brown. is SpaceX’s very large rockets, which they’ve ambitiously claimed will be Solar System… but how and when that transpires into commercial space travel remains to be seen.” Just like at the turn of the last century, when motor cars became a status symbol for the elite, it now seems spaceships have become the latest toy billionaires can show off. In a truly neo-liberal effort, Branson, Bezos and Musk have outdone government space programs. But the question remains as to whether their intentions are truly for the advancement of human society. Branson and Bezos plan to sell
industry. Meanwhile Musk is on a mission to colonise a pollution-free Mars. Who will get to join him on Earth’s new colony? aren’t exactly a ‘watch this space’ for everyday people, who will have to remain staring up at the stars.
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND ARE COMMERCIAL TOURIST FLIGHTS TO THE MOON ON THE HORIZON, OR ARE THEY JUST ANOTHER PIPE DREAM TO KEEP BILLIONAIRE BOREDOM AT BAY?
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TECHNOLOGY
THE POLITICS OF CANCEL CULTURE As part of our Young Voices for AusBiz initiative, year 12 student Matilda Meikle investigates the role that social media, political correctness and celebrity status play in determining who gets ‘cancelled’ and why.
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YOUNG VOICES
We live in a world where information comes from the click of a button. Where anything and everything is recorded and kept online for decades. But with this new-found access and connectivity comes the growing ability to leave an online footprint; for our past mistakes to be rediscovered years later. A phenomenon that has led to what’s known as ‘cancel culture’. This culture is at the forefront of an increasingly polarised debate, making it important to question how society can use the media to share their voice are seen in the public eye. But what exactly is cancel culture and why are the politics surrounding it so heated? Harper’s Magazine’s ‘A Letter on Justice and Open Debate’, published in July 2020, suggests that “powerful protests for racial and social justice are leading to overdue demands for police reform... But this needed
set of moral attitudes and political commitments that tend to weaken our norms of open debate.” This highlights the fundamental balance struck in this passionate argument – one that goes beyond the boundaries of whether to ‘cancel’ celebrities and companies and speaks to ideas of free speech and protest.
WHAT IS CANCEL CULTURE? as “withdrawing support for public done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.” This notion that a person or entity can be ‘cancelled’ or blocked from public position is used in an attempt to revoke the status and power of those deemed unworthy. Look at Justin Timberlake, whose actions
surrounding his 2002 break-up with Britney Spears were brought back into question after the Framing Britney Spears documentary was released earlier this year. The backlash led to a loss of status for the star, and he took to social media to make a public apology. Cancel culture shares close similarities with tall poppy syndrome, which has existed in Australia for generations. However, the notion of cutting down those who excel or rise above the norm is replaced by the removal of a public platform for those who don’t remain politically correct. There are two clear sides in this debate: those who believe cancel culture is an expression of free speech that helps force accountability on individuals abusing their power; and those who believe it doesn’t leave room for human error – which is an unavoidable part of being alive. OCT-DEC 2021
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YOUNG VOICES
THE FREE SPEECH ARGUMENT For many, cancel culture is used most basically as an expression of free speech, and as a protest: a way of calling for better behaviour in For example, Harry Potter author JK Rowling has fallen under scrutiny for her transphobic beliefs. She stated in a tweet in June 2020 that “erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives,” conforming to antitrans views. This resulted in a heavy backlash, and Rowling was cancelled as a way of protesting against her discriminatory beliefs. However, cancel culture is also a very powerful tool against misogyny and sexism. Women’s voices have been silenced for generations, so contemporary feminist movements attempt to reject sexism in the media by voicing their outrage. This is, perhaps, cancel culture’s
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most political use, as a way to vocalise anger and unite female voices as one against the standards accepted in our most public and prominent people. It stems from an attempt to hold people accountable for their words and actions. Many believe that we make the most impact by banding together, and that we should use the platform of free speech afforded to us to make change in our world, holding individuals and businesses to a higher standard through the medium of cancel culture.
THE HUMAN ERROR ARGUMENT However, where there is expression of opinion, there is also the notion be allowed to make mistakes. Former US President Barack Obama, during the Obama Foundation summit in 2019, suggested that “people who that cancel culture is “not activism. That’s not bringing about change.” He echoed the message central to the
YOUNG VOICES
acknowledges the imperfection to all human life, and argues that we cannot completely disregard an individual for an inevitable part of their existence. Controversy surrounding cancel culture extends even further. As some suggest, it is becoming too radical and extreme as the list of celebrities dumped from positions of power continues to grow. It’s argued that their “objectionable or offensive” charges are often small and don’t outweigh the good they’ve done for the wider community. If any moment of human weakness can result in being ‘cancelled’, doesn’t that make it an inevitable outcome for everyone?
“There are two clear sides in this debate: those who believe cancel culture is an expression of free speech that helps force accountability on individuals abusing their power; and those who believe it doesn’t leave room for human error – which is an unavoidable part of being alive.”
IS CANCEL CULTURE NECESSARY? What does cancel culture actually do? JK Rowling’s books remain as popular as ever, suggesting she suffered no particular losses when ‘cancelled’, even when called out by stars of the Harry Potter movies. In fact, of the long list of cancelled individuals – think Ellen DeGeneres, Lea Michele, Justin Timberlake – most continue will suffer no major setbacks in their career. So maybe cancel culture is not the answer, and we need some other method of protest to ensure our voices are heard? With the politics surrounding cancel culture becoming more and more polarised, it’s time to assess to our society. While it’s supposed to unite people as they speak for change, it instead results in heated debate. Perhaps, in order to make the most impact as a collective, we should use our free speech and access to the media to challenge the world around us in a more supportive and constructive way. We must use our voices to educate and positively impact others, rather than ripping people down.
Do you know a 15- to 21-year-old with an important story to share? Help them kickstart their career, win awesome prizes and have their voice heard by visiting ausbizmedia.com/youngvoices
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BUSINESS
FIVE ABORIGINALOWNED BUSINESSES THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR It has never been more important to support small businesses, and these Indigenous entrepreneurs, creators and business owners are among those leading the charge towards post-pandemic recovery.
IMAGES: Rachael Michelle
Words: Bethany Plint
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THIS PAGE: NATIVE FUSION GIN MADE BY NIYOKA BUNDLE AND VINCENT MANNING AT TAKA GIN CO OPPOSITE: ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY DOMICA HILL TITLED ‘OUR STORY’
AusBiz.
BUSINESS
Small business owners around the country are hurting. The ongoing impacts of the pandemic continue to keep us all on a knife’s edge. But despite having every reason to throw in the towel, many of Australia’s SMEs have risen to the challenge, proving that entrepreneurship and tenacity runs deep in this country. businesses are superb examples, and should inspire all of us to carefully consider what, where and from whom we buy our products.
TAKA GIN CO Prior to COVID-19, Niyoka Bundle was at the helm of the hugely successful Indigenous-fusion catering company Pawa Catering. She and her husband, head chef Vincent Manning, created grazing boxes, DIY pizza kits and
delicious food for festivals and events, featuring native ingredients and botanicals. Then when Victoria’s lockdown hit, the pair worked on their next passion project. Inspired by First Nations native botanicals, Taka Gin Co invites gin-
molecular components of its feature ingredients, inspired by Aboriginal artist Vicki Couzens, with development by First Nations creative consultancy Leon Designs. takaginco.com.au
never have even heard of. Taka means ‘taste’ in the Gunditjmara language of South West Victoria, where director Niyoka grew up. She and Vincent worked closely with award-winning distillery Gypsy Hub to develop a unique formulation that offers every drinker a sensory experience. Some of Taka Gin’s signature ingredients include native lemongrass and lemonscented gum leaf. The packaging tells a story too. Proudly displayed on each bottle of Taka Gin are the phytochemical
Domica Hill is the creative mind behind Briar Blooms, a 100 per cent Aborignalowned business based in Victoria’s Bass Coast region. A Palawa woman, Domica started her business as a way to remember her daughter Briar, who passed away before she could
BRIAR BLOOMS
this period, which sadly wilted away, arrangements, vibrant artworks and self-care items to bring joy to people going through a tough time. OCT-DEC 2021
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: LEMONGRASS-INFUSED GIN FROM TAKA GIN CO; EVERLASTING FLOWER ARRANGEMENT BY BRIAR BLOOMS; ‘CONNECTEDNESS’ BY DOMICA HILL
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IMAGE: Rachael Michelle
BUSINESS
BUSINESS FROM TOP: JADAH PLEITER, CEO OF PANKY SAFETY SOLUTIONS; TRAVIS LING LEADING A PRODUCT INFORMATION SESSION AT PANKU.
Her artworks, inspired by Indigenous stories and her own experiences, are available as high quality prints, as well as originals, to brighten up your walls. Domica has fused her skills as a contemporary Aboriginal artist and a former secondary school teacher to deliver workshops to students all over Victoria about the history of Aboriginal art. briarblooms.com.au
PANKU SAFETY SOLUTIONS At the helm of this rapidly growing organisation is Jadah Pleiter, a Palyku woman based in Melbourne’s South East. As well as being CEO and founder of & Supplies, Jadah’s background in project management and experience working with Indigenous communities and local government has led her to steer the ship for one of the country’s most respected suppliers of PPE and safety equipment, along with her business partner Travis Ling. During the pandemic her company rallied to provide masks, hand sanitiser, dispensers and other cleaning products to offer a level of safety and security during uncertain times. Panku has developed strong relationships with stakeholders and distribution partners all around the country, championing local brands and premium offerings alongside their own hero products. Panku invests in a range of social impact initiatives, including the Budadee Ranger Program, which provides training and employment for remote communities in the Pilbara; and Thala Marlpa, which gives communities around Australia. panku.com.au
AMBER DAYS Corina Muir is the owner of ethical childrenswear label Amber Days. An Aboriginal mother, artist, designer and nature protector, Corina’s range is inspired by the Australian bush, sea and desert. OCT-DEC 2021
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BUSINESS
Shocked by the harmful chemicals that can be found in a lot of children’s clothing, Corina was determined to create her line from organic fabrics and use non-toxic dyes. She continues to seek out the highest quality materials on the market, prioritising services and products provided by First Nations, refugee and migrant women. “Women are the leading force behind healthy communities and society,” says Corina, a sentiment that she clearly lives by. Amber Days is continually improving processes to reduce environmental impact and support women and slow fashion. Collaborating with Indigenous artists, Corina’s range of childrenswear is bright, colourful, fun and super
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: AMBER DAYS GIRLS EXPLORING IN THE NEW ‘WANALA’ COLLECTION; KUU DREAMING PRINT FROM THE ‘WANALA’ COLLECTION
to cartwheel-approved overalls, kids love slipping into their Amber Days amberdays.com.au
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IMAGES: Molly Heath Photography
CLOTHING THE GAPS A play on words from the Government initiative to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians, Clothing The Gaps is both a dynamic fashion label and a social enterprise. Co-founded by Laura Thompson, a Gunditjmara woman, and Sarah Sheridan, the label is managed by a team of health professionals who use business as a vehicle to support and help fund the impactful work of the Clothing The Gaps Foundation. Aboriginal-led and majority Aboriginal owned, the label encourages consumers to “wear their values on their tee” and promote conversations around Indigenous issues. “Always Was, Always Will Be” appears across many of its most popular designs, as well as this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, Heal Country – a call for all Australians to “seek greater protections for our lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage.” clothingthegaps.com.au
TECHNOLOGY
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF RANSOMWARE ATTACKS Australia’s small- and medium-sized businesses face an ever-increasing threat of ransomware attacks as cyber hackers take advantage of the quick transition to remote working. These seven tips will help mitigate the risk businesses face. Words: Leo Lynch
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TECHNOLOGY
As businesses race to establish remote and hybrid working structures in the midst of the pandemic, a greater risk for attack is emerging as many SMEs lack the cybersecurity posture to protect their data online. According to a new report from the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, businesses are in dire need of educating their employees on the basics of cybersecurity and cyber hygiene. Therefore, it’s little wonder that the question: “How do I make sure my company never pays a ransom for our data?” is becoming high on business owners’ agendas. a ransomware attack is properly educating your employees about what ransomware is and how it infects systems. The most ironclad software and hardware is of no help if an employee is careless. Part of your strategy should include a plan for helping your users spot and avoid ransomware. Many businesses hold mandatory quarterly security seminars where admins help employees understand various types of cyber-attack. Your plan should cover everything from ransomware to phishing and the growing threat from social engineering scams. The following are some simple security practices for employees to ensure they are doing their part in keeping these increasingly common attacks at bay.
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TECHNOLOGY
1. USE EMAIL FILTERING Filtering reduces the number of potentially malicious emails coming your way. Businesses should invest in enterprise-grade solutions. These will use techniques such as blacklisting, whitelisting, and user-based email analytics legitimate mail.
2. SCAN ATTACHMENTS If email is the vehicle that drives it, then the attachment is the cargo you open to unknowingly unload malware onto your scanning functions that allow you to check your messages for potential threats. Whether software, put those scanning capabilities to use before opening any email attachments.
3. BLOCK ATTACHMENTS Blocking select attachments is one of the most effective ways to stop ransomware at the gate. The system may prevent users from opening .exe, .com, .bat, .js, .docx, and other Because this method could also restrict access be a good idea to designate a separate server, such as the cloud, for exclusively handling
4. PREACH SAFE SURFING Like malware in general, ransomware distribution is not limited to email. This type of infection can be spread by visiting rogue websites, downloading free software, and even connecting infected USB drives to your system. A computer security training program that covers all the basics of responsible web browsing can make a world of difference when it comes to staying protected.
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TECHNOLOGY
5. PROMOTE GOOD DATA BACK-UP HABITS
7. TEST YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR SYSTEMS
With so many employees working remotely, it’s harder for businesses to manage backups and store data on the corporate network. Encourage employees to be responsible and back up their data regularly. If they store data
It is wise to consider regular testing once your network is in tip-top shape. This includes network vulnerability testing, testing back-ups, and testing employees – people are often the weak link in the security chain. That’s why some businesses formulate strategies for testing employees. That could include sending fake phishing emails or even hiring companies to conduct mock social engineering scams. Whatever the case, testing should be a regular part of your security strategy.
they should back it up to the cloud or another hard drive. If employees store their data primarily in the cloud, they should be sure to
6. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF FILES EMPLOYEES CAN ACCESS Employees should only be able to access data and folders based on the principle of “least privilege”. This is the concept of only giving employees enough access to perform their required jobs. Least privilege can prevent workers from accidentally deleting
OPENING THE FLOODGATES: AS TRADITIONALLY BRICKAND-MORTAR BUSINESSES MOVE ONLINE, ESTABLISHING CYBER SECURITY PROTOCOLS IS ESSENTIAL FOR KEEPING DATA SAFE.
Leo Lynch is the Director of Asia
risk caused by human error. OCT-DEC 2021
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
RESHAPING THE START-UP WORLD In start-up speak, unicorns are mythical businesses that reach dizzying heights of success, while donkeys are the ventures that fall by the wayside. Here entrepreneur Jason Cronshaw argues it’s time for the one-horned wonders to grow a social conscience. Words: Jason Cronshaw
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
“Seething masses of bodies clambering over each other, nipping and clawing their way to reach the carrot at the top of the pile, all the while desperately pedalling a spinning wheel.” Touring Silicon Valley as part of my Masters of Business Administration (Social Impact) course at the University of NSW, I was struck by the mouse cage analogy. I was also interested in the cultural diversity. On one hand is the never-ending courtship between start-ups, gambolling in overexcitement around the people able to make or break their future, and venture capitalists (VCs), who skulk in the corridors of innovation searching out ways to compound their already extreme wealth and power. Then there are the spruikers of the social impact business philosophy. I know the Robin Hood model of taking from the rich and giving to the poor is not the solution. But there must be a better way to cultivate innovation, develop products and nurture ideas than the current Silicon Valley method of wasting money on businesses with no chance of success (which is most of them). What if that money could be redirected earlier from obviously doomed ventures (donkeys) into those with a reasonable chance of success (unicorns)? niggling thoughts that nagged my mind while listening to Haroun Education Ventures founder and CEO, award-winning business school professor, Columbia University MBA graduate and former Goldman Sachs employee Chris Haroun, who has raised/managed more than $1 billion during his career. But the whole start-up culture and system disturbed me.
Understanding start-up culture My unease deepened as we walked around global venture
multiple ventures and one is sure to succeed to cover the losses of the rest.
cemented when we heard from Melbourne-based Blackbird Ventures partner Nick Crocker. Crocker also runs Australia’s best start-up accelerator Startmate, and has previously worked on product strategy and operations at Under Armour and was a product manager at MyFitnessPal, the world’s most popular health and
are not concerned with the venture itself, its founders or teams. But at what cost? Money. Jobs. Social. The advantage of being in Silicon Valley is that if you lose one job today, you are almost assured of another tomorrow. There is even a “cool to fail’’ culture. Even once a start-up progresses through the VC rounds and begins operating, success is not
health coaching company Sessions, which MyFitnessPal acquired in
cent of all companies will fail in
Collaborative Fund, Blackbird Ventures, SV Angel and Joshua Kushner. He also co-founded We Are Hunted, which was acquired success was also marked with failure. Early in his career, he was forced to sell an idea to a wealthy investor, who then developed the product as his own, reaping the ensuing wealth. American entrepreneur and investor Adeo Ressi, who founded TheFunded and The Founder Institute, says while standard contracts aim to help start-up creators, most are changed to suit venture capitalists. What’s the success rate in the start-up world?
funding. That’s a lot of failures left behind. The odds of becoming a unicorn That tiny fraction (of businesses that
a gamble: throw enough money at
was the reverse of the accepted model of nurturing start-ups for success in preparation for big company buy-up. Of course the business world reality is different following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the washup has not yet settled. However, the current system must change. If big business is gone, who will bail out the failing start-ups? Support for social entrepreneurs way to encourage and support innovation in business. Serial entrepreneur Alina Adams said she thought the biggest social problems were the world’s 4 billion people living in poverty, children dying amid unhygienic conditions in Africa and the number of rapes of women in India. Social assistance for these issues had traditionally come organisations. However, Adams said social entrepreneurs could help by funding solutions.
OCT-DEC 2021
29
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GIVING BACK SUCCESSFUL VENTURES SHOULD PRIORITISE PUTTING THEIR PROFITS TO GOOD USE, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR SUCCESS IS A RESULT OF SEED FUNDING
no easy money made overnight. Not for Facebook and Uber, not for me solutions are not the responsibility of one person or one company or one government. We all must start to take small actions immediately. I started on my return from Silicon Valley by committing to becoming carbon neutral, a goal my company think that was too hard, my business too small to make an impact, that diesel buses could not change. We could and we did. My bus tour and charter company cent carbon neutral bus charter transport service in Australia, under the Australian Government’s Carbon Neutral Program. The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus arm of the
tourism operator/transport service
So, my original question: should unicorns give their money back before they die?
scheduled for those failed ventures could be redistributed to those with the greatest potential to succeed (the unicorns). Once unicorns reach a certain tier of success, they should be obliged to repay the investment, with the funds distributed to social causes of the world: poverty, education, security
30
AusBiz.
and health. Doing so would stimulate social change throughout business globally. That burden of responsibility must be shouldered by every businessperson, including me. We need to think how we can help the world become a better place and how we can help identify potential true unicorns around us. Start-ups have the opportunity to reinvest their banks and community kitchens. Over time, ironically, I have realised that all good things take time. There is
global solution is not to relocate the citizens of Earth to Mars.
Jason Cronshaw is managing director of tour and coach company Fantastic Aussie Tours (fantastic-aussie-tours.com.au), which owns the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus sightseeing fleet and Christian Fellowship Tours international tour company. Jason has a Master of Business Administration from the University of NSW, is a non-executive director of Tinpac packaging company, and is president of Blue Mountains Tourism.
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