In this episode, we sit down with Jimmy Shepherd, who’s lived a tale of two SAs — moving from South Africa to South Australia by way of Melbourne, chasing opportunity, hard work, and a little bit of peri-peri heat along the way.

Jimmy’s story starts behind the counter at Nando’s, where a casual job for “beer money” turned into a full-blown dream — owning five restaurants and building a reputation for leadership, grit, and good humour.

He eventually swapped chicken for chapters in finance, joining Aussie Home Loans, despite openly declaring years earlier that he’d never become a ruthless banker in a pinstripe suit.

Instead, he brought the same people-first mindset that built his hospitality success into a new world — one that took a bet on him with zero finance experience and got a born operator in return.

Now part of Nectar Home Loans, Jimmy reflects on what each chapter taught him about ambition, humility, and staying true to your values — no matter the industry.

It’s a story about backing yourself, betting on others, and finding purpose in unexpected places.