In this episode of Bold Ideas, I’m joined by Susan Toft, the founder of The Laundry Lady - the world’s first online marketplace for laundry services. What began in her spare room while juggling new motherhood has grown into a national network empowering hundreds of “laundry ladies and lads” with flexible work, while lightening the mental load for families across Australia. You’ll hear how Susan left a corporate career, learned every job in the business, and documented those learnings into the playbook that enabled scale. We dive into why she chose a contractor model over franchising, how COVID became an inflection point, and the scrappy no-code beginnings that ultimately led to building her own platform, Time Boss. Susan also opens up about raising ~$1m through angels and government support, and why she recommends delaying capital until you truly need it. [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Susan Toft and The Laundry Lady’s origin story [00:05:20] – The early days: doing pickups, ironing, and building community at the doorstep [00:09:15] – Documenting everything: turning hands-on learning into a scalable knowledge base [00:12:25] – Why a contractor model (not franchising): lowering barriers and widening access to flexible work [00:16:40] – No-code scrappiness: stitching off-the-shelf tools to mimic “Uber for laundry” [00:20:30] – Life curveball: single motherhood, side-hustling, and keeping the spark alive [00:24:00] – COVID inflection: recommitting to the vision, expanding into Melbourne, and essential-service impact [00:29:45] – Building the product you wish existed: Time Boss and the 18-month “new startup” feeling [00:35:30] – Team, traction & recognition: scaling the HQ while staying values-led [00:38:40] – Capital with purpose: ~$1m raise (angels + grants), what changed, and what didn’t [00:44:10] – Going global: why Canada first, the UK next, and staying true to flexibility [00:48:20] – Grants, accelerators & practical pathways for founders [00:52:00] – Parting wisdom: don’t overthink - start, test, and build the next step Find The Laundry Lady at https://www.thelaundrylady.com.au or on Instagram @laundrylady_aus To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

n this episode, I’m joined by Emma Stallworthy, co-founder of Your Reformer - the brand bringing the full studio Pilates experience into homes and commercial spaces across Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. What began as Emma’s personal shift from HIIT to Pilates during a challenging fertility chapter became a bold idea in lockdowns: studio-grade, design-led reformers paired with an on-demand class platform. You’ll hear how Emma and her husband Ben sold their Melbourne gym chain, bootstrapped early content (including shoots while 35 weeks pregnant!), and built an “affordable luxury” product that people are proud to keep in their living rooms. We get into manufacturing, thoughtful brand and app design, scaling via D2C and fast-growing B2B partnerships, and the realities of building a global company with your life partner. Emma shares how passion is operationalised in their team - and leaves us with two powerful takeaways for anyone with a bold idea. [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Emma Stallworthy, co-founder of Your Reformer [00:04:10] – The Spark: Fertility struggles, nervous-system balance, and discovering Pilates [00:07:45] – Strength from Stillness: Movement as meditation [00:13:40] – Lockdowns & Opportunity: Renting reformers, Zoom classes, and on-demand insights [00:17:25] – The Leap: Selling the gyms, a week on Hamilton Island, and a new mission [00:20:05] – Building the Machine: Finding the right manufacturer; foldable but durable [00:26:15] – Brand in 3D: Premium visuals, app + website cohesion, and an iconic photoshoot [00:29:50] – Values in Action: Hiring for passion, training every new starter, living the guidelines [00:33:10] – D2C vs B2B: Why studios & gyms adopt reformer + software (yield, retention, referrals) [00:37:25] – Going Global: AU/NZ to U.S., local hubs, and smart market sequencing [00:45:20] – Vision & Next 12 Months: Software roadmaps and measured expansion [00:48:10] – Advice for Bold Ideas: Start before you’re ready - and find someone to lean on [00:50:00] – Where to Find Emma & Your Reformer Find Your Reformer at https://yourreformer.com.au/ and Instagram @yourreformer To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

In this episode of Bold Ideas, I’m joined by Tobi Skovron, the trailblazing founder and CEO of Creative Cubes - Australia’s most dynamic coworking ecosystem that puts people and purpose at the heart of work. Tobi’s bold idea was born from his experience as an entrepreneur in Los Angeles, where the power of community transformed his business - and his life. Determined to bring that same magic home, he created Creative Cubes: a thriving network of spaces designed to “enable success and deliver happiness.” In this episode, you’ll hear how Tobi built an ecosystem that champions connection over competition, what it really takes to create a winning culture, and how optimism, authenticity and a jelly-like mindset can carry you through the darkest days of entrepreneurship. Plus, he opens up about his new venture, Rise Network, and why the future of work is all about belonging. [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Tobi Skovron – founder of Creative Cubes and champion of community-driven entrepreneurship [00:02:15] – The Spark: From LA coworking to creating Australia’s most connected workspace [00:07:40] – Building Creative Cubes: How culture, community and “delivering happiness” became the mission [00:14:10] – Lessons in Leadership: Why ego kills culture and service drives success [00:21:30] – Scaling Up: The acquisition of Workspace365 and the birth of Cubes Co [00:28:45] – Corporate vs. Creative: Evolving the brand to meet different mindsets [00:35:00] – Rise Network: Going deeper into community and redefining connection for ambitious leaders [00:41:20] – The Future of Work: Flexibility, belonging and earning the commute [00:47:00] – Founder Mindset: Optimism vs. realism and how to “be jelly” when business throws curveballs [00:53:15] – Advice Corner: “Just do it” - Tobi’s no-nonsense take on turning ideas into action [00:56:50] – Legacy and Purpose: Building spaces - and lives - that enable success Find Cubes at www.cubes.co, or on Instagram at @creativecubesco To get in touch with us, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

In this episode of Bold Ideas, I’m joined by Chloe Walker, the founder of Pirk - Australia’s first cosmetic surgery concierge. Chloe’s bold idea was born from her own experience navigating an industry filled with confusion, mixed messaging, and a lack of transparency. After struggling to find trusted information and qualified surgeons, she set out to create Pirk - a platform that connects clients with vetted plastic surgeons, demystifies pricing, and supports them through every step of the decision-making process. In this episode, you’ll hear how Chloe went from corporate sales leader to founder, what she discovered mystery-shopping over 150 clinics, and how she’s tackling the stigma and misinformation surrounding cosmetic surgery. Plus, stay tuned until the end for a look at Pirk’s exciting next chapter - from AI-powered support to nationwide expansion. [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meet Chloe Walker, founder of Pirk – Australia’s first cosmetic surgery concierge [00:01:15] – The Spark: A personal experience that exposed major flaws in the cosmetic surgery industry [00:05:05] – From Corporate to Founder: Lessons from leading high-growth teams at iSelect [00:08:30] – Building Trust: Mystery-shopping 150 clinics and setting new safety standards [00:12:45] – Plastic vs Cosmetic Surgeons: Why the distinction matters for patient outcomes [00:17:20] – Transparency & Education: Making pricing clear and empowering client choice [00:21:10] – Beyond Vanity: The real reasons people seek surgery – confidence, comfort, and wellbeing [00:25:30] – Early Traction: 50,000+ visitors, 2,000 guided conversations, and 250+ consults [00:29:00] – Raising Capital: Navigating a regulated, misunderstood market as a female founder [00:37:40] – Future Vision: Expanding across Australia and redefining the cosmetic journey [00:41:15] – Advice to Founders: Trust your intuition, validate deeply, and move boldly Find Pirk on Instagram at @pirk.au and online at https://pirk.au To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

In this episode, I’m joined by Larissa Leone, the pioneering founder of Homb - Australia’s first postpartum hotel. Larissa’s bold idea was born from her own experience with postnatal depression and anxiety after the birth of her daughter. Determined to reimagine how we care for mothers and families after birth, she created Homb - a nurturing space designed to “mother the mother” and transform the postpartum experience. In this episode, you’ll hear about the darkness that sparked Larissa’s idea, the courage it took to build something entirely new in Australia’s healthcare landscape, and the reality of being ahead of your time. Plus, stay tuned until the end for our post-recording chat, where Larissa opens up about the emotional decision to close Homb and what comes next. [00:00:00] – Pre-Recording: The reality of disruption – Homb’s closure and Larissa’s courage to keep the conversation going [00:00:42] – Introduction: Meet Larissa Leone, founder of Australia’s first postpartum hotel [00:02:10] – The Spark: How postnatal depression inspired a vision to “mother the mother” [00:07:15] – Breaking the Silence: The unseen struggles of new motherhood [00:14:50] – From Pain to Purpose: Transforming personal experience into innovation [00:17:30] – Doing the Work: Market research, COVID challenges and testing demand [00:25:12] – Naming Homb: The meaning behind the “B” – from womb to Homb [00:28:25] – Creating a New Category: Council, insurance and breaking through systems [00:33:10] – Mothering the Mother: Why Western culture gets postpartum care wrong [00:37:00] – Inside Homb: The four-night stay that nurtures, nourishes and restores [00:45:50] – The Homb Trust: Making postpartum care accessible for every family [00:49:10] – Future Vision: Normalising postpartum care as part of our healthcare system [00:54:40] – Post-Recording: Larissa on closing Homb, community support and what’s next To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/

Welcome to the very first episode of Bold Ideas. I’m your host, Marianne Marchesi, and in this intro episode I share the story behind Bold Ideas and why it means so much to me. Several years ago, I took a leap that changed everything – leaving behind the safety of the traditional legal industry to launch Legalite. A people-centred, multi-award-winning law firm that thrives on bold ideas. In this episode, you’ll hear about the doubts, breakthroughs and life-changing lessons that came from taking one bold step – and what you can expect from this podcast. Episode Timestamps [00:00:01] – Why bold ideas matter and what this podcast is all about [00:01:05] – The Spark: Growing up believing in a “set path” and the first inklings of a better way [00:01:58] – Fear & Delay: The excuses that held Marianne back and the breaking point in 2016 [00:02:50] – Taking the Plunge: Starting Legalite in 2017 with $5,000 and six clients [00:03:28] – Early Struggles: Doubts, market resistance, and redefining success [00:04:56] – Transformation: How one bold leap changed both career and life [00:05:50] – The Podcast Vision: Honest conversations with founders, creators and innovators [00:06:13] - Closing Thoughts To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/