At 22, Tammy Barton quit her job, set up at the kitchen table in Adelaide, and started helping people not just create budgets - but actually stick to them. That simple client-first idea became MyBudget (founded 1999), a national brand that’s now supported 130,000+ clients with personalised, dynamic money plans, automated bill payments and savings, and the kind of accountability that turns financial stress into freedom.
Tammy takes us behind the scenes of the early leaps - leasing a tiny office, buying second-hand furniture and signage, and hiring her first teammate within a year - and the long game that followed: growing to more than 270 staff across Australia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines and investing $30M in proprietary technology to scale care without losing the human touch.
We unpack her leadership philosophy of small, consistent steps, continual learning, and mentorship; why “do what’s right for the client” remains the North Star in every decision; and how MyBudget measures success beyond revenue - toward wellbeing and lasting behaviour change. Tammy also shares what’s next: deeper tech, a client-obsessed product roadmap, and expansion opportunities in New Zealand and the UK.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Perfect for: founders, leaders, and anyone who’s ever built a budget that looked great on paper—and wants one that works in real life.
And a warm shout out to our partner, Westpac, who have been a key partner in the success of My Budget. Recently Westpac have committed $1B to support female entrepreneurs and offer the Startup Business Loan - you can apply with your business plan and budget projections for up to $50k unsecured. Learn more by searching 'Westpac supporting female founders'. Eligibility, credit criteria, fees & charges, and T&Cs apply. General advice only.
Links & mentions:
www.mybudget.com.au (Tammy's personal finance business)
www.myhomebuild.au (Tammy's most recent businessexpansion with an Award winning home build company)