Peter Freedman AM is the self-made billionaire maverick behind one of Australia’s greatest manufacturing success stories.
As the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, he turned a near-bankrupt family electronics business in 1987 into a global powerhouse—now exporting to over 120 countries, manufacturing everything in Sydney, and used by the world’s leading content creators, filmmakers, musicians, and broadcasters.
Bold, driven, and obsessively hands-on, Peter is more than a tech entrepreneur—he’s a fierce advocate for Australian manufacturing, design excellence, and innovation on home soil.
He famously reverse-engineered his first microphone in 1990, and never looked back—building vertically integrated factories filled with robots, launching revolutionary products like the VideoMic and RØDECaster, and acquiring global brands like Mackie, Lectrosonics, Aphex and SoundField under the Freedman Group.
Awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2016, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, Peter is as well known for his philanthropy as he is for his products—donating millions to arts, mental health, and design, including a record-breaking purchase of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar, which he turned into cultural capital for Australia.
Blunt, brilliant, and deeply committed to legacy, he’s said:
“I’m not a capitalist. I just love winning.”
This is a story of grit, reinvention, and building global greatness—out of a suburban factory in Sydney.
Founder & Host | Rob Langton
#ausbiz #billionaire #richlist #businessnews #businessaustralia #businessau #rode #peterfreedman #rodemicrophones #theinterviewau #theinterview #readymedia
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Peter Freedman AM is the self-made billionaire maverick behind one of Australia’s greatest manufacturing success stories.
As the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, he turned a near-bankrupt family electronics business in 1987 into a global powerhouse—now exporting to over 120 countries, manufacturing everything in Sydney, and used by the world’s leading content creators, filmmakers, musicians, and broadcasters.
Bold, driven, and obsessively hands-on, Peter is more than a tech entrepreneur—he’s a fierce advocate for Australian manufacturing, design excellence, and innovation on home soil.
He famously reverse-engineered his first microphone in 1990, and never looked back—building vertically integrated factories filled with robots, launching revolutionary products like the VideoMic and RØDECaster, and acquiring global brands like Mackie, Lectrosonics, Aphex and SoundField under the Freedman Group.
Awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2016, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, Peter is as well known for his philanthropy as he is for his products—donating millions to arts, mental health, and design, including a record-breaking purchase of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar, which he turned into cultural capital for Australia.
Blunt, brilliant, and deeply committed to legacy, he’s said:
“I’m not a capitalist. I just love winning.”
This is a story of grit, reinvention, and building global greatness—out of a suburban factory in Sydney.
Founder & Host | Rob Langton
#ausbiz #billionaire #richlist #businessnews #businessaustralia #businessau #rode #peterfreedman #rodemicrophones #theinterviewau #theinterview #readymedia
In this exclusive feature profile, we sit down with one of Australia’s most enduring and visionary entrepreneurs — Malcolm Steinberg.
Born and raised in Perth in the 1940s, Malcolm’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 18 years old, when he acquired 21 pinball machines from a relative and began placing them in corner stores, milk bars, and pubs across the city.
That humble venture marked the beginning of what would become a pioneering career in the world of interactive entertainment.
In 1978, Malcolm launched the first Timezone in downtown Perth — a bold move that would ultimately redefine family entertainment across the Asia-Pacific.
Over the decades, Timezone grew from a single arcade into a global entertainment powerhouse, with venues in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Along the way, Malcolm also founded LAI Games, a Perth-based arcade game manufacturer that has produced some of the world’s most iconic and innovative machines — exporting to over 50 countries worldwide.
But his legacy doesn’t stop at business.
In honour of his grandmother, a Russian immigrant and early inspiration, Malcolm established the Malka Foundation — a philanthropic venture focused on empowering young people and supporting social enterprise across Australia.
In this conversation, we explore the full arc of Malcolm’s journey: from his early days in suburban Perth, to building Timezone into a generational brand, to giving back through the Malka Foundation.
Along the way, he shares lessons on reinvention, risk, and building businesses that endure.
The Interview | Australia's most watched business program.
Founder & Host | Rob Langton
Produced & distributed exclusively | Ready Media Group.
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The Interview Australia
Peter Freedman AM is the self-made billionaire maverick behind one of Australia’s greatest manufacturing success stories.
As the Founder and Chairman of RØDE Microphones, he turned a near-bankrupt family electronics business in 1987 into a global powerhouse—now exporting to over 120 countries, manufacturing everything in Sydney, and used by the world’s leading content creators, filmmakers, musicians, and broadcasters.
Bold, driven, and obsessively hands-on, Peter is more than a tech entrepreneur—he’s a fierce advocate for Australian manufacturing, design excellence, and innovation on home soil.
He famously reverse-engineered his first microphone in 1990, and never looked back—building vertically integrated factories filled with robots, launching revolutionary products like the VideoMic and RØDECaster, and acquiring global brands like Mackie, Lectrosonics, Aphex and SoundField under the Freedman Group.
Awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2016, and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014, Peter is as well known for his philanthropy as he is for his products—donating millions to arts, mental health, and design, including a record-breaking purchase of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar, which he turned into cultural capital for Australia.
Blunt, brilliant, and deeply committed to legacy, he’s said:
“I’m not a capitalist. I just love winning.”
This is a story of grit, reinvention, and building global greatness—out of a suburban factory in Sydney.
Founder & Host | Rob Langton
#ausbiz #billionaire #richlist #businessnews #businessaustralia #businessau #rode #peterfreedman #rodemicrophones #theinterviewau #theinterview #readymedia