Episode 2: Building a Legacy of Consistency – with Emma from Sam’s Pizza
In this episode of For Founder Sake, we sit down with Emma — co-owner of Sam’s Pizza, one of the South Coast’s most loved and long-standing restaurants. For the past 16 years, Sam’s has been a staple in Batemans Bay, known not just for its delicious food, but for its welcoming atmosphere, loyal staff, and commitment to consistency.
Emma opens up about what it really takes to keep a hospitality business thriving in a small coastal town, where seasons, tourism, and community loyalty all play a part. From building a strong team to adapting through major shifts like COVID, she shares the highs, the hard lessons, and the mindset that’s helped her stay steady through it all.
We dive into the behind-the-scenes realities of running a restaurant that’s become a true local institution — the kind of place people come back to year after year, and generation after generation.
Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
The story behind Sam’s Pizza and how it became a Batemans Bay favourite.
Why consistency is the key ingredient to long-term success.
The challenges of finding and keeping great staff in a small community.
How COVID changed the hospitality landscape — and what’s stuck since.
What it’s like running a business in a seasonal town, and how to prepare for the ups and downs.
How Emma balances business with life, and the things she loves to do outside the restaurant.
Emma’s story is a powerful reminder that success often comes down to showing up, doing the work, and never losing sight of why you started. Her approach to leadership, loyalty, and longevity shows that sustainable business isn’t about the next big idea — it’s about consistency, care, and connection.
This episode is full of wisdom for anyone running a small business or leading a team, especially in regional or seasonal communities. Whether you’re in hospitality, retail, or service-based work, Emma’s honesty about the realities of running a business will leave you inspired to keep pushing forward — even when it’s tough.
🎧 Listen now to hear how Emma and the team at Sam’s Pizza continue to create something special for their community — one slice (and one loyal customer) at a time.
If you’re enjoying the show, make sure to follow For Founder Sake wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a rating, and share this episode with another business owner or founder who’ll relate to the journey.
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Guest: Emma – Co-owner of Sam’s Pizza Batemans Bay
📍 Batemans Bay, NSW
🍕 Serving the South Coast community for over 16 years
📲 Follow along on Instagram: @samspizzabatemansbay
🌐 Visit: www.samspizzabatemansbay.com.au
Episode 1: Welcome to For Founder Sake – Meet Em & Shelby
Welcome to the very first episode of For Founder Sake! In this intro episode, we (Em & Shelby) pull back the curtain and share a little about who we are, what we’ve built, and why we’ve come together to create this podcast.
Here’s what you’ll hear in today’s episode:
Who we are – meet Em & Shelby, two business founders, mums, and mates.
A look into our backgrounds – from early careers to where we are now.
Our business journeys – the wins, the hard lessons, and everything in between.
What brought us together and why we decided to team up.
The vision behind For Founder Sake – what you can expect from the pod and why we think these conversations matter.
We’re so excited to kick things off and can’t wait to bring you honest, unfiltered chats about the founder journey – the good, the bad, and the very FFS moments along the way.
If you enjoy this episode, we’d love for you to follow the show and share it with a fellow founder or business owner who’d get value from it.
