Slicing Through The Noise
This exciting channel dives into real leadership stories from Australia, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs of business leaders.
Hear firsthand how they navigated adversity and turned obstacles into success. Even more special, our guests are past clients of Integrity and Values who have been deeply influenced by our programs.
Be part of an exciting new journey with our founder and podcast host, Jennifer Elliott.
Slicing Through The Noise
Ep 25. There was one kid who cared. — Mathew Pound, Beagl Buyers Agency
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Mathew Pound took his kids to see the Christmas lights. Afterwards, everyone went to McDonald's.
Every staff member was going through the motions — except one kid. He didn't know Mathew was watching. He just cared. "There was a genuine look in his eyes that he cared about what the experience was. He didn't have to care. But he did."
The first thing Mathew thought: how do I get that kid?
In this episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Jennifer Elliott sits with Mathew — founder of Beagl Buyers Agency, ex-Varsity Group, WA Entrepreneur of the Year — on thirty years of building businesses where people feel something. The conversation moves through Mathew's origins: washing dishes at an Italian restaurant whose owner went table to table not knowing names but knowing faces. The Varsity years — building a sports bar into a family restaurant by following who his customers were becoming. The philosophy that QR codes and AI shouldn't replace people; they should free people up to care more. The five touch points his business partner instilled at Varsity. The mistake-handling rhythm he passes to his daughter. The Sunday-night spiral he still has, and why he keeps going anyway. Safe hands under pressure. And the duck on water.
The strongest moments aren't the credentials. They're the questions. How do you get that kid? What does it mean to care when you don't have to? What does a leader look like when the crisis hits and everyone's watching?
For founders building service businesses, operators trying to hold a culture at distance, and anyone who's ever had a Sunday-night spiral — this one's for you.
Real stories, real lessons, from the people actually doing it.
Full chapter timestamps below.
YouTube chapters block (paste directly)
00:00 He's the last kid I thought would join the business
01:30 The decision rule that makes a founder/son handover work
03:35 You're only as strong as the systems you build
05:00 Deming's 15% — three levels deep
08:00 Marshall Ferber, Deming, and "bring me the head"
13:00 AI is a wonderful tool — once you've done the thinking
16:00 From burgers to brand engines — the Beagl origin
20:00 Manipulate with a clean motive — enrolling vs convincing
24:00 The kid at McDonald's who cared (how to spot A-players)
28:30 QR ordering: reinvest the saved labour into the floor
32:30 I'm sorry isn't a clean-up — own it, clean it up, move on
35:30 Family vs business — the line that keeps both intact
39:30 Buying after the GFC — being prepared, not predatory
42:00 You can't plan a pivot — you can be ready for one
46:00 The mentor coffee deal — and why titles are dangerous
51:30 Building Beagl — Buyer's Agent Online, then a real brand
53:30 If you don't fit the avatar, we're not interested
55:00 The five touch points + safe hands
59:00 The Monday metric most founders ignore
01:14:00 Partnerships are the biggest hurdle — go with your gut
01:18:00 Money is not the thing
Thank you for listening to 'Slicing Through The Noise' the podcast that uncovers real stories behind impactful leadership in Australia and around the world.
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