The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys

Starting a business is exciting. Building one that lasts is something else entirely.
In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia Jeffreys is joined by Edible Blooms Co-founder and Managing Director Kelly Jamieson and Westpac Managing Director of Business Lending Tamara Bryden to unpack what it really takes to launch and grow a successful business.
Kelly shares how she turned a kitchen-table idea into one of Australia’s best-known gifting businesses, while Tamara explains why women still receive just a fraction of startup funding—and what can be done to change it.
Together, they discuss the realities of entrepreneurship: testing an idea before investing heavily, managing cash flow, securing finance, scaling beyond the “messy middle” and why building a business often means working harder than you’ve ever worked before.
Whether you’re dreaming of leaving your corporate job, growing a side hustle or taking your business to the next level, this episode is packed with practical advice from two women who’ve helped thousands of businesses get off the ground.
You’ll learn:
Why women still face bigger barriers when raising capital
How to test a business idea before investing thousands
What banks actually want to see in a business plan
The biggest cash flow mistakes new founders make
How to scale beyond the “messy middle” of business growth
Why your network can be as valuable as your funding
The mindset shifts that separate successful entrepreneurs from everyone else
Why “freedom” isn’t the best reason to start your own business
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Jun Bei Liu arrived in Australia from China at 16 with little English but big ambitions.
Today, she's the co-founder of Ten Cap, one of Australia's top-performing hedge funds, and one of the country's most respected stock pickers.
In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with Jun Bei to unpack where she's finding opportunities in today's market, why she's avoiding some of the biggest names in AI, and what every investor should understand before buying into the latest hype.
From SpaceX's eye-watering valuation to the future of Australia's banks, Jun Bei shares the frameworks she uses to separate great businesses from great investments — and why the smartest money isn't always going where everyone else is.
You'll learn:
Why Jun Bei is backing the "picks and shovels" powering the AI boom, rather than trying to pick the winning platform.
What the SpaceX IPO can teach everyday investors about hype, valuation and timing.
Why volatility and uncertainty can create the best buying opportunities.
The investing philosophy Jun Bei learnt from her father — and how she's now teaching it to her own children.
Why understanding the business behind the brands you already use can make you a better investor.
Whether you're investing for the first time or looking to sharpen your thinking in a rapidly changing market, this conversation is packed with practical insights that will change the way you look at money, markets and opportunity.
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It started with a drawer overflowing with sticky $5 and $10 tips, tucked away after gruelling 3am bar shifts while trying to survive university. That mountain of cash eventually triggered an unexpected bank investigation, a furious confrontation with her father and a lifelong obsession with building financial freedom for herself and others.
In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with financial planner, best-selling author, and founder of SugarMamma, Canna Campbell (@sugarmammatv).
From the ultimate $1,650 kitchen appliance hack that saves thousands a year, to surviving a massive relationship breakdown and using her professional expertise to grow a $374,000 portfolio from scratch, Canna shares her direct, no-nonsense playbook for creating long-term wealth.
Whether you are staring down a 30-year mortgage, trying to navigate changing tax laws, or just wanting to look glamorous on a budget, this conversation is packed with practical strategies to help you make your money work harder.
You’ll learn:
The mindset shifts that helped Canna rebuild after divorce and create lasting financial resilience
The step-by-step "$1,000 Project" framework for building investment momentum with amounts you can actually afford.
How to “pay your future self first” and use passive dividend income to build long-term financial security.
Why regularly negotiating your mortgage could save you thousands by avoiding the bank’s “loyalty tax.”
And much more.
Find more from Canna here: https://www.sugarmamma.tv/
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It came in a midnight email, despite having just kicked some huge goals for her company, and just six weeks after returning from parental leave. Redundancy. Something that's being faced by people in their thousands right now.
In this episode, Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with Natalie MacDonald. As a former business journalist and a founding member of the LinkedIn News Australia team, Natalie spent nearly a decade helping build the digital ecosystem that millions of professionals use every day. But when she faced a sudden redundancy while managing two small children and a tight family budget, she had to pivot fast—transforming a professional setback into a thriving portfolio career.
Natalie shares her journey through career grief and how she bounced back, how you too can rebuild your career on your own terms, and how to leverage the tool so many of us know but so few of us have mastered: LinkedIn.
You will learn:
The quick operational and financial steps you need to take right after losing a job.

Why the cost of invisibility is greater than the cost of 'cringe' when promoting yourself online.

Easy profile tweaks to boost your digital storefront, from writing warmer headlines to hitting the right weekly posting frequency.

And much much more.

Find more from Natalie here: https://www.workingatit.com.au/

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Your days of wondering where all your money went are over. In this empowering episode, full-time nurse turned anti-influencer Breana Davison (@breeonabudget) reveals how she broke free from a debilitating mountain of debt to buy her first home, a secure financial foundation and absolute control over her spending and lifestyle.
In this episode:
the reality of a life of intentional spending and minimalism - and why it's not about limiting yourself.
The five-step process for stopping impulse purchases in their tracks
Bree's biggest budget breakers and her practical hacks for auditing them
Why "paying your future self first" will completely transform your financial landscape
And much more.
If you are ready to stop comparing yourself to the world, slash unintentional spending and design a life that aligns with your true values, this episode is your definitive action-plan.
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