What happens when an engineer gets fed up watching projects fail because no one coordinates properly? Moussa Youssef started BMY Engineering in 2018 after years of witnessing costly mistakes that could have been prevented. Six years later, he made a bold move—merging with Prime Engineering to create Vanguard Consulting Engineers, a 24-person multidisciplinary firm with a reputation for never missing deadlines.

In this conversation, Moussa shares the reality behind that merger: the first six months of chaos when communication broke down, how three partners learned to run decisions through one funnel instead of three, and why writing down roles and responsibilities saved the business. He talks about the systems that allow any team member to pick up where another left off, the weekly coordination meetings that keep projects on track, and the balance between over-committing to impress clients and burning out trying to deliver.

You'll also hear why Moussa believes scaling culture is harder than scaling capacity, how early engagement with clients shifts the relationship from consultant to partner, and the long-term vision for building a firm where engineers want to stay for their entire careers. This is an honest look at the messiness of growth, the importance of having hard conversations early, and what it takes to build systems that actually work when the unexpected inevitably happens.

What does it take to start a business at 20, in the middle of a pandemic, and turn it into one of Australia’s leading fire compliance companies?

Aleks Culic is the founder of Projects Fire, a passive fire compliance company he launched in 2020 while most of his peers were still at university. By spotting a gap in the market and backing himself, Aleks built a business that now employs over 20 people and delivers complex fire safety solutions across the country. Known for his strong technical capability and commitment to doing things right, he has earned a reputation for integrity and innovation in one of construction’s most safety-critical fields.

In this conversation, Aleks shares how an early focus on emotional intelligence helped shape his leadership and decision-making from day one. He discusses what it means to build credibility at a young age, the lessons learned from rapid growth, and how he transitioned from working solo to leading a joint-venture team of 23. Aleks also opens up about the challenges of scaling systems, managing older teams, and maintaining quality as Projex Fire continues to grow.

If you have ever wondered whether you are too young or too uncertain to start your own business, Aleks’s story is proof that belief, integrity, and a relentless work ethic can overcome any doubt. This episode is for every entrepreneur determined to do things the right way, even when no one is watching.

Episode Highlights

(00:00) Meet Aleks Culic: Founder of Projects Fire

(10:00) Lessons from Mentorship and Emotional Coaching

(12:00) Scaling Through Partnership and Trust

(15:00) Managing Rapid Growth and Systems Under Pressure

(25:00) Developing Processes for Quality and Compliance

(28:00) Leading Older Teams with Confidence and Respect

(33:00) Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

Connect with Aleks Culic https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleks-culic-bb0756138/

Connect with Rick Merten https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmerten

Subscribe to the Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/inside-out-with-rick-6956089421838307328/

Andrew Gall walked away from a secure engineering career to challenge the industry’s biggest perception problem: that engineers are box-ticking cost centres rather than creative partners in design.

Andrew is the founding director of ARGALL, a structural and civil consultancy based in Melbourne, with over 15 years of technical expertise and an entrepreneurial mindset. He has positioned ARGALL as the partner of choice for progressive architects, developers, and councils across Australia. The firm is recognised for its next-generation thinking, combining sustainability, creativity, and operational maturity to deliver award-winning projects.

If you’re an engineering leader looking to grow without losing your values, this conversation is a blueprint for scaling smart, building a team that thinks differently, and proving that structural engineering can deliver both creativity and commercial success.

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Meet Andrew Gall: Founder of ARGALL (05:25) Next Generation Thinking in Practice (13:48) Scaling Argall Without Compromising Values (17:42) Transitioning from Technical Expert to Business Leader (33:10) Building a Strong Team with DISC Profiling (37:21) Future Vision and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Connect with Andrew Gall

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrgall/

Connect with Rick Merten

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmerten

Subscribe to the Newsletter

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/inside-out-with-rick-6956089421838307328/

Engineering Success is an InsideOut Group production.

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