If you think ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) only applies to big corporations, think again. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney welcomes back author and small business champion Bronwyn Reid to explain why ESG matters for SMEs.

Bronwyn shows how ESG isn’t just box-ticking—it’s about building resilient businesses that attract customers, employees, and funding. You’ll hear why ESG is a competitive advantage, what practical steps you can take without being overwhelmed, and how to leverage what you’re already doing in your community and operations.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why ESG is no longer optional for small businesses.
• How ESG drives loyalty, talent, and funding opportunities.
• Simple, low-cost steps SMEs can start with today.
• How to turn existing practices into an ESG story.
• Why ESG is ultimately just good business.

Get Bronwyn's book here: Small Business - Big Impact: Why ESG Won't Save You But Smart Strategy And Real Action Will

Bronwyn Reid is a successful business owner, bestselling author of three books, and winner of multiple business awards. Her books have been dubbed THE text books for small company – big business relationships. Now, as organisations become more aware of their ESG obligations, Bronwyn’s expertise and experience are critical to business success.

Bronwyn and her companies have spent a lifetime being smaller suppliers to big organisations. Her environmental consultancy counts giants BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore amongst their client base, as well as international research organisations and all levels of Government. She has also been on the other side of the big company/small business transaction, having worked in Corporate for many years – both within Australia and overseas. She understands, and fixes, the issues that prevent more valuable, profitable and long-lasting commercial relationships between the big and small end of town.

Bronwyn is the “Google Translate” app for small business – big company relationships. She writes regularly for several SME publications including First 5000 (Medium-size business market), Kochies Business Builders and Inside Small Business. She is a regular conference speaker, for both corporate and SME audiences, and appears regularly on radio and business-related podcasts. She has been a member of BHP’s Local Buying Program Advisory Committee for 10 years.

Bronwyn’s training programs

Bronwyn’s other books:
Small Company Big Business: How to find, keep and win big customers
Small Company, Big Crisis

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Building a business that lasts isn’t about luck, start-up capital, or chasing every new trend—it’s about discipline, structure, and creating harmony between your work and personal life. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney speaks with serial entrepreneur Lance Cayko, co-founder of F9 Productions and host of the Inside the Firm podcast.

Lance shares how he scaled from a two-person start-up into a thriving group of vertically integrated businesses, including architecture, construction, real estate development, education, and even a nonprofit. Listeners will discover how discipline creates freedom, why mindset matters more than money, and how to use systems and vertical integration to stabilize and grow your business.

You’ll also learn:

• How to structure your day for maximum productivity (and less stress).
• Why “work-life harmony” is better than chasing work-life balance.
• How to keep business challenges from overwhelming your personal life.
• The role of systems, communication, and financial discipline in sustainable growth.
• Why vertical integration can give your business resilience and create new revenue streams.

If you’ve ever wondered how some entrepreneurs manage multiple businesses while staying calm, focused, and in control, this conversation with Lance will give you practical tools and mindset shifts to apply right away.

Lance Cayko is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of wildly successful architecture and construction firms in Northern Colorado. His career in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry spans over two decades and includes several design awards including the international Architizer A+ Award for Architecture + Living Small in 2016.

He co-founded F9 Productions, his architecture firm, in 2009 with his business partner Alex Gore after being laid off from a boutique firm in Boulder during the Great Recession. Since its inception, the partners have grown F9 from two employees grossing less than six figures to a team of 11.

Throughout his now seasoned career, Lance has also served his community by managing a community garden in Longmont which he is now turning into a formal non-profit. He also teaches part-time at the University of Colorado Boulder and North Dakota State and co-hosts one of the top five architecture and business podcasts in the world, Inside the Firm.

When he is not doing any of the above Lance is usually spending time with his family, fishing or editing his outdoor adventures for his YouTube channel, Fishing with Lance. When he's not fishing in Colorado he's back in North Dakota chasing Walleye and giant Paddlefish with his brother Lucas.

www.insidethefirmpodcast.com

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In today’s digital world, standing out as a small business feels harder than ever. Between endless noise, flashy marketing tactics, and conflicting advice, many business owners are left frustrated with wasted time and money. But what if narrowing your focus could actually unlock growth?

In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, Paul Sweeney sits down with Jennifer Christensen, Co-Founder and CMO of Beacon Media + Marketing, to unpack the power of niche marketing. Jennifer shares why focusing on a specific audience doesn’t limit you—it liberates you. She explains how to build trust with the right customers, remove barriers in their buying journey, and stop wasting money on ineffective tactics.

Listeners will learn:

• Why niche marketing creates stronger, more authentic connections with customers
• How to identify your “perfect match” clients and what messaging resonates with them
• Practical steps to increase conversions by improving your website and customer experience
• Common mistakes small businesses make with marketing—and how to avoid them
• How to ethically use AI as a supportive tool (without replacing your expertise)

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by marketing or struggled to get real results, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to focus your efforts where they matter most.

Jennifer Christensen is the Co-Founder and CMO of Beacon Media + Marketing, a national digital agency they've grown over the past 13 years with a mission to help small businesses thrive. At Beacon, they specialize in ROI-driven marketing campaigns that deliver measurable impact for both businesses and non-profits. Jennifer's journey as an entrepreneur began in her early 20s with a company that ultimately failed — an experience that shaped her profoundly. She didn’t plan to start another company at 40, but that failure taught her the humility, character, and resilience that have fueled Beacon’s success. Today, Jennifer has the privilege of partnering with visionary leaders to grow authentic, sustainable brands. Their team now serves clients across the country with locations coast to coast. The work they do has purpose, and that purpose drives everything they build. Outside the office, Jennifer is a proud wife of 30 years, mom to three amazing adult kids, and a passionate traveller who loves time with family and friends.

www.beaconmm.com

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