1. EachPod

Greg Weston (Chemical Industry Vet): The Secret to an Exit-Ready Mid-Sized Organisation

Author
John Downes
Published
Tue 15 Apr 2025
Episode Link
https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/GregWestonInformation

Click here for further information and the downloadable resources:

https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/GregWestonInformation

What if the key to growing your organisation—and leaving it in capable hands—was simpler than you’ve been led to believe? Can you leave your business for 3 months travelling Nepal and Europe incommunicado? Will it perform just as profitably (or better) without you? In this episode, we uncover how a family business founder turned a modest operation into a thriving chemical powerhouse, all while preparing it to trade, Exit-Ready.

In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions Podcast, we spotlight Greg Weston, a chemical industry veteran who spent 30 years guiding a family business from near-failure to global success. If you’re a business owner or CEO of a mid-sized enterprise (under $100M turnover) who’s thinking about growth, leadership transitions, retirement or exit strategies, Greg’s story will open your eyes to what truly matters when preparing for the future—and why focusing on culture, people, and strategic vision pays off in a big way.

What you’ll learn

  • People First: Why having “the right people in the right seats” underpins long-term business success.
  • Customer Obsession: How centring on client needs drives growth in even the most competitive markets.
  • Exit-Readiness Mindset: Why it’s crucial to build a business that’s always ready to be sold or kept as a long term investment.
  • Strategic Partnerships: How aligning with complimentary partners can supercharge your expansion.

Highlights

00:00 - Introduction to Greg & the Family Business

05:17 – Early Challenges & Financial Recovery

20:24 – Mentorship & Acquiring Core Skills

37:30 – Defining & Maintaining Company Culture

50:57 – Transitioning Leadership & Exit Strategies

59:06 – The #CriticalFewActions™ to improve your business

If you found this conversation valuable, don’t forget to Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve their organisation performance and its value, and it keeps the conversation going.

Stay in the loop with show updates and exclusive content: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/GregWestonInformation

Download the Episode Summary & Greg’s Contact Details: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/GregWestonInformation

Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation.

Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve.

Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution; and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

I get it. Running a business at the top level can feel like you’re isolated. You’re expected to have all the answers—but what if you don’t?  The truth is, at our level, our role isn’t to have all the answers ourselves—it’s to find the right people who do. People who have faced these obstacles before and have the real-world experience to guide you and your team forward.

That’s why I created the CEO Masterclass—a 12-month, Deakin University MBA-accredited program designed exclusively for business owners and CEOs who are serious about transforming their businesses.

With 30+ years in business, working with hundreds of companies from $1 million to $100+ million turnover across three continents, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges leaders face—and I’ve helped them break through and achieve real results.

This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group program where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

Find out more here: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/GregWestonCEOMC1

Follow me on LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=jdownes

Get access to exclusive #CriticalFewActions™ content here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

Oh, and talking with Greg reminded me that building a business with an eye on the future isn’t about “running away” from leadership—it’s about ensuring your legacy thrives without you. His journey is a testament to how strategic planning, consistent culture, and unwavering customer focus can propel a business beyond your own tenure.

Greg also brought up the Organisation Performance and Value™ (OPV). You can find out more about how to run a serious diagnostic over your business to identify and plan those critical few actions that will have the biggest impact. More information here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/diagnostic/

Thanks for watching/listening, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments below.

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