In this inspiring conversation on the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Athin Cassiotis, Founder, Director & Business Growth Expert of Athin Cassiotis Group and Podcast Host for The Business Growth Show. From launching businesses and advising entrepreneurs to helping scale operations globally, Athin brings a wealth of insight into how founders can transform their businesses into scalable, investable assets. Drawing on his personal journey and the experiences of his high-performing clients, Athin shares practical strategies for business growth, leadership, and mindset development—all designed to help entrepreneurs accelerate their success.
Athin opens up about his unconventional path—from dropping out of school in Adelaide to becoming a globally recognised entrepreneur and coach. He candidly discusses the early challenges he faced, including scepticism from teachers and family, and how he channelled that doubt into drive. From selling VCDs as a teenager to building a consultancy that saved Westfield millions, Athin’s story is a testament to resilience, grit, and strategic thinking. Now mentoring clients across 10 countries and hosting The Business Growth Show, he’s focused on helping others unlock business success through systems, structure, and mindset transformation.
Sport has played a pivotal role in shaping Athin’s mental toughness and leadership skills. He reflects on how playing both tennis and soccer taught him discipline, self-talk, and the power of collaboration—skills that seamlessly translate into the business world. As a new father, he also shares his appreciation for martial arts and its ability to instil focus and inner strength. These personal reflections set the tone for a broader discussion on the importance of mental resilience and adaptability as an entrepreneur.
Anthony and Athin go deep on the reality of building a business from the ground up, especially when you’re wearing every hat. Athin shares his own leap into entrepreneurship, quitting a secure job without a backup plan and relying on instinct and self-belief. That decision launched a journey of rapid learning, self-investment, and sales mastery—ultimately leading to his first major client, Westfield. The pair unpack the importance of momentum, consistency, and being ready to seize the right opportunity at the right time, reinforcing that success often comes down to showing up and staying in the game.
From that foundation, the conversation expands into scaling businesses beyond the founder. Athin presents a blueprint for growth that includes refining the business model, clarifying brand positioning, building multi-channel lead generation systems, and measuring the right performance metrics. He shares strategies for creating businesses that are operationally independent, emphasising the need to let go, empower others, and lead from the front. The episode wraps with a powerful insight: knowledge alone isn’t power—implementation is. With coaching, the right team, and a growth-focused mindset, entrepreneurs can scale their ventures, step away strategically, or even prepare for high-value exits.
Topics Covered
- Athin’s unconventional path to business success
- Mindset and resilience shaped through sport
- Quitting corporate to launch a business from scratch
- The power of sales, marketing, and momentum
- Shifting from founder to leader and investor
- Building scalable and investable business models
- Creating systems, processes, and team accountability
- Hiring for culture, values, and fit—not just skills
- The role of mentorship and implementation in growth
- Preparing for strategic exits or stepping back
Important Time Stamps
- From Dropout to Million-Dollar Deals: Athin’s Journey of Grit & Growth (0:07 – 6:35)
- Soccer, Tennis & Business: Athin’s Playbook for Mindset & Growth (6:36 – 9:13)
- “If You Never Quit, You Will Always Succeed” — Athin’s Rule for Entrepreneurs (9:14 – 15:21)
- The Mindset Shift Every Founder Must Make to Scale (15:22 – 21:34)
- Why Attitude & Culture Fit Matter More Than a Perfect CV (21:35 – 25:37)
- Want a Scalable, Sellable Business? Start Here (25:38 – 32:13)
- The 4.5x Growth Secret Most Entrepreneurs Overlook (32:14 – 34:22)
