Helping other people became my business success story

Mark Woodland is an unexpected CEO — he started his career in the Army as a tribute to his late brother, then went on to revolutionise his mum's paper-based childcare company. As a young man Mark Woodland was at a loss with what to do with his life. After years of moving around, the family — headed by Mark's single mum — settled in Ipswich, Queensland, where Mark showed himself to be a playful and enthusiastic boy, but school wasn't his first priority. When he graduated, Mark was most interested in driving around with his friends, playing music loudly with the windows down. When he needed money to fill the tank, Mark found a job at McDonald's. His younger brother was a new recruit to the Army when he was killed in a car accident. Ben was just 18. Mark decided to honour his brother by keeping Ben's wish alive, and so Mark joined the army, and served for 10 years. He left to help his mum run her childcare business, and Mark revolutionised the business' administrative system, moving from paper to a digital world. Today Mark is the founder and CEO of tech healthcare company Kismet. Further information Read more about the short film, Versa. This episode was produced by Meggie Morris. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It covers infant loss, NDIS, digitisation, childcare subsidy, daycare, family business, Army, Navy, not giving up, not quitting, car accident, morgue, Ipswich, Brisbane, Puckapunyal, Albury-Wodonga. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.