Welcome to a bonus episode of Scaling Up season one – I recorded this while on the road recording season 2, but it feels like it has a natural home, with the other amazing Australian growth stories told in the previous season. Nick Stone is the CEO and founder of BlueStone Lane. This story starts in an underground coffee shop in New York City, where an ex AFL player, turned investment banker decides he was missing the authentic Australian coffee experience and sets up a side hustle to his main banking gig. Fast forward just 8 years, and Blue Stone lane is at the pointy end of the American premium coffee scene, with over 50 stores in 8 markets across the country. What is evident is Nick’s passion for the mission, his intelligence in how he thinks about the world and applying it to how he is trying to overcoming major scaling challenges in the US. Interestingly, Nick beautifully articulately what he learned from his time as an elite athlete, his vision for building Starbucks of the next generation, and how he thinks about building teams and culture in the tough American hospitality industry. I felt so connected to Nick and his journey, and I think this shines throughout the podcast. This is a story that is ever changing, and at the moment, changing by the day. There is a fuller footnote and timestamp at the end of the episode that you must listen to to give context to Nick's comments, but even in the two week turn around time between recording and releasing this episode, the world has changed. Even the best laid plans can come undone by the extraordinary. Everyday of strict government protocols around containing the spread of Covid-19 in the US, is another page in the Blue Stone book. That though is not going to stop me telling you the inspirational story of Nick Stone and Bluestone Lane. Season two is only weeks away, so stay posted....!

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.