Optus Business Plus Roadshow kicks off to support small businesses across Australia

  • Business experts, Mark Bouris, Jo Burston and Jamal Elsheikh will join the Roadshow as mentors to provide insight and connection for hardworking small and medium enterprises (SMEs) around the country
  • Optus will be donating a total of $60,000 to support the uptake of agile and flexible technology solutions from Optus by small businesses
  • The speaker series will be visiting four locations across the country in March and April Adelaide (SA), Cairns (QLD), Orange (NSW) and Shepparton (VIC)

Optus Business is launching the Optus Business Plus Roadshow, with leading mentors, Mark Bouris Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, Founder and CEO of Rare Birds Jo Burston and One Love Australia founder Jamal Elsheikh to share their insights with SMEs at a series of regional and metropolitan events.

The roadshow will leverage Optus growing footprint of Optus Business Centres (OBCs), local hubs offering help to Australian businesses. Optus currently has over 25 OBCs nationwide, with a further 13 planned for 2023.

Mark Bouris appearances form part of a wider partnership with Optus Enterprise and Business, including the Healthy Business campaign and the Optus Business Real Estate Industry Pulse 2022 report.

Optus will also donate $60,000 to select business chambers to support the implementation of technology that will increase flexibility through modularisation. Recipients will be chosen by these business chambers to receive grants of up to $15,000. The funds may be used to create a customisable and flexible technology solution from Optus to meet the unique evolving needs of the Australian business market. Interested parties can apply through their local Business Chamber.

Sean Casey, VP Optus Business, Enterprise and Business at Optus said, Before we launched Optus Business Plus in 2021 we consulted our business customers to learn about their unique challenges. Many of our customers feel that traditional, business critical technology solutions arent flexible enough for their business needs.

The Optus Business Plus Roadshow will connect our business customers with others in the SME community, as well as provide insights from some of Australias greatest business minds. Its our hope that this series will help Aussie businesses stop compromising on technology solutions and achieve more flexibility through freedom and modularity.

Each stop on the roadshow will involve an intimate breakfast panel with a mentor and special guest, chaired by Sean Casey. Businesses will be able to connect with their OBC and local support team while building relationships with other business owners to further increase their support network.

Mark Bouris, Founder and Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, said, I know what it takes to build a business from scratch and turn it into something special. From my experience, when it comes to technology, even with all the choices out there it can become easy to settle. However, there are things you shouldnt compromise on. Thats why I want to share my knowledge, so other Australian small businesses can be armed with the tools they need to build something incredible.

Teaming up with Optus for their Optus Business Plus Roadshow is a full circle moment an opportunity to network with likeminded people and mentors is exactly what I would have wanted when I was first starting out. Im looking forward to connecting with small business owners and giving back to those taking on the huge challenge of starting their own business.

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