About PJ

Born to middle-class parents who were small business owners, I was immersed in the entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. While my peers pursued university degrees, I took a different path, jumping straight into work after school. That choice shaped my life and career in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

A move from North Queensland to Sydney in the mid-1980s expanded my career in radio advertising sales. By 26, I was the youngest Sales Director of an Australian metropolitan radio station. My years in media and sales taught me the fundamentals of communication, strategy, and connection – lessons that became the cornerstone of my success in business.

In the early 1990s, I co-founded an education company, Pow Wow Events, with my partner Suzi Dafnis. Over two decades, we staged educational events for groups ranging from 30 to 6,000 people, including venues like Madison Square Garden. We also published over 1.5 million business books across Australia and New Zealand, including Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. At its height, the Pow Wow Group turned over $24 million annually, with offices in Australia and the US, employed more than 45 staff, and gave us the opportunity to work with inspiring leaders and creators. We sold the business in 2007, proud of what we’d built.

Since then, my focus has been on real estate through Persephone Investments, our property development and management company. I’ve also dedicated my time to mentoring small business owners, helping them create businesses that truly serve their lives. Whether it’s through refining strategies, shifting mindsets, or finding clarity, I’m passionate about guiding others to realise the power of business as a vehicle for freedom and growth.

I’ve tried to live by the mantra of iconic personal development master Zig Ziglar:

"You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want"

In many ways, I see business as an act of creation. Like art, it starts with an idea – a spark of inspiration – and grows through effort, skill, and imagination. Both demand resilience, a willingness to experiment, and the courage to embrace failure as part of the process. These parallels became even clearer when I began exploring my love for art, working with ceramics and painting. Creating art has reminded me that whether it’s a business, a painting, or a ceramic pot, the act of bringing something new into the world is one of life’s greatest joys.

When I’m not mentoring, managing properties, or creating, I love to travel, spend time with my partner Suzi, or enjoy the company of Kona, our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

This site is a reflection of my journey – a blend of business and art, structure and creativity. Whether you’re here for inspiration, mentorship, or to explore my artwork, welcome. We’re all creators in some way, and I hope you leave here feeling empowered to build something meaningful.

- PJ