What It Really Takes to Build a Business Across Continents | Ben Evans

"Purpose is about building better lives." That philosophy has guided Ben Evans from his early years in Tasmania all the way to becoming CEO of COVA Group.

In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Ben Evans for a conversation on leadership, purpose, and what it actually takes to build a business that spans continents.

Ben shares his journey from an engineer working in the trades to leading COVA Group through some of the most turbulent periods in recent business history, including the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19. He reflects on how his early years in Tasmania shaped his values, how his personal definition of success has evolved over time, and the pivotal decision to expand the business into Asia, a move that reshaped the company and taught him hard lessons about managing multicultural teams and building a truly global culture.

The conversation explores what it takes to lead through crisis, why communication becomes even more critical during turbulent times, and how Ben has balanced honouring the legacy of a long-standing business while still pushing for innovation. He also shares his perspective on the qualities that make a high-performance team, the role of authenticity and relationships in doing business across cultures, and where he sees engineering and digital transformation heading in the years ahead.

This episode is a genuine look at what leadership actually requires when the stakes are high, the markets are unfamiliar, and the pressure to hold onto what matters most has never been greater.

What we cover:
Ben Evans' early years and influences growing up in Tasmania
How his personal definition of success has shifted over time
The transition from trades and engineering into leadership
Leadership lessons from the GFC and COVID-19
The decision to expand into Asia and what it taught him
Managing multicultural teams and building a global culture
Balancing legacy and innovation in a long-standing business
The role of purpose in guiding major business decisions
Lessons learned from major projects and negotiations
What it takes to build a high-performance team
The future of engineering and digital transformation


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Ben Evans' background
02:34 What does success mean to Ben Evans?
04:18 The shift in Ben Evans' personal definition of success
07:59 Early years and influences from Tasmania
12:04 Transition from trades to engineering and leadership
16:50 Deciding to expand into Asia
22:20 Leadership lessons from navigating turbulent times
35:42 The journey of Asia expansion and key lessons learned
50:40 Building a global culture and managing cross-cultural teams
01:08:12 The future of engineering and digital transformation
01:20:53 Reflections on success and legacy

Connect with Ben Evans:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benevanscova/

#QuestForSuccess #BenEvans #Leadership #Engineering #BusinessGrowth #AsiaExpansion #Purpose #Success #Mentorship #Innovation #Culture #PersonalDevelopment #COVAGroup #BusinessPodcast #Inspiration

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