Why can success still leave you feeling empty?
In this episode, I speak with James Ostroburski OAM, a banking executive, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mental health advocate.
James built and led a lending business that deployed over $2 billion, while privately navigating depression, burnout, ADHD, and the pressure of always needing to achieve more.
We talk about ambition, identity, childhood pressure, mental health, and what happens when everything looks successful from the outside but something feels wrong underneath.
This episode will change how you think about success, pressure, and the cost of ignoring your mental health.
James Ostroburski is the founder of Tyalla Capital and former CEO of Kooyong Group (now Avant Finance), where he led over $2 billion in lending, and continues to be involved in philanthropy and mental health advocacy.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:31) Success, Yet Empty
(01:55) Two Speed Childhood
(03:39) Ballet Pressure Cooker
(09:03) Stoicism And Balance
(10:21) Why Finance Chose Him
(14:35) ADHD Finally Named
(17:16) Investec To Culture Shock
(24:10) Grief And Breakdown
(26:06) Treatment And TMS
(30:47) Quitting And Finding Purpose
(32:28) Philanthropy Roots
(34:42) Betty Amsden Mentorship
(38:57) Starting Kooyong
(40:08) Scaling Kooyong Fast
(40:35) Insurance Deal Then COVID
(43:15) Lockdown Growth Playbook
(44:30) Philanthropy And Boards
(47:41) Mentorship And Asking
(50:43) Writing To Leaders
(55:50) Shareholder Power Shift
(59:59) Grandfather Loss And Crash
(01:10:20) Exit Terms And Aftermath
(01:11:39) Rebuilding Health And Business
(01:18:01) Trust Lessons And Wrap
Connect with Nick:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks
Website: http://nickbracks.com
Email: contact@nickbracks.com
Connect with James:
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