Episode transcript

Note: This transcript has been edited for clarity and readability while staying true to the spirit of the conversation.

Amanda: Welcome to Not Just A… the podcast where we get to know the person behind the profession. Each episode, we sit down with someone interesting to hear the stories that shaped who they are beyond the job title. This week, we are sitting down with Mark Tanner, co-founder and CEO of Australian tech company Qwilr, which has thousands of customers worldwide.

We chat about his obsession with the Australian housing crisis, his love of sci-fi books, and how becoming a father has shaped who he is today as a founder. Let’s get into it.

Amanda: Mark, welcome.

Mark: Thank you.

Amanda: So great to have you on the show. So my first question to you is, let’s start at the very beginning. What were you doing before you became a founder? Talk to me about your childhood growing up and your career before you started Qwilr.

Mark: I grew up in Sydney. My dad was an architect, he ran quite a successful architecture firm in Sydney. From a young age I knew I didn’t want to follow that path, but I did know I wanted to run a business. I wasn’t drawn to law or medicine—I just wanted to be a “business person,” even if I wasn’t sure what that meant.

I ended up doing an arts degree, then landed an internship at a consulting firm. By chance, I joined a startup in 2007, just as the Kindle and iPhone launched. Suddenly e-books were booming. It was a rocket ship experience and gave me my first taste of the startup world.

I was doing deals with major publishers across Australia and Asia, which led to a role at Google. I helped roll out what became Android’s content store, working with Fairfax, News Corp, Penguin, Channel Seven, and others across the region. Later I moved to New York with their media team.

After a while the work became more about managing politics than doing new deals. Around then, there was also a girl back in Sydney I was keen on—who’s now my wife. That’s when the idea for Qwilr started.

Amanda: Do you have any siblings, and did they go down the architecture path?

Mark: I have a younger brother. He was the great hope, but alas, he’s a sculptor. He runs one of the few metalwork foundries in Sydney, in Marrickville. He makes his own art and products, and also casts work for other artists and designers. We even have a cousin who’s an industrial designer, and my brother produces some of her lighting pieces.

Amanda: Moving into books—do you read? What are you reading now?

Mark: I hate e-books. I love physical books, and I also enjoy audiobooks. I usually read either history or sci-fi.

Right now, I’m working through Robert Caro’s biography series on Lyndon B. Johnson. It’s epic and incredibly detailed—he even lived in the towns LBJ grew up in while writing. He still hasn’t finished the series, and everyone is begging him to complete the last volume.

I’m also reading a sci-fi novel set in a futuristic empire, with technology that collects and passes on memories across generations. The emperor wants it so he can rule forever. I love the way sci-fi pushes us to imagine what life could be like thousands of years from now.

Amanda: How long were you in New York? And did the girl work out?

Mark: I was there about two years. And yes—she’s now my wife and the mother of our two children.

Amanda: Who are you when nobody’s watching?

Mark: Outside of work, I’ve become good at setting strict boundaries. I don’t have email or Slack on my phone. I’m either intentionally working or intentionally not. Weekends are family time.

I have a four-year-old and a six-year-old, so I’m mostly a dad outside work—cooking, doing pickups and drop-offs, bedtime, reading books. I’m a big believer in not just quality time, but also quantity time—you should just be there for a lot of it.

Amanda: What’s your best meal to cook?

Mark: My comfort food is chicken pesto pasta with bacon and mushrooms, though my wife’s become bored of it. I’ve also become the “pancake king.” Thanks to Nagi from RecipeTin Eats, I’ve mastered fluffy pancakes. I can handle roasts, lasagne, and other classics, while my wife is the true cook who improvises with flavours.

Amanda: What’s your passion outside of work?

Mark: Lately, the housing crisis. More broadly, public policy and economics. Sydney is a wonderful city, but housing costs are insane. I’ve become fascinated with the policy side—zoning, supply, regulations—and how governments often unintentionally make it worse.

I think it’s fixable in the medium to long term, but only if we fight for the right solutions. New Zealand, for example, has tried interesting reforms. It matters personally, too—many of my employees are in their late 20s or 30s, earning good salaries, yet still struggling to buy a home.

Amanda: If you could be known for something completely different, what would it be?

Mark: Miracle solver of the housing crisis! More seriously, contributing to the public good in some way, ideally without being a politician. Politics right now feels grim.

Amanda: In LA, many founders and billionaires donate to the city—museums, buildings. We don’t really see that in Australia. Why do you think that is?

Mark: America has a stronger culture of philanthropy, partly because their government services are weaker. The private sector often steps in. In Australia, things generally work better—Service NSW, for example, is light years ahead of US bureaucracies.

But philanthropy here doesn’t have the same social encouragement. If Mike Cannon-Brookes built a museum, people might say, “Who does he think he is?” Tall poppy syndrome plays a role.

Amanda: What’s a lesson you’ve learned outside of work that made you better at your job?

Mark: Having kids. Many founders think they can’t balance both, but that’s not true. Kids forced me to set boundaries, delegate more, and raise my standards. I can’t just pull 80-hour weeks anymore. If something isn’t done properly, I hold people accountable instead of fixing it myself on the weekend.

It’s made me sharper at prioritization and more protective of my time. And honestly, I’m a better leader for it.

Amanda: Can you share a story from work where being your whole self helped you succeed?

Mark: My co-founder and I have worked with coaches over the years. One exercise mapped our strengths and differences. I’m extroverted, intuitive, verbal. He’s thoughtful, deliberate, detail-oriented.

At times those traits clash, but they balance us. My intuition helps make quick, clear decisions that drive momentum. His thoroughness ensures we think deeply before moving. That push and pull has been hugely valuable.

Amanda: What might surprise people about your day-to-day?

Mark: I try to keep my calendar relatively open. Tuesdays and Thursdays are for meetings. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I keep blocks of time free. That way, I have capacity for deep work, urgent issues, or supporting my team.

I aim for high output during the week, but by Friday afternoons, I allow space—sometimes mentoring founders, sometimes a boozy industry lunch. It’s a nice release before the weekend.

Amanda: What’s your hidden talent?

Mark: Public speaking. It feels natural to me, but I know for many it’s terrifying. I did debating in school, some acting, and student politics. Early in my career, I put my hand up for panels and conferences, and that built confidence.

I think more people should just say yes to speaking opportunities. The audience is rooting for you, and the bar isn’t as high as people fear.

Amanda: Do you encourage your team to take on speaking roles?

Mark: Honestly, I hog a lot of them myself! My CMO does some, but I should encourage others more.

Amanda: Who’s a speaker you admire?

Mark: Kate Mason, who has a book coming out called ‘Powerfully Likable’. She’s an incredible communicator and even gave me media training back at Google.

Another is Steve Hind, founder of Lorikeet, an AI startup in Sydney. He’s lightning-fast in his thinking and an amazing communicator. Watching him is inspiring.

Amanda: Mark, thank you for joining us.

Mark: My absolute pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Amanda: I’m Amanda, the host of Not Just A… This is a brand-new podcast, so hit like, subscribe, and share it with a friend. Drop us a comment—we’d love to know who you’d like to hear from in the Australian business scene.

Enjoyed this episode?

Explore more conversations with inspiring leaders and innovators on our podcast or subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest episodes.

We know that talented people know talented people. If you’d like to talk to us about how we can support your business, get in touch.