Influence, Impact, and Networking: Business Finance Lessons with Chris Slack

Sydney-based business finance specialist and finance consultancy founder Chris Slack unpacks what influence really means when your work ranges from sole traders to ASX-listed companies. He explains why influence is inseparable from impact, how getting out of the way can sometimes be the strongest move, and why listening deeply often beats talking in both sales and leadership. Chris shares stories from decades in business lending, banking, and broker support, including lessons on managing lenders, referrers, and clients while keeping ego out of the room. He and Anton explore how to build genuine influence through networking, “throwing out seeds” without entitlement, and connecting good people with good people so opportunity can compound over time. The conversation also dives into parenting teenagers, dealing with uncertainty in 2026, being proud of your own journey, and how consistently showing up for clients with cash flow, equipment, and growth finance support creates long-term relationships and business resilience.

Takeaways:

• Influence - Impact: Chris sees influence as the ability to impact outcomes and decisions; without impact, influence is meaningless in business and leadership.
• Listening Beats Talking: Great conversations and sales outcomes often come from listening more than speaking, really understanding people, and parking your ego.
• Practice Influence with Diverse People: You build influence like any skill—by putting in reps, talking to people outside your usual circle, and getting comfortable in uncomfortable conversations.

Quotes:

1. "Influence, to me, is the ability to impact an outcome or get to a decision."
2. "How are you going to influence someone you can't even relate to?"
3. "Throw seeds absolutely everywhere without any discrimination… you don't know where they land, but that's how your network grows."

Timestamps:

0:00 – How much can you really learn from reading? 0:12 – Strategy is useless without client impact 0:35 – Pivot after COVID: only work that matters 0:57 – Uncertainty, disruption, and the role of influence 1:35 – Influence in negotiation, decisions, and execution 1:58 – Podcast intro: Leaders of Influence 2:37 – Find Your Influence with Anton Guinea 2:58 – Introducing Chris Slack, business finance specialist 3:20 – Partner‑led model for brokers and accountants 3:45 – 20+ years in banking and business finance 4:13 – From compliance auditor to national asset finance manager 4:41 – Building relationships with 550+ firms 5:13 – CVs as “toilet paper” vs real connection 5:29 – It’s all about how you relate in the moment 5:54 – The big question: What is influence to you? 6:21 – Influence and impact: why business owners must care 6:47 – Influencing team, suppliers, and lenders 7:21 – Parking the ego and getting out of the way 7:52 – Influence as impacting outcomes and decisions 8:27 – “Impact” as the core theme across 145 episodes 8:49 – Key influence: Barry Lambert (Count Financial founder) 9:18 – 50 years with CBA and the Count story 9:39 – Learning to speak with everyone, big and small 10:10 – Serving any age, any business stage 10:40 – Self‑esteem, presence, and how you carry yourself 10:58 – Barry’s garage startup to nine‑figure sale and buy‑back 11:38 – Parenting in the social media era 11:53 – Who really influences Gen Z? (Not parents) 12:18 – Generational engagement and comfort zones 12:43 – What does influence mean for the next generation? 13:12 – Origin story of the influence podcast 13:43 – AI as an enabler for better conversations 13:58 – Why you can’t learn people skills just from reading 14:11 – Best strategy means nothing without client buy‑in 14:35 – Post‑COVID decision: only meaningful work with partners 15:04 – Rising uncertainty and why influence matters more 15:35 – Chris on not being a “natural” people person 16:11 – Confidence only comes from doing 16:40 – Bruce Buffer and other standout guests 17:12 – You don’t get confidence from podcasts alone 17:40 – How do you actually develop influence skills? 17:59 – Practicing influence on teenagers vs clients 18:37 – Chris’s influence drill: new coffee shops, new people 18:59 – COVID dog walks and meeting another broker by chance 19:32 – Listening to very different perspectives 20:02 – Learning from people you disagree with 20:21 – Why you must relate before you can influence 20:44 – Being uncomfortable to build your influence muscle 21:22 – Host recap: listening as a superpower 21:54 – 20 years of unconscious preparation for influence 22:32 – Sponsors break (mid‑episode) 23:12 – Who are you proud of influencing? 23:30 – Chris’s answer: “I’m proud of myself” 23:57 – Adversity, tough nights, and growth 24:26 – The “sandwich generation” and hidden pressure 25:00 – Learning from quiet, resilient people 25:34 – Being proud of outcomes you create for others 26:01 – Proud of clients and their business journeys 26:27 – Why helping businesses is the “juice” 26:40 – Long days serving clients who need funding 27:20 – The power of small actions and going above and beyond 27:44 – The shrinking 3 a.m. club as you age 28:06 – Relationships, resilience, and feeling supported 28:36 – When tough times reveal your real network 28:59 – “Good guy credits” and getting back what you give 29:28 – Chris’s seed metaphor for networking 29:57 – Why chasing “big clients” doesn’t work 30:17 – Authenticity, giving, and unseen opportunities 30:48 – Helping strangers in forums and groups 31:07 – How your network really grows over time 31:32 – No “right” way to connect in the digital age 31:58 – Reps, repetition, and meeting lots of people 32:15 – Connecting good people with good people 32:32 – Being part of the solution through your network 32:44 – Influence is not a one‑man band 33:02 – Linking influence and networking 33:32 – Selling, service, and wanting to be influenced 34:02 – Not everyone wants to be influenced 34:24 – Wrapping up: most challenging (in a good way) episode 34:47 – Chris on Riverside and a possible part two 35:17 – Host wrap‑up and praise for Chris 35:35 – Why throwing out “good seeds” really matters 36:03 – The problem with entitlement and “good karma” 36:34 – No one is entitled to results in business 36:47 – Final thanks and call for guest introductions 37:10 – Listen deeper: hidden messages on influence 37:31 – Outro: how to follow, share, and go deeper

Conclusion:

Chris Slack’s conversation with Anton Guinea is a powerful reminder that real influence isn’t theory, it’s the lived ability to impact outcomes, decisions, and people over time. From banking and finance to founding his own consultancy, Chris shows how listening, presence, and getting your ego out of the way can create better lending decisions and deeper client relationships. His “throw out the seeds” approach to networking proves that generosity, consistency, and connecting good people with good people eventually compound into opportunities you could never script. Chris also models what it looks like to be genuinely proud of your own journey, drawing strength from the businesses he has helped through growth, cash flow crunches, and uncertainty. Ultimately, his story challenges listeners to practice influence daily by engaging diverse personalities, embracing discomfort, and focusing on meaningful impact rather than entitlement or quick wins.

Connect with Chris Slack

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-slack-77811a62/

Website: https://www.thefinanceconsultancy.com.au/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thefinanceconsultancy9601?si=FlB5_OJe139yysQ6