Turning failure into opportunity: Entrepreneurs share how rejection fuels success with Shasta Stevic and Emily Bitkow

If you’re building a business, you’re going to face rejection. The question isn’t if you fail, but how you respond when it happens. In this episode, host Liv Phyland chats with Shasta Stevic, Founder of Montu Restorations and Self-Employment Assistance program participant, and Emily Bitkow, Co-Founder of VIVRA and Asuria Business Mentor – Self-Employment Assistance, about the tough setbacks that almost made them walk away from their businesses. They talk about the false starts and failures that forced them to rethink their approach and keep moving forward. Instead of quitting, they learned how to pivot, adapt and turn failure into fuel for growth. This conversation is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs, start-up founders and freelancers who feel stuck or discouraged. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this episode will show you how to see rejection as a teacher and use it to build a stronger, more resilient business. 

This episode is part of the ‘What I Wish I Knew’ series of U Talks - The Asuria Podcast, sharing stories from entrepreneurs, start-up founders and participants in the Self-Employment Assistance program to help you navigate the challenges of running your own business. 

About the host: Liv Phyland is a presenter, influencer and small business owner with more than a decade on Australian television, including hosting Network Ten’s Start Me Up, ABC3 and The Loop. She is also an experienced MC for major events such as the ARIA’s Red Carpet, The Retailer Awards and Tropfest. Passionate about wellbeing, Liv co-founded Girls Who Glow and leads Liv Your Life, initiatives that help women build confidence, improve health and live with purpose. 

U Talks - The Asuria Podcast brings together entrepreneurs, small business owners, job seekers and community leaders to share the lessons that shaped their journeys. In this series ‘What I Wish I Knew’, we bring you conversations with entrepreneurs, start-up founders and small business owners as they reflect on the lessons learned through self-employment and the Self-Employment Assistance program. Covering themes like confidence, pricing, resilience and work–life balance, each episode offers practical strategies and real stories for anyone starting, running or growing a business. 

For more podcast episodes and information, visit: https://www.asuria.com.au/podcast. Follow us on: 

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How to listen to U Talks - The Asuria Podcast: 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asuriaaustralia
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Disclaimer: The advice shared in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your individual business needs. It is not intended as professional or legal advice. Before making any major business decisions, you should seek guidance from qualified experts who can provide advice tailored to your specific circumstances. 

About Asuria: Asuria is a leading public service provider, supporting thousands of people each year through employment, training, education and health programs. We empower people, communities and nations to be effective and productive by delivering frontline public services across employment support, training and education, business start-up services and health and wellbeing. 

Every year we support thousands of people into sustainable employment, including many who face significant barriers to work. Our integrated approach provides job seekers with personalised mentoring, training and support to help them find work, progress in their careers or set up their own businesses. We know the sense of achievement and pride that comes with securing meaningful employment, and we want everyone to be able to experience that. 

Our work supports not only individuals but also employers. We provide tailored recruitment and training solutions to help businesses find candidates with the right skills. From vacancy profi