Glen Richards is the trailblazing vet-turned-entrepreneur behind Greencross, the company he scaled into a $1 billion pet care empire. Known to many as a Shark Tank investor, Glen’s business journey is anything but typical.
From growing up on a sheep and cattle station in rural Queensland, Glen learned resilience the hard way, whether it was falling off a horse and walking home, or cold-calling to buy his first vet practice with just $5,000 in the bank. That moment led to a billion-dollar legacy, all sparked by a handshake deal and a Trans-Siberian train ride that birthed the Greencross business plan.
In this episode, you’ll learn what it actually takes to build a company from the bottom up, and how having a clear cadence of getting sh*t done can scale any business. Whether you’re a startup founder or a seasoned executive, Glen’s brutally honest take on leadership, risk, mindset, and reinvention will leave you inspired to act.
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Dr Glen’s Quick Fire Answers
What does success mean to you?
"To say I lived an intentional, impactful, and full life."
What does happiness mean to you?
"Having time."
What’s your normal morning routine these days?
“I’m in that luxurious part of life where I work on my terms. Mornings are for exercise, gym or running, then hot and cold therapy. I get my dopamine hit, then I start working on projects or reading.”
What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?
"There are so many smarter people out there, find them and listen to them."
Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?
"Janine Allis."
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Listen To The Podcast
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164
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Find Us On Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod
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Chapters
(00:00:00) - Teaser
(00:00:56) – Chapter 1 | Glen's Upbringing
From the Queensland outback to boarding school: Glen’s resilient upbringing and mindset.
(00:11:55) – Chapter 2 | Becoming a Vet
Why Glen chose veterinary science and how business was always in the background.
(00:22:56) – Chapter 3 | Building Greencross
The $5,000 bank account, a 10-minute phone call, and the birth of a billion-dollar vision.
(00:36:38) – Chapter 4 | Creating Petbarn
From spontaneous street pitches to $55,000 opening days, how Glen expanded into retail.
(00:44:42) – Chapter 5 | Working In vs On the Business
The honeymoon that changed everything: shifting from operator to system builder.
(00:56:39) – Chapter 6 | Rockefeller Habits & Scaling Fast
How Vern Harnish’s framework transformed Glen’s leadership and company structure.
(00:59:56) – Chapter 7 | Leaving Greencross
Why Glen stepped away, and the hard lessons from merging retail with veterinary services.
(01:05:51) – Chapter 8 | Shark Tank & What Came Next
From saying no over red wine to becoming one of Australia’s favourite TV investors.
(01:15:52) - Quick Fire Questions
(01:21:16) - Outro
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#podcast #sharktank #vet
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