Guest: Tony Merritt, Founder and CEO of Sydney Pain Centres, EO Sydney Member since 2023
Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney member and founder of Outsourcing Angel.

What happens when a psychologist becomes an entrepreneur and nearly loses everything twice during COVID?

In this powerful episode, Tony shares his journey from the corporate world of advertising to building a thriving 80-person health and psychology business.
He opens up about how curiosity, resilience, and a love for learning helped him overcome financial crises, adapt during the pandemic, and evolve as a leader.

We also dive into:
- The realities of scaling a people-intensive business
- Managing cash flow and overcoming fear around finances
- How virtual assistants changed his business (and life)
- Finding purpose and balance beyond work
- The role of community through Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)

ABOUT TONY MERRITT

Tony began his career in advertising before shifting to clinical psychology, where he spent ten years working in the public hospital system. He later built a private psychology practice, then expanded into multiple ventures, including a specialist medical business, a corporate psychology firm, and a practice finance company. Today, Tony leads an organization of over 80 people, blending psychological insight with business strategy to create meaningful impact.

CONNECT WITH TONY MERRITT

Website: www.sydneypaincentres.com.au
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymerrittpsychologist/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

EP. 165 - The Psychology of Leadership: Tony’s Path from Clinician to Successful CEO

The EO Business Podcast